No much to report - the weather has been horrible, though Todd Clark should be very happy with it as it has been raining quite a bit. He is tending the airfield lovingly, so welcomes the rain!
Harry and Wendy Medlicott came up yesterday with the hope of flying some visitors of theirs today, but it really isn't a very nice day for flying! They came from central coast to get away from the rain, but I think they brought it with them! The visitors wanted to see kangaroos, and they have succeeded admirable in that! They are all over the strip. They also managed to see some emus on the way up.
Harry has been busy welding. I have been fiddling about with the gliders and trying to get my laundry dry!
With any luck the weather should clear up tomorrow. There is an instructors panel meeting this weekend so there will be more instructors than you can poke a stick at here this weekend - so come out if you need some training or a check flight!
Jenny
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Monday, April 21, 2008
The news up to Monday 21 April
No flying on Thursday or Friday last week - Friday was very windy, although the sky looked not too bad. Ray and Marga Tilley came out for the weekend.
On Saturday Geoff Sim departed for Wollongong in his Lancair, and I was just loading up the Jabiru to go to Cowra when I discovered I had a flat tyre. I inflated the tyre, and it seemed to be staying up OK, but I decided not to fly as I had some other maintenance jobs to do on the Jabiru. I normal aviation fashion, nothing went according to plan, and it was Sunday night before I had finished and had the aircraft ready to fly again.
The weather at the weekend was very ordinary. A few souls came out on Saturday but only Ray Tilley flew (along with Garry in the tug). Todd Clark gave me some lessons in extracting corroded in bolts. The contractors departed after finishing their part of erecting the new hangars. Now we are waiting for another lot to arrive to fit the doors. The new hangars certainly are BIG. On Sunday John Hoye helped me fit the new bushes to the nose leg of the Jabiru - as with everything they needed modification. It started raining about mid afternoon, and proceeded to pour all afternoon and evening, and most of the night.
However the day dawned blue and sunny again on Monday morning, and by lunchtime the cumulus looked good, but inclined to overdevelop. I took the Jabiru for a test fly circuit. Some gliding friends called in and I showed them around and gave them lunch - hot bread.
We are hoping to get the Callair back from Inverell this week, but then it has to go to PG Aviation in Cowra - hopefully not for too long - to have the paperwork for the electrical system properly sorted out.
On Saturday Geoff Sim departed for Wollongong in his Lancair, and I was just loading up the Jabiru to go to Cowra when I discovered I had a flat tyre. I inflated the tyre, and it seemed to be staying up OK, but I decided not to fly as I had some other maintenance jobs to do on the Jabiru. I normal aviation fashion, nothing went according to plan, and it was Sunday night before I had finished and had the aircraft ready to fly again.
The weather at the weekend was very ordinary. A few souls came out on Saturday but only Ray Tilley flew (along with Garry in the tug). Todd Clark gave me some lessons in extracting corroded in bolts. The contractors departed after finishing their part of erecting the new hangars. Now we are waiting for another lot to arrive to fit the doors. The new hangars certainly are BIG. On Sunday John Hoye helped me fit the new bushes to the nose leg of the Jabiru - as with everything they needed modification. It started raining about mid afternoon, and proceeded to pour all afternoon and evening, and most of the night.
However the day dawned blue and sunny again on Monday morning, and by lunchtime the cumulus looked good, but inclined to overdevelop. I took the Jabiru for a test fly circuit. Some gliding friends called in and I showed them around and gave them lunch - hot bread.
We are hoping to get the Callair back from Inverell this week, but then it has to go to PG Aviation in Cowra - hopefully not for too long - to have the paperwork for the electrical system properly sorted out.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Wednesday 16 April by Geoff Sim
The day was blue and sunny with some scattered cu but there was quite a brisk southerly wind, and it was cool. The blipmaps were not very optimistic, however they were wrong again!
Ian Barraclough and I were working on the engine of the ASH 25 and after talking to Marketa (Czech blog reader) in the morning, we decided that if the engine was working we would do a test flight. As the wind was southerly, and we were taking off from runway 14 up the hill, we decided not to fly two up for the test flight. I took off at about 1300 hours and found that the engine performed flawlessly - after I had adjusted the carburettor in accordance with the instructions. I could feel that the day was quite good, but the thermals were a bit broken up low down because of the wind. When I got to 5000ft it was so unstable that almost no turns were needed - I could fly from cloud to cloud without turning in a convergence area that that stretched from the north end of the Kelvin range to Werris Creek, where there was a blue hole. I was able to fly for about an hour and a half without turning.
On the way back from Werris Creek, without turning I climbed from 4500 to 6500ft flying at 50-60 kts without turning. On reaching the top of the Kelvin range I set the McCready to 8kts and flew all the way back to Keepit at 120kts. Then I hit the southerly wind at Keepit, ran out of energy, and was unable to complete the planned kangaroo run! I did a low but safe circuit but the air on arrival was quite turbulent.
An unexpectedly good day!
Ian Barraclough and I were working on the engine of the ASH 25 and after talking to Marketa (Czech blog reader) in the morning, we decided that if the engine was working we would do a test flight. As the wind was southerly, and we were taking off from runway 14 up the hill, we decided not to fly two up for the test flight. I took off at about 1300 hours and found that the engine performed flawlessly - after I had adjusted the carburettor in accordance with the instructions. I could feel that the day was quite good, but the thermals were a bit broken up low down because of the wind. When I got to 5000ft it was so unstable that almost no turns were needed - I could fly from cloud to cloud without turning in a convergence area that that stretched from the north end of the Kelvin range to Werris Creek, where there was a blue hole. I was able to fly for about an hour and a half without turning.
On the way back from Werris Creek, without turning I climbed from 4500 to 6500ft flying at 50-60 kts without turning. On reaching the top of the Kelvin range I set the McCready to 8kts and flew all the way back to Keepit at 120kts. Then I hit the southerly wind at Keepit, ran out of energy, and was unable to complete the planned kangaroo run! I did a low but safe circuit but the air on arrival was quite turbulent.
An unexpectedly good day!
Tuesday 15 April
Pilots flying today were Graham Holland in Jantar IZT, Harry Medlicott in Ventus KRJ, John Clark in Jantar IZV and Matthew Minter, who flew a friend in the Grob Twin ll.
There was a brisk southerly wind, but it was straight down the runway. The clouds looked excellent. We launched from runway 14. I towed all the gliders up into a thermal, and none of them came back again, so I refuelled the tug and put it away.
Harry Medlicott reported that he flew down to Quirindi, but nearly landed due to the cool strong southerly wind that pushed in down that was, causing a large area of blue. He survived however, and made it back to the clouds where conditions were better. John Clark took things cautiously after hearing about Harry's problems and stayed fairly local, while experimenting with Jantar flying. Not sure where Graham Holland went, but he had a good long soaring flight. Matthew had over an hour with his friend in the Grob.
Work on the new hangars has been progressing.
There was a brisk southerly wind, but it was straight down the runway. The clouds looked excellent. We launched from runway 14. I towed all the gliders up into a thermal, and none of them came back again, so I refuelled the tug and put it away.
Harry Medlicott reported that he flew down to Quirindi, but nearly landed due to the cool strong southerly wind that pushed in down that was, causing a large area of blue. He survived however, and made it back to the clouds where conditions were better. John Clark took things cautiously after hearing about Harry's problems and stayed fairly local, while experimenting with Jantar flying. Not sure where Graham Holland went, but he had a good long soaring flight. Matthew had over an hour with his friend in the Grob.
Work on the new hangars has been progressing.
Monday 14 April and the weekend
Couldn't get away early on Saturday morning, as I had to rearrang my various aircraft in the hangars, so some tidying up at home. Also there was the Grob to be rigged after Lachlan's outlanding. As soon as the members saw it in the trailer, I got the blame - but it wasn't me this time! Anyway it went together quite easily - obviously practise makes perfect!
Got away in the afternoon and flew back again on Monday morning. Apparently outlanding was the order of the day over the weekend. Matthew Minter outlanded at Barraba on Saturday but Phil Anderton, who was towing, aerotow retrieved him. Barraba is about as far as you can go for an outlanding retrieve with e-tug unless you use the wing tip tanks.
John Clark had an outlanding at the strip at Manilla in the Junior on Sunday. Rob de Jarlais flew there to retrieve him, but seemed to be a bit directionally challenged when it came to finding the actual strip - he flew over Phil Anderton's place, who apparently waved and pointed in the right direction! (This is as John tells the story!) So another milestone - a safe outlanding by John. Congratulations! Despite all this plummeting, they tell me it was a really good weekend's flying.
My flight on Monday morning was very smooth, and I didn't hold out much hope for a decent day - however Harry Medlicott was there and wanted to fly regardless, and John Clark wanted to try out the Jantar Standard. Robin Walker self launched his Ventus at the second attempt - I understand a clogged airfilter prevented it from achieving full revs on the first attempt.
Harry and Robin flew together and I could hear them on the radio heading to Baraba (or was it Bingara?) Luckily Bob Emery came out to do the banking, and we pressed him in to service to run Harry's and John's wings - I couldn't persuade him to fly himself though.
It proved to be another much better day than expected.
Got away in the afternoon and flew back again on Monday morning. Apparently outlanding was the order of the day over the weekend. Matthew Minter outlanded at Barraba on Saturday but Phil Anderton, who was towing, aerotow retrieved him. Barraba is about as far as you can go for an outlanding retrieve with e-tug unless you use the wing tip tanks.
John Clark had an outlanding at the strip at Manilla in the Junior on Sunday. Rob de Jarlais flew there to retrieve him, but seemed to be a bit directionally challenged when it came to finding the actual strip - he flew over Phil Anderton's place, who apparently waved and pointed in the right direction! (This is as John tells the story!) So another milestone - a safe outlanding by John. Congratulations! Despite all this plummeting, they tell me it was a really good weekend's flying.
My flight on Monday morning was very smooth, and I didn't hold out much hope for a decent day - however Harry Medlicott was there and wanted to fly regardless, and John Clark wanted to try out the Jantar Standard. Robin Walker self launched his Ventus at the second attempt - I understand a clogged airfilter prevented it from achieving full revs on the first attempt.
Harry and Robin flew together and I could hear them on the radio heading to Baraba (or was it Bingara?) Luckily Bob Emery came out to do the banking, and we pressed him in to service to run Harry's and John's wings - I couldn't persuade him to fly himself though.
It proved to be another much better day than expected.
Monday, April 14, 2008
Friday 11 March
A blue and rather difficult soaring day. John Trezise Harry Medlicott and Robin Walker were in residence. Lachlan Knight, our youngest member, called to say he wanted to fly. As he had not flown since last November, a check was called for. Geoff Neely was summoned to fly the tug - thanks very much for that Geoff.
I did the check flight with Lachlan, and he flew very well. As he wanted to try for his silver distance, we practiced a short field landing on runway 20 on the Grob. He was able to pull up before the cross strip.
As John Trezise was flying the Junior, and Lachlan went off in the Grob.
John Trezise was trying to accumulate enough solo flights for a B certificate but managed a soaring flight of over an hour, but reported the thermals were a long way apart. Harry Medlicott also said it was a difficult day. As I had to move my glider into another spot, and Geoff was available, I couldn't resist taking it for a fly. However after the initial thermal, I flew off towards the Carrols, got nothing and came back to Keepit and bombed out. As I was towing the glider back down the runway, I was wondering how Lachlan was getting on when my phone rang. Lachlan was fine and proudly announced that he had landed on an airstrip. Unfortunately it was the airstrip at Tranquille, that we are not welcome to land on - but he didn't realise that when he landed on it. It does look like an ideal spot from the air!
After an apologetic phone call to the land owner, we set off with Garry's trailer - but unfortunately didn't take the right turning, and hence arrive just as it was getting dark. Retrievers were myself, Geoff Neely Robin Walker and John Trezise. John had to drive back to Sydney that night, but came along for the retrieve to learn about retrieves! Luckily he came in his own car which was handy as we used the lights for derigging the glider. Once we got to the glider, derigging was achieved without too much drama, and we got back to the club at about 8.00 pm - quite civilised really!
Full credit to Lachlan for having a go on a difficult day - he made it to Manilla and back to Keepit, then as far as Tranquille - unfortunately not enough for the silver distance. He achieved his first real outlanding - I always think this is a huge milestone in cross country flying - probably just as significant as a first solo flight. So congratulations Lachlan for a safe outlanding. He says he is coming out again next Friday - but I hope he flies a single seater for his next attempt!
I did the check flight with Lachlan, and he flew very well. As he wanted to try for his silver distance, we practiced a short field landing on runway 20 on the Grob. He was able to pull up before the cross strip.
As John Trezise was flying the Junior, and Lachlan went off in the Grob.
John Trezise was trying to accumulate enough solo flights for a B certificate but managed a soaring flight of over an hour, but reported the thermals were a long way apart. Harry Medlicott also said it was a difficult day. As I had to move my glider into another spot, and Geoff was available, I couldn't resist taking it for a fly. However after the initial thermal, I flew off towards the Carrols, got nothing and came back to Keepit and bombed out. As I was towing the glider back down the runway, I was wondering how Lachlan was getting on when my phone rang. Lachlan was fine and proudly announced that he had landed on an airstrip. Unfortunately it was the airstrip at Tranquille, that we are not welcome to land on - but he didn't realise that when he landed on it. It does look like an ideal spot from the air!
After an apologetic phone call to the land owner, we set off with Garry's trailer - but unfortunately didn't take the right turning, and hence arrive just as it was getting dark. Retrievers were myself, Geoff Neely Robin Walker and John Trezise. John had to drive back to Sydney that night, but came along for the retrieve to learn about retrieves! Luckily he came in his own car which was handy as we used the lights for derigging the glider. Once we got to the glider, derigging was achieved without too much drama, and we got back to the club at about 8.00 pm - quite civilised really!
Full credit to Lachlan for having a go on a difficult day - he made it to Manilla and back to Keepit, then as far as Tranquille - unfortunately not enough for the silver distance. He achieved his first real outlanding - I always think this is a huge milestone in cross country flying - probably just as significant as a first solo flight. So congratulations Lachlan for a safe outlanding. He says he is coming out again next Friday - but I hope he flies a single seater for his next attempt!
Friday, April 11, 2008
Thursday 10 April
Another day with a miserable forecast - showers and storms. Blipmaps indicated not much lift, and strong winds moderating later in the afternoon. The wind part of it was fairly accurate.
Miro again declared that he would fly come what may! Harry Medlicott also decided to fly regardless, but would commit to setting a task. John flew the Junior again. Geoff Neely again came out to tow.
Geoff launched Miro, Harry and John, and despite the sky looking a bit grey, none of them came down again. Geoff thought he might be able to pack up and go home, but John decided to land and launch again - he is trying to get enough flights for his B certificate. It is taking a long time because he is soaring for so long on each one! As John launched for the second time, there were showers to the east of the strip getting closer. At this point Gabor and Dave Sieb came out, having given up trying to hang glide from Mt Borah. It was raining over there.
It looked pretty ordinary at Keepit, but we pulled the Grob out anyway and Gabor did three circuits. Not a lot of lift about, but the wind did moderate. I got Gabor to fly the aerotow - Geoff's comment "I could tell it wasn't you flying the tow - but only just".
Miro again declared that he would fly come what may! Harry Medlicott also decided to fly regardless, but would commit to setting a task. John flew the Junior again. Geoff Neely again came out to tow.
Geoff launched Miro, Harry and John, and despite the sky looking a bit grey, none of them came down again. Geoff thought he might be able to pack up and go home, but John decided to land and launch again - he is trying to get enough flights for his B certificate. It is taking a long time because he is soaring for so long on each one! As John launched for the second time, there were showers to the east of the strip getting closer. At this point Gabor and Dave Sieb came out, having given up trying to hang glide from Mt Borah. It was raining over there.
It looked pretty ordinary at Keepit, but we pulled the Grob out anyway and Gabor did three circuits. Not a lot of lift about, but the wind did moderate. I got Gabor to fly the aerotow - Geoff's comment "I could tell it wasn't you flying the tow - but only just".
Wedensday 9th April
Nigel went home today, so Miro, John and Ewan were the only takers. Geoff Neely came out to tow for us.
All the weather forecasts and blipmaps indicated a pretty ordinary day, so Ewan decided to go back to Sydney - he had already stayed longer than he intended! Miro declared that he would fly whatever the weather, even if there were no thermals at all!
We got the grob out to give John Tresize his A certificate test flight - it was the first time he had flown with the altimeter covered. We also got the Junior out for John to fly afterwards. Dave Sieb turned up with his friend Gabor Sipos, another hang-glider pilot interested in learning to fly sailplanes. A bit later on two more hang glider pilot friend's of Dave's came along also - Katharina and Tigran.
Miro was first to launch, and last to land. I think he was in the air for about four hours, but he said he didn't go very far. I flew with John in the Grob - plenty of lift everywhere - he just can't bear to pass it up! No problems, so I sent him off to fly the Junior.
I next flew with Gabor - who was worried that he might be airsick. He had done a bit of three axis flying in the dragonfly (hang glider tug) but not a lot. He did extremely well, and his turn co-ordination was excellent. He flew so well that I had no hesitation in letting him fly the circuit and do the landing - at least most of it. He was starting to feel sick by the end of the 40 minute flight, but managed to hold it together!
Dave Sieb couldn't resist pulling out the Jantar, once he saw that we were staying up and surprised Geoff by releasing at about 1200ft and climbing out. He had some good flying and cruised over to Mt Borah and back, and experiemented with flying the Jantar fast! It does go very fast!
John had a good soaring flight in the Junior - nearly two hours.
I flew with Katharina and Tigran, but by that time the lift was not so good and we only managed half an hour each.
For a day with such a poor forecast, we had quite a busy day, and some good soaring!
All the weather forecasts and blipmaps indicated a pretty ordinary day, so Ewan decided to go back to Sydney - he had already stayed longer than he intended! Miro declared that he would fly whatever the weather, even if there were no thermals at all!
We got the grob out to give John Tresize his A certificate test flight - it was the first time he had flown with the altimeter covered. We also got the Junior out for John to fly afterwards. Dave Sieb turned up with his friend Gabor Sipos, another hang-glider pilot interested in learning to fly sailplanes. A bit later on two more hang glider pilot friend's of Dave's came along also - Katharina and Tigran.
Miro was first to launch, and last to land. I think he was in the air for about four hours, but he said he didn't go very far. I flew with John in the Grob - plenty of lift everywhere - he just can't bear to pass it up! No problems, so I sent him off to fly the Junior.
I next flew with Gabor - who was worried that he might be airsick. He had done a bit of three axis flying in the dragonfly (hang glider tug) but not a lot. He did extremely well, and his turn co-ordination was excellent. He flew so well that I had no hesitation in letting him fly the circuit and do the landing - at least most of it. He was starting to feel sick by the end of the 40 minute flight, but managed to hold it together!
Dave Sieb couldn't resist pulling out the Jantar, once he saw that we were staying up and surprised Geoff by releasing at about 1200ft and climbing out. He had some good flying and cruised over to Mt Borah and back, and experiemented with flying the Jantar fast! It does go very fast!
John had a good soaring flight in the Junior - nearly two hours.
I flew with Katharina and Tigran, but by that time the lift was not so good and we only managed half an hour each.
For a day with such a poor forecast, we had quite a busy day, and some good soaring!
Tuesday 8 April
After Paul's funeral on Monday, I had take my dad back to Cowra and get back to Lake Keepit to fly with Nigel Holmes. Since the clocks went back at the weekend, I could not get away on Monday evening, so it was a 5.00 am start on Tuesday morning. Got to Wollongong airport at 7.15 am - it was raining and the cloud was down on the escarpment. By about 8.45, a gap appeared in the clouds and we were able to take off and fly over the top to Cowra. Refuelled the plane, took Dad home and took off again for Lake Keepit. Arrived at Lake Keepit at 1310, to find that John Hoye had got the training glider ready, and had already launched Ewan in the LS7 and John Trezise in the Grob.
Conditions were quite windy, but the lift was quite good. I flew with Nigel for about an hour. Then we did a couple of circuits, but the wind got stronger, and we called it a day. Nigel has now joined the club as a full member and joined GFA, so I am sure we will be seeing more of him at the club.
John Trezise seemed to be handling the Grob in the strong wind with no problem, and had nearly two hours soaring.
Ewan flew about 270 km cross country (his flight is on the OLC) even in the strong wind - I guess being from Scotland, he felt at home with the conditions! He likes the LS7 and says he now wants one! He is threatening to come back again next summer!
Geoff Sim also flew up from Wollongong airport in his lancair. He left about 1/2 hour after me, and said that the cloud had closed in again, so it was lucky I got out when I did.
Many thanks to John for towing and getting the day started.
Miro Mikus turned up in the afternoon, and we helped him put the wings on his Nimbus 2.
Conditions were quite windy, but the lift was quite good. I flew with Nigel for about an hour. Then we did a couple of circuits, but the wind got stronger, and we called it a day. Nigel has now joined the club as a full member and joined GFA, so I am sure we will be seeing more of him at the club.
John Trezise seemed to be handling the Grob in the strong wind with no problem, and had nearly two hours soaring.
Ewan flew about 270 km cross country (his flight is on the OLC) even in the strong wind - I guess being from Scotland, he felt at home with the conditions! He likes the LS7 and says he now wants one! He is threatening to come back again next summer!
Geoff Sim also flew up from Wollongong airport in his lancair. He left about 1/2 hour after me, and said that the cloud had closed in again, so it was lucky I got out when I did.
Many thanks to John for towing and getting the day started.
Miro Mikus turned up in the afternoon, and we helped him put the wings on his Nimbus 2.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Where were you II - by John Hoye
Sunday 6th of April dawned bright and sunny without a cloud in the sky. I was instructing today and had agreed to tow for Jenny for the Monday and Tuesday. So packing was undertaken for the three days with the added bonus that the clocks were "falling back" an hour. I arrived at the airfield at 9.20 and met my fellow soaring protagonists for the day, Nigel Holmes was accompanied by his partner Pat to continue with his training after being close to solo when he last visited in December. Ewan ? a visitor from the home country (Dunstable club) was here to fly for a few days and had an eye on our LS7. Charlie Szpitalak arrived to fly the etug and quickly got the towplane readied for the day. Geoff Neeley came for a second day but this time to get HDB into the air having towed the previous day. Jim Hackett arrived last and flew his very smart looking ASH26 for an hour or two.
Nigel and I took to the air first in the Puchatek and just hung on at first as the thermals developed some strength. After three quarters of an hour we got low by the airfield and Nigel caught hold of a strong core just before we were committed to joining the circuit. Jim Hackett, self launching in his ASH26, joined us as we climbed to cloudbase. Where we left him as we set off towards Gunnedah for a cruise under the good looking clouds that were developing. Ewan, meanwhile, had hopped into the LS7 and cruised off for a couple of hours to return with a wide grin on his face. Geoff reported having had a good run out to Coonabarabran and Premer before the iron thermal had to be used to bridge an energy gap on the way home.
Pat's return flight from Tamworth to the big smoke was due to depart at 5pm so we were able to fit in another circuit for Nigel before he drove to the airport. We tucked the Puchatek away in the hangar and I was lured by the LS7 parked by the side of the runway into thinking of a spot of soaring. Isn't instructing fun. With the help of Ewan we got it down to the launch point and I took off at 3pm. Charlie dropped me in 4kts overhead Geoff's castle and I climbed to starting height and headed out towards the Kelvin range where a large cloud threatened to lift me skyward at a considerable rate. I arrived underneath it at 2.5k and it's promise was realised, probably just as well, since I had no way of getting back to the club from that height if it failed.
At this stage cloudstreets ran from Barraba towards Coolah with overdevelopment evident towards the North with showers developing. I ran North first, towards the showers and enjoyed the visual display. Wherever the suns rays shone on the showers rainbows were in evidence. Long rainbows, short ones, double one's, sadly my camera had stayed in the car and the visual feast was to be unrecorded. After a run back down the cloudstreet towards Mullaley I returned towards Boggabri. It was time to run back into wind for the return to Keepit (the cloudstreets were crosswind). A large shower was overhead the Kelvin range with a smaller one over the Carrols. As I passed through the gap trying to avoid the rain I watched the swirl of the rain falling and was lucky to catch a good thermal back to cloudbase. During the climb I was able to take in the shear beauty all around me as I circled up. The sun by now was low in the sky and it shone brightly through the veil of the shower over the Kelvin illuminating the tendrils falling earthwards. It also shone up from the veil onto the cloudbase and picked out the texture of the cloud. The shadows from the clouds over Keepit extended for many miles but Tamworth was in a pool of sunlight and it shone brightly in the distance. Through a gap in the clouds to the Northwest blue sky could be seen with sunlight playing on the cloud tops towards the coast. Lift beckoned and with daylight permitting I ran another street to Middlebrook's strip skirting the Tamworth airspace and rain showers before blasting for home at 120kts.
Thank you for driving from Walcha Charlie, for so few tows. I'm sure that all those who flew today appreciated your contribution that made our enjoyable soaring day possible.
John
To Bingara on 5/4/08 - by Garry Speight
On Saturday, the blipmap encouraged a task to the north. Four of us, Christian Linnet in the Standard Cirrus, Chris Carr in the LS6, and Ewan Crosbie and I in the Twin Astir, launched at about 1 pm (EDT), flew 234 km, and finished within minutes of each other at 4 pm. Matthew Minter and Jim Hackett also flew cross country a bit later. (All thanks to Geoff Neely flying the eTug.)
Christian had a slow start, and Chris waited for him. Ewan and I went flat out and did 85 km/hr. I was very happy to get the Twin up to a decent speed for the first time since November.
Ewan and I got a good thermal in the blue off launch: 4 to 8 knots up to 5900 feet. Ewan said he had never had a thermal as strong as that. We set off, but got nothing until near Jack Gainey's airstrip. It was a bit of a struggle to get to a cloud over Mt Borah. From there on it was cumulus all the way. Ewan felt it would have been more of a challenge without the clouds.
We had declared Bingara airstrip as a turning point, and all arrived there together just before 3 pm. Cloud base was 9000 feet.
Christian suggested we should try for Warialda, but I thought we might run out of time. I had thought of going south later, but that also seemed a bit ambitious, as there was quite a blue hole from Keepit to Breeza.
So we simply flew home from Bingara - at 105 km/hr.
Garry Speight
Friday, April 4, 2008
Thursday and Friday 3 & 4 April
Forecast for Thursday was for a cold front to be over us at 11.00 am - and it was pretty accurate. The wind was very strong, and there was a lot of raised dust. Phil Anderton came out to tow so that I could give Ewan Crosbie, our Scots visitor from the London Gliding Club, a check flight. Ewan turned up yesterday evening, and is staying for a week's flying. He is a very rare bird - a YOUNG glider pilot. He flies in Junior comps in England! He seems to be able to put up with the OFITTHs OK though. He is an AEI, and current on aerotow and winch - as we all should be!
We decided to give it a miss until the afternoon, when the wind was forcast to moderate. Vic Hatfield had a friend to fly too, and he came out later in the day.
At the second attempt we were all ready to go, but as is the way of powered aeroplanes, we couldn't get it the tug started! Out with the winch, and three decently high launches in the Grob. No soaring though. I drove the winch, and Vic did the flying.
Ewan was rather intrigued by the kangaroo on the runway problem that we have here and took lots of photos. He likes the quad bikes - reckons they are more fun that the golf buggy's they use at Dunstable. I'd have to agree. I used to fly hang gliders at Dunstable, so its interesting hearing about the flying there from a sailplane pilot's point of view.
On Friday it was blue and sunny. The men building the hangars have disappeared. The blipmaps were a bit optimistic with the thermal height, but accurate as regards the clouds. Ewan was the only one to fly - I towed him up in the Jantar at about 2 o clock. He reported the highest he got was 4000ft, but he stayed up for 2 1/2 hours and explored the local area. Ray and Marga Tilley came out - Ray is welding the tracks for the hangar, and Marga gave the clubhouse a bit of a clean up. Thanks to both. Jim Hackett is also here, but has not yet taken to the air!
So come out for a fly this weekend - I bet the cirrus XQV will be out again as aways!
We decided to give it a miss until the afternoon, when the wind was forcast to moderate. Vic Hatfield had a friend to fly too, and he came out later in the day.
At the second attempt we were all ready to go, but as is the way of powered aeroplanes, we couldn't get it the tug started! Out with the winch, and three decently high launches in the Grob. No soaring though. I drove the winch, and Vic did the flying.
Ewan was rather intrigued by the kangaroo on the runway problem that we have here and took lots of photos. He likes the quad bikes - reckons they are more fun that the golf buggy's they use at Dunstable. I'd have to agree. I used to fly hang gliders at Dunstable, so its interesting hearing about the flying there from a sailplane pilot's point of view.
On Friday it was blue and sunny. The men building the hangars have disappeared. The blipmaps were a bit optimistic with the thermal height, but accurate as regards the clouds. Ewan was the only one to fly - I towed him up in the Jantar at about 2 o clock. He reported the highest he got was 4000ft, but he stayed up for 2 1/2 hours and explored the local area. Ray and Marga Tilley came out - Ray is welding the tracks for the hangar, and Marga gave the clubhouse a bit of a clean up. Thanks to both. Jim Hackett is also here, but has not yet taken to the air!
So come out for a fly this weekend - I bet the cirrus XQV will be out again as aways!
Wednesday, April 2, 2008
Tuesday and Wednesday
Arrived back at the club on Tuesday morning, having spent the weekend and Monday with my friend Paul's partner Val - another very old friend of mine.
There had been no flying on Monday, but the hangar construction workers are in residence, and Gerhard minded things. Thanks again Gerhard.
John Hoye came out for a fly on Tuesday, but it was blue and stable. I launched him at about 1.15, and drove around in the statesman trying to set off a thermal for him, but he was only able to soar for about 3/4 hour. Max height 2300 ft! Bad luck.
Wednesday looked much better, but no-one flew. I helped Jim Hackett to rig his ASH26, which went together very smoothly and easily. He warned me that the wings were heavy. He obviously has not had to rig a Mosquito lately! They seemed relatively light to me! Admittedly he took care of the heavy ends.
Olav called in in the evening but has to return to Sydney tomorrow. He has promised to return in November. Ewan, from Scotland, who is on holiday in Aus turned up and will be staying for about a week. So we should have some action for tomorrow! Hope the weather plays the game.
The first new hangar is starting to take shape!
There had been no flying on Monday, but the hangar construction workers are in residence, and Gerhard minded things. Thanks again Gerhard.
John Hoye came out for a fly on Tuesday, but it was blue and stable. I launched him at about 1.15, and drove around in the statesman trying to set off a thermal for him, but he was only able to soar for about 3/4 hour. Max height 2300 ft! Bad luck.
Wednesday looked much better, but no-one flew. I helped Jim Hackett to rig his ASH26, which went together very smoothly and easily. He warned me that the wings were heavy. He obviously has not had to rig a Mosquito lately! They seemed relatively light to me! Admittedly he took care of the heavy ends.
Olav called in in the evening but has to return to Sydney tomorrow. He has promised to return in November. Ewan, from Scotland, who is on holiday in Aus turned up and will be staying for about a week. So we should have some action for tomorrow! Hope the weather plays the game.
The first new hangar is starting to take shape!
Weekend Flying 29 & 30 March
Predictably a quiet weekend at the club - everyone was here over Easter, so no one came the week after! Jay Anderson flew the tug and launched Gerhard and Garry in the Twin Astir, and Christian Linnet in the Cirrus XQV. That glider does more flying than any other at the club I think. Matthew Minter flew the LS6. Geoff Neely flew the DG400. Not sure where they all went, but they had quite long flights, so I guess conditions were OK.
On Sunday there was no tuggie, so out came the winch to save the day again. Jay flew the tug for a couple of air experience flights, but then did a winch endorsement with Gerhard. David Sieb flew the Junior on the winch - would have been his first single seater winch flight. It lasted nearly two hours so he must have got away! Peter Shiels drove the winch for most of the day, but had a hangar flight at the end of the day.
Jay wrote:
On Sunday there was no tuggie, so out came the winch to save the day again. Jay flew the tug for a couple of air experience flights, but then did a winch endorsement with Gerhard. David Sieb flew the Junior on the winch - would have been his first single seater winch flight. It lasted nearly two hours so he must have got away! Peter Shiels drove the winch for most of the day, but had a hangar flight at the end of the day.
Jay wrote:
Although I now have just under 700 hrs in gliders it was not until last weekend that the planets aligned and I got the opportunity to learn winch launching. Up until then my impression had been that the winch was a poor cousin to the tug. I have seen the light! If there is lift around (as there was on Sunday) I would now rather a winch launch than an aerotow. The winch is quicker, quieter cheaper and more exhilarating than the tug. Thanks again Gerhard - a very enjoyable day and valuable new endorsement!
Peter wrote:Incidently, after Gerhard had sent Jay Anderson solo on Sunday, I asked to be allowed the last flight for the day. Gerhard drove the winch and I launched at 6-45, after a higher than expected launch (1600') I still expected just a brief circuit . Imagine my surprise to find myself at 7000' only 20 minutes later! I had a most enjoyable 45min flight to end the day!
Week ending Friday 28 March
Tuesday had a rather poor forecast and was windy and cloudy. Nearly everyone left!
Ian Sawell and Jim Thompson wanted to get winch endorsed, so we got the winch out and Gerhard did a launch with each of them. They were able to soar on each flight, but landed fairly quickly as that was not the object of the exercise. Vic took a launch in the cirrus and had about an hour, before the approaching storms looked to fierce.
It looked like continuous rain was going to set in, so we put the winch and the gliders away. The weather did not get quite as bad as we expected and there was very little rain, but we kept busy with other jobs around the place.
On Wednesday we had 15 winch launches culminating in Ian Sawell going solo on the winch at the end of the day. He and Jim Thompson flew with Gerhard in the Puchatek and I drove the winch. We had no real rope breaks, but I noticed a frayed bit of rope go through the rollers just before Ian's solo flight. Gerhard checked it out, and respliced it luckily for Ian!
Unfortunately on of the cracks in the Puchatek canopy spread past the stop drilling, and became very long. Gerhard spent ages grinding it out and filling it with acrifix the next day, so now the glider is servicable again. Thanks Gerhard. No-one flew on Thursday, we had a day of maintenance!
On Friday I towed Ian Sawell in the Junior with CUR - he was having another go at getting his five hours - but it was a rough blue day, and it wasn't to be. Jay Anderson came in his Saratoga, and I launched him in his LS6. He was a bit eager getting off the tow, and came down for another go, but then had a good two hour soaring flight. That was the first towing I'd done since November!
Sadly I heard that my very good friend Paul Haines passed away on Friday morning from a brain tumour. The funeral will be on Monday 7th April at 1200 at Bulli. His family are coming from England to attend.
Ian Sawell and Jim Thompson wanted to get winch endorsed, so we got the winch out and Gerhard did a launch with each of them. They were able to soar on each flight, but landed fairly quickly as that was not the object of the exercise. Vic took a launch in the cirrus and had about an hour, before the approaching storms looked to fierce.
It looked like continuous rain was going to set in, so we put the winch and the gliders away. The weather did not get quite as bad as we expected and there was very little rain, but we kept busy with other jobs around the place.
On Wednesday we had 15 winch launches culminating in Ian Sawell going solo on the winch at the end of the day. He and Jim Thompson flew with Gerhard in the Puchatek and I drove the winch. We had no real rope breaks, but I noticed a frayed bit of rope go through the rollers just before Ian's solo flight. Gerhard checked it out, and respliced it luckily for Ian!
Unfortunately on of the cracks in the Puchatek canopy spread past the stop drilling, and became very long. Gerhard spent ages grinding it out and filling it with acrifix the next day, so now the glider is servicable again. Thanks Gerhard. No-one flew on Thursday, we had a day of maintenance!
On Friday I towed Ian Sawell in the Junior with CUR - he was having another go at getting his five hours - but it was a rough blue day, and it wasn't to be. Jay Anderson came in his Saratoga, and I launched him in his LS6. He was a bit eager getting off the tow, and came down for another go, but then had a good two hour soaring flight. That was the first towing I'd done since November!
Sadly I heard that my very good friend Paul Haines passed away on Friday morning from a brain tumour. The funeral will be on Monday 7th April at 1200 at Bulli. His family are coming from England to attend.
Monday 24 March - Day 4 Butts Bash
Garry again did the towing. What a hero. 18 Launches for the day.
It turned out to be the best day of the regatta. The task was a three hour AAT with turnpoints at Mullaley AF 30 km, Edgeroi silo 40 km and Manilla Silo 20 km. Dave Turner, Nick Singer, Dave Shorter, Sam Clift, Christian Linnet, Allan Buttenshaw, Dave Sieb, Geoff Neely, Gerhard Stuck, Harry Medlicott, Chris Carr and Geoff Sim Flew the task.
Ian Sawell attempted his five hour silver C soaring flight, but missed it by about 5 minutes. He was just a little to late taking off, and the day wasn't quite long enough!
Nick did a check flight with Jim Thompson in the Grob Twin ll, before flying the task, and Jim was able to go solo in the Grob for the first time. He had been confined to the Puchatek before. Well done Jim.
Dave Sieb brought along friends Scott and Monica Barrett. Scott is a hang glider pilot who works for Airborne Gliders, and Monica ran the NSW state Hang Gliding comp at Manilla. Monica was happy to stay on the ground but Scott was keen to fly the task so we went together in Garry's Twin Astir. Scott had one done one or two flights in a sailplane before, but had clocked up some hundreds of hours on an online soaring simulator. This experience seemed to translate to the real world quite well, as he was able to do most of the flying himself, including the take off and landing (with some assistance but not a hell of a lot). We were able to push along quite fast in the twin to start with, and made good time to Mullaley, where we cut the corner to follow what looked like better clouds. However abeam Narrabri we came unstuck a bit and had to slow down. Headed for Mt Kaputar, but it was not as good as it looked, sneaked over the ridge past the aerials and started heading for split rock. However the conditions seemed to be closing down, and we had a big blue hole to cross. As time was getting on we decided to just touch the Manilla circle and head back to keepit. Managed a slowish climb near the north end of Mt Borah which gave us enough for final glide through the Manilla circle. I wasn't sure about the workings of Garry's final glide computer, and gave it an extra 500 feet, which didn't prove to be necessary, so we came in fast with a good safe height. Scott was able to plan the landing. Lots of lift in the circuit made us a bit high, but we ended up right opposite the hangars, which was a good result. Excellent work Scott! we ended up coming 6th for the day, with a handicap speed of 86 km/hr and a handicap distance of 262.9 km. Actual distance flown was 267 km according to the OLC.
Dave Shorter won the day with a speed of 100.8 km/hr.
Butts awarded me the bottle of sparkling wine, as he is fed up with being beaten by the two seater! However I think the credit belongs to Scott for that one!
Ray Tilley spent the day doing the 50 hourly inspection on the Puchatek, for which I thank him greatly. It is not ready for lots more training!
While ever not flying Tim and Chris Carr were busy with the shade sail and the new hangars. Lots of welding of glider tracks is required!
It turned out to be the best day of the regatta. The task was a three hour AAT with turnpoints at Mullaley AF 30 km, Edgeroi silo 40 km and Manilla Silo 20 km. Dave Turner, Nick Singer, Dave Shorter, Sam Clift, Christian Linnet, Allan Buttenshaw, Dave Sieb, Geoff Neely, Gerhard Stuck, Harry Medlicott, Chris Carr and Geoff Sim Flew the task.
Ian Sawell attempted his five hour silver C soaring flight, but missed it by about 5 minutes. He was just a little to late taking off, and the day wasn't quite long enough!
Nick did a check flight with Jim Thompson in the Grob Twin ll, before flying the task, and Jim was able to go solo in the Grob for the first time. He had been confined to the Puchatek before. Well done Jim.
Dave Sieb brought along friends Scott and Monica Barrett. Scott is a hang glider pilot who works for Airborne Gliders, and Monica ran the NSW state Hang Gliding comp at Manilla. Monica was happy to stay on the ground but Scott was keen to fly the task so we went together in Garry's Twin Astir. Scott had one done one or two flights in a sailplane before, but had clocked up some hundreds of hours on an online soaring simulator. This experience seemed to translate to the real world quite well, as he was able to do most of the flying himself, including the take off and landing (with some assistance but not a hell of a lot). We were able to push along quite fast in the twin to start with, and made good time to Mullaley, where we cut the corner to follow what looked like better clouds. However abeam Narrabri we came unstuck a bit and had to slow down. Headed for Mt Kaputar, but it was not as good as it looked, sneaked over the ridge past the aerials and started heading for split rock. However the conditions seemed to be closing down, and we had a big blue hole to cross. As time was getting on we decided to just touch the Manilla circle and head back to keepit. Managed a slowish climb near the north end of Mt Borah which gave us enough for final glide through the Manilla circle. I wasn't sure about the workings of Garry's final glide computer, and gave it an extra 500 feet, which didn't prove to be necessary, so we came in fast with a good safe height. Scott was able to plan the landing. Lots of lift in the circuit made us a bit high, but we ended up right opposite the hangars, which was a good result. Excellent work Scott! we ended up coming 6th for the day, with a handicap speed of 86 km/hr and a handicap distance of 262.9 km. Actual distance flown was 267 km according to the OLC.
Dave Shorter won the day with a speed of 100.8 km/hr.
Butts awarded me the bottle of sparkling wine, as he is fed up with being beaten by the two seater! However I think the credit belongs to Scott for that one!
Ray Tilley spent the day doing the 50 hourly inspection on the Puchatek, for which I thank him greatly. It is not ready for lots more training!
While ever not flying Tim and Chris Carr were busy with the shade sail and the new hangars. Lots of welding of glider tracks is required!
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