Date: 12/08/07
Flight: http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1487122943
Stats: 101FAI Triangle, 71.56km/hr; 2.2kt avg climb (39% Climbing); 32.3:1 L/D for 8.1km glides = not very impressive...
However, had a nice day out. Was a fairly straight forward sort of flight, however was challenging enough to keep me on the move.
Jo, Richard and I all crossed the start line together at approx the same height. I had a really good run up the first 33km. Again it was a blue day, however only light and variable winds for a strange change up to 3,500AGL. Nothing spectacular to talk about here, however, after 2 climbs I arrived at Dalby after doing 96km/hr!
Unfortunately, it turned pear shaped from there. I turned Dalby @ 2000AGL and went looking for my next big climb. At this point, I should say that there was thick higher level cloud in patches. So although a semi warm day, you still had to be careful to stay out of the shaded areas..
Anyways, I pushed on from Dalby and couldn't have had a worse run: 26:1 for 11km. It was from that point on that I lost out on big speed points. I grovelled from there on really, took me 15min to get out 640' up to 2000AGL again before I felt like I could press on.
Unfortunately, I never did connect with the big climbs that others were reporting again. This was a problem for me, as even though it was a fun club weekend, I still wanted to push on and go faster. Driving myself lower again, 2 x under 1000' saves I finally climb back to 3000AGL again. The last climb I forced myself to take high, as some major shadow was cast in front.
A couple of weak low down climbs later, and I was on a marginal final glide - so marginal that I rolled across the line! But I will explain how that happened, it wasn't that bad... I finished at 80kts on base leg, made a 90* left hand turn onto finals. Made a normal landing and rolled off to the hangar side of the field. Later on, I analysed my trace, and if I wouldn't have gone towards the hangars, I wouldn't have finished!!
For some readers, Sorry to get your heart rate up!
WPP
P.s. The subject is 50:50, as it's now the 2nd out of 4 tasks that I've completed! So who knows what'll happen next weekend...
Sunday, August 12, 2007
WR completes a task!
Date: 11/08/07
Flight: http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1403585972
Flight Stats: 117km @ 73.56km/hr; 3.0kt avg climb and 38% climbing; 28.7:1 L/D for 10.6km cruises @ 67kts..
I knew it had to happen sometime, but on Saturday the 11th a small task was set after a late start. DDSC - Brookstead - Cecil City - DDSC = 117km FAI Triangle. To spoil the ending, I MADE MY FIRST LANDING BACK @ DDSC IN WR!!!
The weather was dry, cool and windy, like every weekend in the past 3 months. I took the smoothest, easiest climb all day to base right off tow. Jo, Richard and Bob were working their way up, but I looked at my watch and said to myself - sorry to be unsociable, but I've got to start straight away!
20km down the first leg, I hear them start. I felt like I had a horrible run, stopping very regulary, however picking some reasonable climbs. The best climbs of the day felt, ANGRY. If it wasn't chucking you around aggressively, then it wasn't the climb to be in. After making the 1st turn, I soon realised that I was holding my own against the others.
This quietly put me in a good frame of mind, the pressure was off, and I was working a safe height band. I did however get down to 800', but picked off the riverline and managed to get away in a 2kt climb. I wasn't listening to too much of what they had to say, as I myself was talking BS on the radio. Sorry guys...
I had a textbook climb low over the 2nd TP, which drifted me directly back towards the finish. I left it rather quickly though, as I feel like I'm starting to get my confidence back (as well as getting to know the glider better). Sure enough, picked up a nice final climb to get me on glide - for my first finish from a task in WR!
I wont talk about my competition finish, as I'm sure it'll attract a lot of attention. But in a word, I would have to describe it as 'EPIC'!!!
George Lee came for a competition preparation talk at DDSC, so all in all, a great Saturdays soaring..
Flight: http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1403585972
Flight Stats: 117km @ 73.56km/hr; 3.0kt avg climb and 38% climbing; 28.7:1 L/D for 10.6km cruises @ 67kts..
I knew it had to happen sometime, but on Saturday the 11th a small task was set after a late start. DDSC - Brookstead - Cecil City - DDSC = 117km FAI Triangle. To spoil the ending, I MADE MY FIRST LANDING BACK @ DDSC IN WR!!!
The weather was dry, cool and windy, like every weekend in the past 3 months. I took the smoothest, easiest climb all day to base right off tow. Jo, Richard and Bob were working their way up, but I looked at my watch and said to myself - sorry to be unsociable, but I've got to start straight away!
20km down the first leg, I hear them start. I felt like I had a horrible run, stopping very regulary, however picking some reasonable climbs. The best climbs of the day felt, ANGRY. If it wasn't chucking you around aggressively, then it wasn't the climb to be in. After making the 1st turn, I soon realised that I was holding my own against the others.
This quietly put me in a good frame of mind, the pressure was off, and I was working a safe height band. I did however get down to 800', but picked off the riverline and managed to get away in a 2kt climb. I wasn't listening to too much of what they had to say, as I myself was talking BS on the radio. Sorry guys...
I had a textbook climb low over the 2nd TP, which drifted me directly back towards the finish. I left it rather quickly though, as I feel like I'm starting to get my confidence back (as well as getting to know the glider better). Sure enough, picked up a nice final climb to get me on glide - for my first finish from a task in WR!
I wont talk about my competition finish, as I'm sure it'll attract a lot of attention. But in a word, I would have to describe it as 'EPIC'!!!
George Lee came for a competition preparation talk at DDSC, so all in all, a great Saturdays soaring..
Saturday, August 4, 2007
More ordrinary weather...
I can't believe how unlucky we've been here in SE QLD with the weather lately, the Thursdays, Fridays and Mondays have been the pick of the lot - with the weekends turning to worms. This weekend has started out no different, Windy (15kts on the Oakey forcast), cold and now some top level cloud..The good news, DDSC have been very pro-active in the coaching game lately, this weekend George Lee is coming to visit in the morning to do a talk on, thermalling, cruising efficiency and task planning. Shane McCaffrey is doing a talk on glider tweaking and preparation. Ralph Henderson on sports psychology (part2).
Sunday, July 29, 2007
Hard YAKKA!
Date: 28/07/07
Location: DDSC
Conditions: Cold, blue, crappy stable day! In detail, South Westerly wind at a massive 21kts, 3000agl with 2kt climbs.
Aircraft: LS1-F GWR
Time Airborne: 1:31
Total Time on type: less than 10hrs
Location: DDSC
Conditions: Cold, blue, crappy stable day! In detail, South Westerly wind at a massive 21kts, 3000agl with 2kt climbs.
Aircraft: LS1-F GWR
Time Airborne: 1:31
Total Time on type: less than 10hrs
Trace: http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=208065670 :(
Weekend report: The sky on the 27th just looked so impressive, and with a bright and early start I headed out to the field with high hopes of the day. Wind was calm and morning was cool.. The wings on, taped and ready to go by 9am it was soon time for the daily DDSC task and weather briefing.
Weekend report: The sky on the 27th just looked so impressive, and with a bright and early start I headed out to the field with high hopes of the day. Wind was calm and morning was cool.. The wings on, taped and ready to go by 9am it was soon time for the daily DDSC task and weather briefing. 
Soon after launch I was back down to cct height and struggling. Downwind, base (oh geez, is it worth taking another launch), then 3.5kts out of the ground! Climbed up to max height of the day in the best climb anyone came across. Spoke with my distorted ordinary radio to Allan (who was on my wingtip), lets start!
Across the 1km start line, the task ammended again, now to Chinchilla O/R (220km). Wingtip-to-wingtip, Allan and I head off. We discuss paths and obviously decide to head upwind of track, and over the darker paddocks with a river tree line running towards CHN. Already we notice that the glides are quiet long between climbs, although we both felt as though 70-75kts was about right.
The first glide was 32:1 for 17km, where we connected with a 2.4kts. I find these windy days extremely difficult, I can't quite picture the climb dynamics. I spoke with Allan afterwards in our post flight analysis, and he suggested what I already knew (but didn't want to admit), that I need to practice, practice, practice on the windy days. Tell myself, I really enjoy these days...
At the top of that climb, we head off together again. Another 32:1 for 11km! These glides and climbs have been hard yakka. I didn't quite connect with the next climb, allan pulling 600' on me. We both decide to head off at the same time, and cover as much ground on our next glide. The day is proving to be very difficult, and when Allan cores a climb 1500m right angles to me, I decide to divert and take it to the top..
I got the climb, but was broken and weak. I felt as though I had lost contact with allan and decided that we should now pass relevant information to eachother but fly our own flight from here until we join back up again.
I find a nice energy line and run it directly into win, unfortunately covering next to no distance towards the goal. After 7km, I turn back on track and aim for quite a bunch of trigger points. I was lining up for a paddock about 3-4km ahead of me while on the hunt. I managed to grab 2.1kts from 1000' up to a nose bleed height of 1800agl before loosing it and slogging back on task.
Then it all went pear shaped and egged closer to the Dalby aerodrome. The wind is now SW @ 17kts and I'm struggling. About 30minutes of struggling in the vacinity of the town, I was forced in anger to call it quits.. Damn, #2 XC of #2 XC's flown, I've ended up outlanding!
Across the 1km start line, the task ammended again, now to Chinchilla O/R (220km). Wingtip-to-wingtip, Allan and I head off. We discuss paths and obviously decide to head upwind of track, and over the darker paddocks with a river tree line running towards CHN. Already we notice that the glides are quiet long between climbs, although we both felt as though 70-75kts was about right.
The first glide was 32:1 for 17km, where we connected with a 2.4kts. I find these windy days extremely difficult, I can't quite picture the climb dynamics. I spoke with Allan afterwards in our post flight analysis, and he suggested what I already knew (but didn't want to admit), that I need to practice, practice, practice on the windy days. Tell myself, I really enjoy these days...
At the top of that climb, we head off together again. Another 32:1 for 11km! These glides and climbs have been hard yakka. I didn't quite connect with the next climb, allan pulling 600' on me. We both decide to head off at the same time, and cover as much ground on our next glide. The day is proving to be very difficult, and when Allan cores a climb 1500m right angles to me, I decide to divert and take it to the top..
I got the climb, but was broken and weak. I felt as though I had lost contact with allan and decided that we should now pass relevant information to eachother but fly our own flight from here until we join back up again.
I find a nice energy line and run it directly into win, unfortunately covering next to no distance towards the goal. After 7km, I turn back on track and aim for quite a bunch of trigger points. I was lining up for a paddock about 3-4km ahead of me while on the hunt. I managed to grab 2.1kts from 1000' up to a nose bleed height of 1800agl before loosing it and slogging back on task.
Then it all went pear shaped and egged closer to the Dalby aerodrome. The wind is now SW @ 17kts and I'm struggling. About 30minutes of struggling in the vacinity of the town, I was forced in anger to call it quits.. Damn, #2 XC of #2 XC's flown, I've ended up outlanding!
The Retrieve was painless, with minutes after landing Shane McCaffrey rocking up from the end of his sons soccer match in town, offering me a lift back to the club! Allan, once again managed to scrape away and gain final glide a couple climbs later..
What did I learn today? I need a nice easy day to figure out how to make the LS1 climb efficiently, put a fast day in to get the confidence right up there again. The one thing I've found is that even though I haven't been able to get WR to climb yet, I have been getting it to really move along in the glides - so am happy with that.
What did I learn today? I need a nice easy day to figure out how to make the LS1 climb efficiently, put a fast day in to get the confidence right up there again. The one thing I've found is that even though I haven't been able to get WR to climb yet, I have been getting it to really move along in the glides - so am happy with that.
Thanks to Allan for taking the time to fix WR radio, it now works ALL the time and very clearly! Cheers dude...I hear there's rain coming this week, so hopefully we get it and it clears up in time for a really nice weekends soaring. It'll either be that, or I'll be heading north to tweak WR up and complete the Form2..
Over and Out,
WPP
Monday, July 23, 2007
First XC in GWR
Well, it's taken me 12 weeks after purchasing a 1/2 share in a LS1-f, GWR, that I've finally taken it out of the circuit! After seeing my syndicate partner taking WR for a run on Saturday, we de-rigged the glider and moved it north to the Darling Downs Soaring Club (http://www.ddsc.org.au/) for the next month, where I'll be training with Allan Barnes for the Australian Club Class Nationals in Kingaroy (http://www.kingaroygliding.com.au/). Allan owns a LS1-f also, so should provide some excellent practice for our future in team flying.We took an early launch with a planned task of a 100km FAI traingle, then complete it as many times as possible. The aim of the flight was to see how we fly together, compare gliders, go for rythm and to help set goals for the future. Unfortunately though, my radio was playing up so made things hard for our first flight together, however, we did see that it was going to be a partnership that should work.
The past 2 months of soaring in Australia have been dismal, Sunday 22nd was the first decent day we've seen for some time. My flight can be downloaded/seen here: http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=-309851098 Allans flight can be found here if your interested in overlaying the two with SeeYou: http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=-226582357
My Stats: 177km @ 86km/hr, avg climb for the flight, 3.6kts (28% thermalling), 42.8:1 for 15.6km glides, 7% extra distance covered in diversions.
Was a nice day, cu's to 3500agl, 12kts of ESE winds which provided a bit of route planning and added challenge when low. I'm finding the LS1 to be a pleasant glider to fly, likes 75kts in the cruise and around the 50kt mark in the climb. Looking forward to spending another 50hrs in it to master the climb.
Unfortunately though, on the second leg of the second lap of the 100km task Allan and I hit some overdevelopment. The ground got cool, and the turnpoint looked horrible. I took my last climb to near base and headed off, unfortunately a little to fast. Allan was out in front calling back what he could while 5km ahead of me and about the same height. I rounded the turn (about 500' lower than allan) quiet low and headed for every trigger source I could find. Two hills and a red paddock later, I found myself very low. Couple turns here and there, until at 400' I decided to peel off and land in the paddock below (on the side of a hill!). All went well, Allan managed to scrape away and get glide to home (32km away) and came and picked me up about an hour later. Thanks mate.
Am very happy to be at the DDSC club, very energetic and XC goal orientated club. On the Sunday many took on the challenge of flying the first 400km flight of the season, unfortunately there were a couple of outlandings (on top of my own) after the overdevelopment. Heard all the o/l's went well, hope you all got back to the airfield safe and sound.
I'm hoping to keep this blog up to date with all my weekend preparations for future gliding championships, fingers crossed I'll be able to add a few pictures from time to time.
'til then, safe circles
Woolley
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