Urban slope warriors - now with video!

Phil.Taylor · Jun 03, 2009, 07:43 PM

Some months ago - feeling "slopesick" living & working in central London, I scouted out for suitable "urban sloping" venues - and had a shot at an unlikely spot down by the Thames.

And so, this afternoon, two intrepid urban slope warriors set out, DLG weapons in hand, to hunt down the rather unlikely slopes of the "David Beckham Football Academy", on the banks of the Thames next to the O2 (Millenium Dome). They travelled by tube, ignoring the strange looks from an unknowing public, too London-savvy to ask what on earth the strange devices were...

And they both wielded cameras - so here it is, in pictures - Phil & Mike's rather excellent urban sloping adventure!

(video to follow, when I've edited 800mb of it!)

Oh, and they both escaped just in time, as the masses gathered for a Britney Spears gig

Phil.

EDIT - video is up!

http://www.vimeo.com/5001995

check out the rail-running & half-pipes in the later part - very "urban" (skateboard?)
and don't miss the suicidally low roll

(no sound - add your own London tune - "London Calling" by the Clash maybe?)
.

Hamburglar · Jun 03, 2009, 09:00 PM

Awesome! I'm looking forward to the video.

I've always wondered if you could DS a high peaked roof with a small foamie. I tried to slope/DS a brick wall once but it ended rather quickly (stripped servo gears).

slopemeno · Jun 03, 2009, 09:45 PM

the last frontier of slope soaring. When I was in Portland a few years ago I was riding Amtrack along the river and thinking.."I could fly there if I just had something with some "hang" that was more durable than one of my glass planes". My though was that something like the Swift by Liftworks a perfect plane for that setting.

Mark Wood · Jun 03, 2009, 11:14 PM

I was always tempted to try soaring from the bow of a ferryboat when I was living in the PacNorWe(s)t. The gulls do. hmmm.

mw

Antonsoarer · Jun 04, 2009, 07:29 AM

Great stuff Phil,

I have lived and worked on and off for 10 years just over the river and never thought there was any sites nearby. I use to slope the side of a large hospital construction site (up north) many years ago until it opened, never got that high, are they gulls up there with you?

Do you think any other models other than DLG's would have worked at that location?

Tony.

Phil.Taylor · Jun 04, 2009, 07:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Antonsoarer

are they gulls up there with you?
Do you think any other models other than DLG's would have worked at that location?
Tony.

Yep - its the gulls favourite lift spot - you get thermals kicking off there too.
Lightweight Weasel or Alula would work for the river edge, but you probably wouldn't be able to "hop up" back onto the shed/ridge for the bigger lift. See pic below.
Phil.

Phil.Taylor · Jun 04, 2009, 07:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Wood

I was always tempted to try soaring from the bow of a ferryboat when I was living in the PacNorWe(s)t. The gulls do. hmmm.
mw

I've wondered about that, especially as we've got a boat trip out to the Lundy island F3F event
Maybe tie a light fishing line to the plane - so you can haul it in if it goes over the edge, which it probably will do

Not sure what fish it would catch though
Phil.

InTheLift · Jun 04, 2009, 10:37 AM

Nice Phil. I've sloped a few buildings years ago with an early all balsa HLG...one of the Bridi kits, but can't recall which on. Lift is where you find it.

Phil.Taylor · Jun 04, 2009, 02:41 PM

video added

Phil.

cliffhanger · Jun 04, 2009, 05:59 PM

"Where's there a will, there's a way"

Cool stuff fella's- this could go the way of base jumping, or "Spiderman" mega building climbing.

Have you noticed that it's mainly the French who do this stuff?

On that subject, one of the weirdest sloping vids is by a couple of French guys sloping a Prodij in front of their car- it's been seen before but here it is again:

Prodij : Race with a car (0 min 59 sec)

Hamburglar · Jun 04, 2009, 09:39 PM

Nice vid! Makes me want to get a DLG.

Greg Beshouri · Jun 07, 2009, 04:58 PM

Wow cool Phil!

Are you guys thinking of making this a regular activity. I will be in London on Tuesday and Wednesday. It owuld be fun to watch (I am bringing a plane but not that light).

Cheers

Greg

PS: Can you recommend any hobby shops and/or electric flying sites in Central London?

Phil.Taylor · Jun 07, 2009, 06:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Greg Beshouri

Wow cool Phil!
Are you guys thinking of making this a regular activity. I will be in London on Tuesday and Wednesday. It owuld be fun to watch (I am bringing a plane but not that light).
Cheers Greg
PS: Can you recommend any hobby shops and/or electric flying sites in Central London?

Unfortunately the wind forecast is completely different directions - NE that we used is actually fairly rare.
Not sure about electric flying in central London - the big open spaces of Regents Park and Hyde Park almost certainly forbid power flying. I have seen power flying at Wormwood Scrubs - an open space West of London.
Model shops - I have used "308" - http://www.308hobbies.com/

Enjoy your trip to London!
Phil.

Greg Beshouri · Jun 07, 2009, 10:09 PM

Thanks Phil,

If you ever find yourself near San Francisco, come on by!

Cheers

Greg

Jun 03, 2009, 09:45 PM	#3
slopemeno Registered User Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: the Alameda gall bladder refrigerator Posts: 5,059	the last frontier of slope soaring. When I was in Portland a few years ago I was riding Amtrack along the river and thinking.."I could fly there if I just had something with some "hang" that was more durable than one of my glass planes". My though was that something like the Swift by Liftworks a perfect plane for that setting. Last edited by slopemeno; Jun 03, 2009 at 09:51 PM.

Jun 04, 2009, 02:41 PM	#9
Phil.Taylor Chuck it off a cliff Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Devon, UK Posts: 2,078	video added Phil. Last edited by Phil.Taylor; Jun 04, 2009 at 02:54 PM.

Jun 03, 2009, 09:00 PM	#2
Hamburglar Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Crapberra, Australia. Posts: 265	Awesome! I'm looking forward to the video. I've always wondered if you could DS a high peaked roof with a small foamie. I tried to slope/DS a brick wall once but it ended rather quickly (stripped servo gears).

Jun 03, 2009, 11:14 PM	#4
Mark Wood characters welcome Join Date: Feb 2000 Location: San Diego, Calif. Posts: 18,146	I was always tempted to try soaring from the bow of a ferryboat when I was living in the PacNorWe(s)t. The gulls do. hmmm. mw

Jun 04, 2009, 07:29 AM	#5
Antonsoarer Long to be flyin' Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Wirral, (UK) Posts: 2,867	Great stuff Phil, I have lived and worked on and off for 10 years just over the river and never thought there was any sites nearby. I use to slope the side of a large hospital construction site (up north) many years ago until it opened, never got that high, are they gulls up there with you? Do you think any other models other than DLG's would have worked at that location? Tony.

Jun 04, 2009, 10:37 AM	#8
InTheLift It could happen... Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Torrance, California Posts: 7,466	Nice Phil. I've sloped a few buildings years ago with an early all balsa HLG...one of the Bridi kits, but can't recall which on. Lift is where you find it.

Jun 04, 2009, 09:39 PM	#11
Hamburglar Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Crapberra, Australia. Posts: 265	Nice vid! Makes me want to get a DLG.

Jun 07, 2009, 04:58 PM	#12
Greg Beshouri Cant fly enough Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 1,026	Wow cool Phil! Are you guys thinking of making this a regular activity. I will be in London on Tuesday and Wednesday. It owuld be fun to watch (I am bringing a plane but not that light). Cheers Greg PS: Can you recommend any hobby shops and/or electric flying sites in Central London?

Jun 07, 2009, 10:09 PM	#14
Greg Beshouri Cant fly enough Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Berkeley, CA Posts: 1,026	Thanks Phil, If you ever find yourself near San Francisco, come on by! Cheers Greg