Flight

Flight details
Title: Taking the plunge
Site:Newhaven Cliffs
Pilot:Chris Townsend
Date of flight:2nd November 2013
Wing type:Hang glider
Flight details: 
Raason for edit: I changed the date of this flight to 2nd Nov because if I leave it as 1st Nov, which is when it was actually flown, it doesn't display in the tables (neither winter nor summer).

Video added: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YgxBoNkMenM

I'm always a bit nervous launching at Newhaven and, after nearly two years since the last time, I needed a bit of encouragement.  So thanks to Ian and Luke.  In the end the launch was a piece of cake, the air was SSW and lovely and smooth, as always, and the tide was low so we had fun doing the Brighton run.

It was my first flight on my Avian Java, bought for use with my mosquito and for uncomplicated winter flying.  Very nice.
Cross-country league entry
Flight type:Out and return ridge run
Takeoff:50.780867,0.046383
To:50.812067,-0.091783
Finish at:50.781533,0.046533
Landing place:
Witness:GPS file
Distance20.67 km
Score20.67 km
In novice league?YES
GPS evidence from:Newhaven 2013-11-01.kml
Comments
Scott Dougal3rd Nov 02:35: after seeing Tom Weissenbergers flights in Chile we you not tempted to put this in as an XC :-) however thats not so fair on Tom as his 339.5km O&R is of a slightly different scale... if you zoom out on the map however the tracklog almost looks the same... to put his flight in context - that would be a little short of Newhaven to Weymouth and back.... :-) http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:Weissenberger/31.10.2013/14:03 -- my flying and photos are here... http://www.stovolando.co.uk
Chris Townsend2nd Nov 08:56: Well I confess I did look at it, briefly, and think "that's just a cliff run".
Scott Dougal3rd Nov 02:32: the russians were sceptical too until they counted the 40 odd thermals it took to make it... it was a ballsy skilful flight that took 4 years to plan for... inspirational stuff.. -- my flying and photos are here... http://www.stovolando.co.uk
Scott Dougal3rd Nov 11:48: Tom has made another flight - his goal was to break 350km O&R... http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:Weissenberger/3.11.2013/13:42 this one is 365km flown a little faster @ 42km/h - huge determination... impressive stuff -- my flying and photos are here... http://www.stovolando.co.uk
Ex Member 31884th Nov 04:00: Congratulations on your flight Chris. Did you manage to easily resolve the issue of your legs angling downwards too much? or can it be a bit of a faf?
Chris Townsend3rd Nov 11:45: Thanks Martin. I just dropped the cord and it velcroed itself somewhere tricky to reach. Once I'd got the glider in a steady line I managed to reach back and grab the cord and do the adjustment. A bit of a faff but shouldn't have been. There's no harm in flying with feet low, it's just inefficient and a bit uncomfortable
Chris Townsend3rd Nov 11:53: On the right day I could do Newhaven to Brighton and back 19 times. That would be 405km. Without use of a single thermal. Tom who?
Luke Nichol4th Nov 02:57: I could do it 20 times on a target, that would be 426km! Chris who??? ;0)
Ian White4th Nov 03:49: ...but then I'd do it 21 times on the Clubby. Luke who? Mmmnnn pizza pizza!