Newcastle Hang Gliding Club

Here.

Thanks to Gordon Rigg.

Many of the OLC's don't send their data to CIVL's WXC. Why?

Because CIVL wants to get the data at no cost. The sites that gather this data are in this as a business. They have sponsors that go to their sites to see the data and they see the sponsor's ads. The data has value.

http://www.fly-koessen.at/spt/index_en.html

The members of the PMA provide their products free of costs to pilots for test flying. Instead of having several individual, time and money consuming test camps spread all over the world, all manufacturers offer their products at the beginning of the European flying season central in Europe in Kössen with its ideal infrastructure. For pilots keen to test several brands and to compare on site, this creates cheaper and timesaving possibilities to do so.

Seven national level hang gliding competitions in the US this year. A number of them are using my freely available pilot registration system. It goes from the Oz Report at no cost to organizers or pilots who have to pay the fees. It was used recently for a speed gliding contest.

Combine this with again a freely available scoring system, with one click to on-line sores (freely available from the SeeYou authors).

Please, help us out. Support something that you find useful so that it can continue to be there for you.

You can send $20 or more for a yearly subscription/donation. To pay for your subscription with your credit card or PayPal account:

If you’d rather just send a check for $20 (US Dollars, only please) or more, please feel free to do so. The mail gets forwarded to me wherever I’m at.

Payable to:

Davis Straub (Not to the Oz Report)
PMB 1889 PO Box 2430
Pensacola, FL 32513

These are our supporters (if you are not on the list and have donated to the Oz Report, email me and I'll make sure that you are recognized): http://ozreport.com/supporters.php. Some of you who I've missed in the past did write to me and made sure I knew just how important the Oz Report was to them. If I've missed you, please do tell me.

Come over to the Oz Report support web page and sign up to support us: http://ozreport.com/support.php. Or click here:

http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2009/02/03/2481612.htm?site=adelaide

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing (empty)
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

Cool and sunny in Salt Lake City. Not much happening yet (Thursday). Just a review of the USHPA for the new BOD members.

Flying with others is what makes hang gliding a lot more fun (which is why I like competition). Unfortunately, Joe had to go fly a big airplane later today, so he didn't get to fly although he came by Quest Air thinking that he would be flying a hang glider.

I took off at 12:05 with a few thin little cues around Quest Air. Paul Tjaden hauled me over to one, I pinned off a little early, but then went over to it to find 600-800 fpm,  to 4,700', and so smooth. The wind was 15 mph out of the south southeast and I had been worrying about it being rough, but the tow out of the field was super smooth and the thermal was even smoother. This was going to be a day that I liked flying.

There were only two cu's around and after I got up I went on glide into the blue. There would not be another cu to get under during the flight.

It was  15 km to the next thermal and I was down to 1000'. Unlike the first thermal under the cu it was 150 fpm, but I figured this was the way it was going to be on this blue day with a defined inversion. I was drifting down wind fast, and that was the direction I was headed anyway, so I might as well just hang with it. It was very pleasant air to be up in. I was paralleling the Turnpike.

As I approached the prison and then Coleman I had to be sure to get high even to get over the forests ahead. I wasn't getting over 3,000' so I took my time hanging in very light lift, well under 100 fpm. I figured that I could just stay in the lift as I drifted over the forests if I had to.

I was high enough to jump over the Turnpike southwest of Wildwood and picked up a thermal at 1,000' as I was just keeping an eye on what fields away from the high tension lines I could land in if necessary. This thermal was almost 300 fpm to almost 5,000'.

Freed from my pre-occupation with reasonable landing zones I zoomed with the strong tail wind at 55 mph right up Interstate 75 toward Ocala. I was able to pick up the next thermal at 200 fpm at 1,700', so this was beginning to set up a pattern for me. From 4,600' I headed toward the southwest end of the runway at Ocala airfield.

Down to 1,400' I joined a young eagle (the birds had been very helpful all day) and climbed again to 4,600'. I was thinking that I should just keep this up, glide fast until I got down to near 2,000', then search around for the next one.

I picked a weak one up at 2,200' but lost it at 2,600' and oops, I didn't find another one as the territory below up highway 27 turned in to well fenced small horse farms. I saw a big field near highway 27 with a large horse show going on. I could land in the field well away from the horses, so I did. It was this show here.

After I landed I looked up and there were in fact cu's forming over the field. I had just barely missed them. Maybe they were there when I headed for the field, but maybe they were there just after I landed. They were the first cu's I saw after leaving Quest.

The flight:

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?flightId=1250584086

http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:davisstraub/10.3.2010/17:04

http://xc.dhv.de/xc/modules/leonardo/index.php?name=leonardo&op=show_flight&flightID=128177

http://paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/304327

A nice little cross country flight before my cross country flight to the USHPA BOD meeting.

http://www.ppolnews.com/?id=85481&keys=Google-Maps-Routes-Bicyclists

Google is announcing at the Opening Plenary Session at the National Bike Summit that they are adding biking directions in the U.S. to Google Maps."This new tool will open people's eyes to the possibility and practicality of hopping on a bike and riding," said Andy Clarke, President of the League of American Bicyclists. "We know people want to ride more, and we know it's good for people and communities when they do ride more - this makes it possible. It is a game-changer, especially for those short trips that are the most polluting."

http://maps.google.com/biking

Looks like I'll have to put in the paths around Groveland.

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing (empty)
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

http://www.zapiks.com/speed-riding-antoine-montant-1.html

From Jeff O'Brien's blog.

http://sequatchiecompetition.com/

The Tennessee Tree Toppers are making a big push to increase opportunities for our members to participate in fun competitions in 2010. Tree Toppers are going for it, with several different formats planned, and competitions spread out over the entire flying season. We intend to host the most comprehensive competition schedule in the nation!

We are hosting a monthly fun Weekend Series, a Race to Goal Sprint Series, an Open Distance within the Sequatchie Valley Meet and of course another Team Challenge!

A total of 31 days of organized competition hosted by the Tree Toppers! It promises to be an incredible year for hang gliding!

http://www.rochesterareaflyers.com/GOTTAFLY.html

She's looking for your support (see the Oz Report ads).

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8544716.stm

Since Christmas, parched areas of New South Wales, Australia's most populous state, have received their best rains in a decade, fuelling hopes the continent's worst drought in a century may finally be easing.

Near Forbes, a farming town 380km (240 miles) west of Sydney, vast tracts of desolate land have turned a splendid shade of green, while dry rivers and creeks have been revived.

"The impact of the rain has been fantastic. It has just really lifted the community and really lifted the environment," said Carissa Bywater, the general manager of the Forbes Shire council.

This oversees a town that has faced the dire prospect of running out of water, while the nearby Lachlan River almost stopped flowing.

The answer to today’s Geo Quiz today is Australia. Something’s happening in parts of the country that hasn’t happened for years. It’s RAINING. Correspondent Phil Mercer reports from the farming town of Forbes that locals hope the worst drought in memory may finally be breaking.

March 9 broadcast of PRI's "The World" - podcast here: http://www.theworld.org/2010/03/09/geo-answer-109/

Léo Siqueira <leosan_rj> writes:

Last Saturday, South Florida Pilots flying at the Florida Ridge Flight Park got a glimpse of the upcoming flying season. The Florida Ridge Flight Park is where two major competitions are going to be held in April-May, the Rob Kells Memorial and the Flytec Race and Rally.

Despite a winter that has been unusually cold and windy in South Florida, most local pilots have been able to perform flights between 1 and 2 hours long throughout this period. This Saturday was somewhat different with a good thermal forecast and winds from the N-NE of 10mph. With clear blue skies and good thermal activity a task was called to attempt a triangle from the Florida Ridge to Palmdale then to Labelle and back to the Ridge. Two pilots from the local XC league, David Whittle (WW T2C) and Leo Siqueira (Moyes Litespeed S4) went for this 45 miles "triangle". The visibility was excellent with views of the Gulf Coast and the other side of lake Okeechobee. The cold at altitude was definitely the hardest part of the flight as we are not used to getting so high in early spring. Both pilots took off around 2:00 to 2:30pm and landing back at the Florida Ridge at sunset (6:20pm).

The track log and picture illustrate the circumnavigation of a forbidden area in terms of landing options and retrieve possibilities. There are old tales of pilots leaving their equipment behind in order to walk out of this "Bermuda triangle". We punched in an upwind leg towards the north until Palmdale, trying to keep ourselves as close as possible to US-27. Friendly thermals consistently took us up to 6300 feet. We then followed downwind towards Labelle, and faced a crosswind leg back to the Florida Ridge late in the afternoon, making our way through weak lift, and jumping from field to field in the twilight.

This weekend also saw some great flying Saturday, Sunday and Monday from the local Florida Ridge club pilots with some great thermal flying and pilots pushing themselves to fly into wind away from the comfort of the Ridge landing field. What more could you ask for, blue skies, thermals from 4000 to 6000ft and plenty of people enjoying the moment.

We are hoping for an excellent flying season to come in the Southern Florida skies.

It's just a few days out of my life, but maybe, just maybe it will be worth it.

Please, help us out. Support something that you find useful so that it can continue to be there for you.

You can send $20 or more for a yearly subscription/donation. To pay for your subscription with your credit card or PayPal account:

If you’d rather just send a check for $20 (US Dollars, only please) or more, please feel free to do so. The mail gets forwarded to me wherever I’m at.

Payable to:

Davis Straub (Not to the Oz Report)
PMB 1889 PO Box 2430
Pensacola, FL 32513

These are our supporters (if you are not on the list and have donated to the Oz Report, email me and I'll make sure that you are recognized): http://ozreport.com/supporters.php. Some of you who I've missed in the past did write to me and made sure I knew just how important the Oz Report was to them. If I've missed you, please do tell me.

Come over to the Oz Report support web page and sign up to support us: http://ozreport.com/support.php. Or click here:

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing (empty)
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

• Flex wing
• Rigid wing
• Paraglider

Joe Bostik (former US National champion) showed up yesterday at Quest Air for a little cross country time. The forecast was for moderate lift and none to light winds, the first time we've had really light winds so far this season.

I had mapped a 50 km triangle route to the north which we quickly abandoned once we got in the air. Alex Cuddy wasn't on our frequency so he didn't hear Joe when he suggested going south as that's where all the sailplanes where high over the Seminole sailplane port for the Seniors Championship.

The cirrus had been increasing in sky coverage before we launched and Joe and I noticed that there was a lot less to the south of Seminole. The lift was pretty weak at first under the cirrus, and shadows from thicker cirrus would periodically come through from the north. We were only getting to a little over 3,000' when we headed out.

Down to 1,800', 8 km south of Quest, I found our first nice thermal of the day and I climbed out to 4,700' (Joe at 5,000'). The rest of the way south for thirty three kilometers (a bit south of Deen Still Road) it was weak. Joe did find one good thermal which got him high, but I came over to it a bit late and didn't get as high.

There was weak lift around the turnpoint at Deen Still and Joe was dodging the shadows heading further south. I kept going with him but found some lift a couple of kilometers to the north of him and told him to come back as we were way passed the turnpoint. He didn't want to come back to the shadow and headed further south to get back in the sunshine. I was going up in the shadow.

At 3,200' I headed north back toward Quest to do the out and return. Joe was working weak lift in the sun a few miles to the south over a grass air strip. He would be there for a while.

Passing the turnpoint I was down to 800' closely watching for birds. They had been a big help so far in the flight. There were a dozen vultures circling low, but they seemed to be too low and too many. I worked very weak lift just to their west knowing that I had to stay up in anything that was available.

That one really was weak and I only got back up to 2,700' before it gave out. I headed north really paying very close attention to the air and to the land below trying to make sure I didn't get so low again before I found something. At 1,500' 10 km south of the glider port I found a strong one that took me to 5,000'. Now it looked like things would turn out alright.

I kept in contact with Joe as he worked his way slowly back toward me. I slowed way down so that he could catch up. Four kilometers south of the glider port I climbed back to 5,400'. I had Quest Air on a glide, but hung back waiting for Joe. He was catching up.

I hung around the airport but it was getting cold being so high. I moved slowly north finding zero sink and just hanging out in it to see if I could spot Joe. He told me that he was just north of the glider port but low. I couldn't see him.

He worked a thermal from low but ended up not too high on the south of the glider port. He came north, but then told me he was down to 1,000' and felt that he might be landing. I had moved further north and went on glide to Quest getting there way high and heading north to Groveland to find some sink. There had been plenty of lift for the last ten kilometers.

I was about to get him with my truck after landing at Quest when I saw him coming in to the field. He had dug his way out of the hole that he got himself in.

The flight on various on-line contests:

http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?dsId=1128011

http://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:davisstraub/8.3.2010/18:04

http://xc.dhv.de/xc/modules/leonardo/index.php?name=leonardo&op=show_flight&flightID=128117

Uploading to the site above, also put it here:

http://paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/304181

I've tried repeatedly to get the following to work but it doesn't:

http://www.xccomp.org/module.php?id=35&date=20100309&competitor_id=100285#

http://www.willswing.com/blogs/PilotBlogs/tabid/38/EntryId/236/Covert-Progress.aspx

I finished the final prototype of the Wills Wing "Covert" before starting to build four team harnesses signifying the "pre-release production phase".

Click the image above to see how it fits around the shoulders.

38 58 10.92 N,75 52 0.00 W, Highland Aerosports, Ridgely, Maryland, USA

March 15th is the date.

http://ozreport.com/uscompetitiondates.php

http://www.aerosports.net/ECC.html

http://2010bigspring.blogspot.com/