Port Elizabeth Slope Soaring

Drusky · Sep 06, 2006, 01:11 PM

Hi Andrew Bornman, PE

I slope an EasyPro, at Maitland Mouth, potential spots on the dunes at Sardinia Bay and maybe the hill to your left just off the N2 after the Blue Water Bay off ramp heading out to J-Bay. Not too keen to go up Ladies Slipper. Looks like a mission. Do you know of any other spots nearby? I've been thinking of heading out towards Graaf Reinett to search for nice spots to visit over a weekend. Lovemore Heights is no good as the wind usually blows along its length. PM me if you only find this thread after a few months

Drusky · Nov 07, 2006, 07:12 AM

Blue water bay hill doesn't work well, not enough gradient. Might work for a very efficient model. Wind must be E, NEE.

Fort Frederick doesn't work. Wind from the east ESE. Too much interference.

aragon · Nov 12, 2006, 05:19 PM

Are you going to Hermanus this year, Drusky?

Drusky · Dec 21, 2006, 06:56 AM

Hermanus? Oooh I think I followed a link once to a write up on this bunch of crazies that gather there... I'm not gonna make it this year but next perhaps year

I think it would be lots of fun. Will be receiving a mig-3 LEG model soon, hope it'll be in the air before then. When is the Hermanus gathering btw?

Thermicdude · Jan 08, 2007, 04:59 PM

sloped @ sards this weekend - worked OK. Not a slope rat myself but helped test a friends Ninja...

Drusky · Jan 09, 2007, 08:58 AM

Cool, Sards. Wind must have been out of the south? SSW? My boet has a SIG Ninja. Very nice model 4 sure. Thanks for the input.

Drusky · Apr 14, 2007, 12:02 PM

Found a new site (new for me anyway). It's opposite the lake on Lakeview rd out Cows Corner way. Turn left off Kragga Kamma onto Lakeview and drive till the lake is on your rhs. The slope looks pretty inhospitable (bush covered) at first sight but drive just 150m further and you'll see a nice grassy knoll on your left. When it's windy in PE and dead at Maitlands, there'll be wind between the two at the Lake. Wierd.

ziggx · May 30, 2007, 03:17 AM

The best way that I have found new slopes is with google earth the most amazing tool. You can pan right round the hills see if there are acessable by road and altitude. Slopers best freind.

Drusky · May 30, 2007, 05:23 PM

Yup, Google Earth is great except outside of town where the detail is too poor to spot slopes. Also I have made the depressing discovery that 90% of the mountains in my area lie East to West. Our winds blow N, NE and S, SW :sigh:

ziggx · May 31, 2007, 02:15 AM

Yes had a quick look on google earth now I remember how flat PE is.
Also that thick bush which also doesnt help.
Well I used to think that we didnt have to many slopes in Durban but this is the valley of a 1000 hills. And if I see the flying sites in the states I live in one of the best sloping areas in the world.

Punky · Jun 04, 2007, 07:27 AM

Yup KZN is hot!

Drusky · Dec 12, 2007, 02:03 AM

Sloped my recently repaired Pilatus B4 at over the lake on Lake road again. The wind was down at Maitland but up in PE

The lift at the lake is very turbulent. I had a decent fly despite a small raptor which kept diving on the model. Landing here is much easier than at Maitlands. To land you fly further back and use the blow-out to slow the model for landing. The soft grass is a welcome alternative to Maitland. I used spoilerons mixed to my throttle stick.

Thermicdude · Dec 12, 2007, 10:24 AM

Is that lake site easy to get to, permissions etc? Can you attach a Google Earth KML file to a post?

Flying Beagle · Dec 15, 2007, 08:40 AM

Gentlemen
sorry dont want to hijack this thread....

if I volunteer for a project at work, I will have the opportunity to move the family from Michigan-USA to Port Elizabeth about a year from now.

I fly electric, but have never sloped. Is there much RC airplane activity in PE ? Hobby Shops ? RC clubs ? Hows the weather, wind, etc etc ?

thanks for the advice
Beagle

Thermicdude · Dec 15, 2007, 10:58 AM

Hi Beagle,

I fly electric too. There are two well attended RC clubs in the Port Elizabeth area flying the usual mix of aircraft. Electric is relatively new in South Africa, but is beginning to take off - excuse the pun

There is one good model shop here, they are not however electric specialists - this is not really an issue as long as you know what you need; there are several specialist shops around the country that will be happy to supply you via mail order.

The weather... well, we're called the Windy City by some but to be honest it's not that bad. A bit breezy from September till the end of March. Our winters are fantastic - mild and wind free.

Do you use Google Earth? If you want I can send you place marks for the two clubs.

Thermicdude

P.S. tried to PM this to you but didn't seem to send - if you receive it twice - sorry

Sep 06, 2006, 01:11 PM	#1
Drusky loamy foamie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 569	Port Elizabeth Slope Soaring Hi Andrew Bornman, PE I slope an EasyPro, at Maitland Mouth, potential spots on the dunes at Sardinia Bay and maybe the hill to your left just off the N2 after the Blue Water Bay off ramp heading out to J-Bay. Not too keen to go up Ladies Slipper. Looks like a mission. Do you know of any other spots nearby? I've been thinking of heading out towards Graaf Reinett to search for nice spots to visit over a weekend. Lovemore Heights is no good as the wind usually blows along its length. PM me if you only find this thread after a few months Last edited by Drusky; Sep 23, 2006 at 12:14 PM. Reason: on board spell check just kicked in

Nov 07, 2006, 07:12 AM	#2
Drusky loamy foamie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 569	Blue water bay hill doesn't work well, not enough gradient. Might work for a very efficient model. Wind must be E, NEE. Fort Frederick doesn't work. Wind from the east ESE. Too much interference. Last edited by Drusky; Dec 21, 2006 at 06:59 AM.

May 30, 2007, 03:17 AM	#8
ziggx Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 304	Google Earth The best way that I have found new slopes is with google earth the most amazing tool. You can pan right round the hills see if there are acessable by road and altitude. Slopers best freind.

May 31, 2007, 02:15 AM	#10
ziggx Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 304	PE sloping Yes had a quick look on google earth now I remember how flat PE is. Also that thick bush which also doesnt help. Well I used to think that we didnt have to many slopes in Durban but this is the valley of a 1000 hills. And if I see the flying sites in the states I live in one of the best sloping areas in the world.

Dec 15, 2007, 10:58 AM	#15
Thermicdude Still hackin' Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 261	Port Elizabeth Hi Beagle, I fly electric too. There are two well attended RC clubs in the Port Elizabeth area flying the usual mix of aircraft. Electric is relatively new in South Africa, but is beginning to take off - excuse the pun There is one good model shop here, they are not however electric specialists - this is not really an issue as long as you know what you need; there are several specialist shops around the country that will be happy to supply you via mail order. The weather... well, we're called the Windy City by some but to be honest it's not that bad. A bit breezy from September till the end of March. Our winters are fantastic - mild and wind free. Do you use Google Earth? If you want I can send you place marks for the two clubs. Thermicdude P.S. tried to PM this to you but didn't seem to send - if you receive it twice - sorry

Nov 12, 2006, 05:19 PM	#3
aragon Registered User Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Cape Town, South Africa Posts: 5,131	Are you going to Hermanus this year, Drusky?

Dec 21, 2006, 06:56 AM	#4
Drusky loamy foamie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 569	Hermanus? Oooh I think I followed a link once to a write up on this bunch of crazies that gather there... I'm not gonna make it this year but next perhaps year I think it would be lots of fun. Will be receiving a mig-3 LEG model soon, hope it'll be in the air before then. When is the Hermanus gathering btw?

Jan 08, 2007, 04:59 PM	#5
Thermicdude Still hackin' Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 261	sloped @ sards this weekend - worked OK. Not a slope rat myself but helped test a friends Ninja...

Jan 09, 2007, 08:58 AM	#6
Drusky loamy foamie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 569	Cool, Sards. Wind must have been out of the south? SSW? My boet has a SIG Ninja. Very nice model 4 sure. Thanks for the input.

Apr 14, 2007, 12:02 PM	#7
Drusky loamy foamie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 569	Found a new site (new for me anyway). It's opposite the lake on Lakeview rd out Cows Corner way. Turn left off Kragga Kamma onto Lakeview and drive till the lake is on your rhs. The slope looks pretty inhospitable (bush covered) at first sight but drive just 150m further and you'll see a nice grassy knoll on your left. When it's windy in PE and dead at Maitlands, there'll be wind between the two at the Lake. Wierd.

May 30, 2007, 05:23 PM	#9
Drusky loamy foamie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 569	Yup, Google Earth is great except outside of town where the detail is too poor to spot slopes. Also I have made the depressing discovery that 90% of the mountains in my area lie East to West. Our winds blow N, NE and S, SW :sigh:

Jun 04, 2007, 07:27 AM	#11
Punky Registered User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 42	Yup KZN is hot!

Dec 12, 2007, 02:03 AM	#12
Drusky loamy foamie Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 569	Sloped my recently repaired Pilatus B4 at over the lake on Lake road again. The wind was down at Maitland but up in PE The lift at the lake is very turbulent. I had a decent fly despite a small raptor which kept diving on the model. Landing here is much easier than at Maitlands. To land you fly further back and use the blow-out to slow the model for landing. The soft grass is a welcome alternative to Maitland. I used spoilerons mixed to my throttle stick.

Dec 12, 2007, 10:24 AM	#13
Thermicdude Still hackin' Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Port Elizabeth, South Africa Posts: 261	Is that lake site easy to get to, permissions etc? Can you attach a Google Earth KML file to a post?

Dec 15, 2007, 08:40 AM	#14
Flying Beagle "Honey,just 1 more plane" Join Date: May 2004 Location: Manchester, MI Posts: 1,048	Gentlemen sorry dont want to hijack this thread.... if I volunteer for a project at work, I will have the opportunity to move the family from Michigan-USA to Port Elizabeth about a year from now. I fly electric, but have never sloped. Is there much RC airplane activity in PE ? Hobby Shops ? RC clubs ? Hows the weather, wind, etc etc ? thanks for the advice Beagle

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