SLOPING OFF...

...the Newsletter of Christchurch and District Model Flying Club for...December 2024

SLOPE SOARING REPORT 2024

BY DAVID BICKER

CDMFC club members flew the slopes in Dorset for roughly 35 days of 2024. Over the earlier decades of the club’s existence, there was a large following for slope soaring. In recent years, I think partly due the club's current age demographics, a lot of members who used to fly the slopes no longer do so. All that the current slope soaring members can hope is that we don’t lose more slopes through lack of use and more regulation being applied.

This year, a maximum of 12 attended some sessions in peak summertime. The majority of the time it's been supported by just 1 to 6 flyers.

Local to us the Club is mostly flying just 2 slopes:

SSE/SE slope at East Creech.

Access from the west side via farm gate at “What 3 Words” location: ///nametag.managed.bandstand   Or access from the east side via a farm gate at “What 3 Words” location: ///redefined.immediate.annoys. The flying site parking is directly behind the slope at “What 3 Words” location: ///hobbyists.warrior.sprayer

Video of flying at East Creech: https://youtu.be/Ip0jzbDiTrA

Club website link : http://cdmfc.org/html/purbeck_se.html

NNW/NW slope at Win Green. Main car park is directly behind the slope. “What 3 Words” location: ///steam.bucks.loafing

Video of Sea Fury & Elipse at Win Green: https://youtu.be/TT_gWrIsyy0
 Club website link: http://cdmfc.org/html/win_green_north.html

We have lost access to some previously accessible slopes over time.

St Catherine's Hill is now a protected nature area.

The picnic site in the Purbecks has been taken back by the MOD.

Hengistbury Head is now a protected nature area, but you can still fly from the beach area, but not the headland. (even that is a lottery if the warden comes alon - Ed)

If you are more adventurous and up for more of a challenge, then there are other slopes that are little used in Dorset, but are still available I have leaflets to hand out for those interested with the details.

Some of these are listed below

Ringstead Bay (SW) in the Purbecks is accessible - there is a car park directly behind the slope

Veron Impala video of sloping at Ringstead: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUTtqv-KsbQ

“What 3 Words”  location: ///sometime.financial.square

Currenly not listed on the club website

Chapman's Pool (SW) in the purbecks. Stunning panoramic view of the coastal cliffs and the sea.

(A bit inaccessible). Reached from the Royal Marines Memorial, at “What 3 Words” location: ///overlook.treat.exporters

Video of Phase 5 at Chapman’s Pool: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=db8zTM28bbc

Ibberton (W) View across the valley westwards towards Hazelbury Bryan.

(Limited landing out zone). Parking space for 6+ vehicles. Width restriction posts at entry.

“What 3 Words” location: ///owes.asked.civic

Club website link: http://cdmfc.org/html/ibberton_hill.html

Bulbarrow Hill (SW),  SW of Blandford. Panoramic open view southwards towards the coast near Lulworth. (No landing area out of the slope lift).

 “What 3 Words” locations: parking for 3 cars at:  ///snippets.dogs.condiment, or more parking at the road junction, with a  bit of a walk: ///brisk.scooped.cargo

Phoenix 2400 flight at Bulbarrow: https://youtu.be/t0He7tn1q_Y

Club website link: http://cdmfc.org/html/bulbarrow.html

Win Green (NE) bowl. Panoramic views northwards towards Old Wardour Castle and the Donheads.

Parking for 5-6 cars only. Landing out on the brow of the field or on the bowl slope in lift.

“What 3 Words” (approximate) location: ///diet.backpacks.ducks

Club website: http://cdmfc.org/html/win_green_bowl.html

Barton on Sea cliffs (SSW) Views out to sea and across to the Isle of Wight.

Open grass field to launch & land from, but used by the public, so use with caution.

(Treacherous model retrieval from the cliff face)

“What 3 Words” location to park: ///producing.smart.librarian

Phoenix 2400 video at Barton on Sea cliffs: https://youtu.be/61n6TGYNwPM

Club website link: http://cdmfc.org/html/barton_cliff.html

Creech (N). To the east of the SE slope, on the ridge facing inland. Landing is easy as long as you don’t go too far behind the grassed ridge that you fly from.

“What 3 Words” location: ///phones.unlocking.shields

Creech (S). ). To the east of the SE slope, on the ridge facing Church Knowle village. Landing is easy as long as you don’t go too far behind the grassed ridge that you fly from.

“What 3 Words” location: ///phones.unlocking.shields

Further afield are great sites run by Wessex Soaring Association (WSA), around the area to the south of Tisbury.

Also the fabulous SW bowl & NW to W facing ridge at Whitesheet Radio Flying Club’s (WSRFC) slopes, to the west of Mere.