Light winds with good lift provide the best flying conditions. Winds in excess of 20mph can be unpleasant. The wind direction determines which flying sites we will visit on the day.
The South Downs are perfect for learning to fly hang gliders. We have training slopes facing all wind directions and roads to the top for the higher launches. Our south coast climate provides far more good flying days than other areas. More pilots have learnt to fly here than anywhere else in the UK.
The wind speed and direction, and any "significant" weather can be read from surface pressure charts. This actual chart (nowcast) has the isobars shown for each millibar. (Image from "Meteorologica")
These days the forecasts are very accurate for the next day
then gradually decline in reliability over the following days. Beyond
five days the weather system is considered too unpredictable for useful
forecasts.
Notes on meteorology
Introductory Days One and Two are flown in a wide range of
conditions using our tether rope systems. The low solo flights of EP
and CP courses require light winds to avoid turbulence. For the high
flights at the end of the CP course we need light winds with a
northerly component. Try watching the five day forecast, (link below),
to spot the days with light winds. Call us to get your name in the
diary!
Our famous southerly sea cliffs are not used for solo training flights!
Once you have booked your day(s) in our diary ... it will then
depend on the weather forecast. We use the links shown in this table.
On the evening before your booking, after 7.30pm, call 07890 362648 and listen to the message.
If "we are not going ahead ...". Sorry,
the latest forecast is unsuitable.
Please phone again on the evening before your next booking,
or, book another date and try again.
If "we are going ahead ...", we will meet
up at the specified location and time.
We meet at the Sussex HGPG shop, two miles east of Lewes, on the A27.
(Postcode BN8 6JZ)
Latest UKMO Chart | Latest T+12 + Surface Pressure |
Weather Online Isotachs | GFS model (Isobars 2mb apart) |
BBC Weather | Scroll through. Shows rainfall |
RASP | Air stability. Forecasted soundings. |
Five Day Charts | T(0), T+24, T+36, T+48, etc. |
South Downs Hang Gliding
Gibraltar
Farm, Firle, East Sussex. BN8 6NB
Tel. 07890 362648
E-mail: info@southdownshanggliding.co.uk