Just some more facts about a great WA State Comps: 29 pilots competed in 25 gliders, it was great to see the two-seaters in Sports Class again, and a real renaissance in WA comps flying. There were 2 practice days and 11 competition days, having lost only one to rain. It was the first comp here using only GPS verification, and it went like a dream. No more sweating in the dark room and over rotten pictures. Fastest 300k was Daryl MacKay ASW17 @ 125kph. It was a very safe comps, only damage was a bad case of hanger rash, and a graunched rudder base when a tailskid came off on landing, both aircraft quickly repaired. We had one day overdeveloped into violent thunderstorms, but pilots all showed commendable airmanship and either cut short the task or landed out in clear areas. One thunderstorm over Beverley took the power out, flooded the airfield, and generated a cock-eyed bob that detached an adjoining farmer's shed, it was last seen climbing well though 6000'. Only one airborne incident reported on a practice day when a Astir77 on task en-route came in close proximity to a twin-engined aircraft at 5000'; the astir was in a right hand thermal climbing and had to tighten up for collison avoidance, the other aircraft executed a right avoiding turn, minimum distance was estimated as 50 metres by the glider pilot.
The Hornet flew well, fighting off the Discus, SZD 55 and the usual swarms of bloody Jantars, but just could not beat my old friend AN. First tied place in State standard class in WA history. We all had fun, it was full of friendly spirit (and great WA wine in the evenings), even the task setters did the right thing on the last day and we ALL got to go to the dinner! (Also unprecedented!) Thanks to Glen Hawser as Comps Director and his ace crew for the best state comps in decades. Love that Hornet! Regards, Welshie. -- * You are subscribed to the aus-soaring mailing list. * To Unsubscribe: send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] * with "unsubscribe aus-soaring" in the body of the message * or with "help" in the body of the message for more information.
