Killarney Flight - 93km from Beechmont

On Sunday the 18th of November 2007 I picked up Joel and then Juliette to go up for a possible long cross country flight. I said to Joel on the way up launch "We have someone to drive and the clouds look good, we'll fly a long way today" well, something to that effect anyway.

There were a few people on launch and about 4 novices with red streamers. Warwick was there along with Scotty, Callun and Karl. Unfortunately Karl bombed out after launching first. I heard a few others bombed out with someone deciding the creek might be a good place to crash, oops, I mean land. Apparently others created some aluminum for the scrap metal yard down there too.

Big Trev said the task was Rathdowney with an infinite line. Some said that was too easy, but I liked it. Mainly because I thought I might be able to get there.

I launched at about 11am and Joel wasn't far behind. We all got up to around 2,600ft quite easily, but then the cycles shut down and we lost height gradually. Joel, Big Trev, Ronald and myself eventually got up high enough to go over the back after going up and down a few times. Big Trev rocketed off then, Ronald and Joel and I followed after waiting for a bit. Joel and I left at around 3,800ft. Joel was in his Sonic so he had trouble staying with me on glide. I got to Gordos and dribbled West at only about 3,500ft. I saw Joel getting low in front of Gordos. I hoped he'd get back up and he did. Because I stumbled upon him at the Southern end of the Jinbroken Range. Well done Joel I thought. He'd just broken his PB by about 5km.

Over the Jinbroken Range.

Joel flying over Jinbroken

Joel again

The Storm

We noticed a huge storm building behind us over O'riellys and we headed off towards Rathdowney 15kms away. I lost Joel again, but we ended up together again soon. We had a great time thermalling opposite each other. Now we were 2km East of Rathdowney. I decided not to fly directly over the town but to head South as there was a cloud on a range there that I thought we could both reach. I lost Joel again and the cloud didn't give me much lift and I was losing height. I headed North for a bit and found some good lift. I couldn't see Joel and I think his radio was turned down, so I couldn't talk to him. I decided to head to a big Rocky range to the West of Rath thinking I could ridge soar it for bit of fun. I got there at 5,000ft and found good lift so I didn't get to ridge soar it. Then I saw Joel come in below me but just over the top of this spectacular range. He thermalled up to me and I got him on the radio and exclaimed "How good is this!". The views were awesome. We were about 5km East of Maroon Dam. Joel said to me "Where to now?" "I don't know mate" I said. I looked around and at landing options. I decided to head straight south over the range as I saw a landing option in a small valley. I didn't think it was a good idea for Joel to follow as I didn't really know where I was going and I didn't want him to get into trouble with landing options. I knew I could get by but if I was in a sonic I wouldn't have gone where I did. So I left Joel behind.

A fire near the rocky range

Looking NW near Maroon Dam

The rocky range I wanted to ridge soar with Maroon Dam in the Background

I found plenty of lift and found myself above a squawking Wedgie. I thought he was going to attack me with all of his squawking, but he just checked me out and flew around me for a while. I was in heaven. Just myself and a wedgie over some of the most fantastic scenery I'd ever seen.

I followed some ranges for bit then crossed over my landing option at 7,000ft to another smaller range and into a large valley. I started getting low and was sussing out a landing option near a road and a bridge. I had no dams to pick the wind direction so I started circling over a tree to monitor my drift direction. I was getting worried as there seemed to be no real drift, and landing with a slight tailwind and down a slight hill can easily end in pain. Then all of a sudden, whooshka! Is that a word? 700up on the vario. I cranked it tight and eventually found myself at 7,800ft. You little rippa! Bloody cold though. I radioed to Juliette who was driving that I would try and get to Killarney. I could see Killarney now and had an easy glide to it.

Wayne, Ronald and Regan had already landed there, but had no driver. I got to Killarney with a fair bit of height and wound down throwing in a few aerial maneuvers. I was dying for a leak and found a nice field with a toilet block in it 300 metres from the pub. I landed next to the toilet block and went straight for leak. The boys had got a lift to where I landed and we walked to the pub for a feed and some refreshments. Juliette and Joel turned up about an hour later. We loaded up the car (6 people, 5 gliders and harnesses in an old Skyline wagon) and drove over the range towards Boohah. It was quite crampt, Joels smelly feet and the cars smelly brakes made me a bit nervous. Then we crossed a cattle grid a little too fast and the rear vision mirror fell down. We dropped Ronald at Canungra and Regan and Wayne at Beechmont. I finally got home at 10pm. I heard that Rangi and Tony actually made it to Warwick too. Those guys are really the legends. Congrats guys.

A bit of a vid from the days flyin.

What a day. Certainly a flight I'll never forget. I'm sure there'll be some more great days coming up this summer. Joel flew about 60km in his sonic. What a little legend. He flew really well. Watch out when he gets a Litespeed. I'm sure he'll be kicking my arse once he gets one.

Flying the Canungra Classic 2007

Classic Comp 2007

Well, I finally left work on the Friday night to check in for the classic. Half way to Canungra I wondered why I even left home. The sky was black and branches were flying across the road. With Joel and my gliders on the roof I thought they were going to not only get really wet, but maybe get damaged by hail. Fortunately I managed to park under cover at the show-grounds before the first storm hit. Made it by about 1 minute.

Once the gliders were safely under cover I then had to set up camp. So after I waited for another storm cell and heavy rain I managed to set up my tent in the light rain. I then registered, had a few drinks and tried to get some much needed sleep.

Day 1 found us at Mt Tamborine. I was in position 51 out of about 62. I flew with Joel for a bit. We both made it accross the canungra road to Witheren. But we separated going to Chicken shed ridge. I found nothing on Chicken shed ridge and landed on the Western side near the Rifle Range. Joel landed closer to Beaudesert. The bugger beat me in a Sonic. (I now fly a litespeed 5). I possibly should have gone in alternate launch and got off the hill a bit earlier.

Day 2 saw us at Beechmont. I missed going alternate because I was sitting on the wrong side of the room. All 20 spots were gone by the time I got to the end of the line. So I was at the back of field on launch and by the time my turn came to launch the sea breeze had come in and my ticket XC was gone. Spewin. Managed to top land after an hour and half of ridge soaring.

Day 3 and we were back at Tamborine. The wind was 5knts SW. I managed to get in Alternate launch today which meant I was 11th off the hill. Unfortunately the lift was very light for me, (I weigh over 90kgs and fly a litespeed 5) So after about 20 mins of struggling with a few other pilots trying to stay up I had to head to the bombout. I hit some strong lift on the crosswind leg of my approach which made me go straight instead of turning like I wanted to. Which meant I had to pull on the speed and make a low slipping turn over a house. I came over a fence by about 10ft and with the switching wind conditions. I was now landing cross wind with heaps of speed and was heading to a steak in the ground. I managed to pull up ok but hit a hole in the ground and twisted my foot badly. Then nosed in. I was very hot and angry with myself. I had the option to re-launch because I'd landed in the bombout, but I said to my good driver, Marty that i was pissed off and wouldn't re-launch. But by the time we got back to the launch (Nathan wanted a re-fly) I had cooled down and figured we were on a hill and I had a glider so why not fly?
My foot was burning, but I ignored the pain and ran off Tambo once more. At first it seemed a bit of dejavu. I'd been in the air for 5 mins and was getting very low to the right of launch. I was turning to head to the bombout when Whooshkaa. I got a great thermal which I had to bank really tight in, and eventually found myself at 6,000ft. I then went on to fly over 36kms. My best distance for the whole comp. But my foot ailed me for the rest of the comp. I tried to ignore it.


Day 4 was back to Tamborine. The wind was 15 to 25 knts from the W-NW. I was no. 20 in Alternate launch. It was really rough and unpleasant in the air. I eventually ventured to the north point after going up and down a lot. There I found a very violent lee side thermal which got me where I wanted to be, albeit with a few more grey hairs (got so many now who cares). Only ended up at the Model Airfield. But the headwind was so strong I was pretty proud of that. Only 7km for the day.

Days 5 & 6 were cancelled so we were on Day 7 now. Back at Beechmont. Wind was 12 - 18 knts E-NE. I was 15th in Alternate launch. Which was good I thought. After a long while of going up and down trying to get enough height to go over the back I finally got high enough height with all the top pilots (Jonny Jnr, Attilla, Dave Seib, Etc.). But right then nearly everyone turned around and headed back to the ridge. What's going on here I thought. I later found out that everyone had gone back for a later start. Well, I was there, with enough height to go over the back, so off I went. I got to Gordo's and only found a pilot bombing out and just enough lift to get me to the Kerry valley. I was struggling when I found myself suddenly surrounded by about 20 pilots. All circling in nothing. I spotted Big Trev heading out alone and figured following him was a good decision considering we were all losing height. Wrong! I soon saw Big Trev land followed by myself and a Ridgid wing. Bummer.

Day 8. Again we were at Beechmont. I was number 37 off the hill. The lift was light (5knts E-NE) and I had trouble getting over 3,000ft. Even got as low as 1,400ft and thought I was going to bomb out. Finaly, I drifted over the back at 3,700ft. I found some violent lift at Gordo's but couldn't get much over 4,000ft.
Ended up decking it in the Kerry Valley to only make 16km from launch. Took me over 2 hours too. But I was still pretty happy for the day.

Overall I ended up being about number 52 out of 62 pilots. I was very happy as I had learnt a lot and had a lot of fun. Even beat Atilla (best in the world) on Day 2, but so did a lot of guys. Anyway, it was a great comp with a lot of great pilots. Much fun was had by all.

See ya on one of our hills soon I hope.