Sunday bought a challenging day, with thick high level cloud. Starting off generally clear, then filling with whisps, then cumulus. Followed by over development, few virga showers.
We aborted the first task which took us into dry blue skies initially, then apparantly over Gayndar there were showers. The revised task was a max start height limit of 6,000QNH (to which you had to be under for 2 minutes), then Wondai A/F, Kumbia, Kingaroy x 2. This was a great exercise to practice, as this is what is generally done in the UK, as well as giving Dave and I a sense of a real race. We put the pedal to the metal on the first lap. Unfortunately havn't got the trace downloaded yet so no speeds :( The reason for sharing about this flight, was because of the weather that was turned off on the second lap. On the second lap around, we were greeted with spread out and the rain as mentioned above. We have a good general discussion over the radio as to how we'll approach the situation, aiming to make the second lap. We decide to take a 2kt climb as high as possible over the kingaroy township before heading off into the murk. We decide to stay in front of the showers that were progressing towards Wondai A/F. Were in wingtip-to-wingtip searching mode. Flying very slowly now, thinking the situation out. We manage to find a weak climb of 0.5kt and take it as far up as we could. We decide to move upwind (which was back towards home (around 10k)) as the sky ahead looks no good now. We were lucky enough to find 1kt, which built into 1.5 and finally 2kts on the 30 second averager. Everyone else has landed back at kingaroy now, while Dave and I are battling it out under the spread out. The showers have moved directly over Wondai, and are both getting high enough to get towards cruise again. We have a go at getting to Wondai, but are cut off by showers on the 20's wing. We turn back just above glide for Kingaory only 10k from the township. So close.. Were both determined to get to Wondai and complete the task. We head back towards Kingaory, taking .5kt climbs and sometimes only .2 of a knot - this is proving to be a really good flight, both working now very well together both in the booming and weak conditions. We were taking anything as we were being positive of some sun getting through @ 1530hrs, taking a very high climb and best gliding in and around the turn. In the end we got pushed that far back until we were over the field @ 1,500AGL. It took another 30 minutes for us to throw in the town and go in for a beer? Had it been the world championships, we definitely would've round the turn in the rain, as it looked semi-soarable around the corner (marginal, but possible). The other reason being that, we would've at least had max scoring distance from our height near Wondai. The flight ended in formation Chandells over the airfield, followed closely by a formation landing to our cars! Thanks for another great flight Dave? Regards, Adam Woolley www.joeyglide.com/juniorteam/ _______________________________________________ Aus-soaring mailing list [email protected] To check or change subscription details, visit: http://lists.internode.on.net/mailman/listinfo/aus-soaring
