Newcastle Hang Gliding Club

The front has passed through and fluffy cu's are now filling the sky. The winds are out of the west and a bit too strong for aerotowing, but maybe some landing practice is taking place to our south. It could continue to be too windy for flight today and the same may be true tomorrow.

It lightened up enough for a tandem flight before a very rapid over development out of the blue.

http://youtu.be/Pj8d0bwWfSo

http://ozreport.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=30057

I've finally gotten around and started a project to develop a flying module for hang gliding and paragliding. Basically the primary goal is to have it sync up with Flytec 6030 via Bluetooth and display the primary information to you.

It's here. I got to see it today at Quest Air and give it a try out. The display is not on the lens of the goggles, but just below the lens and in the center. Looked good even for my eyes that require reading glasses.

http://sandiaclassic.org/

So the Sandia Classic is unlikely to happen.

The last straw was the current drought indications the forest is almost certain to be closed a month before the event days. We will open registration if the forest will be open.

Advance apologies to those that wanted to join us this year. If the forest is open we’ll do our best to have the sanctioned event but will have a flying/racing event anyway even if it’s not sanctioned.

The article here

A new report confirms that the extreme heat waves, floods, droughts and wildfires that have wracked Australia over the past decade have been exacerbated by climate change. The report, commissioned by the Australian government’s Climate Commission, makes clear that these weather events will only get worse in the coming years, and warns that health and emergency professionals as well as citizens must prepare for their impacts now.

I wonder if the report tells folks exactly how to prepare. Looking quickly through it with a search on "prepare" and "response" I did not find any recommendations.

David Whittle <<david.whittle>> writes:

Mine for Saturday: http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/732577

Jonathan's for Sunday: http://paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/flight/732454

This is the write up with photos for Sunday's flight by Jonathan.

http://zerosink.wordpress.com

The day was looking as was predicted by XC Skies to be an amazing day with South winds and excellent lift conditions up the state. After the previous day’s flight we were a bit tired (especially David after yet again flying 120+ kilometers) but based on the appearance of the sky and Derreck’s advice to leave early, we all get together and ready to launch with David, Marco and Myself setting a tacit task to Avon Park. I joked that if we got there we could keep going north to Wallaby, and little did I know at the time it would come to pass that very same day.

http://ozreport.com/1359392756

http://instinct.pro/Boom

Mark Dowsett was here with his camera mounts that have a range of useful features:

This one clamps to an aluminum base tube. I'll have to work with him to squeeze it down to fit snuggly around a carbon fiber base tube (the aluminum is soft and it was easy to bend it with channel locks to make it tightly fit on the carbon base tube). The Velcro isn't stretchy Velcro. The boom can easily swivel just by loosening the black knob. This particular boom is short enough that it doesn't require a string from the nose plate to hold it in place. Both sizes are available. The curve in the boom allows the boom to be out of the picture.

Round clamps are available for single and tandem glider round base tubes.

Booms with and without audio cords are available. For example, my GoPro Hero HD doesn't have an external input mic socket so there is no need for an external mic. But if you have a Hero 2 or 3 or Drift Ghost you'll want the 3.5 mm plug/cable. 2.5 mm for earlier Drift cameras. You can then plug in a mic at the near end of the boom. This brings your videos into the talkie era.

http://vimeo.com/58137468 Video and audio in action.

A number of different mechanisms are used for releasing the V-bridle on a two or three point aerotow system. Two of them are pictured here.

http://estore.hanglide.com/Aerotow_Primary_Release_p/14-9004.htm

http://ozreport.com/16.019#1

Mark Dowsett has been here with his students and he uses Joe's "Get Off" release. The duct tape and zip ties have been replace with Velcro. The Monkey fist with a large washer. The point of his release is that there is a consistent small amount of force (due to the spring) required to release the V-bridle, irrespective of the pressure from the V-bridle.

http://www.nanoavionic.com/

All morning it has been overcast and warm at 70 degrees. Mark Dowsett and his students got in some flights with the light winds. I got in a very nice bike ride in mild conditions.

But right now the Wills Wing Demo Days are happening without any demoing as the rains have started after 1 PM. Looks like we are in for more tomorrow.

http://www.nhgc.asn.au/node/1823

It brings me great sadness to inform you that my much loved Aeros Combat L13 had its last flight on 29/3/13. We were having a great little fly around Mt Borrah (Manila NSW) with about 150 Paragliders also! The wind was about 5-10kts with mild but noticeable turbulence that was only a little uneasy at times, in fact very mild compared to other days.

Deciding to land I headed over the back to Godfry's at about 200 feet above launch, heading a bit SE to be on the lee of the saddle so not to be in the lee of the main hill thinking if there was any rotor this would be the best line to take. Meanwhile Simon and a paraglider were turning in some light lift further downwind and experiencing some turbulence but nothing to be worried about and below me was a paraglider low, thinking that he was mad to be there that low with a collapsible wing!

I then hit a strong surge of lift thinking that this is probably the core that they were looking for and entered an aggressive turn gaining a little but then straight into sink, this is when the air definitely felt not normal! I was just about to radio to Simon that this feels like rotor when the nose pitched down suddenly, pointing straight down with no bar pressure and silence, I assumed the locked arm position ready for the speed to build and then pull out. (I had previously been in this position last year and the glider pulled out ok, just a massive increase in my heat rate was the outcome! BUT I was flying with my tail then! I have since stopped flying with the tail and retuned the glider to a safe sprog setting and reduced all sail tension and the glider has been flying great with good handling and no signs of instability.)

That feeling of no control heading straight at the ground become worse when I felt a kick from behind! The glider instantly tucked and I was just a ragged doll being smashed and battered! Something broke and then we started spinning, everything happened so fast and next thing I found myself hanging at the bottom of the wreckage in prone face down knowing that this is it! Time to throw the chute!

Found out what happened at the URL above.

http://2013bigspring.blogspot.com/

August 4th through the 10th.

http://www.gfbyars.com/winscore/

Winscore is a robust and easy to use Windows based scoring program for soaring contests in the US. The scoring program is used at soaring contests to calculate contestant speeds, distances, scores, and to generate score sheets. The scoring program also can generate .zip files which contains the GPS flight traces (.igc files) and scoring information (.xml) for each contestant. These .zip files can then be put on a web page where Internet users can view a replay of the contestant's flights for that day.

Andrej at Naviter writes:

I know winscore. It's been around for longer than SeeYou and I know Guy as well. Americans have different rules and like to change them a lot so have tended not to use SeeYou for scoring (yet). It's all good.

Of course, SeeYou was used at the 2012 World Championships in Uvalde, Texas, see here.

http://ozreport.com/9.187#2

Dr. Tracy Tillman <<Cloud9SA>> writes:

I am uncomfortable about the use of carbon fiber base tubes with wheels, so do not produce wheels for that application.

My Wills Wing "Real Wheel" conversion is available:

1. Send your WW brackets to me. (I don't keep those in stock.) http://willswing.com/Accessories/wheels_main.asp

2. I will do the machining modifications and mount the Real Wheels for $85.

3. Mirrored moon-cap hubcaps are available for $15.

4. Cost does not include s/h.

Address: Cloud 9 Sport Aviation
11088 West Coon Lake Road
Webberville, MI
48892

These comparable wheels are available from Quest Air for $100:

Charles Baughman <<big-bird>> writes:

Here is a shot of a local Eagle. Goldie is off her nest long enough to get a short flight before she returns to her incubation chore. Sometimes the male gives her a break and takes over the nest sitting.

With high overcast coming from the storm as it approaches us there was still lift under the plentiful cu's. The rain waited until almost 6 PM.

The storm caused damage in Mobile, Alabama earlier today.

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57577813/worker-missing-after-cruise-ship-breaks-loose-from-dock/

It looks like wind and rain coming from the northwest for later today or maybe tomorrow.

This afternoon: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Partly sunny, with a high near 84. Southeast wind around 10 mph.

Tonight: A chance of showers and thunderstorms, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 8pm. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 65. East wind around 10 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%.

Thursday: Showers and thunderstorms likely, mainly after 2pm. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 78. Southeast wind 10 to 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Thursday Night: Showers and thunderstorms likely. Cloudy, with a low around 66. South wind around 15 mph, with gusts as high as 25 mph. Chance of precipitation is 70%.

Friday: A 40 percent chance of showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a high near 77. Windy, with a west southwest wind 15 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 30 mph.

We all broke down this morning after a few flights, but pilots have come up from a flight park to our south to get some flying in this afternoon. The winds have died down a bit and after Mark took a little testing flight he found that it looked launchable at least.

Cu's fill the skies and there are high clouds also:

Looks like Mitch's landing clinic is postponed until Saturday morning.

So if you've come to Florida to fly, maybe you'll want to be here today and then wait until Saturday for more flying. But we'll see about tomorrow.

Wesley Hill <<wesleyianhill>> writes:

Results here.

Over the last 21 years, Birchip has given us some great flying, even though it is approaching the end of our flying season. We've had 73 tasks out of the 86 days of competition. This year was 4 out of 4 with plenty of gliders at goal every day.

Day 1: 72.8km to Nyah West.

There were clouds (4500-5000ft base) over the paddock giving good climbs, but they dried out about 20km into the task. Still some good 600fpm climbs in the blue - and some not-so-good climbs from low saves.

14 in goal with Grant taking 1st, Tove in 2nd and Andy in 3rd.

Day 2: 50.6km to OakVale.

100% cloud cover, both upper level and low level - we weren't worried. Base was about 4500-5000ft again and there were still good climbs (500fpm) even without the sun. A few pilots found it hard to get up and get going, but it started working again late for those that kept trying.

Grant wins again, with Hughbert less than a minute behind and Tove in 3rd. 14 in goal again today.

Day 3: 60.8km to Lake Boga.

The RASP shows lift decreasing during the day so we head out early. Lots of nice looking clouds but base is lower (3500ft, rises to 4500ft late in the day). A lot of low saves, but also some fast times for those that were able to connect the dots. Beavo had trouble getting out of the tow paddock initially - but 5 tows saw him going late and taking advantage of the higher base.

Grant wins another day, Beavo is very close in 2nd (flying a floater) and Nick takes 3rd. 10 in goal.

Day 4: 46.2km to Llalbert Road.

A short task and an early start so everyone could get home at a reasonable hour. A lot of cloud while we're setting up, but plenty of sun on the ground by the time we launch. Base at 4500-5000ft and many pilots got 5-10km runs under the streets. 5 floater and race class gliders at goal with a few Pbs and first time goalers.

Grant wins yet again, Tove in 2nd and Hughbert in 3rd. 20 in goal.

No surprise that Grant won overall, Toby came second (first time at the comp), Nick and Andy were equal third.

http://www.facebook.com/Jeff.OBrien4

http://www.facebook.com/jeff.shapiro.5

Gary Solomon <<gary>> writes:

So, I read with high interest about GPSDump now working on Android phones. Definitely wanted to try it. We could load waypoints and get tracklogs right at the field, with just our phone! No computer needed. Woohoo.

I downloaded the app and bought the special (USB on the go) cable.

Got my Flytec 6015 and plugged it right in to my nice new Samsung Galaxy Note II Android phone. Fired up GPSDump and told it to read my GPS. Phone and Flytec would not talk to each other. I wrote to the guy who wrote the program. He wrote back that he didn’t know why, but It doesn’t work on all phones, and the “Note” was known to have issues.

I then bricked my wife's Samsung Galaxy S3.

David Braun <<d.s.b>> writes:

I am a passionate hang gliding pilot and I spend a lot of un-flyable time watching inspirational and epic flight videos. I put my free time this winter towards developing a Video Channel for the flying community - www.EpicFlight.tv and on Facebook: www.facebook.com/epicflight.tv.

Everyone is invited to share Epic and Inspiring Videos about Hang Gliding, paragliding and other forms of human flight on this website. I felt a strong (personal) need for such a platform as it was hard trying not to miss the good videos and filtering through all the mainstream/youtube-suggestions to find them. This channel will also help connecting talented pilots and film-makers on a global scale.