Glad to be home!

Facebook: Adam Woolley’s Gliding Adventures
Websites: www.joeyglide.com.au & www.adam.woolley.blogspot.com

Date: 7/10/11
Flight: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=-514185501

Task: Kingaroy – Dalby – Warra Silo – Kingaroy = 229km
Stats: 59.9kph; 1.9kt avg climbs & 46% thermalling; 39:1 for 6.8km at 60kts;


As the subject line suggests, I was glad to be home after very close to 6hrs in the sky! I was first to launch (on purpose, trying to max out every day at the moment) into a 6/8 CU sky at 11am, with weak climbs to 2000agl. I immediately set off on my original task, to Wondai. I got 7km out before missing a climb and faced a likely outlanding. So I headed back for a re-start, good practice all the same.

Next time around, made a good start and tip toed to Wondai (34km North). Before 1pm reminded me of some EU weather, with lots to slow glides and climbs. Deviations of 60* were happening, just to stay airborne. At one point, I held for approx 5min at the top of a climb waiting for conditions to improve. Next glide out, I got to the end of the soarable conditions before turning for home again – an outlanding looked likely.

It was down, down, down. Thankfully I saw a set of birds take to the sky, and was rewarded with a slow climb to a safe working altitude. More deviations of 90*, and climbs that lacked feel on the way home – I finally made it, where all the other members had finally taken to the sky. They had set a task (above), so I climbed up with Jim Crowhurst (ASW19) & Mark Dalton (Libelle), plus a cast of thousand in 18m super ships!

Good start, though maybe 300’ low, the clubbies headed off on task. Weak climbs still, only 2kts around and no real lines of energy. Just prior to the bunya mountains, we all went our separate ways – Jim South, Mark centre and I – North. I got the jump on the pack here with a couple of nice climbs before crossing. Sadly though, this is where Mark Daltons and my fun stopped. Jim said he could see better climbs on the outher side of the range to the South, hence why he chose that route.

From there, it was down, down, down again! Second low save of the day, and nothing is really working, nor going to the top. Tip toeing along, I finally get a good climb to base just NE of the first turn. Have I got my running shoes back on? Nope, backed off the cruise speed to extend the glide. Still couldn’t connect, while I heard the 18m boys having a great time – including Jim who is appearing to be keeping up with them!

I round Warra Silo and head for home, thankfully with a 15kt tailwind. The down side, blue holes followed by spread out over the range. Progress was slow, taking 1kt climbs. Some eagles came to my rescue at the range, where I was able to take a 0.8kt climb to 5000’ for a very marginal glide. One thing I’m happy about, is that the LX5000 seems to be accurate for this – as the numbers stayed steady the whole way in with the smooth conditions. One more climb, and I’m easily home. I get it, and while climbing I decide to take it high and max out the OLC distance for the day.



Glad to be home!