BENALLA CLUB HOUSE on JANUARY 18 2013
ritzdeluy@hotmail.com www.soaringcafe.com www.glidinginternational.com
With updates, I will go through this last day at the 51 nationals here in Benalla. We left Tocumwal with a tough westerly and arrived here with nearly no wind, but it picked up later as well.
It looks like they are going to fly.
It really feels good to be back in Benalla.However we drove to the wrong direction and after asking a friendly , I guess Irish guy, who told us we had to go back over 3 round- abouts and go at the 4th to the right . Absolutely spot on we stopped at the airfield.
2.30 AAT’s have been set for all classes and as 15m. and standard have one day less they are upfront on the grid.
Just caught up with Miles and Paul, with Vickey and Terry, with Swaantje, Shinzo , David, Wombat and the rest is at the grid.
Miles and Paul [Matthews] and Wombat.
First launch at 13.00. Will not go there as I have to bring my “gear ” to the hotel as Dundee wants to leave again. Very kind of him to bring me.
Found myself a good place [with permission] , so I will be with you with as much news as I can from BENALLA AIRPORT.
12.45; Just had an interesting trip in the generic simulator based on the IS 28 and formerly as wreck bought from David Riley and used by the Gliding Club of Victoria where instructor Graham Garlick , is the BIG engine , behind it.
Goal; to have more of these simulators in Australia, to raise the standard and mitigating the risks. He hopes more clubs will do so and they are free to have a look at this one, even fly it. You can contact the Gliding Club of Victoria for details.
My flying was very poor. We started at Tocumwal but one way or an other ended up in Norway. The 3 flat screen projectors are projecting on an 180 dgr. screen. Instruments have to be still put in the glider itself, but show on the screen, so no worries!It depends all on money, to have this new project going. Great experience!
With Graham and something went terribly wrong with me flying.
And finishing in Norway,……
Very good visibility!
Just great to catch up with a long-time-frequent-flyer at Tocumwal, now bringing his glider to Benalla from the UK; Richard Kalin.
With Richard.
14.00; They have not started yet. Some hope they do not have to go, as they are on top spots. 2 Sniffers went up , but came down as well.
Great to see the Fergussons. Older now but still going strong and looking young. Ian is not flying any more , Juliet is still practising a day or so a week, as GP in Cobram.
Finally met Matthew Scutter. He looks even younger then I expected. Will talk more with him. Heard this Ben Loxton is still very young too.
The Fergusons and with Lisa[Trotter]
Norm Bloch won yesterday in standard class and is on spot 3 overall after 7 days of flying.Lisa is on top [6501 points] and Andrew Maddocks on spot 2 ,[6495 only 6 points!!!!], SO when there is no soaring today , they will be the top 3 in standard class.
German pilot Swaantje had a less good day yesterday and “dropped ” from 3 to 5, flying a good glider [LS8] but not one she is used to in “her” club class. As she said her LS1f fits her as a glove and she will fly that glider in Issoudun during the WWGC. But,….Australia feels like coming home, where ever she flies!
In 15 m. KIWI pilot Tim Bromhead had his 2d win yesterday during this nationals . When nothing happens, it’s 2.30 now and no noise of the engines of the 5 Pawenees, he will finish on a good spot 9. Best place will be then for Peter Trotter, than Peter Temple, Terry Cubley will be on spot 3 , with Miles on spot 4.
Peter Trotter won 3 of the 7 days.
In 18 m. 8 days of soaring with as winner yesterday Tom Claffey again.He is in the overall scores nearly 300 points ahead of young, only 30 I just heard, Ben Loxton,flying the Ventus 2CT. Brian DuRieu is on spot 3 and,…when nothing happens today,…. it will stay like this.
My friend Tony was bothered by cramps in his legs , so he was not really in top condition, but liked the flying here at Benalla as always.
Tony and Jo.
In open class also 8 days . Yesterday was won again by Catherine Conway in the Nimbus 4DM. I guess Shinzo would like to fly today as he is only 30 points behind Lars, who at this stage tops the overall list with Andrew Georgeson on spot 3.
It’s 2.45 now and still no sign of launching , but it still might all happen , when the front passes quickly.
It’s 3 now ; The change is TOO SLOW, it will happen , but TOO late, is what task setter Tim just told me, so the winners are known now.
CONGRATULATIONS, to Lars, Tom, Peter,[Trotter] and Lisa [Trotter] the New Australian Champions!
To finish 2 pictures from Matthew Scutter as said more about him later. Also pictures from the prize giving and dinner.
With and without sun glasses!