A Sleddy with the A Graders

Well i jumped in the van today and picked up my brother Jas before heading down to Tambo for what i was hopeing to be a good flying day. The last time i took Jas the wind came over the back just as i and a few other pilots were about to launch, thus making my debut fly infront of a family member a non event.

We got on the hill at about 9:00. There was know one there at all but once i started setting up alot of spectators stopped to watch. An hour later alot of pilots arrived and the hill was soon packed with people setting up gliders. Luckily i had a prime possition and launch was easily accessable if i wanted to launch early.

A few paraglider launched and didnt make it look to promising, but most managed to stay up in lift well out from the second ridge. The wind was extreemly light at this stage and i had a bad feeling it might turn and cancell the days flying yet again. It was forcast to blow east later that day so i knew i better hurry.

Once again there was a lot of procrastinating on who was going to be the first hangy to launch and Big Trev kept saying i should be the one. Knowing he only wanted a wind teck i laughed, stood my ground and socialised a little more before deciding id had enough and wanted to get air bourne anyway.

I hooked in and had Mic give me a hang check before manoovering to launch. I hadnt planned on launching straight away and think i dissapointed alot of spectators by sitting down under my wing whilst waiting for the wind to pick up. At this stage the wind wasnt blowing at all and even started blowing over the back slightly. I heard one pilot say i dont think everyone will get off today and i instantly knew my decision to hook in was a good one.

Once i hooked in so did a few others and i decided to run off as soon as a good cycle came through. Haveing Rangi and Rod Stead down infront throwng grass and kicking up dirt really helped and once the dust stopped blowing down the hill and showed an upward drift slightly i decided it was time. Haveing the A graders around me saying "only launch if you feel comfortable Ant" was a bit of a wake up call that i was going to have to sprint my guts out. I picked up the glider and ran fast from the word go. I got airbourne a little before the end and went straight out whilst both Rangi and Jas took pics.

I didnt bother turning onto the outer ridge seeing there was know wind at all, instead deciding to head straight out to the bomb out and hope fully find something on the way out. Thats where the paragliders were getting up and it didnt take long before i hooked into something worth going for. I hooked it right and started to gain height. I cored it nicely and heard someone say over the radio that the glider out in front (me) was thermalling well and to head out there. Man i felt good!

It wasnt long before i had Regi and a couple of other pilots thermaling with me. I got to launch height after thermalling for a few minutes and noticed a hang glider way benieth me. It seems like a while that i'd seen another glider from this perspective (actually only two flights) and i enjoyed it alot. I didnt last to much longer and fond myself heading out to the bombout looking for a miracle bit of air. I thought i found something and circle twice before deeming it to risky and setting up for a nice approach. I came in for an aircraft stlye approach but whilst turning into the paddock at the tree hit a last second thermal which made landing that little much more difficult. I eventually hooked it around and after gaining a bit more unwanted altitude found myself pulling my whole body through the A frame to loose as much height as i could at the same time gaining much desired speed.

I glided down nicely in the end and landed almost dead centre of the bombout. I picked my glider up and walked it over to the side just before Raef flew in for a nice landing. Once he came over also i asked him a few things about his flight as well as getting a bit of feeb back about my own launch. He said it was good but i shouldnt have pushed out at the last second. I was pretty shocked at this comment because i thought it was a perfect launch and didnt believe there was anything that could have done wrong. Anyway after what had been a good little fly was now a bit tainted.

By now over half the field was in the air and the other half launching quickly. There was a huge gaggle happening to the left of launch and it didnt take long before pilots started heading for the bombout. Once again it was awesome watching people fly in and i think i gained alot from the experience. I felt really good that i was in the company of Big Trev, Rangi and alot of others who have alot more experience than me thus confirming the tough conditions. Quite a few pilots that landed actually came up to me and said without and inquiry from myself what and awesome launch i had had and after me asking if i did anything wrong said no they couldnt fault it at all, thus bringing me up to my 'fly high' once more:)

Rangi showed me some photos he took of the whole affair and i was pretty happy, especially after he told me he would be more than happy emailing them to me. Everyone seemed to land well and before to long the bombout was littered with gliders. Jas drove in and we threw Jays tamdem glider and Russels glider onto the car before driving them into Canungra where they loaded up Russels car with their kit and drove off.

I had lunch with Jas while alot of the other pilots rocked up. I met up with Warrick and Kath and asked them if they had planned to go to Beechmont. We procrastinated a while before warrick got Lee on the phone who was on the beech and said the waves had white tops and that it should be good. Warrick then heard from Jay and was told it was looking good and that he was setting up for another tandem. I asked Jas what he wanted to do and in the end headed up to Beechmont. We arrived to less than favourable conditions with most of the valley cast in shaddow and the wind hardly blowing.

Phil hystek was on launch and Jay was all set up to give his tandem flight. I knew there was know way id be setting up unless it got alot better real fast and sat to play the waiting game. Half an hour later Warrick and Kath drove up and were amazed to find such a poor looking site. We chilled for another hour before Jas and i decided to leave and Jay decided to pack up, but not before telling Jas that if he gave him a bit more notice and as long as he only had one tandem to give on the day that he would take him up for a tandem as well. Happily and quietly Jas said "I'd be up for that"

It was good to sit on the hill anyway and was a relaxing way to finish the day.

All up 20 minutes.