Now there's someone who's still entranced by the beauty of motorless flight!
What a lovely report to read.
May your joy with Alice and your sport long continue, Robert.
Peter Henderson
Dr Peter A Henderson, Dentist
141 Maling Road (PO Box 248)
Canterbury VIC 3126
Australia
Ph +61 (0)3 9836 4342 business
(0)3 9419 8567 home
(0)407 533940 mobile
Fax +61 (0)3 9830 5345
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Sunday, April 28, 2002 9:39 AM
Subject: [aus-soaring] Alice in Wonderland
> Hi
>
> Yesterday I took posession of my 1/4 share of "Alice in Wonderland"
> (alias Alpha Whisky, VH-GAW Nimbus 2C) at Darling Downs Soaring Club. I
> also witnessed the parting sadness of the previous owners of the share -
> thanks again Jenny and Jeremy).
>
> After a quick site check in a Puchacz (which also served as a type check
> - I had not flown one before, it felt very odd starting the launch with
> the stick so far back!) Alice and I sat and waited for the day to get
> going. There was much promise in the forecast and there were distant
> Cu's popping to the east and north, but Jondaryan remained blue and the
> the reports from the two seaters were discouraging. Finally, things
> started to happen around midday and a gaggle of single seaters launched
> - including Alice and I.
>
> With thoughts I imagine akin to a transition from Tiger Moth to
> Spitfire, I must admit to a certain amount of nervousness as the rope
> tightened in front of us - but things went smoothly enough on the launch
> (I'll get better Alice) and we dropped the tow at 2000' agl.
>
> The thermals were there, but took a while to wind up to 'Queensland
> strength' (better than 6kts on the averager). Even in that weak early
> lift, Alice tucked her wing knowingly into the thermal and we headed
> cloudwards. Alice then took me on an eastern tour of the area I had
> traversed with Bert Persson during the comp at Chinchilla. Alice danced
> graciously through the sky - at least, as well as her inexperienced and
> sometimes tangle footed partner would allow. All the while, the day got
> better and better as Alice taught me how to centre her 20.5m wingspan
> into the strengthening thermals. A reasonably centred climb of 7.7kts on
> the averager demonstrated, I hope, that I was learning!
>
> One leg of an improvised task had us cantering joyously from Jondaryan
> to Pittsworth - about 20km straight line flight of 70-90kts that started
> at 8000' and ended at 8100' with the assistance of a magnificient
> cloudstreet!
>
> After over 4 hours, we were cruising languidly at 7000' as the sun sank
> towards the horizon and the sky became a wonderland of blushing Cus. But
> the evening chill was creeping into the cockpit, so a return to earth
> seemed in order, which was accomplished adequately enough. As we slid
> Alice into her hangar, the full moon rolled hugely over the horizon - a
> fitting end to a magical day.
>
> Alice and I will get to know one another better, with many enjoyable yet
> more stretching flights in the future. Alice may not be the youngest and
> sexiest glider at Jondaryan, but she is gorgeous and has much rich
> experience to share in the wide, wild wonderland of the sky.
>
> I am entranced - it is certainly a case of 'Love at first flight'.
>
> --
> Robert Hart [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Strategic IT & open source consulting +61 (0)438 385 533
> Brisbane, Australia http://www.interweft.com.au
>
>
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