At 00:08 5/06/2006, you wrote:
Hi Tom,
I don't think the image of gliding in Australia is by any means perfect,
but I just wanted to emphasise that the problem is not that there are
too many 'youth-challenged' pilots --- indeed I think it is a positive
thing that they are able to dominate the sport here if there isn't
enough of a talent or representation in the other ranks. <duck!>
To me, it means that the sport has a very strong basis if healthy adults
of all ages can credibly participate in competitions.
I
Most often the perception I hear from the public prior to taking
TIFs is that it is a
serene, relaxing and slow-paced activity akin to ballooning; of course
gliding can be those things but the sporting side is far from that.
Johnny
Obviously you have never been involved in a ballooning competition
! The difference between the pace of activity in competitive
ballooning and that in a ballooning Air Experience Charter flight is
similar to that in gliding.
Both are sports that offer participation to adults of all ages and
levels of progression beyond the essential level of competence to fly
in sole command of an aircraft that requires some skill, judgement
and anticipation, plus an understanding of the power of the
atmosphere, in order to derive a sense of achievement and the
opportunity to observe some of the rarer beauty that our planet can offer.
Like gliding, ballooning can require very rapid decision making to
successfully fly an aircraft to a position where a marker can be
released as close as possible to a predetermined target - and some of
our better contest pilots consistently put their marker within 10
metres of the target over a 10-kilometre flight - sometimes within
centimetres - and sometimes with three markers to throw within 10
minutes, other times playing cat-and-mouse with the wind for a couple of hours.
One of Australia's top balloon pilots is also a glider pilot, whilst
one Danish pilot represents his country at both sports at World
Championships level.
Wombat (who flies both at Nationals level from time to time).
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