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"It Was On Like A Train" :: tested the air at Borah
Author: Allan McMillan
Subject: tested the air at Borah
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 3:01 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 0
A couple of weeks ago I did my monthly country work trip up the far north coast of NSW then across inland via Ipswich then back down through Warwick, Inverell Manilla then home. I took my Sting strapped firmly to the roof racks and set off. All the way up the north coast the lack of any sea breeze defeated any chance of coastal flight. At Canungra the strong westerly had blown out any chance of a launch. When I left Inverell on the Saturday morning it was a picture perfect day. Borah is just two hours away and it should be ideal. By the time I got to Barraba the southerly had driven low cloud up the valley. By the time I got to Borah it was 8/8ths cloud about 500 ft above launch. Consequently on that trip I drove 2,500 kâs for the week with the Glider strapped on top the whole time.
I had another country work trip this past week. This time it was just a short run to Narrabri, Moree, Boggabri & Tamworth. I am an opportunist with imagination at heart so this time I took my Sting with the expectation that amidst the rainning days I would find at least one flyable day. Sure enough that opportunity came on Tuesday and Wednesday. After leaving Warialda Tuesday morning I arrived at Borah in beautiful early spring time conditions.
I had the mountain to myself. Set up and waited for the 0-2 Knt breeze to start to cycle. Short light cycles came through at about 2 â 5 knts... still waiting ... nice view though. Seeing as the only launch opportunity was the south west I had been cautious to make sure that I did not launch into anything that would not allow for at least a trip over the saddle as there was no vehicle recovery from the western bomb out this day.
About 2pm âShepâ a local from Manilla came up the hill with his parraglider. By the time he had set up the cycles were a bit more pronounced getting up to about 6 knts but lasting a bit longer.
After a few false starts Shep got it up and found a something going up out the front of launch. Nothing too fast but gave him a ride up to 1000 or so above. I followed and launched in search of a thermal but found smallish light bubbles that allowed for one or two turns at best. After scratching to stay level with launch and starting to sink out I headed for the saddle and after a turn or two opted for the eastern side and took a sled ride to the eastern bomb out and had a pleasant flight along the way. Shep flew back home to his paddock at Manilla. At least I scored a ride back up the hill to my car with Sheps driver.
The next day conditions were better for launching into the cool southerly breeze of about 8 to 10 knts. Again I had the mountain to myself. The goal I set was to get to Godfery's as I could then get a lift back up the hill as my car was at the top. After launching well into a nice cycle and doing a few turns either the lift left me or I lost it, I scratched around till the next cycle, same thing happened. After doing this three times, each time sinking lower below launch I had to opt for the sled ride again. One of the local eagles came along and tapped my wing a few times and again I had an enjoyable sleddy o the eastern Bomb out. The southerly had by this time turned ESE and increased to about 15 knts hence my not being confident of finding any height to get back to Godfreyâs. The penalty for not making goal was a walk back up the hill to my car.
So even though I had just two short flights that ended up as sleddies, the experience was enjoyable. Even the walk back up the hill was enjoyable. In case you have not tried it, it takes 45 minutes to walk back up the hill.
_________________
A man who has imagination has wings
Notice Board :: RE: fathers day fly in and picnic
Author: Gary H
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:32 am (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 4
I will be doing much the same Splint, see you there.
Gary H
Notice Board :: RE: fathers day fly in and picnic
Author: Splint
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:22 am (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 4
Sounds like a fair call to me JOD. I'll be watching the BOM to see when the wind swings and calms, which I think it will, and then I'll cart the family in to Merewether with some beer and nibbles.
_________________
Adventure Before Dementia!
Notice Board :: RE: fathers day fly in and picnic
Author: JOD
Subject: Inland or coast?
Posted: Sun Sep 07, 2008 8:02 am (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 4
As usual the weather Gods have been having fun.
Stuie thought that if it looked more coastal than inland we could run a little comp off Merewether with a picnic before or after.
BOM now says Sunday until midnight: Wind: SW/S 20/30 knots, tending S/SE and easing to 15/20 knots during the afternoon, then further easing to 10/15 knots in the evening, so after all the rain it might be on later at Merewether.
In other words it's every Father for himselves! 
JOD
Notice Board :: Radio National 12/9/08 Newcastle 1512AM. Time 8:30am+7pm Fri
Author: scottb
Subject: Radio National 12/9/08 Newcastle 1512AM. Time 8:30am+7pm Fri
Posted: Thu Sep 04, 2008 2:06 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 0
Friday 8:30amThe Sports Factor with Mick O'Regan. Debating Australia's sporting culture Repeat b'cast 7pm Friday. ABC Radio National.
A promotional program on Hang Gliding and competition.
on friday 12/9/08
for podcast go to
http://www.abc.net.au/rn/sportsfactor/default.htm
Newcastle 1512AM
Adelaide 729AM | Brisbane 792AM | Canberra 846AM
Darwin 657AM | Gold Coast 90.1FM | Hobart 585AM
Melbourne 621AM | Newcastle 1512AM | Perth 810AM | Sydney 576AM
and via satellite to over 220 regional centre
Trips :: RE: Its DENMAN time again!
Author: The Goat
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:55 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 1
Noooooo!
I've got a wedding I have to attend on the 20th Alby!!!!
Guess I'll have to settle for the Sunday.
_________________
Billo (aka the goat)
Buying and Selling :: RE: C4 13 CLIMAX
Author: Gary H
Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 5:54 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 2
No, just going to fly my FUN everywhere. Yes Pauly, you did take my
Litespeed!
Trips :: Its DENMAN time again!
Author: Alby
Subject: Its DENMAN time again!
Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 7:34 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 1
Cancel that date with Jen, tell Kylie youâre washing your hair and give Angelina the stiff arm because its TOWTIME at Denman on September 20/21 â (a traditionally good weekend and favoured in the long range forecasts as âexcellentâ).
Pete & Chris are in a hospitable mood javascript:emoticon('')and the Evils should be nesting.(' ')If thatâs not enough, Georgia is having her 10th (Dave & Megan please note) and Denman school is celebrating their 125th with a big fete. Thereâs more chance of a frost than light winds at this time of year but hey, itâs a lucky place and we are optimists if nothing else.
Comfort enthusiasts can stay in the new motel âin mink lined water beds with companions whose beauty will make you weepâ whilst those on a budget can suffer in the Snorfest Hotel at the airstrip. Local reds and fizzy browns may help keep the cold at bay.
You might want to bring a small gift suitable for a ten year old or perhaps the club may want to spend the money it collected for the Marhienes on something nice? What do you think?
Watch this space for weather related discussion as we get closer but otherwise its all âclear propâ and âbanzaiâ and âget those talons outa my new sail you F#@* bird.â
"It Was On Like A Train" :: goodbye winter
Author: al giles
Subject: goodbye winter
Posted: Mon Sep 01, 2008 2:18 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 0
gentlefolk,
the BoM has officially declared August to be Sydney's coldest month for 64 years, but no-one on NE Heaton launch on Saturday needed to be told that. Prefrontal high cloud had slid in from the west covering the northerly midlevel cloud and the southerly low level cloud. The forecast was for it to swing from moderate S through NE and pick up from the NW, so the dozen or so of us at Freeo's ignored the south wind and headed to the NE launch. Like Sugarloaf two weeks ago, it needed a haircut but the Garys had brought weapons and half an hour later the entire launch chute had a number 1 cut, just as well as it turned out.
Jason Mac, Shane and Camo (in Stings) and Adam P in his C4 bailed off and searched the surrounds - Adam and Camo got a few bumps and broken bits of bubble but all were gathered in within minutes by the paddock beside Carmel's. Scott followed in his C4 and took a few turns in a 50-up bubble which drifted him over the dynamic lifter sheds on Sandy Ck road but the chooks weren't laying and he was on the roadside. It has to improve, we thought, and waited for a little sun. Les dived off but found nothing; Conrad eyed off the CCcloud on Sugarloaf and headed for that but once again, nothing. Ebbs confirmed the finding. I too concurred (I came, I saw, I concurred), as did Al McM and Alisdair (Al et al et al). Screaming Jim ditto (nice landing by the way Jim: best of the day I think). It was superlight and mostly cross on takeoff so glider after glider dived through the space we'd just cleared below launch. Last on launch were Mohammed and the Garys (sounds like a garage band) who completed fifteen of fifteen bombers as the southerly kept right on blowing through the Gap. I'll stop believing in thermals at this rate. Can someone please line us up a better weather god than Huey? and a better prophet than the BoMsite? Bomb is right...as further evidence for this, note that the BoMsite currently has a flood warning for the Murray. And an aerial porcine warning for Canberra.
Well, it was nice to have the feet off the deck and a good excuse to head for Toronto pub, except Scott decided that he had to finish an article for Oz Soaring and that beer was very bad for you and caused bombing, so to save us from that he took us straight home. Thanks Scott. Good to see Greeny and Browny back on launch again too - thanks for driving guys, and Dave Hoey and Brian too. Very social spot, launch. Especially when it's not all that on. Cath (Browny) filmed the launches and we looked at them on the camera in the bombout, rating them for nose angle and commitment on the launch run. 'Jeez, that one's not so good, who is it? Oh...it's me', said Camo.
See you at the Father's Day fly-in and barbie this weekend guys,
DD
Trips :: Airborne's Fly in list
Author: billo
Subject: Airborne's Fly in list
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 11:07 am (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 0
From Russell Duncan, the Airborne fly in list for the rest of this year.
http://williamolive.com/temp/FLY-INS_details.pdf
I commend the Bright weekend. I'll be there, if anybody wants to book in.
_________________
Billo
Less Dither :: RE: this weekend
Author: Allan McMillan
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 8:05 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 2
Allan and Mohamad are driving out too, see you there.
_________________
A man who has imagination has wings
Less Dither :: RE: this weekend
Author: ebbs
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 2:46 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 2
Roger that DD.
Got a driver??
ebbs
_________________
Keep Flyin' - before something happens
Less Dither :: this weekend
Author: al giles
Subject: this weekend
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 10:19 am (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 2
Good forecast for tomorrow (that's Saturday, for all you midweek flyers). Freeo's 10.30...
DD
"It Was On Like A Train" :: Chugga....Chugga....Chugga....And the train keeps on going
Author: arm
Subject: Chugga....Chugga....Chugga....And the train keeps on going
Posted: Fri Aug 29, 2008 4:29 am (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 0
Thursday saw another nice southerly, or I should say, the continuing southerly helping us to achieve liftoff and separation from mother earth.
I was going to fly Dixon but as Anton advised me, Merewether was perfect! Sooo that's where I went. 
Tony was there with a student and a tandem about to happen. Les B had a grin from ear to ear and was ready to leap, and whilst setting up I had an eager young lad asking me all about the business of flying hang gliders, aahhhh the future looks promising. Two fellow flyers of the Latte circles had to call it a day as there was a bit too much strength for them!!
The air was smooth and crisp, first I let the bar out and got as high as the ridge lift would take my tiny frame......, high!!! That was cold so back down low, the Fun is sooo much fun isn't it.
As it stayed very south I did not go and show my face/glider at Noahs and decided to bring it down in the park. Love that clockwise approach into the park and floating a fun in is a no brainer.
Whilst packing up I was questioned by two lots of constables who were following up a lead about a straying paraglider, last seen flying out to sea near the Freighters. I set them straight about the performance of the said craft and told them they would be lucky to make the water with the current head wind. Sounds like someone had too many party drugs.
Scott B arrived to blow away some mathematical cobwebs with some straight forward velocity, gravity and lift, all this whilst doing overtime and testing a new C4, where do you get a job like that!!!
Yep Summer is coming!!!!
CYAll round the ridges
Adriaan
Buying and Selling :: RE: C4 13 CLIMAX
Author: PaulyMaggot
Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2008 6:52 pm (GMT 9)
Topic Replies: 2
Looks like someone's gona get that
..... LiteSpeed .....
they've always secretly wanted
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