Last day.

The awsome Rylstone sun set.

One last flight before packing up to head home. Well make that two….um ok three. A Swiss pilot is here learning to fly a dragon fly from Bobby. After they did some training in the morning Bobby took me up for a flight in the Dragon fly. It’s been a while since I’ve flown a plane but after some pointers from Bobby I found it quite easy. I need some work on the landings thou. After my Dragon fly lesson I set up my Hang glider to take it for one last flight. I towed up to 200m before my bridle released. I tried to work the lift but couldn’t stay up and landed. Bobby asked why I didn’t follow him as he was marking the lift for me. Just not as smart as I need to be some times. He is an amazing pilot. On the second tow I hit some good lift 500m off the ground and pinned off. We had some wind today which was going to make doing a triangle more difficult. I stuck with it to 2100m asl and had drifted 5km NE of the airport. Armand was going to the pool in Kandos 8km south of Rylstone to go to the pool for a swim. I decided to head that way into the 10km/h head wind to work on my up wind skills. Also if I ended up landing it would make it easier for retrieve. I got back to Rylstone, just a few km south of the air port when I got my next climb. I worked my way back up to 2000m and headed for Kandos. I got over the swimming pool and searched the area for some lift. I found a slow climb and drifted with it back over the near by hills. I topped out again at 2000m and headed straight west. I wanted to stay with in glide of the pool so I could land close and go for a swim. I flew out over an open pit mine and then turned back north. Not finding any lift I turned back towards the pool. As I got back the field I was planning on landing at didn’t look quite so flat from down low. So instead of trying a tricky landing right next to the pool I chose another field close by. After a nice landing I walked my glider back to the road just as Armand pulled up. I tore down my glider and we headed off to the pub for a cold drink. Then it was off to the pool to cool off. It was a huge pool with big trees on each side which provide great shade so you don’t get fried when swimming. After a couple hours in the pool it was off to dinner before Heading back to the airport to pack up my stuff.

One of Australia's local's

Back in Rylstone.

The gang out for chinese food.

Bill Moyes, Bobby Bailey and a few others spent the night here and went out for Chinese food again. I’m the only hang glider pilot here so Bobby towed me up in the after noon and I set out to do a triangle as the winds looked very light. I wanted to try to do at least 100km. I’ve never finished any big triangles before. Cloud base was high over 2800m and I was getting climbs of 800ft/min on my averager. I made my turn 37km out as any further would have been over unlandable hills and there was a big storm in front of me about 20 or 30km away. I kept my eye on the storm as I flew the base of my triangle. I was still going good and staying high. I had picked a mountain to make my turn as long as the storm didn’t get too close. I made my turn at the spot I was hoping to get to and turned to run from the storm and back to the airport in Rylstone. As I tried to climb the clouds in front of the storm were casting a huge shadow on the ground and killing the lift. I would run for the sun light but as soon as I would stop to turn the shade would catch up with me and shut down the lift. I finally landed 19.9km from my goal. The gust front hit me five minutes after I landed. I landed at a ranch way off the road. Retrieved turned out to be very difficult. Thanks to Armand for coming to get me. He has been so much help for me; it’s made my trip a lot easier. The ranch hand was very nice and made me tea while I waited. While Armand was losing his mind trying to find me. I wish I would have started my flight 20 minutes earlier so I would have had a better chance to finish my triangle. Would have been 110km. It was the perfect day for it.

On the road again.

Three of the tugs were brought back to Rylstone where Moyes does some of their secret testing. I got to drive back one of the pilots Toyota land cruiser. I’m really getting used to driving on the other side of the road. I’m not even turning on the wind shield wiper when I signal any more. I do still get in the wrong side of the car sometimes.

The land cruiser I got to drive back.

Typical Austrailian high way. Most roads have trees down both sides of the road.

Austrailian super high way. The less traveled roads aren't paved or are one paved lane.

Party and meet head quarters.

Two of our volunteers who worked hard on the flight line in the blazing heat. Thanks for all your help Amy and Gracey!!

The tug pilots that got us in the air every day.

Top ten pilots.

After the final task all the pilots had a buffet dinner at the Vandenburg hotel (meet headquarters). Pilots were asked to get back as soon as possible and turn in their GPS for scoring. After dinner were the awards. The mayor of Forbes was out to give some of the awards. They brought up the top ten for pictures and the top three gave a speech. Micki “frozen pickles” gave one of the speeches and gave tribute to his friend who had died at last years meet. After the awards everyone partied late before heading out the next day. Many pilots are going to Bogong which starts right away. I wish I was able to go as I’m just starting to fly better now. Maybe next year.

The Forbes air field.

Last day of the comp. The forecast was good for today. High cloud base strong climbs and lighter winds. At any comp they call a short task on the last day to try and get every one back early for scoring and awards. Here in Forbes a short task turned out to be 137km. Head wind 63km then a hard right and Quartering tail wind. Davis came up to me as I did my usual walk from the back to the front of the launch line to take off first. He said the day is going to get better later so don’t take an early start. I took his advice and hung out for an hour and a half before the mandatory start.

People started towing early as the sky looked good so it wasn’t long before I had lots of company. Before I launched I asked the guy behind me if it was a left or right hand day. He told me he thought it was left. I had a couple guys join me and one started to wave his hand “change direction”. I guess it’s a right hand day. I got into a couple of big gaggles and people were all over the place turning in both directions through out the climb. It was total chaos and scary as hell. I can’t believe people come to these comps and refuse to turn in the direction they are supposed to. I was with the lead gaggle at the second start when every one turned back towards the edge of the start and then out on course. I just flew inside the start circle and headed out on course. I had a great start and was with the lead gaggle for the first time. It was nice to be able fly with guy’s for a change. I was dropped after the first thermal getting screwed up by guys not turning the right way. I saw guys all the way to the first turn point but flew by myself for the most part. I stayed high and cold for most of the flight. Lots of people were low around the first turn point and one glider had landed. I stopped in a slow climb to make sure I had lots of height. This was not needed as the day was still very good. I just didn’t want to take the chance of landing short. After I got around the turn point I flew under a huge cloud and again climbed up slow. I think part of the problem was just me not finding the good lift. After I got over 2400m it really turned on and I was climbing fast. When I got to 2700m I looked up at a very large very black cloud. I figured I’d better book it to the edge before I got sucked up. I stuffed the bar and was still climbing fast. I slowed as I got close to the edge and was over 2900m. I took one more good climb at 2200m to top up a bit when my numbers went positive (+11m). I went on a very long glide from 45km out and my numbers were falling apart. I got down to 1000m and I was -360m. I searched for lift and started to climb just as a dust devil started to form under me. I took this back up to 2500m 18km out from goal. I now had +890m to goal. I went on final glide not knowing exactly where goal was. I called my driver to see if they had a goal line today. She said yes there is a goal line. I continued to fly at 70km/h air speed and my numbers were holding steady. Finally I spotted goal 6km out and buried the bar as I was going to make it easy. I saw two other gliders turning to get down. I arrived more than 300m over goal. I wasted a lot of time but I didn’t want to risk not making it in. I asked for the wind direction and was told it was light and variable. I dived into the field. I flared a little late and didn’t have the energy to run. I just fell down and pounded in. It was my worst landing all week. I just wanted to lay there on the ground for a bit but figured I better get up before some one called an ambulance. I was glad I was able to end the comp on a good note.

Another great looking day in Forbes.