Eagle Boy Marlborough Man!

I took the initiative today in heading off to Beechmont alone. Having had no solid commitments from any of my flying buddies i packed the car anyways and headed down. I was the second pilot on launch. Suddenly about a dozen or more, mainly A grade pilots turned up. Most of whom i knew, a couple that i didnt. The wind was very south and at first blowing quite hard. Probably 20 knots with some gusts.

I was a little nervouse at the thought of flying, even though i knew i had flown in similar or slightly harder conditions. My nervousness not made any easier by one of the other pilots on launch who was slowly putting even more doubts in my head. Luckily though i spoke to every other pilot as well and was told id have an awesome flight so hurry up and get ready! I also finally met Rangi who turned out to be a really nice, friendly and helpful guy, and after launching turned it on for all of us by doing some spectacular and cool flying.

A course was set for all those wanting to fly cross country and after most pilots launched i again almost found myself without any flying company, although there were lots of people still on launch. I was happy when Kenny, Michelle, Kieth and Warick turned up with tonnes of eagerness to go for a fly. All apart from Kenny were quite new to the sport and refered to myself with my pittiful 15 or so hours as being quite advanced, thus giving me bit of a swollen head.

In the end alot of us were standing around wondering wheather to launch when i said "thats it, i'm otta here" and started walking to my glider. On the way i saw my negative pilot friend who had earlier said, "i wouldnt launch if i were you", slowly starting to pack up. I got in for a quick hang check by Kieth, and was walked out by Michelle and Steve. Five minutes later and i was sprinting off the mountain in a typical Ant launch (awesome that is).

I started getting sucked up and rather than keeping mainly to the right of launch flew mostly to the left. I just copied most of the A graders and it wasnt long before i saw the wisdom in doing so. Even though the day was a bit blowy, once in the air it was quite smooth. I flew with Big Trev, Big John and a few other pilots including Kenny who was giving a tandem flight. Once again all fear dissapeared once in the air and aprehension turned to full excitement.

By this time there was no blue in the sky at all and with the overcast conditions came the odd shower in the distance. I knew i better keep an eye on this whilst flying around. I must admit i love flying with the sun out and the fluffy clouds alot more than days like today, but i wouldnt have missed this one for the world, for reasons that will become aparent shortly.

The flying was smooth and the light rain made for another experience to be had. I love lying in bed listening to the pitter patter of rain on the roof. Similar can now be said about the sound of rain on my flying wing. It wasnt anything seriosly heavy and i kept a keen eye on all other pilots to see if they were high tailing it out of there. But we all just kept boating around.

A little past 2800 feet and i noticed a bird a little benieth me. A minute later and alot closer i realised this was no mere bird but was a fully fledged Wedge Tailed Eagle. By this time it was almost at my height when i noticed it was thermaling round and around. I thought to myself how cool it would be to fly with it and a second later decided to try. Hey why not? i have wings too i thought. I moved closer towards it and found the lift. I kept to the thermaling rules set to humans and decided that the eagle would determine the circling direction, considering he was there first.

What happened next was unbelievable, an experience ill never forget and an experience i thought id have to wait for alot longer into my flying career to achieve. Both the eagle and myself were at the same height (about3000 feet)when he started getting closer and closer, (with a little help from myself with some tighter banks :)) But the great bird didnt seem to be bothered. At one stage he would have not been more than eight meters away, and for the first time i understood why he was called a Wedge Tail. I always took the name for granted and never thought it might actually mean they have a wedge looking tail, Deeerrrr. Well they do, and a very distinct one at that.

This beautiful creature must have been about 3 meters in wing span. Another experience i wont forget was when he turned his head and looked at me. It all happened so fast. Even though we were circling in the same direction it happened when we crossed paths in a turn. He just looked over at me with those head centred eyes that only birds of prey have and that was that. That 1-2 second look is something that will remain with me for ever.

All this time i was pretty much laughing and looking with awe when i realised i had drifted a bit far over launch. So after he looked at me i quickly straightened up and got back on the ridge. I turned to find my new feathered friend and continue our interlude but he had completely vanished. I couldnt see him any where. Now, im not a full on hippie, religious nut or overly new age, but id have to class that as one of the most spiritual experiences i've ever had, and hopefully not my last.

After composing myself i noticed quite a bit of rain moving steadilly towards me from the far point of the ridge. I also noticed Kenny drive back to launch after landing and packing up. I saw Paul Alan fly benieth me, and i watched as he approached to land. The light rain finally reached me but didnt make to much difference to my flying. At one stage i was almost at the clouds and still steadily climbing. I got a bit nervouse and pulled the bar in and headed out over the valley. I got hit by a few harder gusts and still found myself rising. My nervousness increased after a few seconds of hitting even more lift. I finally hit sink and for the first time ever found the sound of my vario telling me i was going down, to be a comforting one.

I hit alot of sink from that point and didnt find it long before i was almost at launch height. Not to worry i thought to myself ive been high for almost an hour, ill get up again. Big mistake! I watched as Jay and a tandem pilot got ready to run off, but could tell he was watching me to get the ok that there was still some good air about. A few minutes later and i found myself back to my old scratching ways, and in the end decided to give it away and be the only one to bomb out thus far.

I started my glide to the bomb out and hit sink almost the whole way. I got to the paddock with alot less height than usual. I started an aircraft style approch but ended up crossing the bombout half way up rather than its end to save height. I got into hang and started the down wind leg of my approach, then final. I came in with heaps of speed and at the last second flared. I landed not perfectly on my feet but well enough to be pleased with. The other funny thing i brought to that approach and landing was the feeling of excitement not apprehension. For the first time i wasnt nervous, i was actually looking forward to it.

After my typical laughing my head off i cant believe i landed well moment, i picked my glider up and walked it over to the end of the field, turned it around and collaped under it. I didnt care i had bombed and hadnt made any retrieve plans, I was still on my eagle experience high and the thought of walking the hours walk up the mountain didnt bother me in the slightest. I decided to just lie there for a while and see how the other few pilots whome i saw from the air getting ready flew. But no one launched. I knew seeing me hit nothing but sink must have turned most of them off.

Sometimes i think i love lying under my wing in an open field after a good fly as much as i love the flight itself. Lying there reminising while looking at the surrounding farms, paddocks and sky. Its actually post card material, and i offen think if i had a cowboys hat and a cigarette i could be in a Marlborough add.

I watched as Jay launched 15 minutes later on his 10 minute tandem flight before joining me in the bombout. I then witnessed Kieth launch and scratch his ass off for about 5 minutes before landing. We then all watched as Michelle and Warrick, who had mildly better flying experinces than the previous two, glide in to join the fun. Actually Michelle and Warrick did much better than Jay and Kieth. They got up after a good direction call and boated around for 15-20 minutes each. The only reason Michelle landed was due to a mis-communication between her and Kenny on launch.

They were all a little disapointed with their short flights but were happy to have gotten off at all. I was delighted with the company and set about telling all about my latest flying adventure.

After helping them pack up in the rain we drove back to launch. I met a couple of blokes on the hill who were flying remote Zaggis. After a quick "hello" and a "hey! i have a zaggi but ive never learnt to fly it", took up their offer to show me how. I had a quick lesson but with my latest flying accomplisment still fresh in my mind found it hard to concentrate. After everyone had gone i found myself alone lying on launch whilst looking up at the sky as well as over the valley, all the while grinning.

All up 1 hour