Sunday Series - Tambo-Water Tower-Bromelton-Model 17 Aug

A great day flying from Mt Tamborine for me today. It was the first time that I've completed a Sunday series task with turnpoints. So I was very happy.

I arrived to launch late and most of the good regular pilots were launching as I started to set up at 11.50am. So I thought I wasn't going to have anyone to follow. At 12.15 I got in my harness and headed over to launch. Rod, Derek and myself thought for a minute that we may not even get off launch. The wind was coming over the back, so we prayed for a thermal to launch into. Only 5 mins later it came, and the 3 of us got away. Thank god for that.

Rod went to the right of launch and didn't seem to be climbing very fast, so I went left and prayed for something better. I found it, and got a good 4-5 hundred up to about 5,400ft. And with a big grin on my face I headed out on task. Rod and Derek followed. I had a good glide and found some scrappy lift near the Model airfield. Eventually after searching around I god back up to 5,000ft and headed towards Beaudesert. I found some lift with a green paraglider near Beaudesert and Rod and Derek came over under us low.

Cranking it up over Bromelton.

Great cloud formations looking back to the Kerry Valley.

I got back up to 4,700 and headed to the Water tower to claim my first turnpoint, but the lift was no good there and I dropped to 2,700ft. I then headed back to where I was and found a good climb back to 5,200ft and headed to Bromelton. I found some good lift on the way and managed to stay high. We all want to stay high don't we. I got to Bromelton (the second turnpoint) at 3,400ft. I found a nice but weak thermal right there and as I got higher it got better. At 5,000ft I got my camera out and took some pics and a movie. Rod and Derek were below me then and you can see them in the pic.

Rod and Derek below me over Bromelton.

At 5,450ft I headed back to the Model Airfield (the Goal). I hoped to get a good climb where I had found one on the way out to the north of Beaudesert, but only found light bubbles. Not big enough to turn in. I was sinking out bad and at 1, 200ft about 7km short of goal I thought I was going to have to land. I forged on and found a light thermal. After a lot of shifting around, I was climbing slowly at 200ft per minute which finally turned into 300ft per minute, but then I saw Rod come screaming over the top of me when I got to 3,200ft. I headed off to chase him, but there was no way I could catch him.

Some chicken sheds near Bromelton.

I landed at goal (model airfield) about 4 mins after Rod. Unfortunately I miss timed my flare and dropped the nose to make my landing not so good, but only softly touched the nose on the ground. No damage done. Because I launched after Rod I may be close to his time. I will have to wait till he posts the results to find out.

Just over 5,000ft over turnpoint 2 (Bromelton)

A video whilst thermalling over Bromelton.

It was an unexpected awesome day. With the S-SW wind I thought I may not get off launch. But with a great climb just after launching it all looked great. I managed to get a lift back to my car which was still back on Tambo launch with Rod, Don and Briano. Thanks heaps Don and Rod. So a great day flying with no dramas getting back to my car made it an even better day. I wish all days flying were like this.

Hope to see you on launch soon.

2nd of August Flying Tambo

Scotty at Long Rd.

Had a good day flying Tambo. Got to 4,100ft and flew out to Misery, but no one was really going anywhere so I decided to fly back to launch and top land at Long Rd. I landed and then talked Scott I, in to land after me. Flew for 1 hour and 40mins.

Thought I'd add this pick for anyone landing at the Long Rd top landing field. Please click on it and view the larger version to see where the star pickets are. There is no wire on the fence at the moment, but watch out for these pickets if you land there.