Benalla some more news from now and the past.
Now; Michael “Michi” Eisele has send info from his room in the hospital in Canberra where they brought him.
“Hello all, thank you for the best wishes , I am in Hospital in Canberra. Looking at the circumstances I am pretty well.Shinbone fracture due to the landing with the parachute and it will be operated at 9 tomorrow. I hope it works out well and that I can leave the hospital on Monday again. Thank you to the guardian angels!!!”
Sounds good but still,…….Get well soon Michael and all the best to Dad.
No news as yet from Steve but when I hear something I share it with you.
John Good from Team USA , and former Uvalde WGC vice/deputy competition director is not only a friendly and kind guy, but a wise man as well, at least that is how I know him and it shows in his comment on today as well. His full story is at http://ussoaringteams.org/january-14th/
As shared by team USA.
” I’m not sure how to react to the fact of two midair collisions (one quite serious) in two days of flying. Every pilot here is both highly experienced and eager to avoid this sort of problem. Yet, collectively, they are not succeeding. Various ways to address the gaggling problem get proposed from time to time, including fewer gliders in a class, start schemes that discourage big groups, and scoring rules that better reward individual initiative.
An issue that gets increasing attention is complicated cockpit instrumentation, including displays interesting enough to distract a pilot from looking outside. At least one WGC2017 glider has been spotted with six (!) display screens in its panel. When these screens can show such things as where nearby gliders are finding the best lift, it’s easy to understand why pilots might like to devote attention to them. I certainly do not assert that this issue has anything directly to do with today’s accident. But I do feel our sport must find ways to do better.”
———-
Old times and pictures.
Day 4 and 5 in Benalla in 1987.
Day 4 in 1987; Tropical cyclone Connie in the N. was still bothering the soaring in Benalla and high cloud was supposed to move direction S. On top of that the day was fore-casted as short as an upcoming thick band of Cirrus was around the corner too.Cu’s were expected at 5000 ft and lift would be 4-5 knots.
And off they went for 307 in open, 227 in standard and 258 in 15 m class.Start early or late??? That was the question you would think early.In the end the early starters were the victim as the base was more than 8000 ft. and some ended up in shear wave up to 10.000 ft.
As the tasks were short and the speed high the day was devalued.
Daily winners; Open Ray Linskey with a speed of 144.9 km./h. for 747 points.
In Standard class a Finnish pilot A. Pankka, was best with 142.6 km./h .[ 379 points] BUT,….as I read in Final Glide and I can’t remember that “ he touched down short of the airport and bounced over the fence and onto the runway, barely crossing the finish line , receiving the largest penalty [50 points] for violating the ground effect rule“.
In 15 m. Werner Meuser, who was so lucky to find the shear wave won the day with Holger as runner up. 142.7 and 142.6 km./h. for 529 and 528 points.
Ray [RIP] such a nice guy!!!!!!
Day 5 in 1987;a bit longer distances a bit better weather and “wave ” again and high tough wind and blue skies. And EVERYBODY wanted to find that wave but not all found it or could reach it.
Open went for 457 km. and George and Dennis flew the first 80 km. between 2000 and 2700 m above the clouds, the 2d leg they were low again.As they flew to the W. spotters were send out to see where the wave was to inform their pilots.Marc Schroeder from France was best with 115 km/h.and Ray and Gabriel had 114.9 and 114.4km./h.
In 15 m. it was most difficult[ with the 314 km.- task NOT to the W,] to find this wave and in the end 7 pilots landed in a paddock.
Steve O’ Donnell from Australia won the day with 114.5 km./h.
” Pilots gaggled up in the blue and the blue thermals were rough and narrow.Those who started high from the wave leap-frogged to the leading gaggle.Most effective in using this technique was Steve he rode the wave to an 8km.h. win!!”
In standard class the mountain and wave experience from Leonardo as well as French pilot Alain Delylle helped them to win the day; 102.3 km./h. and 101.5 km./h.
Famous TC from France Jacky “Kiki” Clairbaux and co pilot in the ASH 25 Didier
More on Sunday.
Cheers Ritz