Well did not plan on having limited access to the web the whole week so apologies for the lack of updates or a proper write upJ ! …. this year was GREAT! We had a good group pilots and the organisers Ben & Hamish did an awesome job; by keeping things lively with positive attitudes. Lets hope that they organise some more cups! The last day of flying again was just the best flight of the season with a base just above 3000.….I was temped to just fly off course and wasted time getting higher than I needed.
Over the week there had been two accidents to pilots that I have gotten to know over the last few years but only seem to see them at the comps. I wish them a speedy recovery and look foreword to sharing the air again next year!
Thank you for the week as it was one to look back on!!!!
Sunday, March 29, 2009
Saturday, March 14, 2009
Bright, Vic. - Australian Nationals
Last week ended to quickly to write another update. The last flight on Saturday was fantastic; a bit to get away but the pilots who where up had a great flight with the best base of the week.
Hey guys... Well first day and we are sitting around in the first rain since Christmas. We have plans to drive up to NSW Mt Corryong to get a task in tomorrow. Would be a great move to drive in an effort to get another day flying!
Now its time for a BBQ.. looking at some roo, veg, & maybe some mash! Cant forget the Tim tams & beer!
Hey guys... Well first day and we are sitting around in the first rain since Christmas. We have plans to drive up to NSW Mt Corryong to get a task in tomorrow. Would be a great move to drive in an effort to get another day flying!
Now its time for a BBQ.. looking at some roo, veg, & maybe some mash! Cant forget the Tim tams & beer!
Friday, March 6, 2009
Killarney Classic 2009 Day Off & Task 5
Thursday
Was too windy so I decided to upgrade my Aircotec. It was funny as after my firmware upgrade in German the system would not turn on. So I went back to the café to check and see what others had put on the web …. they recommended taking the unit apart and removed the battery which fixed the problem.
Friday
The forecast predicted that we should have epic conditions. Setting up on the SW takeoff. With a race start at 12:55 I took off in the open launch as I did not have a good launch number. I went early at 12 and climbed out to 2,200 above take off by 12:10 and noticed we were already at the bottom of the cloud with almost an hour to hang out in a 2k radius. As per normal this week the conditions began to get weak as the gate opens. I have to question why we are taking off so late in the day as during the best part we had to hold over launch today.
Just before the window opened a different air mass pushed in dropping the base progressively on the course line. About 5 k’s out I was surrounded by an air mass with a change in dew points as cloud was developing 1000m below me and I got to surf this mass of cloud -- its was amazing as pilots were below and it looked like a waterfall.
Was too windy so I decided to upgrade my Aircotec. It was funny as after my firmware upgrade in German the system would not turn on. So I went back to the café to check and see what others had put on the web …. they recommended taking the unit apart and removed the battery which fixed the problem.
Friday
The forecast predicted that we should have epic conditions. Setting up on the SW takeoff. With a race start at 12:55 I took off in the open launch as I did not have a good launch number. I went early at 12 and climbed out to 2,200 above take off by 12:10 and noticed we were already at the bottom of the cloud with almost an hour to hang out in a 2k radius. As per normal this week the conditions began to get weak as the gate opens. I have to question why we are taking off so late in the day as during the best part we had to hold over launch today.
Just before the window opened a different air mass pushed in dropping the base progressively on the course line. About 5 k’s out I was surrounded by an air mass with a change in dew points as cloud was developing 1000m below me and I got to surf this mass of cloud -- its was amazing as pilots were below and it looked like a waterfall.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Killarney Classic 2009 Task 3 and 4
Killarney
Task 3 - Was cancelled with pilots on task.
Wow woke to another clear day with some overcast - with an average forecast the conditions looked good and a task was called with elapsed time. A race start would have been better as the task was cancled due to over development.
It was a fun day and not too difficult to get away as I climbed out 2 min after launch. With a low base it was difficult to get to the next climb. The cloud was closing off the exits leaving most to pay around in the valley. Me and Loyd pushed between two clouds before it closed off the exit on big ears and bar making it low at the first turn point. Shortly after we drifted in the climb again to base. The wind had picked up and again we had to push head-wind to find our next climb. At the top I found little wind.
It was a difficult day and on approach to the last two points I realized that I was leading out with Meredith and Andrew in the lead gaggle. We all started to race to the large cloud developing on task. At first we got magic lift and in the middle we got over 8m up a second. The field was spread out and at the same time all the pilots began to spiral down. After a few deep spirals I noticed my viro was beeping in accentL ! Not to nice under a overdeveloped cell. With a few others we kept big ears’s on and glided 90deg off the line until we got out of the area. Before the task was called we tried to slip around but it just blocked off the route.
Task 4 - Gear Malfunction
Made a simple mistake and missed the first turn point… Fuck. Only got scored to the first point.... I crossed over the next task line and my GPS gave me the green light to go and get the second point before I entered the 400m circle. So always use both GPS units to take the stupid factor out!
Task 3 - Was cancelled with pilots on task.
Wow woke to another clear day with some overcast - with an average forecast the conditions looked good and a task was called with elapsed time. A race start would have been better as the task was cancled due to over development.
It was a fun day and not too difficult to get away as I climbed out 2 min after launch. With a low base it was difficult to get to the next climb. The cloud was closing off the exits leaving most to pay around in the valley. Me and Loyd pushed between two clouds before it closed off the exit on big ears and bar making it low at the first turn point. Shortly after we drifted in the climb again to base. The wind had picked up and again we had to push head-wind to find our next climb. At the top I found little wind.
It was a difficult day and on approach to the last two points I realized that I was leading out with Meredith and Andrew in the lead gaggle. We all started to race to the large cloud developing on task. At first we got magic lift and in the middle we got over 8m up a second. The field was spread out and at the same time all the pilots began to spiral down. After a few deep spirals I noticed my viro was beeping in accentL ! Not to nice under a overdeveloped cell. With a few others we kept big ears’s on and glided 90deg off the line until we got out of the area. Before the task was called we tried to slip around but it just blocked off the route.
Task 4 - Gear Malfunction
Made a simple mistake and missed the first turn point… Fuck. Only got scored to the first point.... I crossed over the next task line and my GPS gave me the green light to go and get the second point before I entered the 400m circle. So always use both GPS units to take the stupid factor out!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Killarney Classic days 1,2,3
Two beautiful days to fly just a bit of wind to make the first task difficult pushing out at 6k an hour at 2100m. Second day we got to have a fly over the falls which was great but got greeted by shade the whole way. I got up with the first group at 1pm sitting at base for a race start at 145...which was fun to hang over the hill. They expected a high base and got clearance to extend our airspace to a nice 10,000 ft.
Today we had cloud all around . Some decided to take off at cloud base and float around just below the cloud. One of the girls who flew in a wheel chair due to a hang gliding accident had a crash today snapping the collar bone. Really sad as she was in good mood and uplifting to see her fly.
Now im just trying to stay dry! - Having fun!
Today we had cloud all around . Some decided to take off at cloud base and float around just below the cloud. One of the girls who flew in a wheel chair due to a hang gliding accident had a crash today snapping the collar bone. Really sad as she was in good mood and uplifting to see her fly.
Now im just trying to stay dry! - Having fun!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
