Of Duo's and other things..

We should test drive a new glider every month. Best turn-out of members old and new I've seen for a while. For those of you who thought GDX looked good on finals from the clubhouse, you should have seen it from the Bunnings carpark. I expect the 636 X-Country kms to be ticked off this week. I given the keys to GNM to Paul...he looked so enthused I expect him to try some X-country flights in the rain... I'm off to Omarama in the morning...Maadi Cup, test drive a Duo XL, endless chatter about gliding with the locals, overnight tramp into the Dingle from the Ahuriri, catch-up with some locals (including Roy's favourite farmer), and maybe a wee tour of the district in GUO - Omarama Gliding club's Duo. I'll keep you updated...

636 kms to go

Come on X-country pilots...we are only 636kms away from a 10,000km summer. Two good flights will do it given that we are getting too late in the season for a 500km plus flight. We are well ahead of last year which had a grand total of 7090kms. Yours truely leads the board with 2300kms followed by Adrian at 2100kms.

Saturday and Sunday

Yesterdays flights for GNM and GKM. Bog standard ridge day...had hoped to go further south to Bennydale but the "murk" appeared.

Task had been Okoriore to ThamesA/F to Bennydale to Tirohia to Okoriore. 425 kms. Got the start and Thames and just over halfway to Bennydale...

Today...go back to bed young grasshoppers...or earn some brownie points...or both.

I'm off to play tennis...my once a year tennis engagement.

I feel the need for speed...

Looking good. Inversion in place at about 4500ft over the Bay but nearer 6500ft over the lower Waikato/Taupo area.

The SW should stay in place all day so the ridge will work and there maybe wave on and off during the day.

Still working on a task but it'll include a bit of ridge and a push south.

New product. windrose for the Te Papa area...just south of the Kaimai road crossing out on the plains. Shows a fairly consistant SW all afternoon and evening.

Let the games begin...

Buying new gliders - always an emotional issue for some. I see the E-mail traffic is ramping up...the test will be whether people can keep the personal attacks out of the debate. It's not looking good so far... The challange will be to keep the debate focused on the big issue we face as a club...membership. Good luck.

Wednesday

People should go flying today. I can't but it'll be 5000ft cloud bases inland and sea breezes at the coast. if you are early enough you'll be able to get out of Tauranga, otherwise you'll be beaten by the sea breeze.

Sunday 7th March

There is a big inversion in place although it's quite high at 5000ft. If the temperature goes to 24 degrees (as forecast) then thermal height will be above 6500ft but the thermals are likely to be blue. Maybe not over the higher country but certainly around the coast. Winds won't be as strong as yesterday in which case the sky won't "cycle' as fast. However as I look out my window the wind strength looks quite strong a cloud base.

Should be better then yesterday but "blue-er".

Easterly Storm???

I'm not convinced. We might get some wind but not much else. Interestingly the squiggly lines for today forecast a cloud base in excess of 6000ft in the Bay and around Taupo. Upper winds of 20 knots from the SE. Could be worth a go for anybody who is interested.

So what does a convergence look like???

Lower cloud on the right with an Easterly blowing across Taupo from the left. The convergence extended all the way down the side of Lake Taupo and probably on around Mt Ruapehu. Stay on the higher cloud base side and in front of the wisps...

Last day....

A good day at last...well so we thought. Only one person got around and the rest landed out on strips all over the place...

Day 4

Unbelieveable...it was drizzling in the morning, the forecast was for very low cloud bases and poor thermals, so we had a pilots meeting and tied the gliders down.

At 2pm they set a Task...whoops...mad rush to get organised.

AAT task out towards Bennydale, upto Arohena, across to Reperoa and home.

Good climbs, long glides...

An even tougher day

No-one expected a task be set. The sky was grey and the air was cold. The first task had us going down to National Park...whoa there - no way man. Task B was shorter - out past Whakamaru somewhere - down to Tihoi - up to Atiamuri (the turn point of death) and home. So off we went...GKM and I headed off into the gloom...a long glide into the valley of death...or at least grey/cold air with very few land-out options. GNM low at Mokai airstrip was the first radio call. Finally a thermal (1.5 knots - water ballast gone) then a small glide into the sun followed by a good strong thermal where we were joined by 8 other gliders. After that it was easier...good climb off the top of Titiruapanga out to Tihoi, a long long glide to Atiamuri, a good climb which GKM missed and a skinny glide home. Oh well onto tomorow.

A much better day for almost all...

At last a da worth remembering. Tasked out to Wharepapa Sth then down to Kuratau back to Whakamaru Dam and home. 280kms. Average speed 88kph. Fastest standard class glider did it at 107kph...I have a lot to learn.

Sad story of the day...GYR ground looped on a aero-retrieve...small amount of damage to the glider (it's only plastic afterall) but I suspect large amounts of damage to the pilots self-esteem. Don't give it away Paul!!!!

Track and photo attached

The Land-out Kings

Another day of struggling down low and landing out. Yesterday we had 10 or so gliders at Lochinvar and today we had five (including me) at the mid-Goudie's strip and another 10 up the road at upper-Goudie's.

Not great gliding weather, unfortunately, but good land-out practise.

Day One...finally

At last...how ever 8 or 9 gliders landed out on one strip...the farmer must have been most impressed. Interestingly the poor old club class got a harded task than the Standard class...go figure

One Day...please!!!!

Yesterday never got going. The Easterly stayed all afternoon...task was cancelled but a number of pilots decided they had forgotten how to fly and headed out around the area.

Saturday - looking only OK. Cloud bases probably only 5500ft in the high country...lower near the lake. No better out west towards Managkino. I'm guessing a task up to the North over the forestry and back south to Lochinvar and out towards Ataimuri.

First Contest Day

Looks like we will get a start today. Cloud bases of 6000ft around the lake and probably higher inland. Moderate southerly wind which should add some challanges.

Big inversion in place...a bit unusual for post frontal weather but it'll stop any overdevelopment.

Let's go go go...

Typical Contest Weather

There is a gliding contest on...just look at the photos...

Have a wee look at GDX...on the right. I think a glider like this is coming to a club near you. Doesn't it look pretty...plenty of cockpit room, good main wheel and brake, flaps for landing...

Always read the Instruction manual...

This manual clearly said "Don't get your trailer too deep into the water on the launching ramp". I think he succeeded...

Another wet looking day in Taupo. This system looks like it's going to take 3-4 days to clear off. I'm picking Friday as the first possible task day, and there is a another system blewing for next week. Must be a gliding contest on...

Practise Day

Clearly I need some practise...after giving the President of the Fijian Gliding Club crap about landing out in Goudies I decided I should check out the field myself. I was one of the very few who landed out...in fact I won a prize for the first land-out of the contest.

Things could be worse...an ASH25 hit a fence and a ditch landing out...ouch.

Rain...

Good for farming , bad for gliding. It's raining out side...yipee.

Forecast for the week ahead is patchy at best....no idea for the week after that.

Maurice got some land-out practise last weekend and I got some low level, high speed competition practise at the Tauranga Airshow.

Why did you land-out Maurice??? Look at that sky!!! Sure you don't want to enter the club class????

wednesday - 10th

Some suggestion of increasing high cloud...especially to the south. Light westerlies...could set up a convergence??? Thermals off the ridge...cloud base of 4500ft Probably not a great day, but suitable for some pre-nationals practise.

Last week it is water, this week it's cars...

Anti-cyclonic Gloom

That's what this is...grey skies, low cloud/fog in the mornings, hot afternoons. Don't expect cloud bases much above 4500ft inland and lower at the coast. Sea breezes. I haven't decided yet whether it'll be worth driving over the Matamata...

I wish...

Forgotten what a good day in Omarama looks like? I stole this picture from Phil Plane...sort of makes you home sick... No gliding today...Why...because our strip is closed because they are setting up for the airshow. No one else's activities are being disrupted...just us. Over the years this airshow has gone from only disrupting one weekends gliding and offering a share of any profits, to closing us down for 5 days and no compensation is on offer...how did this happen??? Did our committte not think through the issue? It's not about being a good airport "citizen", it's just making sure the Airshow organisation are cogniant of the disruption they are having of us. I bet we were even consulted! Are we being walked over again? More from Maurice...Q from the US of A; Will we be able to see Kangaroos on the street? A patient Maurice from Tourism Oz replies; Depends how much you've been drinking.