Snowy Snowdonia by Gyrocopter

Complete snow cover in the UK is rare. So I made the most of our recent cold snap in a glorious flight from Sleap deep into Snowdonia. As soon as I reached the mountains the snow cover was complete, the skies blue and the air crystal clear. A magical flight that will live long in my memory.
Seems an appropriate video with which to sign off for 2022 and wish all my subscribers and viewers a very Merry Christmas and all the best for 2023.
Route - Sleap (EGCV) - Cadair Berwyn - Pale Hall Hotel - Bala Lake - Capel Curig - Carnedd Llewelyn - Carnedd Dafydd - Tryfan - Glyder Fach - Snowdon - Llyn Celyn - Cadair Berwyn (again) - Sleap
#gyrocopteruk #gyrocopter #gyroplane #autogyro #stuwithaview

[@thermaljumper]

Stunning

[@rogerclarke3291]

Really good video. Good footage too. Thanks for sharing.

[@lagyro]

What a magnificent day for an open cockpit flying... and the frozen terrain below is fantastic...

[@StuWithAView]

Yep, I was very fortunate to get to fly when the weather was perfect.

[@blueycaldwell4273]

I recently met a retired Ch.Constable visiting NZ. He agrees our mountains are taller then yours, but the scenery I have seen here on this flight has me admitting yours provide great scenery and flying. Thanks for the viewing.

[@StuWithAView]

Snowdonia packs a lot into a small area, and when the weather’s right it’s scenically magnificent. And it’s not so tall as to be intimidating to a small aircraft.

[@cameronlapworth2284]

Terrific views I can't believe you can fly in this weather I remember flying in my open gyro (no pod at all) in winter and even here in Queensland Australia jacket gloves it was really cold. I think I'll need a heated jacket socks etc they must work great. Absolutely spectacular.

[@StuWithAView]

Thanks Cameron. My core was fine due to screen and layered clothing including heated jacket beneath flying suit. Toes were cold by the end; might use heated ski socks next time. The only really issue is hands - I can’t use heated gloves with the iPad and some of the smaller switchgear; and the thin gloves I do wear do let the cold through eventually.

[@royhoss8309]

This is my other KZbin login but For paragliding at high altitude we wear latex gloves then your other gloves go over them - works like a charm most of the time.

[@MrTimellis10]

Stu, we've waited so long but what a stunning video, sat down with a hot cuppa and watching the winter scenes slip by underneath, best weekend viewing ever, thank you 👍

[@hunglikeadonkeybutnotassmelly]

I enjoyed that so much my toes have chilblains.

[@StuWithAView]

Mine still do too 😂

[@john3Lee]

Well, that was spectacular..... Thanks

[@Froestenpust]

Awsome footage! Gorgeous landscape. In germany, we had only cloudy, misty weather last month. Nothing to play with. Can't wait to get into the gyro next week(s). BTW: what cameras do you use and are you happy with them?

[@StuWithAView]

We have your weather now 😊 This was shot with GoPro Max and Hero 11; very happy with them. Just bought an Insta 360 X3 for my fixed wing and it’s also superb.

[@Froestenpust]

I would like to know, if if the rotor induced shake of the camera image is totally compensated by the hero 11 camera?

[@StuWithAView]

Yes, I would say so.

[@Froestenpust]

Nice! I consider to buy a Hero 11, too. I cannot decide between an Insta360 1Inch 360 or the Hero 11. As I'm an ambitious photo hobbyist, I'm hunting for the best image quality. Do you think, that the Hero 11 has superior quality instead of the Insta? In regard to sharpness and dynamic range, respectively, using the same visual angle?

[@StuWithAView]

Different cameras for different jobs. The Hero 11 is, in my opinion, the best single lens action cam. I have the Insta X3, which is a twin lens 360 camera; I think the X3’s image quality is slightly superior to the GoPro Max, but the Max’s in camera stitching is great.

[@gregmcmaster5528]

Hi Stu. Thanks for your time, effort and expertise. Can't wait to see this on the big screen over Christmas. Stay safe. Greg.

[@StuWithAView]

Thanks Greg; appreciated.

[@chrisgosling5408]

Just a social call Stu hope everything is ok and looking forward to a new video soon, best wishes Chris from Cambridgsehire

[@StuWithAView]

All good thanks Chris. Just really busy and falling a little out of love with KZbin. Thanks for your message.

[@chrisgosling5408]

@@StuWithAView will you be at the Old Warden Eurofox fly in, just a thought...

[@StuWithAView]

I thought this was last weekend?

[@chrisgosling5408]

Apologies, senior moment! I was listening into the airshow on AM which I can received in huntingdon with a 30 m vertical mast antenna. Forgot that was two weeks back

[@halfrhovsquared]

Your Ts & Ps look pretty much identical to mine. Oil temp in the middle of the yellow, CHT only just off the bottom stop, and oil pressure right at the very top of the green. When doing my en-route (LIFERS) checks, I report that as "Ts & Ps, nominal". I've considered blanking off a small section of radiator, but apparently, the margin for error is quite small and it is very easy to overdo it.

[@StuWithAView]

Thanks; that’s reassuring 👍

[@paulmccormack4462]

Fantastic views, how do you protect yourself against hypothermia?

[@StuWithAView]

Electrically heated jacket beneath flying suit, gloves, layers, thick socks.

[@petercarpenter3355]

Brilliant scenic and informative video as always Stu. I was wondering, who are the manufactures of your heated jacket, flying suit and the iPad touch sensitive thermal gloves you wear please?

[@StuWithAView]

Thank you Peter. Gerber heated jacket, BlueSkyBlue suit and The North Face gloves.

[@peterclark6290]

Top of the world flight. Just how deep and how early is that global warming blanket? (rhetorical Q).

[@zenzen9131]

What a great flight :)

[@jasonrwilkinson9216]

Great flight Stu, amazing scenery with the snow and cloud hanging over the mountains. Notice that your temps did eventually climb although oil temp was still quite low. I've enjoyed a few nice flights while we've had the cold weather with the air being super calm. Who says that you can't fly open cockpit all year round! Have a great Christmas and New Year and I know I say this every year but I'm sure we'll catch-up one day in 2023!

[@StuWithAView]

Cheers Jason; all the best for Christmas and 2023.

[@chrisgosling5408]

Top job, thanks for going to the trouble of recording and posting. It's a double bonus as it looks fantatstic and features hills which is quite literally a highlight as I live in Cambridgeshire. Had to put the gyro lessons on hold as other priorities need to get sorted first so this plays a very good second.

[@StuWithAView]

I've spent a fair bit of time in Cambridge; my son lives there. Lovely place, but flat as a pancake 🙂

[@chrisgosling5408]

@@StuWithAView isn't it just, my lessons have been out of Damyn's Hall aerodrome near Upminster which sounds West Country but is East London, great views of the City and Thames estuary. I just think that "open cockpit" is the way to fly and for anyone reading this who hasn't tried a gyro flight go for it you won't be disappointed!

[@StuWithAView]

Nice place. And I agree; open cockpit is the full gyro experience 😁 Hope you get back to it soon.

[@rogermarsh9632]

Magic landscape. Do you fly a Magni M22?

[@StuWithAView]

Nope; Autogyro MT-03.

[@rogermarsh9632]

@@StuWithAView very nice! One of these years I have ambitions of getting an MTO Sport 2017 for flying here in Australia. THat’s the dream anyway

[@chrisa7237]

Perfect Stu. Been desperate to get out in the snowy weather but it seems that Kemble has a 'wait for the snow to melt on its own' policy... so not possible sadly. Looked stunning!

[@StuWithAView]

Sorry Chris… it was stunning 😊 There was fortunately no snow at Sleap, although there was plenty of ice.

[@comeflywithlee433]

Another nice video Stu. I went flying in the gyro last week and the views were great although I didn’t go as far into wales as you where the views look amazing .

[@StuWithAView]

Lee I persevered deeper into Snowdonia despite the cold; heated jacket worked well. Absolutely stunning over there.

[@rickblazecka1286]

I would imagine hitting a downdraft in those surroundings and altitude would not be recoverable?

[@rickblazecka1286]

...in those surroundings would not be recoverable?

[@StuWithAView]

It would have to be a pretty extreme downdraft to be irrecoverable; more likely to just be uncomfortable.

[@lagyro]

Do you partially cover your oil cooler during the winter months?

[@andyboiler7096]

Hi Stu, what kit do you use to connect your headset to the go pro mic. I’ve been attempting to just put a small mic in my ear cup on the fly com helmets but it’s not working Cheers Andy

[@StuWithAView]

Hi Andy. I made my own intercom splitter which takes my headset lead and divides it between the ship’s radio/intercom and a separate feed to a Sony recorder. I don’t use the GoPro audio for voice; merely for ambient.