Good evening fellow aviators.
I have taken a trip to the Scottish Gliding Centre this weekend to try and extend my Gliding season a little more.
It is my first time visiting here, so I have taken a few pictures below to share with you all. Hope you enjoy them 🙂.
The forecast predicted a 15 knot 240 degree wind, so I knew the ridge to the north of the club should be working.
I woke early to survey the ridge I would be flying.
The launch point is run a little differently here than at Bath Wilts. They run two Winch lines parallel to each other. With each line taking one of the two winch cables when they are retrieved.
The club tug plane is a neat little Euro Fox model.
The club weather vane and windsock is worthy of a quick photo too 🙂.
There was a large variety of private Gliders at the club, but there was one in particular I thought the longer serving members of Bath Wilts might enjoy seeing a picture of….
I chose winch launches today, as my objective was working the north ridge, which is comfortably in reach from winch height. A club K21 was my trusty stead for the day, and arguably has one of the best tail numbers I’ve seen 🙂.
The views are spectacular from the moment you release from the winch.
The club is located alongside Loch Leven. Housed on a small island in the Loch is Loch Leven Castle, and on the edge of the Loch is Kinross House. Both structures can be seen surprisingly clearly from the air.
The ridge I was flying today forms part of the Lomond Hills Regional Park. Its a great feeling flying so close to such an impressive geological feature. The detail you get to see in the landscape from this vantage point is truly beautiful.
The ridge itself works with surprising ease and predictability. With todays weather conditions, the ridge reliably generated between 2 – 6kts up all day, with the ridge effect topping out between 2000ft – 2600ft depending on wind strength.
As you crest the top of the ridge, the views keep getting better and better 🙂.
To help lend a sense of scale for those that haven’t visited here before. The waterway you can see on the image below is Ballo reservoir, situated on top of the ridge! 🙂.
This Gliding site is truly, truly, beautiful.
What a great day dear aviators.
What centre of Gliding majesty should I visit next I wonder….
….Aboyne perhaps?
Hmm…. I’m certainly tempted by tales of wave, and tremendous height gains.
Yes dear aviators, its time I think to start planning my first trip to Aboyne 🙂.
Kind regards.
Damien.