Oz Report

The Forbes Flatlands - Task 5

(This topic is in: <- Jan.12 Jan.11 Jan.10 Jan.9 Jan.8 Jan.5 --> )

With no winds we do an out and return of 177 km (Forbes airfield)

The flight/task.You can view the flight in Google Earth also from this URL.

The results: http://www.moyes.com.au/Forbes2007/Results.aspx.

Flying in Forbes on the first two days:



This (Tuesday) was supposed to be the day for the 306 km task to Hay from Forbes if the winds did come out of the northeast, but they didn't.  It was light and variable so the task committee called a 177 km out and return to the north northwest, following a paved road all the way.

Like Monday Tuesday is for the most part a blue day, but we do get some very helpful wispy cu's that mark the strongest thermals.  No one is in a big hurry to launch with only a 10 km start circle (chosen to be so small because there is no wind) and without clouds we are not sure yet of the lift conditions.

I finally get in line and launch fifty minutes before the start gate opens at 2:15 PM for the top thirty pilots.  They are required to go then.  Other pilot have more choices.

I climb out to 5,300' AGL in moderate lift with little turbulence and head to the northwestern edge of the start circle.  Luckily there is a thermal near the edge and forty or fifty pilots are in it as we wait for the start gate to open.  We are all at about 6,000' AGL when 2:15 PM rolls around so almost every one has a good start and we are off to the races to the north.

There are lift markers (hang gliders) every where, and lift every where and it averages between 400 and 500 fpm.  We head for a treed ridgeline to our left and just ride way over the top of it toward the turnpoint for 10-20 km catching lift as we go.

The gaggle is forty pilots or so and it is hard to break away from them.  There are pilots every where and it's a race so you've got to get ahead of these guys, but they catch you when you go out in front.

I'm with eleven pilots half way to the turnpoint.  There are two pilots lower off to my left and the rest of the pilots higher to my right.  I see the lowest pilot on my left hit something and start turning.  I head toward him then see a pilot above me to the right and closer turning also.  I switch back to the right, but half way to the pilot I see Oleg heading to the left to the pilots I was heading for at first.  I switch again as everyone on my right has headed to the left and sure enough that thermal is 600+ fpm.  Now I'm on the bottom, with thirty pilots over me.

We head for the turnpoint and I've now got a lot of little thermal markers in front of me, so it's not too bad.  When I make the turn at the turnpoint I shade to the left as the guys out in front are not doing so well on the right hand side, getting low.  I join a pilot climbing at 350 fpm, pretty slow but better than the other guys.

Then they hit a good one and I rejoin the gaggle in 700+ fpm to 7,300' AGL.  We are racing hard and fast.  My arms are hurting from all the VG pulling.  We climb hard and glide hard.  All your competitors are around you and the lift is strong.  I leave the thermal as soon as it grows weak (although the guys on top are holding back to keep their advantage).

I try to shake the gaggle again, not bothering to stop in a thermal and chasing down some lower guys in front who are thermaling.  Still the gaggle catches me.

Then I do it again and this time the gaggle breaks up as I head right to some lower pilots thermaling and most of the gaggle stays in the weaker lift behind.  Finally a chance to get away.

I race for the ridge line spotting three pilots much lower than me all heading that way also.  We find good lift at 500 fpm and I race back down the ridge line.  Off to my left and in front of me I spot some pilots low circling.  I come in over the first one and it's 700 fpm up.  I'm only 20 km from goal now, on top of the last thermal, I can't see anyone ahead of me and all the gaggle that I left behind is coming in low underneath me.  I've got Robert Reisinger and Minoru Kato just below me.

I'm going up so fast the 5030 says stay in the thermal as you can pull in and get to goal faster.  I pull out at 9:1 to goal with goal made by 3,500'.  Now it's time to pull the bar in as much as I can and race to goal.  I hit 55 mph and sustain 53 mph.  Still Robert and Minoru catch me as I can't quite control the glider at these speeds.

As I get close to goal I see a pilot land then a couple more but still manage to get in seventh.

Gerolf was first in by six minutes over Jonny and nine over me.  Robert Reisinger was just behind me and is now in second place 11 points behind Jonny.

Discuss Forbes Task 5 at the Oz Report forum

The US Nationals

(This topic is in: Jan.10 Dec.6'05 Dec.2'05 2.029 --> )

Did the USHPA Competition Committee violate the rules by designating the Florida Ridge as the site of the Nationals? (Florida Ridge)

I sent the following to the USHPA Executive Committee:

Did Dennis and Liz Sharp (assuming that they made the decision) violate the USHPA SOP's and Bylaws by approving the use of the Nationals Moniker for the Florida Ridge Competition?

Here's some of the relevant information:

1.  According to the USHPA Competition Rulebook the Nationals can only be designated at the Fall BOD meeting.

2.  The EC has to take BOD actions in between BOD meetings (USHPA BYLAWS (AS A MENDED 03/06) PAGE 11)

3.  EC decisions must be in the written minutes of the EC meeting.

4.  The EC has not acted on this designation and the Competition Committee can't make this decision alone in between BOD meetings.

5.  Steve Larson is listed as meet director for the nationals but has no experience as a meet director (therefore the meet does not meet the sanctioning requirements set by the CC).  The meet organizers were actually looking for a meet director and score keeper after the USHPA CC had approved the meet and its moniker as the Nationals.

6.  The Competition Committee failed (Jim Zeiset, "I believe in private enterprise.") in its duty to: "2.  This subcommittee should actively recruit individuals, businesses, flight parks, clubs or chapters to organize meets including the National Championships."

I formally ask the EC to designate the Lakeview meet as the US Nationals and withdraw this designation from the Florida Ridge meet.

The USHPA EC is reviewing this matter.

Discuss Nationals at the Oz Report forum

Two jet powered Doodle Bugs

A new video that shows two of them flying together

or at YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=elh4djwGrX0 Thanks to Jeff O'Brien.

http://www.moyesamerica.com/doodlebug.htm

Discuss Jet power at the Oz Report forum

Leakey airport - saving the grass runway

The local General Aviation pilots don't want to play nice. (Leakey)

Sam Kellner <<txhitime>> writes:

We are facing a possible obstruction to further use of the airport at Leakey, specifically the old turf taxiway now used by hang gliders, paragliders and ultralights.  We have hosted the Texas Open 2002 through 2006using this strip.  49R (the Leakey airstrip) is a USHPA insured flying site.

The opposition to our use of the airport comes from a couple of local GA pilots who feel threatened by increased use of the airport by hang gliders, paragliders and ultralights.  One of these pilots needs hangar space and has Judge Sansom, the airport manager who don't know roll from yaw, convinced.

If you look up 49R on most any aviation website it will show that Real County only has an easement to use the runway, taxiway, apron and entry road.  Mr.  Buz Maxwell owns all of the airport and has pointed out to the commissioners that since the county requested and received federal money to repave the runway and tarmac, all types of aircraft must be allowed.  Expecting increased use from the hang glider, paraglider and ultralight community, Buz and I have invested time and money to upgrade his privately owned hangars and lodging facilities on the airport.

Please show support any way you can soon

49R Owner: Buz Maxwell,361-739-8279, <Buz>.  Manager: Judge Sansom, 830-232-5304, Commissioner: Manuel Rubio 830-232-5524, county Atty: Gary Merritt 830-232-6461

Discuss Leakey at the Oz Report forum

Mosquito launch

Launching the ATOS with the Mosquito harness (Columbus, OH)

farrina <<farrina>> sends:

The Mosquito launch

AIR ATOS VX and Mosquito, Columbus, Ohio,Temp.85F, Wind NE 3 mph., June, 06.  Video Dwayne Evans, Pilot Paul Farina

Discuss Mosquito at the Oz Report forum

Gerolf falls down, Davis makes goal - whose glider?

Gerolf raced himself into the ground (Florida Ridge)

A 127 km out and return task today.  Strong lift, light to moderate winds, and a need to get back in time for the prize giving.  With Jonny Durand ahead by a mere eleven points that day was full of expectations.  Gerolf raced hard and was in the lead gaggle, Davis was a ways back.  Suddenly they were down to 1000' after a long stretch of sink 20 km out from goal.  Three pilots hit the deck with Jeff O'Brien and Attila getting out of there as the gaggle behind them got to goal first.

I was about twentieth in after getting low 35 km out, after a day of racing going from one 800+ fpm thermal to the next.

Who won the meet?  Did Davis get enough points to get the glider from Gerolf?

Discuss Gerolf at the Oz Report forum

Oz Report web site resources

How to subscribe to (support) the Oz Report

You can send $20 or more for a yearly subscription/donation.  To pay for your subscription with your credit card or PayPal account:



If you’d rather just send a check for $20 (US Dollars, only please) or more, please feel free to do so.  The mail gets forwarded to me wherever I’m at.

Payable to:

Davis Straub (Not to the Oz Report)
PMB 1889 PO Box 2430
Pensacola, FL 32513

Thanks for your support by subscribing to the Oz Report.

Oz Report Hang Gliding Discussion group

Want to discuss hang gliding?  You can join the Oz Report hang gliding forum.  Click Oz Report Hang Gliding Discussion Group.

Subscribing and Unsubscribing to the e-mail version of the Oz Report

You are in charge of your e-mail subscription to the Oz Report.  If you wish to unsubscribe or subscribe, click: Subscribe.

Credits

Gerry makes the Oz Report portal much smarter.  He is a web consultant and a PHP expert.  He's the brains behind the Oz Report web site, so contact him for PHP programming services.

To view the Oz Report on the web click Oz Report.

If you want to send in an article to be published in the Oz Report, send it to me at this email.

Davis Straub
Oz Report