Well day 4 for most... actually Day 3 for Standard/15 metre class.
Briefing is over tasks have been printed based on predictions. However looking out the window the weather god hasnt read the predictions. Sun on the ground but cloud not clearing as fast as the computer says.
More news later as I understand we will be having an alternate task.
Gliders will be on the grid at 12:30 and they will fly. BUT we dont yet know where they will be going.
Keep it up
Roy
Monday, February 22, 2010
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Monday Nite
Everyone is accounted for- a lot of happy pilots having had a great day out!
The saddest story is probably the glider getting an aero retrieve that released on the ground and kited into a fence. Pilot is fine and practicing a lot of swear words. Glider needs a few band aids.
Next saddest story is the Duo Discus crew who received a 1000 points for their effort only to loose 25 points for a turnpoint error, they missed by 163 metres. Enough to be pushed back in to second place. Any small mistake at this level of competition can be brutally punished.
Tenacity of the day store is Taupo based pilot in a DG100 who landed out twice!!
Stupidest pilot story is the Nortlander who totally ignored the landing protocol and landed on the wrong runway with 4 gliders in the circuit to land(on the correct runway). Will have to check his mental condition to answer the question "What was he thinking!!!
Check the scoring website for todays scores.
They should be out very shortly.
Fingers crossed for another stunning day tomorrow.
Keep it up
Roy.
PS. We have full speed internet back-seems Telecom didnt like all the glider pilots doing downloads and using lots of data. After an hour on the phone and a measly $10 we are back at full speed. Means I can do some paid work tonite :-)
The saddest story is probably the glider getting an aero retrieve that released on the ground and kited into a fence. Pilot is fine and practicing a lot of swear words. Glider needs a few band aids.
Next saddest story is the Duo Discus crew who received a 1000 points for their effort only to loose 25 points for a turnpoint error, they missed by 163 metres. Enough to be pushed back in to second place. Any small mistake at this level of competition can be brutally punished.
Tenacity of the day store is Taupo based pilot in a DG100 who landed out twice!!
Stupidest pilot story is the Nortlander who totally ignored the landing protocol and landed on the wrong runway with 4 gliders in the circuit to land(on the correct runway). Will have to check his mental condition to answer the question "What was he thinking!!!
Check the scoring website for todays scores.
They should be out very shortly.
Fingers crossed for another stunning day tomorrow.
Keep it up
Roy.
PS. We have full speed internet back-seems Telecom didnt like all the glider pilots doing downloads and using lots of data. After an hour on the phone and a measly $10 we are back at full speed. Means I can do some paid work tonite :-)
DAY MONDAY(3)
Amazingly all the pilots are in good spirits even if they did land out yesterday.
Today has been declared Billy Walker day.
1. Even with SPOT & TXT message the Retrieve co-ordinator didnt pickup the landout in the first response retrives.
2. Today is a Speed task(Billy doesnt like AAT)
Weather looks good in the west. 5-7 knot thermals forecast.
Open 274 kms
172 Wharepapa south
164 Kakahi strip
134 Whakamaru Dam
109 Oraki Korako(control)
Standard 259 kms
172 Wharepapa Sth
139 Kuratau
134 Whakamaru Dam
109 Oraki Korakao(control)
Club 151.1 kms
145 Kinleith
153 Pureora Strip
109 Oraki Korakao(control)
Expected launch time 13:00
Forecast says maximum temperatures after 6pm
Looking out the window-sky looking good.
Keep it up
Roy
Today has been declared Billy Walker day.
1. Even with SPOT & TXT message the Retrieve co-ordinator didnt pickup the landout in the first response retrives.
2. Today is a Speed task(Billy doesnt like AAT)
Weather looks good in the west. 5-7 knot thermals forecast.
Open 274 kms
172 Wharepapa south
164 Kakahi strip
134 Whakamaru Dam
109 Oraki Korako(control)
Standard 259 kms
172 Wharepapa Sth
139 Kuratau
134 Whakamaru Dam
109 Oraki Korakao(control)
Club 151.1 kms
145 Kinleith
153 Pureora Strip
109 Oraki Korakao(control)
Expected launch time 13:00
Forecast says maximum temperatures after 6pm
Looking out the window-sky looking good.
Keep it up
Roy
Saturday, February 20, 2010
DAY SUNDAY(2) is over
All pilots safe & well
All gliders safe & well
One trailer unhappy with broken axle and will have to have some serious attention
In the Standard/15 metre combined class TD & KZ showed some superior skills and finished the task. However they were gazzumped for any points when the remaining 20 pilots decided to have meetings in paddocks about 30km on course. The rules say it is a no competition day unless 25% of the fleet do more than 80kms. All our sympathy go to Tony & Stu who, while winning prizes dont get any points.
The same fate fell on the club class.
I guess heading off into a big blue hole over the forrest and hoping for blue thermals was not a winning strategy!!
What can I say other than the grid launch team were once again brilliant.
Pat Driessen shows that he is the consumate competitor.
Not only did he drive a towplane and launch off the back of the grid, but then came back to the field and voluntereed for a road retrieve. Thanks Pat....you are the man!!!!!
Noline and Yvonne(Evey) rallied around and filled the radio operations spot as Sue had to leave us....to go skiiing in Austria.............!!!
I should mention that we had one pilot reporting it great at 9,000ft...mm we suspect that it was a certain ASH25 pilot on his way home after doing a small "display" for the locals and then demonstarting an auto(car) launch with a red ute hurtiling down the runway with glider/motor going hooked on behind. Thansk for your visit Terry-much appreciated by all.
Talking about visitors, this morning we had Bob Henderson and wife Eileen visit. Bob is President of the International Gliding movement and proud to be a KIWI. While here Bob presented Terry with his NZ Record certificate for his recent(then) world record flight. Terry advised that his record was broken with 24 hours by Klaus Ulman and therefore his world record would not appear in the world record archives.
Have put up a survey for your opinion on AAT tasks.
Tomorrow is another day
Keep it up
Roy
Sunday 8:30pm (and yes I am off to shower & bed-knackered)
All gliders safe & well
One trailer unhappy with broken axle and will have to have some serious attention
In the Standard/15 metre combined class TD & KZ showed some superior skills and finished the task. However they were gazzumped for any points when the remaining 20 pilots decided to have meetings in paddocks about 30km on course. The rules say it is a no competition day unless 25% of the fleet do more than 80kms. All our sympathy go to Tony & Stu who, while winning prizes dont get any points.
The same fate fell on the club class.
I guess heading off into a big blue hole over the forrest and hoping for blue thermals was not a winning strategy!!
What can I say other than the grid launch team were once again brilliant.
Pat Driessen shows that he is the consumate competitor.
Not only did he drive a towplane and launch off the back of the grid, but then came back to the field and voluntereed for a road retrieve. Thanks Pat....you are the man!!!!!
Noline and Yvonne(Evey) rallied around and filled the radio operations spot as Sue had to leave us....to go skiiing in Austria.............!!!
I should mention that we had one pilot reporting it great at 9,000ft...mm we suspect that it was a certain ASH25 pilot on his way home after doing a small "display" for the locals and then demonstarting an auto(car) launch with a red ute hurtiling down the runway with glider/motor going hooked on behind. Thansk for your visit Terry-much appreciated by all.
Talking about visitors, this morning we had Bob Henderson and wife Eileen visit. Bob is President of the International Gliding movement and proud to be a KIWI. While here Bob presented Terry with his NZ Record certificate for his recent(then) world record flight. Terry advised that his record was broken with 24 hours by Klaus Ulman and therefore his world record would not appear in the world record archives.
Have put up a survey for your opinion on AAT tasks.
Tomorrow is another day
Keep it up
Roy
Sunday 8:30pm (and yes I am off to shower & bed-knackered)
DAY SUNDAY
After a cool(make that cold) night the sun is shinning and some white fluufies are in the sky.
Forecasters are saying there is an inversion over the North Island which will probably limit thermal height to 4,500-5,000 ft.
Task today
AAT 2.5 hours
Open & Standard 158-322kms
Galatea 15km circle
TeAwa Camp 15km circle
Magakino Dam
Waikato River Rd(Control point
Finish
Club 90-260kms
Kaingaroa 15km
TeAwa Camp 15km
Tirihanga 15km
Whites Rd Control point
Finish
Guessing to start around 1-130pm like yesterday.
Keep it up
Roy
Forecasters are saying there is an inversion over the North Island which will probably limit thermal height to 4,500-5,000 ft.
Task today
AAT 2.5 hours
Open & Standard 158-322kms
Galatea 15km circle
TeAwa Camp 15km circle
Magakino Dam
Waikato River Rd(Control point
Finish
Club 90-260kms
Kaingaroa 15km
TeAwa Camp 15km
Tirihanga 15km
Whites Rd Control point
Finish
Guessing to start around 1-130pm like yesterday.
Keep it up
Roy
Friday, February 19, 2010
Saturday BBQ end of a good day
Everyone is accounted for after a number of pilots visited the rural sector and were amazed at the friendliness of the locals.
Two pilots helped us check our SAR procedures by being more than 2 hours "out of touch". Thanks to SAR for arranging a radio relay from a passing commercial flight.
Terry Delore flew in in the ASH with Vaughan Ruddick as co pilot. Terry says I need to be more descriptive in this blog and I can quote him in saying the 2 knot thermals were great!!!
Check the scores after 9:30 pm on soaringspot. Seems that it will be a 1000 point day and Team South Island might be puffing out their chests and picking up some goodies tomorrow at briefing. Seven and a half percent of the fleet completed the task!! But a lot of happy pilots...... because they would rather fly than fish!!
Another good looking day for tomorrow..
Keep it up ( I am off to bed-I am knackered!!!)
Roy
Two pilots helped us check our SAR procedures by being more than 2 hours "out of touch". Thanks to SAR for arranging a radio relay from a passing commercial flight.
Terry Delore flew in in the ASH with Vaughan Ruddick as co pilot. Terry says I need to be more descriptive in this blog and I can quote him in saying the 2 knot thermals were great!!!
Check the scores after 9:30 pm on soaringspot. Seems that it will be a 1000 point day and Team South Island might be puffing out their chests and picking up some goodies tomorrow at briefing. Seven and a half percent of the fleet completed the task!! But a lot of happy pilots...... because they would rather fly than fish!!
Another good looking day for tomorrow..
Keep it up ( I am off to bed-I am knackered!!!)
Roy
DAY 1 - Begins
All gliders launched in 47 minutes - including 2 rope changes.
Weather looks better than forecast with some white fluffies.
One in a paddock before start most others seem on their way.
Keep it up
Roy
Weather looks better than forecast with some white fluffies.
One in a paddock before start most others seem on their way.
Keep it up
Roy
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