Flytec
Wills Wing

Oz Report

topic: Beechmont (23 articles)

2015 Canungra Classic - day 7 »

October 9, 2015, 7:58:06 MST -0600

2015 Canungra Classic

Glen didn't feel that it was safe

Beechmont

Article here.

A hang glider has died in a tragic crash west of the Gold Coast Hinterland.

The Mudgeeraba man was participating in the Canungra Classic competition — flying from Beechmont to Boonah when he crashed in trees about 4pm.

Emergency services raced to Biddaddaba Creek Rd in Nindooinbah, which is located between Canungra and Beaudesert but the man died at the scene.

Shattered friends at the scene say winds picked up and he hit trees about 1km from the road.

Discuss "2015 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2015 Canungra Classic - day 4 »

October 5, 2015, 6:47:38 pm MST -0600

2015 Canungra Classic

The task

Beechmont

Glen writes:

63km task from Beechmont via one turn point to goal at Rathdowney.

Discuss "2015 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2014 Canungra Classic »

April 1, 2014, 8:26:08 EDT

2014 Canungra Classic

In October

Beechmont

Dave Staver <<SuperiorShedsAndStables>> writes:

Canungra Classic, AAA
Date: 25th October - 1st November 2014
Venue: Mt Tamborine and Beechmont flying sites
Contact: Dave Staver, Canungra Hang Gliding Club, M: 0409 435 953

Discuss "2014 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2013 Canungra Classic »

October 3, 2013, 7:42:04 MDT

2013 Canungra Classic

No flying on day six due to strong west wind. Three tasks completed so far.

Beechmont

Nothing more to say.

Results: http://www.triptera.com.au/canungra/classic2013/

Discuss "2013 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2013 Canungra Classic »

October 1, 2013, 9:04:27 pm MDT

2013 Canungra Classic

No flying on day four (or one)

Beechmont

Results: http://www.triptera.com.au/canungra/classic2013/

They have a task for day five.

Discuss "2013 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2013 Canungra Classic »

September 26, 2013, 9:35:40 pm MDT

2013 Canungra Classic

Starts on Saturday, their Saturday

Beechmont

http://www.chgc.asn.au/hg/cclassic.html

Discuss "2013 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2011 Canungra Classic »

October 21, 2011, 9:12:49 MDT

2011 Canungra Classic

The competition begins

Beechmont

http://www.triptera.com.au/canungra/classic2011/index.html

Discuss "2011 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2011 Canungra Classic »

Wed, Jul 20 2011, 12:35:51 am EDT

2011 Canungra Classic

The new web site is up and running

Beechmont

http://www.triptera.com.au/canungra/classic2011/

Discuss "2011 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

2010 Canungra Classic »

August 17, 2010, 8:53:20 CDT

2010 Canungra Classic

Register for October meet

Beechmont|Canungra Classic 2010|PG

 Christina Quinn <<christina>> writes:

It's that time of year again, the Canungra Classic Hang gliding competition is on from 2nd - 9th October. If you've not been up here to experience it, I'm sure you've heard stories of amazing flights from Mt. Tamborine and Beechmont, and can't wait to blow out the winter cobwebs with week of flying and fun in the Gold Coast Hinterland. Last year we had a full week of top class flying.

Click here to sign up!!

This year we're moving HQ to the Canungra Hotel's new function rooms and they have special rates on accommodation for us, just mention that you're with the competition when booking. See the Accommodation section of the website for further details.

For all of those worried about VHF radio requirements, there should be no impact on the Classic and we will avoid setting any tasks that could cause any problems.

Hope to see you all up here in October!

Discuss "2010 Canungra Classic" at the Oz Report forum   link»

HGFA⁣ eNewsletter is out »

Wed, Jan 6 2010, 12:35:29 am AEDT

Some articles of interest outside of Australia

Beechmont

http://hgfa.asn.au/~news/hgfa_2010-01-01.htm

Discuss "HGFA⁣ eNewsletter is out" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Early starts

November 6, 2008, 7:30:44 PST

Early starts

I favor allowing pilots to start early, and not giving them much of a penalty

Beechmont|Canungra Classic 2008|competition|GAP 2000|OzGAP 2005|scoring

I think that it is a good idea to allow pilots to head out on course before the first start time. I figure that they are taking the chances, so let them go off by themselves. Also I know that conditions can change at launch and it is best to allow pilots to head out.

Also there is a lot of difference between the first launches and the later ones if there is a restricted launch and a lot of pilots. If you want pilots to launch in the first part of the launch window you've got to give them a reason to get off, and being allowed to start early is an incentive to launch early.

Yes, I realize that there is the argument that the pilots could be flying in different conditions, and I'm sure that this happens and happened at the 2008 Canungra Classic.

One way to get around this is to have an early start time at thirty minutes after the window opens to get those pilots who want to get going an opportunity to do so. But then pilots complain that it doesn't give everyone the opportunity to take the first start time. There is no perfect solution.

As a scorekeeper and scoring program writer (using the GAP 2000 and OzGAP 2005 algorithms) I allowed pilots to start before the first start time. But I move their start time to past the first start time. For example, if they start fourteen minutes before the first start time, I add two time fourteen minutes or twenty eight minutes to the start time and twenty eight minutes to their finish time. This works fine with OzGAP 2005 and GAP 2000, but not GAP 2002 (unless you changed all the times in the pilot's track log).

Now assuming that the start time intervals were fifteen minutes long, you would get the first start time, with a fourteen minute penalty. Of course, if you started fifteen minutes and one second early, you would get the second start time with only a one second penalty. But you would be penalized by having the second start time instead of the first.

The 2008 Canungra Classic

October 30, 2008, 6:16:38 PDT

The 2008 Canungra Classic

Johnny climbs back up

Beechmont

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13666

http://www.triptera.com.au/canungra/classic2008/results_page.htm

Discuss The 2008 Canungra Classic at the Oz Report forum   link»

HGFA⁣ motions »

Thu, Sep 11 2008, 9:34:23 am MDT

The membership can vote to fire the executive director

Beechmont|HGFA|PG

http://www.chrisdrake.com/hgfa/

Late last year, I proposed to the HGFA to investigate the feasibility of a repeal to the NSW Parks prohibition on hang-gliding and paragliding. This investigation was blocked by the HGFA.

Later, a long list of my official requests under #8.12 for information were all refused (eg: to see our insurance policy, to see site consents, to get meeting agendas, to view meeting minutes, and to get financial information - to name just a few).

This HGFA behavior inspired me to draw up a list of member motions, have them seconded, and officially submitted in April.

The HGFA board then voted to silence me, threatening expulsion from the HGFA should I ever publicly express disapproval of, oppose, or argue against, anything the board or GM do or say on this or any other matter. (April minutes, item 10)

In July, the HGFA disregarded our constitution, and prevented members from seeing or voting on the April motions. My letters to our magazine editor were censored, and a fictitious "expensive legal opinion" was given by HGFA Secretary Paul Coffey by way of excuse.

HGFA President Javier Alvarez publicly responded with a Vitriolic attack when asked to prevent the illegal blocking of member motions.

The result is a fresh submission of new motions. See below.

Discuss "HGFA⁣ motions" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Free Flight? The HGFA raises its fees

September 10, 2008, 8:53:21 MDT

HGFA fees

Profit maximization in Australia?

Beechmont|HGFA|USHPA

From a reader who wishes to remain anonymous:

HGFA annual fees just went up from $280 to $390/year!

A comparison of fees charged by similar organisations:

Britain: BHPA £84 ~ AU$180
US of A: USHPA US$75 ~ AU$80
Germany: DHV €61 ~ AU$105
GFA: $200
RAA: $160

The HGFA fee is twice the price of the next closest organisation. Obviously this isn't exactly apples with apples but I know for a fact that both the GFA and the RAA provide insurance and a magazine to their membership so they may not quite be apples but they sure taste like apples.

Outcomes of the Open Forum on the 2008-09 HGFA Fee Increases

Convened by the Canungra Hang Gliding Club Inc
Held on 23 August 2008
Canungra Qld

Following the Open Forum on the HGFA Fee increases, the Canungra Hang Gliding Club Inc at its Annual General Meeting together with the Queensland Hang Gliding Association Inc have decided to jointly sponsor and prepare a Requisition for a Special General Meeting of the Hang
Gliding Federation of Australia (HGFA).

A large number of members expressed their high dissatisfaction with the recently advised fee increases and management direction the HGFA. It was agreed that the following motions would form the basis for development of the requisition of the Special General Meeting. (It should be noted that the final actual motions to be prepared and forming part of the requisition may vary slightly from those set out below, for clarity purposes, but will attempt to give affect to the intent of the motions set out below).

Motions:

1. That the new 2008-09 HGFA Membership Fee Schedule and the associated Fee Restructure including the abolition of the State Association Fees be rescinded, and that the HGFA Membership Fees for the 2008-09 financial year be kept the same as the 2007-08 HGFA Fee Schedule, except that the previous HGFA Full Membership Fee component be increased by an amount equal to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). Namely a 4. 5% increase from $250 plus $11, to $261.
 
2. That all positions of the HGFA Board be spilled and an election of a new HGFA Board be organised as soon as possible.

A Requisition for a Special General Meeting

In order to develop a requisition it will require 5 percent of the total HGFA members (or around 150 members) to sign the requisition for a meeting. This can be done by e-mail.

See here.

More on the HGFA and its executive director here. Why have I heard so much complaining about the executive director of the HGFA over the years? Why has so little been done about these complaints?

More on HGFA BOD shenanigans here.

XC Skies - I used it at the Santa Cruz Flats Race »

April 30, 2008, 8:26:22 CDT

XCSoar

I could zoom down to our little area

Beechmont|Dr. Jack|sailplane|weather|XC Skies

http://ozreport.com/weather.php

When I was in Australia I had the option of using RASPs that were built for each state by sail plane pilots to forecast the soaring conditions or XC Skies. Both use the US NOAA modeled weather values from the GFS database. This data allows one to predict the soaring conditions for any where on earth (well, I don't know about the polar regions). The Columbian pilots tell me that they use XC Skies, as it is the only thing available to them in their area (and this is true for most of the world).

I used the RASP models in Australia for a number of reasons. They provided hourly values and this turned out to be very important (and very accurate) when predicting the surface winds at the launch time in Forbes. The RASP models would allow me to download many graphics for a given day, say all the lift graphics from 8 AM to 7 PM, all the top of the lift graphics, wind (surface, average, top of the lift) graphics, etc. for each hour. I could then very quickly go through each graphic and see what the pattern was for the day. Human beings are great at pattern recognition.

The RASPs were very quick and easy to work with. The only problem I had was that I could not zoom in and look at a specific area, say around Canungra or Beechmont. And I didn't have a background map behind the weather data (using the weather data as an overlay) that allowed me to pinpoint exactly where the forecast was for.

In Arizona, I didn't have a RASP forecast for the area around Casa Grande. A RASP can be specified for any given area by the person hosting the RASP (using programs developed by Dr. Jack), and there wasn't one for Arizona. I did have access to Dr. Jack's original BLIPMAPS (which I subscribe to), but they encompass a four state area. A bit too big for what I really wanted to see.

So I turned to XCSoar and zoomed down to the area that we would be flying in around Casa Grande. And given the fact that I could use the RUC or the ETA model with XC Skies (not just GFS), just like BLIPMAPS, meant I could compare the output from the two models to see if things made sense (or at least were consistent).

XC Skies only produces output for every three hours (which given its world wide coverage is very understandable), but that's true of BLIPMAPS also. I was spoiled by the special RASPs that have been setup by sailplane pilots in Australia. But soaring forecasts for every three hours are adequate.

XC Skies does not let me store the graphic images (it uses a whole different way of displaying data allowing one to pan and zoom over Google Maps), so it was slow each time I shifted between hours or between lift values and height of lift or wind values. That was disappointing as I had a relatively slow (3G) internet connection.

Also XC Skies doesn't seem to remember me when I first start it up and I have to go back and log in. Maybe I'm doing something wrong, perhaps going to the wrong page at first. BLIPMAPS remembers that I have a subscription not matter which page I start up with (it's got its cookies straight).

I can't get XC Skies to start with RUC data, it always starts with GFS and I can't get it to remember my UTC offset. Thankfully when I was in Arizona I could use the default at -7.  In Australia it was +10 or +11.

In XC Skies, you can set up a number of "profiles" which represent different geographic areas where you want to see the forecast. The profiles don't remember the database you want to use or the UTC offset (or maybe I can't figure out how to get them to). They do remember your zoom level though and the "transparency" value that you put on your weather overlay (over the Google Map). I use a transparency value of 6.

XC Skies makes it easy to bring up the interactive version of the Tskew chart for any given location, so you can see the projected wind speeds and direction through the lift column, as well as the forecasted temperature at top of the lift. BLIPMAPs provide a useful MINI-BLIPSPOT for any point.

I can't say that the forecasts from BLIPMAPS or XC Skies for the Casa Grande area were all that good (at least while we were there) for lift and top of the lift, although they were darn good on winds. In fact, those were the worst forecasts from these tools that I've seen so far. I remember how right on the RASP forecasts were in Australia. I didn't try using the GFS or some other modeled weather parameter dataset, just RUC.

The lift was usually lighter and the top of the lift lower than the forecasted values. Often hang glider pilots can get to the top of the lift and we were often two or three thousand feet below the predicted values, except on one day. Also the lift was weaker than forecasted by a couple of hundred feet per minute or more.

Discuss XCSoar at the Oz Report forum   link»

Hang Gliders available

March 18, 2008, 1:10:58 +1100

Gliders available

When you fly Canungra and Beechmont

Beechmont|gear

http://goldcoasthgpg.com.au/index_Page857.htm

RASP Queensland style

February 19, 2008, 6:43:32 GMT+1000

RASP

Again, doesn't quite zero in on our favorite sites

Beechmont|PG|sailplane

http://xcsoar.dd.com.au/rasp/Queensland/standardindex.html

I wrote earlier how it would be great if we had an additional RASP for the Mt. Beauty area, and not just for a big chunk of Victoria and NSW. Of course, we love the fact that we have any RASP at all and very much appreciate the sailplane pilots who provide this service.

That said it would also be great to have a smaller scale RASP just for the area around Beechmont and Mt. Tamborine and then we could combine it with the big picture for Queensland for those big flights to the west. Perhaps some local enterprising hang glider or paraglider pilots with a fast internet connection and a computer with Linux on it could set up a local RASP.

The problem is that it is hard to see what the forecasts are for lift and wind and cloud base in the area around here on a graphic that is a bit too small and in an area that is a very small portion of the small graphic. RASP is the coolest lift forecasting tool available (along with winds and cloud base). So I'd love to see it implemented every where I fly.

Discuss RASP at the Oz Report forum   link»

Heading north toward the monsoons

February 14, 2008, 8:42:33 GMT+1100

Monsoons

It continues to rain in Australia, but we find places and times to fly

Beechmont|weather

We are heading north nine days before the NSW State Titles to see if it is possible to head out from Beechmont or Mt. Tamborine or Dalby.

http://ozreport.com/ozweather.php

It rained in Newcastle on Wednesday as the southern change came through. Forbes is on this weekend and it should be fine.

Visiting Australia?

November 29, 2007, 8:25:22 GMT+1100

Oz

A place to stop and stay for a while

Beechmont

http://goldcoasthgpg.bigpondhosting.com/products.htm

ACCOMMODATION: $45 per night

New four bedroom house. Three rooms two with double bunks, one double bed. Separate toilet and shower.

Includes a home-cooked meal, pick up/drop off Coolongatta Airport ($23.10 train ride from Brisbane Airport, 6am to 7pm, 7days a week 1hr 45 min). Body board, surfboard use and tour of Tambourine and Beechmont also included.

GLIDER HIRE: $$$ See Products Catalogue.

Fun 220 tandem, Rage enterprise wing

RAINBOW BEACH/TEEWAH TOUR: $85 first day $50 each day after min three people. Fuel not included.

Discuss Oz at the Oz Report forum     Digg This  Reddit  DelIcioUsdel.icio.us

Photo/Caption contest »

Tue, Dec 16 2003, 2:00:09 pm EST

Beechmont|calendar|Davis Straub|John Corry|photo|William "Billo" Olive

billo sends:

Dave Seib and Jnr, 1st and 2nd at the Gulgong Classic. Note the excellent trophies, provided by Snr from Beechmont pottery. I believe one of the artisans working there makes these glass trophies, and a bloody fine job of it he does too.

Discuss photos at the Oz Report forum

Flying in the southeast Queensland hills

Thu, Nov 7 2002, 1:00:01 pm EST

Beechmont

http://www.triptera.com.au/canungra

20 to 40 kilometers west of the beach at Surfer’s Paradise in the currently dry gum covered hills you’ll find the gentle slope launches of the Canungra hang gliding club. The Mt. Tamborine launch is a grass covered slope next to what goes for a major tourist road here in the bush.

The town of Canungra is at the bottom of the west side of Mt. Tamborine. The town apparently has attracted many hang glider pilots over the years as there are plenty living in this rural area and a bunch showed up at the monthly business meeting.

As the drought continues even here in the sub tropics you’ll find dry hills and little fires burning slowly under the forest canopy, which unlike in Sydney and large parts of New South Wales, doesn’t appear to burn. The fires take out the underbrush but leave the trees to continue.

You can see from this shot from the Mt. Tamborine launch and facing west that both the hillside and the fields below are for the most part quite brown. The rainy season here is summer, but the rains may not come again this year.

When driving up toward Beechmont, home of the Durands, and the site for the Durand’s Beechmont launch (down the road a few kilometers from their home) it felt like we were heading way out into the woods as we climbed through the gum covered hill sides. Later, when we got to the top, we found open fields and farms that populated the flatter areas.

Near the Mt. Tamborine launch you’ll find restaurants and wineries and Canungra is just a few kilometers down the mountain. The fields are open to the west with plenty of landing areas.

On Saturday there were at least ten pilots out for an inverted day which saw Jon Durand, Jr. taking a tandem passenger to over 6,500’ late in the day. More should show up on Sunday.

Durands – father and son set site record

Sun, Dec 26 1999, 6:00:00 pm EST

Beechmont|Jon Durand Snr|Judy Durand|record

I sent off a post to the Durands to tell us more about their flights from Beechmont in Queensland in mid December. The two men are not that much "into the Internet," but wife and mother is. And you thought technology was a man's game?

Judy Durand, «durand», wrote back that:

"Jon Sr. flew from Beechmont to Warra (between Dalby and Chinchilla) a distance of 265 kilometres on Tuesday the 14th of December. Jon Jnr flew 225 km that day landing just outside of Dalby.

Then the next day Jon Jr. went flying hoping to take the record off of his old man. He flew to Yelarbon which is about 50 km's west of Inglewood for a distance of about 260 km's, (not quite far enough but a great effort). Of course I am his Mother!

Both of these flights broke the current site records for our area, which was set by Drew Cooper at a distance of 245 km's a few years ago. These are not Queensland records. I am not sure what it is, but it is a bit further than these. Beechmont is a coastal influenced site, about 20 km's from the ocean plus we have the Great Dividing Range to cross and lots of tree's, so these are great flights which took about 6 hours."

The first flights went west by northwest along the Warrego highway. Jon Jr., on the second day, went west by southwest and landed near the NWS/Queensland border.

Discuss "Durands – father and son set site record" at the Oz Report forum   link»  

Long Queensland flights

Wed, Dec 22 1999, 6:00:01 pm EST

Beechmont|Michael "Zupy" Zupanc|Michael Zupanc|Peter Bolton

Peter Bolton, «pbolt», and Michael Zupanc, «zupy», wrote to inform me that a few long Ozzie flights have been reeled off in Southeast Queensland, in addition to the ones I mentioned in Victoria and New South Wales.

Michael stated that there had been a half dozen or so 200+ kilometer flights in the last couple of weeks, and Peter said that Jon Durand Senior got 260 kilometers and Jnr 240 kilometers on the same day about two weeks ago.

Jon and Jon flew from Beechmont, which is just down the road from Canungra (see earlier Oz Reports on the Canungra Classic). Beechmont is also due east of St. George (i.e. close to the east cost), so about as far north of the Queensland border as I flew the other day.  I can't tell if they flew west or north (or whatever). Looks like there are some bush free areas up there in Queensland.  Hopefully I will get a full report.  We also look forward to seeing the Durands at the Nationals in Hay.

I first met these two, and the rest of the family, in 1990 at Pine Mountain in Oregon.  Jnr, who is 18 now, was obviously a bit younger then, a little to young to be flying yet.  His dad had only been flying for a year, but it seems that he had been flying everyday for a year.  As I recall he beat me at that meet.

Anyway it is good to see the "old" man beating his son, because of late it has been the other way around.  The Durands live at their home site, so they do have the opportunity to fly when the fancy or conditions strike them.

Discuss "Long Queensland flights" at the Oz Report forum   link»