We all thought that it would be a better day than yesterday, although a band of cirrus to the north east headed our way. After extensive consultations of blipmaps, Garry suggested Splitrock 10 km radius, Tambar Springs 30 km radius , The Gap 10 km radius and back to Lake Keepit.
Visiting polish pilot Rafal Elzanowski flew the Jantar for a couple of hours early, then landed and took his friend, also called Rafal, for a flight in the Grob. They had to leave by about 2 O'Clock to go back to Sydney for a day's touristing before going back to Poland. Rafal E threatened to come back next year bringing a load of mates with him! That would be interesting.
John White again flew in the LS7 and clocked up 5 1/4 hours. Ian Barraclough did the task in the ASH but had an interesting landing. We must get that grass cut again. Garry Speight and Paul Roche flew the twin Astir, Greg Dennis the Junior, and Bruce Clark (Mr efficiency as a tug pilot) had a decent soaring flight with young son Matt (aged 7) who helped with thermal spotting and glider spotting. He seems to be hooked - its just that how do you explain to a 7 year old that you can't start gliding at 7 am and go all day? Christian Linnet flew the Cirrus Gerhard his Jantar, and yes! I sneaked a flight in the Mosquito today.
Toward Splitrock dam, the cirrus cut out the sun, and conditions were difficult. After two attempts to get within 10 km and nearly going down in the process, I gave up on that one, but Garry and Paul did get to 5 km away. On one of my low saves, I got a thermal on the west side on Mt Borah that was so rough the glider went weightless for a moment and seemed to fall like a leaf - though I had been flying at 60 kts. I think I would have been turned upside down if I had been in a hang glider.
Managed to get up to cloudbase at the north end of the Kelvins, and stayed high all the way to Gunnedah. By this time the clouds were overdeveloping and there were showers around. As I passed Gunnedah I saw Paul and Garry landing there so called the tug to come out.
I thought the sky looked better to the South West but lots of rain between Keepit and and Gunnedah. I kept going because I hadn't had enough flying yet! Got within the Tambar Springs circle and turned back, but everything was dead after the showers. Landed at Gunnedah - another trip for the tug!
Christian outlanded too, but not in an aerotowable paddock. After he landed he got rained on and of course the trailer got bogged. Jim Staniforth and Greg Dennis went to the rescue.
Lots of fun!
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