Oz Report

Flying the Wills Wing T2C 144

The wings just fit on my back (Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona)

While I didn't do well at the Santa Cruz Flats Race, I can't blame the glider I was flying.  In fact, I was able to make two really low saves with it (and get myself out of other low situations), when you might think that this glider would have a tough time with those low saves as it had a relatively high wing loading with me on it.

I found the Wills Wing T2C 144 easy to fly and easy to launch and land.  It wasn't a toy glider, like Tove's Moyes Litespeed S3.5, that I test flew at Forbes with Steve Moyes, but it wasn't a "big" glider like the Wills Wing T2C 154 or the Moyes Litespeed RS 4.0.  It was a glider that had an in between feeling.  "Big" enough to hold my weight (80 kg), and "small" enough to handle nicely.

My first criteria for a glider is that I don't want to be scared by it in the air.  I have to feel that I'm in charge of the glider, not the other way around.  In turbulence I want to feel that I can muscle it back into shape.  I felt that way with the T2C 144.  I flew the T2C 154 in light conditions and that was fine, but it felt like it might feel a little too "big" for me in rowdy air.

Of course, I also want to go fast with a good sink rate, and with the T2C I've got a higher wing loading that should give me a good sink rate at the higher speeds.  I tend to go fast (45 - 50 mph) when I'm high and have many opportunities to find lift.

The glider was a joy to turn.  I knew right away how to do it without any acclimatizing to the the glider.  I could put it into a steep bank and feel totally confident of the glider.  I just wish that there had been more strong tight cores to climb in at Casa Grande.

One day I had a death defying ride behind one of the trikes.  The trike pilot was making all the wrong moves, but the glider and I held on and did not have a problem staying safe.  I did pin off on my own when it got too crazy, but the glider didn't have a problem.

With a smaller glider you'd think that it might come in a little fast on landing for my weight, but that was not the case.  I had no problem with no wind landings, even with a knee in a brace.

I didn't get to glide much with other folks, but when I did I was right there with them.  I did follow a pilot on a Moyes glider for four or five miles right behind him and at his altitude.  There was no difference in glide.  I don't know the model of the Moyes glider.

I had no problem climbing with other pilots.  I spent plenty of time in the start cylinder in good sized gaggles and it was great to have the confidence that I was in control of the glider.

I'll get to fly the glider a bunch more this summer and I'll be sure to fully report on it in all sorts of conditions.

Discuss T2C 144 at the Oz Report forum   link»

You can have a Litespeed now

It's only four weeks away (Moyes factory in Botany, Australia)

Vicki Cain <moyes> writes:

After a busy start to the new season we are now back to regular production.  With more streamlined production and quality control, for the first time, we are able to offer "off-peak" glider delivery.  We can have a stock colour combination glider, test flown and in the box in 4 weeks!  Custom colours in 6 weeks!

So, if you can't afford to wait 12 weeks for a new hang glider and run the risk of missing the best part of the season, contact your dealer and order a World Championship winning Moyes Glider right away!  Stock colours: All sizes, Smoke Inlaid or PX main, White/Grey/Your colour choice, White/Black/Your colour choice.

Discuss Litespeed at the Oz Report forum   link»

John Simon, missing in action

We missed him at the Santa Cruz Flats Race (Highland Aerosports, Maryland)

One pilots that we missed at the Santa Cruz Flats Race with John Simon, from the east coast.  We knew John from his flying in the Sport Class at the East Coast Championship a few years back and he was flying at Big Spring in 2006.

Turns out on his first flight in his new Combat L he crashed on landing at Highland Aerosports, breaking an arm on one side and a wrist on the other.  Apparently he caught his foot on a runway sign as he came into land and everything stopped sending him through the bottom of the sail (on his brand new glider).

John is a commercial airline pilot, so it looks like he's off the job for a while also.  We look forward to seeing him at the ECC, as I assume that he will have nothing better to do than to drop by and say hello.

Discuss John Simon at the Oz Report forum   link»

Henson's Gap Ramp Update

Ramping up (Henson s Gap ramp, TN)

oliver gregory <olliettt1955> writes:

Our Tennessee Tree Topper Revamp the Ramp project is going great.  The decking on the new radial steel structure is almost finished.  People say it looks like a cathedral from underneath.  It is incredible.  We are truly proud and honored that so many people helped out.  We'll soon have it all done except for the ceremonial last board!  The final board will be put in place by Jim Lamb our most illustrious benefactor!  After all, this project was Jim's idea from the very beginning!  When Jim puts down the last board, he'll have the official first launch off TTT's newly recreated Henson's Gap Radial Ramp!  Then we'll party!

MAYHEM MINI MEET AND FLYIN REMINDER:

TTT is also hosting a low key XC meet and Fly In for the weekend of Memorial Day.  Registration will take place at Friday at 6PM on 5/23 and continue on the morning of 5/24.  The meet will run from Saturday 5/24 thru Monday 5/26.

This will be a low cost meet with Team Challenge like handicapped tasks.  We'll also have fun spot landing and drop streamer bomb drop contests.  The gliders and pilots will be handicapped in the same format as the Team Challenge so everyone has a shot at winning!  We'll have prizes for the winners.  To enter the XC contest, you must be a current TTT and USHPA member with a Hang 3 level rating, mountain cliff launch and thermal soaring experience.  Hang 2 Tree Toppers may participate in the bomb drop and spot landing contests.

The cost of the XC contest will be $25.  The bomb drop and spot landing contests will cost $10 to enter.  Pilots may participate in all three contests.  We'll give every pilot who enters the bomb drop contest a personalized Arkansas Drop Streamer made by a real Arkansan, ME!  We still need a few more volunteers to help out, but the volunteers can certainly fly in the meet.  Volunteers should contact me at <olliettt1955>

Here's how it will work.  We have preregistration up on a link from the www.tennesseetreetoppers.org  site, so get on the list.  The tasks will all be called to equalize the challenges for every skill level and glider performance with emphasis on fun and learning.  We expect all of the tasks will be called to keep contestants in the Sequatchie Valley with the goals being TTT approved LZ's.  Low pressure and fun is what you should expect.  This will be a good warm up for those interested in flying The East Coast Championships in Ridgley MD and the TTT Team Challenge this fall.

The Tree Toppers will have a nice dinner on the Saturday the 24TH.  .  We'll have a covered plate dinner provided by the local TTT supporters and anyone who can help with a dish.  The Mayhem Mini Meet tasks and Fly In fun will work up hearty appetites!

There will be other fun things to do for pilots and friends too.  Camping is free for Tree Toppers and their friends at the Henson's Gap site with nice bath and shower facilities and our club house.  We expect to have wireless inter-net connection available too.  All proceeds will go toward the TTT's many projects including the Revamp the Ramp Project and the Landing Field Fund.  It's gonna be a blast!  I'll be flying in it!!!!

Stay tuned to the Oz Report for updates and check out our website at www.tennesseetreetoppers.org  for even more info on Tree Topper events like Team Challenge 2008.

Discuss Gap News at the Oz Report forum   link»

ReliRescue updated again

Now it's on the programs menu

http://ozreport.com/12.072#5

Moshe Valenci <moshe.valenci> writes:

Uploaded a CAB installer and fixed several bugs.  To install, copy the CAB file to the device and click on it.  After install, you should be able to see an icon on your start menu and you should be able to change to feet and mph.  I also resolved the ambiguous menu items.  For now, the config file and gps log will be saved under My Documents which is always a writable directory.

I'll test pilot the software on Saturday when we have a competition.

Download at: http://www.logelog.com/utils

Discuss ReliRescue at the Oz Report forum   link»

Stan goes big again

And takes photos of his flight (Ellenville, NY)

The flight record

A photo log showing my 171.5 mile XC Phantom flight across four states of the United States: starting in Ellenville, New York, crossing the entire state of Connecticut and Rhode Island, and then landing in Acoaxet, Massachusetts.

This time it is in thumb nails for easier viewing and loading,

Discuss Stan at the Oz Report forum   link»

Back to the future

Jonny likes the headlight (Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona)

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/2008/05/davis-is-back.html

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/

Discuss Back at the Oz Report forum   link»

Austrian Nationals

(This topic is in: May 6 Sep.7'05 May 30'02 -> )

Flying in the lee in Greifenburg (Emberger Alm, Austria)

http://corinnaflies.blogspot.com/

Oh and yes, if you are reading this Mr.  Oz Report, we had a northerly wind and quite a bit of rough air sometimes.

I have complained about how uncomfortable it is to fly in this wonderful spot when the wind blows out of the north.

Discuss Aus Nats at the Oz Report forum   link»