Paragliding Diary 14th - 20th February 2010

Corporal Peter Skentelbery Paragliding Sunday 14th Feb

As with all cadet activity, it was an early start to get everything ready and get to the train station to start my long journey to the Welsh Black Mountains. After 2 trains and 7 hours I had arrived at the Joint Services Hang gliding and Paragliding Centre in. The first night was spent lounging around in the T.V room getting to know each other and break the ice and then an early night to get ready for the hard day tomorrow.

Monday 15th Feb

The day started with the weather brief to get an idea of what was it would be like on the hills, then we were introduced to our gliders that we would be flying during the week, we had to know the different strings and what they did, how to pack it away and most importantly learn how to control it. It wasn’t long before we were in the vans on the way up to practise what we had learnt for real. All afternoon we practised launching the glider and the take-off sequence, we took our first hops into the air to get a feel for the controls. This exercise was brought to an early end by the unpredictable Welsh weather and it was a mad rush to get off the hills to keep the gliders as dry as possible.

Corporal Peter Skentelbery Paragliding Tuesday 16th Feb

The day started the same as the last with the weather brief, from then it was straight onto the hills for our first proper flights. The weathers was T-shirt weather at some points and then every-item-in-your-bag weather but he wind was good and all of us were able to get airborne and have our first proper taste of paraglide flight. After 5 hours, once again the weather turned on us and forced us down early but most still managed about 6 flights. The rest of the day was spent dosing in front of the Sky T.V and making new friends.

Wednesday 17th Feb

The weather today put pay to any flying but the spirit of the air cadets meant we weren’t disheartened, instead we had a day on the high ropes course at the centre.

Thursday 18th Feb

Again the snow as ice put a halt on flying and we had to make do with mountain biking and then a trip to a climbing centre to try and stop us getting bored but we were all itching to get back and do what we came here to do.

Corporal Peter Skentelbery Paragliding Friday 19th Feb

We woke up on the last day and were greeted by a 3 inch blanket of snow but a lovely day with bright sky’s and light winds. Because of the snow we had to walk around a miles to the site where we would jump from, the snow made everything 10 times harder but made the view had the flying 100 times better. We spent hours jumping and flying in the post card scenery. For the 3rd time in the week the weather turned and we packed up and went back. Luckily we all achieved the amount of flights needed for our Elementary Pilot qualifications.

All in all the week was a great experience with lots of funny moments that we will all remember for a long time. Everyone made lots of new friends and really enjoyed the fantastic opportunity.