A few years ago during a Sunday operation at Leeton, the local
RPT going from Griffith to Narrandera cruised over the top of the
winch at about 1000 feet (that's AGL!). This action understandibly
caused a bit of concern. A brief but polite telephone conversation
with the RPT company's chief pilot soon sorted things out, however.
(Apparently, the pilot in question was trying to give his passengers
'a good look' at the gliding operation...) Said pilot was admonished
and to date, with a few exceptions (not as bad as the first time) we
haven't had too much trouble.
The reason I'm telling this story is because, during today's operation,
the local RPT going from Narrandera to Griffith was approaching the
field (at a safe height) as we were launching the 28.
It was the most beautifully executed sharp turn and bug-out I've seen
in a long time....! (I felt like jumping up and down shouting "boogie
boogie boogie!)
John Mason
----- Original Message -----
From: "Leigh Bunting" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Soaring List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, September 09, 2001 10:36 PM
Subject: [aus-soaring] BORING
> Small crew at Whitwarta today, only one K21 on the line.
>
> Thermals were very weak but soarable with 4000' seen later in the day in
> the largely overcast conditions.
>
> The serenity was disturbed by the circuit area being a magnet for
> powered aircraft passing through. One, a turbine Ag-aircraft, passed
> through at 1500-2000'. Had to warn the K21 driver because he was
> potentially in the firing line.
>
> Later on, I had only been off the wire a short time and call from base
> about another stinkwing heading in my direction. Picked him up and saw
> him at about 2000, me being at 1500. Stinkwing hung a left over the
> airfield and headed west. Changing to the area frequency to advise him
> of gliders around, left me not being able to get a word in as ATC had
> obviously seen fit to re-broadcast all ATC movements on this frequency
> as every damn stinkwing from the ground to the stratosphere in South
> Australia was "on-line" to Melbourne control.
>
> Seems that we are going to have to sent out old knots from our winch
> wire to every operator in SA explaining what could happen to them flying
> through our "patch". We haven't seen any aircraft from the last operator
> we were having problems with after doing this.
>
> Good thermals and watch out for those other birds with their built-in
> thermals.
> Leigh Bunting
> Colonel Light Gardens
> South Australia
> Find out more about Col. Light Gdns. here -
> http://www.chariot.net.au/~pknight/clghs/
>
>
>
>
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