Harlech Castle
Note: This map only shows the position of Harlech Castle within the UK.
HARLECH CASTLE (LLANBEDR area) Early hang-gliding sites
NOTES: An article in Light Aviation magazine (December 2012) contained this information regarding the flying career of Gwynli Jones: “…his own adventurous aviation career started back in the late sixties when, together with a small band of local enthusiasts, he constructed his first hang- glider and experimented with flying it.” And, “Hang-gliders at that time were based on US magazine pictures of Rogallo-winged aviators running down sand dunes in California. Gwynli and his chums had the advantage of countless windward slopes in the area of Llanbedr on the shores of Cardigan Bay. Gwynli’s first flight was from a hillside slope high above Harlech Castle.”
“He experienced the exhilaration of becoming airborne as he headed for the fields below. Not as yet being skilled in steering his home-built hang-glider , he landed safely on the back of a very surprised cow grazing peacefully in a meadow; the cow was unhurt and Gwynli was elated with his success. By the end of the decade he had discovered an ideal hillside near his village and was slope-soaring regularly with a new and safer design of hang-glider wing. On one flight he managed to remain airborne for an hour.”
I reckon it would be hard to argue against the fact that the early pioneers of hang-gliding were, in effect, re-living the experiences of the early pioneers such as Otto Lilienthal and Percy Pilcher. Starting from ‘square one’.
“That period of sport aviation was not without its accidents so Gwynli and his colleagues decided to visit the Gliding Club at Long Mynd (SHROPSHIRE) in an attempt to learn as much as possible from more experienced hang-gliding pilots. It was here that Gwynli saw a new concept in weight-shift flying – it was a powered hang-glider called a ‘trike’. On returning home, he lost no time in setting to, to build his own trike. Using his great fund of mechanical and welding skills, he created a tricycle undercarriage frame and used a locally built, two stroke engine called an Owena.” It was not mentioned where the ‘trike’ operated.
Here’s another point when attempting to provide a Guide to British flying sites. A task bordering on the impossible of course. “Gwynli’s trike was a great success and he was invited to demonstrate it at the Royal Welsh Show the following year.” Where and when?
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