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topic: Kathryn O'Riordan (18 articles)

Dalby Big Air Hang Gliding 2014

April 11, 2014, 7:40:55 EDT

Dalby Big Air HG 2014

Windy

Conrad Loten|Facebook|Grant Heaney|John Smith|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Jon Durand snr|Kathryn O'Riordan|Moyes Litespeed RX|Steve Blenkinsop|Tim Osborn

http://www.williamolive.com/dalby/2014/

Adam Stevens' driver help with retrieve:

Kathryn O'Riordan driving to goal:

Brodrick explains: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=718361818208119

Grant and Blinky at goal. Grant flew under the power lines to get there:

Task 5:

# Name Glider Time km/h Dist. Total
1 Steve Blenkinsop Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 02:38:45 32,6 86,24 971
2 Grant Heaney Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 02:38:54 32,6 86,24 951
3 Len Paton Moyes Litespeed RX 4     85,01 807
4 adam stevens Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5     79,78 784
4 John Smith Moyes Litespeed RS 4     80,18 784
6 Glen Mcfarlane Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5     80,61 759
7 Jon snr Durand Moyes Litespeed RX4     76,05 729
8 Trevor Purcell Moyes Litespeed S 5     73,68 698
9 Guy Hubbard Moyes Litespeed RS 4     72,33 697
10 Frank Chetcuti Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5     71,02 666

Cumulative:

# Name Glider Total
1 Steve Blenkinsop Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 4235
2 John Smith Moyes Litespeed RS 4 4062
3 Guy Hubbard Moyes Litespeed RS 4 3883
4 adam stevens Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 3754
5 Grant Heaney Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 3683
6 Conrad Loten Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 3626
7 Len Paton Moyes Litespeed RX 4 3437
8 Glen Mcfarlane Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 3385
9 Jon snr Durand Moyes Litespeed RX4 3167
10 Tim Osborn Moyes Litespeed S 5 3097

Dalby Big Air HG 2014

April 6, 2014, 8:15:25 EDT

Dalby Big Air HG 2014

Day one, a thunderstorm

Adam Parer|Cameron Tunbridge|Curt Warren|John Smith|Kathryn O'Riordan|Konrad Heilmann|Steve Blenkinsop|Tim Osborn|Wills Wing

Adam Parer|Cameron Tunbridge|Curt Warren|John Smith|Kathryn O'Riordan|Konrad Heilmann|Moyes Litespeed RX|Steve Blenkinsop|Tim Osborn|Wills Wing

Adam Parer|Cameron Tunbridge|Curt Warren|John Smith|Kathryn O'Riordan|Konrad Heilmann|Moyes Litespeed RX|Steve Blenkinsop|Tim Osborn|Wills Wing

http://www.williamolive.com/dalby/2014/

# Name Glider Dist. Total
1 Guy Hubbard Moyes Litespeed RS 4 23,76 121
2 Steve Blenkinsop Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 21,12 113
2 Curt Warren Moyes Litespeed RS4 21,13 113
2 cameron tunbridge airborne rev 14.5 21,14 113
2 Konrad Heilmann Moyes Litespeed S 5 21,08 113
2 adam stevens airbone rev 13.5 21,14 113
2 Tim Osborne wills wing u2 21,07 113
8 Adam Parer Moyes Litespeed RX 3.5 21,07 112
8 John Smith Moyes Litespeed S 5 21,04 112
10 Frank Chetcuti Moyes Litespeed RS 3.5 20,82 111

Task stopped due to a thunderstorm.

Kathryn O'Riordan took this shot after landing:

Adam Stevens gets this shot:

Day two, the ground is too wet for aerotowing.

Discuss "Dalby Big Air HG 2014" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Forbes Flatlands, by the numbers »

Thu, Jan 2 2014, 2:56:21 pm EST

Forbes Flatlands, by the numbers

Something seems to be missing from the latest results

Akiko Suzuki|Attila Bertok|Cameron Tunbridge|Conrad Loten|Davis Straub|Enda Murphy|Filippo Oppici|Forbes Flatlands 2014|Jamie Shelden|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Jon Durand jnr|Jon Durand snr|Kathryn O'Riordan|Nick Purcell|Paris Williams|Phil Schroder|Rohan Taylor|Steve Blenkinsop|Trent Brown|Wills Wing|Wills Wing T2C

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/results.html

# Name Glider
1 Jonny Durand Moyes RX 3.5
2 Paris Williams Aeros Combat GT 13.2
3 Michael Bilyk Moyes RX 3.5
3 Steve Blenkinsop Moyes RX 3.5
5 Filippo Oppici Wills Wing T2C 144
6 Adam Stevens Moyes RX 3.5
7 Jeff Robertson Moyes RX 3.5
8 Christian Voiblet Wills Wing T2C 144
9 Davis Straub Moyes RX 3.5
10 Conrad Loten Moyes RX 3.5
11 Rod Flockhart Moyes RX 3.75
11 Jonas Lobitz Moyes RX 4
13 Glen Mcfarlane Moyes RX 3.5
14 Cameron Tunbridge Wills Wing T2C 154
15 Rohan Taylor Moyes RS
16 Anton Struganov Moyes RX
17 Neil Petersen Aeros Combat
18 Trent Brown Moyes RX 3.5
19 Yasuhiro Noma Moyes RX 3.5
20 Lukas Bader Moyes RS
20 Guy Hubbard Moyes RS 4
22 Attila Bertok Moyes RX 5
23 Tony Giammichele Moyes RS 3.5
24 Andrew Luton Airborne C4
25 Ryosuke Hattori Aeros Combat
26 Olav Olsen Moyes RS
27 Mark Russell Moyes RS4
28 Kathryn O'Riordan Moyes RX 3
29 Phil Schroder Airborne Rev
30 Victor Hare Moyes RX 3.5
31 Peter Lamont Moyes S 5
32 Len Paton Moyes RS 4
33 Maximilian Respondek Moyes RS
34 Peter Ebeling Wills Wing T2C 144
35 Jon snr Durand Moyes RS 3.5
36 Gavin Myers Moyes S5
36 Enda Murphy Moyes RX 3.5
38 Nils Vesk Moyes RX 3.5
39 Dean Hervatin Airborne Rev
40 Andrew Barnes Moyes RS 3.5
41 Adam Jones Moyes S
42 Federico Martini Moyes RX 3.5
43 Akiko Suzuki Icaro Laminar
44 Nick Purcell Moyes RS 4
45 Michael Tomlinson  
46 Patrick Collin Moyes RS
47 Tony Masters Moyes RX 3.5
48 Mikhail Karmazin Aeros Combat
49 Jamie Shelden Wills Wing T2C 136
50 Phil Seeley Airborne C4
51 Ai Fukutomi Moyes RX 3
52 Hadewych van Kempen Moyes Litesport
52 Hanspeter Schütz Moyes RX 3.5

Forbes Flatlands, Task 3, day 3 »

Mon, Dec 30 2013, 8:03:21 am EST

Forbes Flatlands, Task 1, day 1

Attila suggests a change that makes the task easier

Attila Bertok|Cameron Tunbridge|Conrad Loten|Davis Straub|Enda Murphy|Filippo Oppici|Forbes Flatlands 2013|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Jon Durand jnr|Jon Durand snr|Kathryn O'Riordan|Nick Purcell|Paris Williams|Phil Schroder|Rohan Taylor|Steve Blenkinsop|Trent Brown|Wills Wing|Wills Wing T2C

The forecast was for lift better than the day before but not quite as good as the first day. We would be able to get to 8,000'. The winds would start light but build to 11 knots south west. Again no cu's.

The task committee called a dogleg to Tomingley (with a eleven kilometer cylinder) just to keep us on the mountain range and then to Yeoval, but there was some kind of hubbub about that so after a discussion with the Task Committee and input from Attila, they changed the goal to Wellington airfield. The course line would have taken us through Parkes airspace which is okay with our air band radios. (The Sport Class goal was straight o Yeoval right smack dab through the Parkes airspace and one pilot made it.)

Unlike day 2 there was plenty of lift right away and I climbed to 5,000' and a little later to almost 6,000'. The winds varied between four and twelve mph out of the south west.

We moved quickly to the northwest to get upwind of the course line and to the edge of the ten kilometer start cylinder. There were plenty of pilots around. The wind pushed us back toward the course line and Jonny, Attila, and Jon Snr took the 2:30 PM first start clock (which turned out not to do them any good at all). The rest of us waited for the 2:50 clock and a big gaggle took off then.

The lift varied between 400 and 500 fpm on average. Good cores that allowed one to put the glider up on a tip if there wasn't any interference from other gliders. There was a eleven mph tail wind, so the going was easy.

I was a bit lower than the top guys in the lead gaggle. Paris, Steve Blenkisop, Jonas and another pilot jumped ahead of the gaggle. Later I took off from lower down the gaggle following one higher pilot while the rest stayed behind. This got me into better lift quicker and when the gaggle caught me I was now relatively much higher.

We came to the ridge south of the Tomingley turnpoint plenty high and found good lift. Paris, etc. were high above us but we were climbing fast. We found good lift going over the ridge to the east and on the other side. Paris, Steve, and Jonas got flushed on the other side and watched us as we flew other them as they dug their way out of a small valley.

We continued to find good lift going east although I had to stop for 250 fpm before I went further into the next set of hills to get 500 fpm to 7,500'. There were pilots all around in various thermals getting up.

It was a nineteen kilometer glide to the ridge west of Wellington and the last obstacle before goal at the airfield. We were down to 1,700' AGL before four of us got into 200 fpm which was the last thermal needed to get to goal thirteen kilometers away. We had no problem making it in.

Plenty of pilots at goal, thirty five to be exact.

http://www.forbesflatlands.com/results.html

Task 3:

# Name Glider SS ES Time Total
1 Anton Struganov Moyes RX 14:50:00 17:30:09 02:40:09 952
2 Lukas Bader Moyes RS 14:50:00 17:30:12 02:40:12 949
3 Michael Bilyk Moyes RX 3.5 14:50:00 17:30:58 02:40:58 930
4 Jonas Lobitz Moyes RX 4 14:50:00 17:31:00 02:41:00 929
5 Trent Brown Moyes RX 3.5 14:50:00 17:31:09 02:41:09 926
6 Filippo Oppici Wills Wing T2C 14:50:00 17:31:32 02:41:32 919
7 Christian Voiblet Wills Wing T2C 14:50:00 17:31:50 02:41:50 914
8 Conrad Loten Moyes RX 3.5 14:50:00 17:32:02 02:42:02 911
9 Attila Bertok Moyes RX 5 14:30:00 17:19:43 02:49:43 901
10 Jonny Durand Moyes RX 3.5 14:30:00 17:19:54 02:49:54 899
11 Paris Williams Aeros Combat GT 14:50:00 17:35:13 02:45:13 868
12 Glen Mcfarlane Moyes RX 3.5 14:50:00 17:35:40 02:45:40 863
13 Steve Blenkinsop Moyes RX 3.5 14:50:00 17:36:21 02:46:21 855
14 Davis Straub Moyes RX 3.5 14:50:00 17:39:17 02:49:17 823
15 Yasuhiro Noma Moyes RX 3.5 14:30:00 17:28:01 02:58:01 811
16 Enda Murphy Moyes RX 3.5 14:50:00 17:41:06 02:51:06 805
17 Guy Hubbard Moyes RS 4 14:30:00 17:29:25 02:59:25 798
18 Jon snr Durand Moyes RS 3.5 14:30:00 17:31:07 03:01:07 781
19 Andrew Barnes Moyes RS 3.5 14:50:00 17:45:04 02:55:04 769
19 Nick Purcell Moyes RS 4 14:30:00 17:32:29 03:02:29 769
21 Gavin Myers Moyes S5 14:30:00 17:33:26 03:03:26 761
21 Adam Stevens Moyes RX 3.5 14:30:00 17:33:26 03:03:26 761
23 Olav Olsen Moyes RS 14:30:00 17:34:53 03:04:53 748
24 Rohan Taylor Moyes RS 14:30:00 17:35:57 03:05:57 739
25 Phil Schroder Airborne Rev 14:30:00 17:39:41 03:09:41 708
26 Federico Martini Moyes RX 3.5 14:50:00 17:54:41 03:04:41 695
27 Tony Giammichele Moyes RS 3.5 14:50:00 17:55:05 03:05:05 692
28 Victor Hare Moyes RX 3.5 14:30:00 17:42:43 03:12:43 685
29 Mark Russell moyes RS4 14:30:00 17:43:52 03:13:52 677
30 Andrew Luton Airborne C4 14:50:00 17:57:39 03:07:39 675
31 Geoff Robertson Moyes RX 3.5 14:30:00 17:48:54 03:18:54 642
32 Neil Petersen Aeros Combat 14:50:00 18:12:47 03:22:47 588
33 Kathryn O'Riordan Moyes RX 3 14:30:00 18:05:04 03:35:04 547
34 Nils Vesk Moyes RX 3.5 14:30:00 18:12:56 03:42:56 509
35 Cameron Tunbridge Wills Wing T2C 14:30:00 18:26:04 03:56:04 454

Cumulative:

1 Michael Bilyk USA Moyes RX 3.5 2825
2 Paris Williams USA Aeros Combat GT 2763
3 Conrad Loten NZL Moyes RX 3.5 2727
4 Jonas Lobitz NZL Moyes RX 4 2714
5 Anton Struganov RUS Moyes RX 2690
6 Steve Blenkinsop AUS Moyes RX 3.5 2651
7 Glen Mcfarlane AUS Moyes RX 3.5 2648
8 Trent Brown AUS Moyes RX 3.5 2625
9 Lukas Bader GER Moyes RS 2618
10 Adam Stevens AUS Moyes RX 3.5 2506
11 Yasuhiro Noma JPN Moyes RX 3.5 2410
12 Guy Hubbard AUS Moyes RS 4 2378
13 Jonny Durand AUS Moyes RX 3.5 2068
14 Filippo Oppici ITA Wills Wing T2C 2001
15 Rohan Taylor AUS Moyes RS 1971
16 Christian Voiblet SUI Wills Wing T2C 1970
17 Gavin Myers AUS Moyes S5 1944
18 Tony Giammichele AUS Moyes RS 3.5 1930
19 Geoff Robertson AUS Moyes RX 3.5 1890
20 Davis Straub USA Moyes RX 3.5 1877
21 Attila Bertok HUN Moyes RX 5 1815

No Australians among the top five.

Pilots flocking into goal

January 7, 2013, 6:50:45 pm AEDT

Pilots flocking into goal

Many make the goal on the first day of the 2013 Worlds

Facebook|Kathryn O'Riordan

The first start window was 2:15 PM. Christian Voiblet was first into goal before 6 PM. Many pilots came in next, and started later. We'll know who the winner is later tonight perhaps.

Photo by Kathryn O'Riordan

Get better soon, again

Fri, Oct 19 2012, 5:11:06 pm MDT

Kathryn makes the news

Kathryn O'Riordan

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/hangglider-injured-20121019-27x8p.html

A hang-glider pilot was in a stable condition in Canberra Hospital last night after she crashed near the ACT/NSW border.

ACT Ambulance officers found the 35-year-old woman near Hall where she was stabilised and moved to the hospital. She had suffered an upper arm fracture.

Kathryn O'Riordan «coretherapieskath» writes:

I don't know how to say this without sounding like a bloody idiot but it was me. I'm fine. It was on the news 30 minutes after it happened. Looks like the 000 girl loves to talk.

Broke my arm same place as last time. Almost exactly the same time as last year, in very similar circumstances. Coming in on final, thinking I had given myself plenty of paddock. Well turns out I didn't and came to a stop at Dave's glider. Tried to flare into it but my side wires caught his glider and spun me in.

10 weeks recovery. I've decided not to do Forbes.

Discuss "Get better soon, again" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Dalby Competition

Tue, Apr 17 2012, 8:17:35 am EDT

FS scoring

competition|Curt Warren|Dalby Big Air 2012|Dave May|FS|Kathryn O'Riordan|scoring|William "Billo" Olive

http://www.warrenwindsports.com.au/blog/dave-may

http://www.warrenwindsports.com.au/blog/curt-warren

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2012/04/16/dalby-day-2-what-went-right/

http://www.williamolive.com/dalby/comp results.html

Day two results here.

Discuss "Dalby Competition" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Dalby Competition

Sun, Apr 15 2012, 8:04:03 am EDT

A short task called, then the sky opens up

competition|Curt Warren|Dalby Big Air 2012|Dave May|Kathryn O'Riordan

http://www.warrenwindsports.com.au/blog/dave-may

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10150664521284998.401046.560129997&type=1

http://xc.dhv.de/xc/modules/leonardo/index.php?name=leonardo&op=show_flight&flightID=319979

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2012/04/15/dalby-day-1-what-went-wrong/

http://www.soaringspot.com/dalby2012/results/flex/daily/day1.html

Discuss "Dalby Competition" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Big in Australia

December 7, 2011, 10:42:30 PST

Big Flights in Australia

New records, but not the overall Australian distance record

Curt Warren|Kathryn O'Riordan|record

Kathryn O'Riordan writes:

Curt Warren flew 340 kilometers, Dave May 300, and Alex Cuddy 270. Not quite what they were after but it was a blue day, cold and cloudbase of 6,000' feet max. I think they did well, especially Curt. He broke ACT (that's an Australian province where the central government is located) distance record (set by Dave May, a short time earlier) and also got his hill launching distance personal best. Seasons looking good!

Discuss "Big Flights in Australia" at the Oz Report forum   link»

Women With Wings

March 15, 2011, 9:56:34 EDT

Women With Wings

It happened last week

Brian Webb|Kathryn O'Riordan|Oliver "Olli" Barthelmes|PG|photo|Tove Heaney|video|Warren Windsports

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2011/03/07/mellow-days/

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2011/03/10/women-with-wings-day-2-and-3-training-hard/

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2011/03/10/women-with-wings-random-photos/

http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/2011/03/12/women-with-wings-all-over-till-next-year/

Here McKerral writes:

Well, the votes are in: WWW2, held in Bright, Victoria, from 7th-11th March, was a great success. The aims of the event were to increase confidence, skills and to promote safe decision making in a fun, supportive, collaborative environment without the pressure of competition. Skill improvement increases confidence, but pilots lacking in confidence learn poorly; WWW2's rationale and structure were to increase confidence so that learning and skills (launch, landing, cross country technique) could more easily grow. Integral to this process was for each pilot to recognise, accept and trust her own individual journey in flying and to give her the confidence to resist the peer pressure and expectations (external and internal) that so often divert us in unproductive directions. Paraglider pilots flew (and flew away) from Mystic every day but one, while we hangies also had exhilarating thermaling flights to cloudbase at Buffalo and Tawonga Gap, plus multiple sleddies in silk at Mystic to practice those nil wind foot launches and landings.

The thermals all week were soft and pleasant due to the amount of moisture in the ground - and here in Australia everything is still so green - amazing for autumn! The views were breathtaking in this alpine region - tarns, waterfalls, massive rock faces, forests with tree ferns... glorious!

Forty six hang glider and paraglider pilots (just 8 hangies) attended, making it the biggest gathering of female free-flyers ever in Oz. Pilots from SA, Vic, ACT, NSW, Qld attended, plus visitors from NZ, Germany, Sweden and Switzerland, but our two Far North Queensland and Western Australian hangies who registered couldn't make it at the last minute because of travel costs, even though we had arranged gliders for them to borrow, to avoid the expense of transporting their own. Organisers of the next event should probably consider rejigging funding to make it easier for the most distant pilots to attend.

I haven't revisited the personal best list in detail yet but at least fifteen pilots, probably closer to twenty, had their very first inland/thermalling/and/or cross country flights. Many pilots are successfully hooked!

We publicised the availability of check flights beforehand and at least six pilots whose membership had lapsed rejoined/had check flights for this event after not flying for 18-48 months due to accidents or fear issues. Many more said the event had rekindled their joy of flying. The HGFA has made a profit on its investment!

Most of the Paraglider pilots had multiple flights on the four out of the five days that it was flyable, and many also flew an extra day before registration on Sunday. Every attending pilot flew. Even to us hangies, the improvement in paraglider flyinh technique was obvious comparing Monday and Friday on launch, so CASA should be very happy with the outcome of their funding too. In fact, there were huge across-the-board increases in both confidence and technique amongst the Restricted and Intermediate pilots especially.

Oli Barthelmes was an amazing mentor for the more advanced hang glider pilots, while Tony Barton was great for our newer ones; Tove Heaney polished up our landings and was an inspiration just by being herself. Tove arrived without a glider, rejoined the HGFA after a three year break on Monday morning, and flew six different gliders during the week, starting with our spare Fun 190 for a check flight to ease back into things; "I'll just go to the bombout," she said, and we all laughed, because of course after cranking it to cloudbase she immediately disappeared into the distance! I hear she flew a Litespeed3 when she got home the following weekend. Tove's BAAACCCKKK!!!!! Yay!

We had many workshops scheduled on the understanding that these would fit around flying; because we flew all day every day but one, a couple fell off the list, but the introductory airspace/ safety session, Dealing with Fear, Secret Women's Business and cross country theory workshops by Brian, Tony, Oli, Tove and Andrew all went ahead. Craig Collings gave an incredible workshop on mountain cross country flying, packed with information even for advanced pilots; John Chapman, president of the Northeast Victoria Hang Gliding Club, ran a parachute repack clinic. Lots of safety information gave everyone confidence.

We had asked pilots to bring video cameras, and passed them to drivers and partners to video launches and landings each day. Kathryn then separated the videos into paragliding and hang gliding, and we split into two groups to watch them on the non-flyable day. This proved not only fun (who doesn't like to watch themselves launching and landing?) But also invaluably instructional with instant feedback on technique from our instructors and mentors as we watched them together. The vids also allowed experienced pilots and instructors to identify line issues with a number of paragliders.

In other workshops, we learned about glider tuning from Oli, who tried to get Kathryn O'Riordan's Litesport flying more sweetly. Tove flew both Kathryn's wing and mine and the difference in handling was significant. They both have the same sail and carbon options, and soft tips. But at least Kathryn will now be confident of a nicely tuned wing for the Florida comps. She won't know herself in a glider that handles properly - watch out, competitors!

Day prizes at debriefs comprised Skypig, PB Star, Brown Trousers, Big Sista and Koala Awards ;-). This allowed us all to learn from each others' triumphs and mistakes in a fun and light-hearted way! WWW2 Trophies were: Flygrrl (by vote, to the pilot whom we all aspire to be: confident, skilled, intelligent, enthusiastic, positive, inspiring, supportive - basically someone who has their flying shit together): Sonja Fardell, who received a Go Pro helmet cam donated by Warren Windsports, Big Sista: Alex Bryse, Little Big Sista: Christa Texler, Peregrine Award (Most Improved hang glider pilot): Brigitte LaFontaine, Peregrine Award (Most Improved paraglider): GABRIELLE DAVIDSON, Eagle Award (Best personal best): Gia Arbuthnott, (who had never thermalled, who was in less than ideal equipment, and who had her first thermaling flight and cross country in one day).

Injuries were one broken arm (hang glider) and one corked thigh (paraglider). 100% launches nil-3 kts wind for us hangies, 100% landings in nil. Zero broken aluminum! But ironically if the aerofoil down tube had broken in what three of us witnessed as only a slightly high flare and what looked a minor whack for a petite pilot, the arm would not have. Of the paraglider pilots, about half were Restricted rated, many with little or no inland experience, and many with only a few hours logged, so Brian Webb's safety structure was highly effective. Accommodation in Bright was cheap. As a group event we got a significant discount at The Outdoor Inn. Camping AUSD$14/night, twin share cabins $19/night, single cabins $23/night (per head). Hot showers, a camp kitchen with fridges and all cookware and crockery, microwave, stoves, kettle etc: easy to prepare your own food, no need to bring anything, just buy supplies at the supermarket when you arrive - great for O/S pilots!

We employed three full-time drivers; one for the hangies and two for the paraglider pilots.

Moyes, Airborne, Ozone, Supair, Gradient, Brauniger, One Small Planet and many other flying-associated and local businesses donated prizes to our event. One of our pilots was a publicist and we had 4 or 5 radio interviews; I'll also be writing up the event for various magazines in the next few weeks. Check out Kathryn O Riordan's blog http://www.kathrynoriordan.com/ for pics and her take on the week.

Our budget was about $13,500 and we charged just $95/head registration for the week. We could keep the price so low because we won funding from the HGFA, CASA, and many state associations and clubs. 13 grand sounds a lot but we were paying evening meals for all instructors, drivers and mentors, as well as their fees and honoraria, plus travel and accommodation expenses where applicable, plus fuel, bus hire - it's terrifying how quickly the expenses climb! Our surplus after tense calculations over my spreadsheet gave us a slim $250, which will go towards the committee's accommodation expenses. The instructors were extremely generous in keeping their fees modest.

The committee will now go through the feedback questionnaires and fine tune the programme and format - there are always improvements to be made and a glance at the questionnaires raises some excellent suggestions - then bundle up everything (budget, templates, registration forms, handbooks etc) and make the package available to anyone anywhere in the world who wants to run a similar event. We hold copyright of the logo but will make it available upon request to anyone who is running a Women's only free-flying skills clinic (but not competition).

Despite a few naysayers who during the planning stages dismissed the value of funding our event, the information from the president of the Women in Sports Institute on attracting and retaining women in male-dominated sports has proven to be spot on. The format of WWW2 was highly effective in attracting female pilots to inland flying. Many new pilots enjoy flying cross country or tasks but are intimidated by competition environments; indeed, many pilots of both sexes never become interested in competition, but still want to improve their cross country flying. The supportive, collaborative and fun environment of a Skills Clinic provides a stepping stone in confidence and cross country skills for those who feel they are not yet ready for competition, or those who simply aren't interested in competition. With the inclusion of highly skilled mentors, there is also plenty for confident, Advanced-rated pilots to gain.

The committee would love to see more of these events around the world.

Kathryn - face to face with a wedgie

Mon, Nov 8 2010, 7:17:25 am PST

Get the eagle in the photo

Facebook|Kathryn O'Riordan

Kathryn O'Riordan publishes on Facebook:

http://kathryn.typepad.com/kalog/2010/11/how-good-is-lake-george-.html

Discuss "Kathryn - face to face with a wedgie" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Moyes Malibu 166

April 20, 2010, 9:21:47 EDT

Moyes Malibu 166

Kathryn reviews the new single surface glider from Moyes

Kathryn O'Riordan|photo

Kathryn O'Riordan <kathryn> writes:

If you are going to create a product in an already saturated market, you will want to present something superior. Otherwise, what's the point?

This is why we waited so long for the Malibu 166!

We all know Moyes has been very successful designing high performance gliders. Recently they are having success with their new single surface glider, the Malibu 188. However, in many ways, a small single surface or beginner glider is harder to perfect - as I was told, you can't just make everything smaller and expect it to work just as well as the bigger version.

I have been one of the first to try out the "smaller version" (or mini-boo as I like to call it). I have been flying a Fun 160 for most of the last 2 years and liked it, so I was very interested to try another single surface glider to compare. The following are some thoughts on how the Malibu 166 feels to me; feels being the operative word because my technical knowledge is somewhat limited.

I invite the designer to perhaps supplement my thoughts with some of his experienced input regarding the construction and aerodynamics.

I have categorized this review into some common glider characteristics: setup, ground-handling, flying, thermaling, towing. Hope you find it useful.

Setup

As a somewhat independent girl one of the most important qualities for me is a glider I can carry, setup and launch by myself.

Carrying: At 23kg carrying the glider from the car the launch is easy. Even for a 54Kg girl.

Setup: In stronger winds on the coast, when it's not possible to set it up on the a-frame, you need to be able to lay the glider flat. Same goes when you want to take a rest. Like the Malibu 188, the 166 can be setup flat and left on the ground, nose pointing into the wind (with your harness on the nose) while you go for a swim or have some lunch. There is a little trick to standing the glider up again, you need to crawl in under the nose, push the crossbar up and let the a-frame swing under. Once you've done it a few times it's pretty easy.

Launch: The small a-frame (8cm shorter, but with standard speedbar) makes it very easy to launch. Why? I feel I can run harder in light winds. I am able to really get my shoulders in behind it as I run which keeps the nose down to build more speed. As I am only 5'6, in some gliders I feel like I am tripping over the a-frame, which can make launching look awkward and ungraceful, but it also makes it dangerous if you are not able to build up enough speed before take-off.

Pack-up: Whether packing the Malibu up on the uprights, or packing it flat I always start at the widest part of the wing and roll - this makes for a nice shapely roll that fits perfectly inside the Mylar of the leading edge. Putting the straps on it just a formality because when packed up correctly the Malibu looks like a perfectly formed cocoon. The under surface zips, when opened, help with the tidy folding.

Overall, let's say that I have been flying on my own with the 166 and have been able to setup and fly, land and pack up (without any help) in 15-20 knot winds. This is very encouraging for lighter pilots!

Ground-handling

Small a-frame: Above I referred to the small-frame. The first time I tried Malibu 166 out for size was at the Moyes factory recently. I noticed the small a-frame immediately. Finally someone has thought of us small-shouldered girls (and guys!). I thought it felt easy, light, and small. It somehow felt smaller than the Fun 160 even though the Malibu is 6 square feet bigger. It just felt balanced and even.

Ground-handling in gusty conditions: Saying that, the real test of ground-handling is not in the factory! So I took it out for a test spin in the Boneyard in Sydney, a small (tricky) coastal site. Even though the winds were strong and gusty, I felt like I was playing with a toy. I have some experience on the coast now, but I really feel like anyone could ground-handle this baby. It wasn't twitchy, nor did it turn too much to one side. It just seemed to ignore the gusts. Very smooth. Flying (or hovering) over the ground at 1 meter was stress-free and so much fun, so much so that my mind was not worried about handling, but more about how elegant could I make it look.

In the air I think Moyes really started to think about the Malibu glider design when he took to the dunes himself and had the experience of flying a novice glider again. He began to really understand what was needed for this type of glider.

Slow speeds: A novice pilot wants to feel safe, so the big test for me was the stall. How does it fly at slow speeds? How has he improved on the Fun? The slow stall speed of 22km/h (14m/h) was quite apparent. Pushing right out as far as I could the glider did not tip-stall one bit, not even in these gusty conditions. You push out - the glider catches the wind more and goes backward; it makes doing what we call the "whoop-dee-dooos" really fun (this is when you push out, then pull in and dive and push out again, so really it's like doing a backwards circle in the air with the glider). Being able to control a glider so much really makes you feel at ease with your surroundings, your thoughts and your place in nature, and I think for the first time I felt like I actually belonged in the air, just as much as any bird. Is it dangerous to feel too safe on a glider?

I was not the only one who loved flying it. Even Tony Armstrong flew it in Hill 60. He is a great pilot, but to see the big smile on his face as he was doing chandelle after chandelle, top landing with ease - he was transformed! He commented that he could not get over how well it flew at slow speeds. It was hard to get the glider back off him - you could see he had found his new toy!

Thermaling

My first thermaling experience with the Malibu 166 was in Honeysuckle launch at Tumut. I hooked into a thermal right off launch and stayed till cloudbase. Even though the lift was weak, being such an easy glider to handle it allowed me to really bank and stay put in the lift. In amongst the intermediate and performance gliders I managed to hold my own. In one flight I thermalled for ages tip-to-tip with a Swift and an Aeros combat. It was a very bitty and broken thermal - in, out, in, out. The Aeros decided to leave (because he had a bit of a sharp tip to one side and decided to find a better thermal), and the Swift eventually skied-out over me, but I have to say it was gratifying just to be able to say I was climbing just as well as they were. I think with more experience I may have even been able to keep up with the Swift ;)

Penetration

Floaters are not really made for going cross country, but most novices will try! I know I go cross country all the time, so I would like some performance. On my first flight inland with the Malibu 166 in Honeysuckle, I could feel straight away on my first glide that this little glider had better penetration than I was used to. I was able to make it across the valley without losing too much height. I remember last year in the Fun in roughly the same conditions (same cloudbase and wind strength/direction, flying about 40km/h - just over best glide) that I lost so much height I landed eventually at the bombout! This year I made it over Bald Hill and only 6kms from the Tumut airfield. This extra bit of scope gave me a bit more confidence to seek out thermals.

Aerotowing

It's nice to be able to tow without feeling like you want to pin off because your arms are killing you! I had a big smile on my face after the first tow in Tumut behind the trike. Definitely not as much bar pressure as the Fun. My arms were fine, I felt I could have towed forever. I remember feeling like this with the Malibu 188 in Forbes too. I thought to myself, "Ah, so this is what towing should feel like"! I can't be sure what speed I was going, maybe 60 km/h - it felt smooth with no fluttering.

The details

Sometimes it's the little things that make all the difference:

- You can choose to colour the whole glider (with the Fun the main colour is white with options only for coloured leading edges and a little bit of the under surface)

- The choice of coloured border on the top/bottom surfaces makes the glider appear great in photos

- Velcro to keep the dive sticks in place when packed up

- Small a-frame (did I mention that?)

- VG is an option, great for getting to that next dune

- Nose cone

- Bungee-less batten tips

What more can I say? Give it a go.

http://moyes.com.au

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The USHPA Magazine article on Sport Class

February 16, 2010, 7:09:05 pm PST

The USHPA Magazine article on Sport Class

Written by yours truly

Gerolf Heinrichs|Kathryn O'Riordan|PG|USHPA

You'll find the February issue of USHPA Hang Gliding and Paragliding Magazine (in PDF format) here (if the USHPA.aero web site is back after being down over the weekend). The Sport Class article starts out:

First of all, let's hear from Kathryn O'Riordan regarding flying in the Sport Class at the Airborne Gulgong Classic in November, 2009:

"For the last year and a half I have been involved in the competition scene, but not competing. My first taste of the comp scene was in Austria last year with Gerolf Heinrichs. I thought to myself, the only thing better than hanging out on a beautiful mountaintop in the sunshine would be if I was actually flying myself! I knew then that I wanted to be part of the action, not just an observer. Since then I have been to (but not flown in) comps in Australia, Florida, Austria and France and Spain. The 2009 Airborne Gulgong Classic was my first competition. Finally, I was part of the action!

"In Gulgong I flew an Airborne Fun 160 (the same glider that my friend Jorj was flying). It's a beginner glider, a dune-soaring glider. It is definitely not designed to tow or go cross country. But I feel safe in it, and I thought there was so much to learn about going cross country, that I didn't want to have to worry about handling a more advanced glider.

"Before the competition there were a few skills I was worried about and some that I knew I had. I was worried about towing behind a trike, but this ended up being drama free. Some tows were quite bumpy but nothing too scary. I was worried about bombing out, but this did not happen too much. I was worried about not finding 'the next thermal, but you know, even though I didn't make goal, I did find some thermals and managed to stay in the air over 2 hours on the days I flew.

"I was also a bit apprehensive about flying in gaggles, or at least thermaling with more than one person. I realized that I got a bit nervous whenever anyone flew too close. This is where my lack of confidence shows, and one area where I am determined to become confident in while I am still flying the Fun 160.

"Making decisions in the air is another area where my lack of experience shows. I realized that my decision to go downwind to find a thermal, as opposed to upwind was a very bad decision because it was so hard to punch back on course with the Fun.

"Overall it was huge learning experience. I could even see by the end of the competition how I took things like towing, using my GPS and landing out all in stride. There is really no better way to learn how to fly cross country than to enter a competition.

"Personally it gives me a focus. I would prefer to have a task set for me than to just fly around aimlessly because even if you do not make the goal, you will be able to measure your progress and feel like you have achieved something. And of course there is nothing like getting up there and just going somewhere new, flying over terrain, landing in some random farmer's field and getting fed a lovely roast dinner with the farmer and his wife while you wait for retrieve."

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Kathryn's stories of the Sport Class at the Forbes Flatlands

January 13, 2010, 5:09:48 pm AEDT

Kathryn's stories

Switching gliders

Forbes Flatlands 2010 Sport Class|Kathryn O'Riordan

http://kathryn.typepad.com/

A Malibu with a Zoom frame, heavy sail cloth, and a faired king post.

The latest HGFA newsletter

December 2, 2009, 11:37:18

The latest HGFA newsletter

With a story from Kathryn O'Riordan on flying Sport Class at Gulgong

Kathryn O'Riordan

http://hgfa.asn.au/~news/hgfa_2009-12-01.htm

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Kathryn Before and After

Fri, Nov 27 2009, 5:35:21 am PST

Evolving quickly

Curt Warren|Kathryn O'Riordan

This is my report from January, 2008 where I found Kathryn at the beach learning how to fly from Curt Warren. Now you've seen her win the Sport Class at Gulgong.

Sport Class Results.

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2009 Airborne Gulgong Classic »

Sat, Nov 21 2009, 2:03:24 pm PST

Airborne Gulgong Classic

The meet ends after four tasks, windy the last two days

Airborne Gulgong Classic 2009|Jon "Jonny" Durand jnr|Timothy Ettridge|Kathryn O'Riordan

You can find the Soaring Spot Results here: http://soaringspot.com/gulgong_2009/results/

Timothy Ettridge «Timothy Ettridge» writes:

Winds blew out both yesterday and today's chance to fly so the competition ended with only four completed tasks. Kathryn edged out Jorj to win the Sport Class. Attila held his lead over Jonny (2nd) and Ollie (3rd) to hang on to another win.

Read about Kathryn's experience with the Sport Class at Gulgong here.

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Terry Spencer

Mon, May 12 2003, 5:00:08 pm EDT

accident|Christine Nidd|Cliff Whitney|Emily Mistick|Joseph Andrew "Terry" Spencer|Kathryn O'Riordan|Orlando Stephenson|Oz Report|Regina Glas|school|site

https://OzReport.com/toc.php?Ozv7n113.shtml#5

Susanna Spencer <sspencer@summit.net> writes:

I saw a message in the earlier Oz Report about my brother, indicating information about the memorial service would be forthcoming. Since I did not see that it appeared, I am attaching the piece we put in the papers.

The support of the hang gliding community has been wonderful

Joseph Andrew Spencer--known as Terry to his friends and Andy to his family--of Linden, Virginia, died April 24, 2003, following a hang-gliding accident in Orlando, Fla.

Mr. Spencer was 42 and was born in Kinetra, Morocco, on August 26, 1960, and grew up in several states and countries as the son of an Air Force officer. He worked as a farrier, shoeing horses at the Middleburg training track and the surrounding area. He attended James Monroe h.S. in Fredericksburg, VA, and the Eastern School of Farrier in Martinsville, VA.

Mr. Spencer is survived by his wife, Kathryn (Katy) of Linden; his mother Regina Spencer of Fredericksburg; sister Susanna Spencer of Fredericksburg and Culpeper; sister Melissa Spencer of Fairmont, NC; as well as a niece, Christine Barrow of Hutto, Texas; a niece, Charlotte Kelly of Camp Lajeune, North Carolina; and a nephew, Matthew Barrow of Lubbock, Texas. He was predeceased by his father, Joseph Whitney Spencer, and niece Emily Barrow.

A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday, May 17 at 2:30 New Hope Bible Church, 80 N. Lake Ave., Front Royal.

The family asks those interested in making a donation in Mr. Spencer's name to please send them to The Nature Conservancy of Virginia, 490 Westfield Road; Charlottesville, VA 22901. Phone: (434) 295-6106. Web site: http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/virginia.

For more information, call Katy Spencer at 540-636-1187.

Discuss Terry and accidents at OzReport.com/forum/phpBB2

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