While we are sitting in the cold,with freezing rain and wet snow, causing more than 500 accidents on ONE day,[1 driver killed] the pilots in Benalla had a day to take care of the last items, before going to the opening ceremony in the big garden from the Benalla Art Gallery at 5. The gallery is on a beautiful spot on the side of the town and you pass all shops/restaurants in the main street, when you drive to it.
By the way the Eastern part of Europe was worse. People were killed by the cold and temperatures up to 38 dgr. MINUS in several parts of Eastern Europe.
AND,.. even Kreta and the most S. part of Italy had snow!!!!
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Benalla 2017 opening.
“Welcome to our gliding friends from all over our globe. You are most welcome!
Go well, have fun, stay safe and most importantly, ENJOY!!!”
This welcome from Aussie Bruce Taylor on FB and on his Taylor’s Gliding Page, is a REAL welcome. For all pictures from the opening you can visit his page. I selected a few. Only the pilots and TC were allowed in the parade.
BELGIUM.
CANADA.
ITALY.
THE UK.
FRANCE.
USA.
Holland/ THE NETHERLANDS.
JAPAN.
.
SOUTH AFRICA.
AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST
GERMANY.
It was hot about 40 dgr. and it seems as I heard from locals, that they will start with some rain on Monday. Hope not!
Some TEAM pictures !!!
Team AUSTRALIA with Ingo in the middle.
Picture by Steve’s 2017 World Title Campaign.
Italy
with Stefano, Giorgio, Alberto, Ricardo , ?? Thomas and Luciano.
as shared by Giorgio.
The French team
with the only female pilot Ann in the middle and well know TC .
as shared by the team.
Team Denmark
with Arne and Jan and TC Ib.
As shared by Arne.
TEAM SWEDEN.
As shared by Owe Engstroem.
POLAND.
As shared by Sebastian Kawa.
Team HOLLAND.
It’s a bit of a “vague ” picture but that’s all I could find. And I cannot miss out on the Dutch!!
As shared by Team Holland.
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The ANDES OPEN
flown from Vitacura.
There is more soaring in the world. One of my Dutch friends Jeppe is in Santiago de Chile on his way to fly next week at San Carlos de Bariloche with TOP PILOT Jean -Marie Clement.
In Vitacura they fly at this stage, the 55th version of these Nationals; the Andes open .
Of course the Vidal’s fly as well as 29 other pilots in 2 classes.
On the practice day on the 6th Carlos Rocca Vidal [Ventus 2] straight away left his “business card” with 502 km. during a 3 hour AAT. with a speed of 121 km./h.
Rene was a bit unlucky he flew 403 km. but did not finish…better then, than on day 1.
I got some pictures from the Andes Cup, from their first day on January 7, so” fresh from the press”. Here you are:
Briefing and task 1 and tuggy ready.
and the first flying!!
Flying day 1 with a 3.45 AAT was for the Vidals. Rene [Ventus 2 cxa] won with 473 km. in time 4.22 and Carlos [Ventus 2] was just behind him with 466 km. in time 4.41. In points the difference was 26.
Only 6 from 17 finished.
Jeppe was so lucky to get a flight in a 2-seater and even got a rating for the Blanik.
Here are some shots from the air as well,so for us who never come there , a bit of an idea and for some who think of flying there a preview. Thanks Jeppe, very clear and interesting pictures. Santiago with 7.000.000 million inhabitants.
the airport “in the middle” of town.
Courtesy Jeppe.
courtesy Jeppe
Today he hoped for another flight maybe even in the [Swiss] ARCUS, who knows? More tomorrow also about day 2.
By the way,…..a German pilot flying in Argentina from Zapala Neuquen, flew in his ANTARES 23, an 856 km. flight with a speed of 183.66 km. /h.
Argentina “rocks”.
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Some nostalgia again.
BACK TO THE PAST.
TEAM UK in 1987 with a fabulous brochure .
Amazing good brochure!!!
AND UK crew then,….. now pilot , Mike Young with Dennis.
and Swedish pilot Ake Pattersson.
Enough for today more tomorrow.
Cheers Ritz