DALBY BIG AIR 2016 - DAY 7

Task: Dalby - 31km - Bell - 39km - Macali - 22km - Dalby

Total 93 km

Weather light ENE high cloud

With high cloud the day did not look the best. Most pilots took the first start gate to make the most of the sun that was just getting through.

The run down to waypoint one was made sweeter with $100 for the first pilot to get there. Pilots who got low had a slow climb to get back up or landed as the sun was blocked by the high cloud.

Those who managed the slow progress to get to waypoint two had the shortest leg to goal at Dalby.

Quite a few just landed short of goal with only 23 pilots making it. Derek was the last pilot in and made his first goal of the comp and was awarded a beer for his perseverance. Only 3 other Kiwi pilots made it with John coming in 3 rd place just under two hours.

Paris won the comp and is now flying for NZ for the first time. Curt Warren was only 100 points behind Paris with Len Paton coming third. John Smith was the next Kiwi coming 5 th overall after a hard charge over the last few days.

The Kiwi team lost the Trans-Tasman Cup for the second year running but the margin was only just over a 1000 points this year.

The prize giving party was attended by Vicki and Bill this year as the top three pilots all flew Moyes gliders and after a fantastic meal the celebrations carried on into the night.

Looking forward to next year's Dalby Big Air. For

Results

DALBY BIG AIR 2016 - DAY 6

Getting ready to tow

Task: Dalby - 45km - Kumbar - 64km - Gums - 21km - Surdev

Total 132km
Weather E 20 kph

Thursday, the wind was too strong to launch so the day was cancelled.

Towing started at 11:30 with clouds to the NW and East but nothing over the aerodrome, so those launching early found light lift and a bit of inversion at 3500ft but that soon cleared and climbs to 7000ft were gained.

With few clouds on course to the forest and high cloud to the west after crossing the forests it would be an interesting day.

The first start was at 13:15 with two gaggles, one to the SE and the other to the SW. Start gate two was the larger gaggle and also had two main gaggles. Good climbs were found to waypoint 1 and heights of 8500ft were gained before the crossing of the forests towards waypoint 2.

After crossing the forest things slowed down and climbs took longer to get to the top of the thermal but with good height waypoint 2 was reached and with 20 km to goal and good height it was a glide for most pilots. 41 pilots made it into goal with the first getting 1000 points for the day and the last 391.

John was the fastest Kiwi into goal with Paris second fastest and with five others getting there as well.

Breakfast of Champions

Morning Briefing

Morning Briefing

Morniing Briefing

Goal

Goal

DALBY BIG AIR 2016 - DAY 5

Task: Dalby - 45km - Kumbar - 175 - Surat

Total 221Km

Weather: SE 20 – 25 kph

With a beautiful sky building above Dalby aerodrome the day was building into a fantastic one and would sort out the men from the boys.

Due to the fresh wind there were no start gates and time would be taken on Elapsed Time. To put the course across the narrowest part of the forest, the first leg was cross wind and for those who did not keep left of the course line the punch into wind at waypoint one could be fatal.

Towing up at Dalby in windy conditions was made even more difficult with strong thermals coming through at times and a few pilots broke weak links and had to re-tow. But once off tow good thermals could be found to get you quickly to cloud base.

Out on course a few pilots found the conditions hard to deal with as thermals were not always strong and having to run down wind to find the next one if you got low was not a good option and quite a few landed along the first leg.

With fantastic looking cloud streets to goal Dolphining was a good option and with a strong tailwind component 100kph ground speed was easy to reach. The going was not always easy and flying over country with no roads, landing was not a good option.

Cloud base went from 5500ft to 8000ft and with twenty one pilots in goal the day was another Classic Dalby Day.

Paris won the day with John, Hagan and Chris the other Kiwis also in goal.

DALBY BIG AIR 2016 - DAY 3

Task: Dalby - 22km - Jimhous - 18km - Macal - 34km - Brigal - 14km - Warra

Total 89Km

First Start Gate 12:30
Weather: light SE afternoon rain

After a day cancelled due to bad weather everyone was keen to give it a go today even though rain was forecast for the afternoon.

The start gate was put forward and hour but as towing started at 11am dark clouds were forming to the east.

By around 11:30 a rain cell was east of Dalby heading our way. The tow up was a long one as lift was to the west of the rain cell 4km from the airfield.

Most of the pilots chose to get lift here and a weather eye was kept on the rain as it slowly moved west towards us.

By the time of the first start gate the rain had still not reached us and most pilots had over 6000ft and a few had climbed up the side of the cloud to get a lot more height.

Good lift was found around the course as we worked our way to the NW in a zig zag route. Everywhere lift was found, rain was not far away and with 1500ft up thermals it made for a quick race.

Good time could be made by picking a good line, as a direct line was not always the quickest way to the waypoint.

Unfortunately for the lead pilots the day was stopped for safety, but it is unclear if the interim results that have been published will be adjusted.

DALBY BIG AIR 2016 - DAY 1

Viv the only ex-pat Kiwi at the Comp

Sunday 10 April   Day one

Task :
Dalby to  Cecil 46km to the south.
Cecil to DDSC 36km to the NE .
DDSC to Dalby 32km to the NW.
Total 110km First start gate 13:15

Weather : light Northerly going to light NW late afternoon.

Towing started a bit late and two extra start gates were added to allow for this, making a total of 6 start gates.

Good thermals were found after releasing from the tow but stopped at 6000ft, so the sky became crowded with gliders waiting for the conditions to get better. Most pilots took the 13:45 start gate, with a few in the first gate and about 12 in the second.

The sky was blue down to waypoint 1 but good thermals were found which kept the field tight. Rounding waypoint one clouds started to fill the sky but lift was not always strong, but this did not stop pilots moving and a few low saves were made.

After reaching waypoint 2, height was needed as a light to moderate head wind was encountered along the course to goal. With 40 pilots in goal it was a classic Dalby day and a good start to the comp.

Paris won the day in 2hrs .08min with John Smith coming in the top ten but his results are yet to be processed. With Derek falling just short of goal, all the other Kiwi pilots made it to goal, with some pilots coming in less than an hour before sunset.

Paris had a good run to waypoint 1 keeping the speed on and pulling out of light thermals. Catching up with the 13:30 start pilots he did not take the thermal they were in and passed the waypoint and picked up a good one further on and kept the pace on to waypoint 2. Getting to cloud base above the Feed Lot he took a line to the right of course to get under the cloud street and had a direct run to goal from 26km out to win the day.

Capt Flocky and Hagan sharing a joke

Camp Kiwi

DALBY BIG AIR 2016

Saturday 9 April 2016 practice day and registration.

Yesterday half the field turned up for a practice fly and to sort out accommodation here at Dalby.

Seven Kiwis have already set up at the campground at the airfield, which is free and has electricity, a toilet and shower (no hot water). All sorts of accommodation are here from small tents to buses and massive caravan rigs. Last year a few pilots turned up in their private plane.

Things are well set up here with a beer fridge in the hanger full to the brim and at $3.50 a beer you can have a few after landing back at the hanger after a good flight.

This year we have an open air movie theatre at the camp ground and Mad Max, Fury Road was showing last night.

When one is in Australia, native wildlife is always in abundance, with plenty of birds to be seen but it gets a bit worrying when a shed snake skin is lying in the camp ground and it is over a meter long. But so far only a few magpies and three resident frogs in the toilet have been seen, which is a good sign as if the snake was still around the frogs would not be here.

Saturday started off blue but by around midday clouds had formed and it was looking like it could overdevelop. The queue for the tow line grew very quickly and pilots were released into light thermals above the airfield. Lift was light until more altitude was gained and then the climb increased until cloud base was reached, 7500ft. Once there it was easy flying from cloud to cloud or along the cloud streets.

Most pilots got back to the aerodrome and those that arrived today managed to get a test flight in.

NZ pilots who crossed the Tasman; John Smith, Hagan, Guy Williams, Tish and Chris, Paris, Derek, Mark Alton, Neville (Free Flying), Lisa (Free Flying).

With over 60 pilots having registered for the comp, numbers are up on last year by 20%.

Dalby Big Air is becoming a popular event due to its great flying and well run pilot friendly comp.

NATIONAL PARAGLIDING LADDER 2015/16 SEASON

The National Paragliding Ladder is now finalised for the end of the 2015/16 season, and it includes results from both the Nelson PG Open and the Auckland Regional Comp.

You can download the PDF version here.

The top ten has changed quite a bit over the season – with four in and four out.

Reuben Muir has jumped into the top spot, due to very consistent flying in both rounds of the PG Open, and was crowned as National Champion too.

Jeff Ripley has climbed several spots into second. New comers in the top ten include Roy Tingay, Glen Stevens and Louis Tapper. Notably – Wellington legend Andy Maloney has also managed to secure a spot at number ten. A great achievement as he was a new ladder entry this season.

Leo Geary Trophy winner, Leighton Joll, who has only been flying for just over a year, has established himself in joint 16^th position – go Leighton!

Over the winter the scores will all be reduced by 10% and then anyone below 250 points will be removed from the ladder.

Feel free to be get touch with the PCC if you have any questions about the ladder, or about how you got (or lost) the points that you did.

Cheers,
Johnny and the PCC
nzhgpapcc@googlegroups.com

JEZZA LAUNCHES OFF CORONET PEAK

Paralysed thrillseeker paraglides solo off Coronet Peak.

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