Oz Report

"Hang-on" Hang Gliding Competition

Hang-On Lakeview 2007|Mike Haley|mph Sports|USHPA|US Nationals

(Sugar Hill west launch)

Mike Haley at «mphsports» writes:

Originally, mph Sports put in a bid for "Hang-on" HG Competition in Lakeview, OR, expecting it to be awarded as US Nationals.  The Nationals was awarded to Florida Ridge.  We decided to continue with our meet but change the structure and open it up to a larger group including Single Surface and Sport Class.  Therefore, the requirements have changed to USHPA H3 with turbulence and cross country endorsements.

We have rented a headquarters building with audio visual, tables, and chairs that can be used for a classroom.  mph Sports history, passion, and goals have always been to provide a training ground for pilots in the competition environment.  We look forward to providing that venue for the US hang gliding pilots now and in the future.

Go to www.mphsports.com for more specific information.  Registration opens March 15^th . Remember, "Hang-on" section is still under construction, however interested parties can find most information.

What a super cool web site.

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Scoring meets, part 1

PG|scoring

Your first task as scorekeeper in a competition is to download waypoints to the competitors' GPSes.  There are a number of pieces of free or commercial software that will allow you to accomplish this task.

Free:

GPSDump 3.77: http://www.multinett.no/%7Estein.sorensen/

Up- and download waypoints from Garmin models, MLR, IQ-Compeo/Competino, Flytec 5020/5030 and Top Navigator / XC Trainer.

FlyChart 4.52 (free if you don't use the database feature): http://www.flytec.com/Products/Software/FlyChart_452.htm

For use with 4000 series, 5030 v2.16d or later, 5020 v1.12 or later and 6010

Commercial:

SeeYou 3.62: http://www.naviter.si/products/seeyou-competition.php. (129 EU)

Its functions before the flight allow you to plan tasks, manage waypoint lists…After the flight, it allows you to download flights from GPS devices, see your flight on maps, explore its details through Statistics and relive it in 3D view.

SeeYou presents several different types of waypoints, ranging from a turnpoint to mountain pass.  Waypoints can be managed both graphically and alphabetically.  Waypoints can be imported and exported to all file formats, known to us. If there is an unsupported file format, please let us know, and we will implement it as soon as possible.

CompeGPS 6.4 here. (90 EU) (License to use for one year only for more than 50 pilots - 300 EU)

Compatibility with most of the available GPSes to receive tracks, routes and waypoints.

You would also find useful a program that converts between the many different formats used for storing waypoints.  You'll find a handy program, GPSBabel here: http://www.gpsbabel.org/. Also G7Towin here: http://www.gpsinformation.org/ronh/ can do many conversions and can also manage waypoints but doesn't connect to the MLR, Flytec, Brauniger, or Top Navigator.

Please provide any comments that you have on these programs or other possible programs that can be used for this function.

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Denman, aerotowing in the Hunter Valley

(  Denman Hotel)

Belinda Boulter

Belinda photographs the whole business district:



Click for higher resolution.  This is the local gas station (Shell) across the street from the Denman Hotel.  also the tourist info center - NRMA.



The Denman Royal Hotel/Pub, and the business district, from the balcony of our room at the Denman Hotel.

Denman is about six kilometers or so from the aerotowing at Pete's place to the north.

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Back at the coast

(Merewhether)

Scott Barrett|weather

We were back flying the coast again on Monday flying a Merewhether in light conditions.  Experienced pilots were hoping to be able to soar up from the dunes down below, but the winds were too light for that.  I tried to get up at Dixon Park flying down from Merewhether after soaring for an hour at 100' over the top, but it was too light.

Flew another test flight on a Airborne Fun 190. Again, it was fun.  So easy to turn.

I heard a story when we went over to the Scenic launch (http://ozreport.com/sites.php) as we watched a crow harass a Sea Eagle.  Apparently earlier in the day a crow had been bothering this particular Sea Eagle and a little while later the Sea Eagle came back higher than the crow.  He then dove on the crow and that was the end of the crow.

Scott Barrett was on launch at Scenic having just landed there.  It is a really tight launch, so an impressive feat.

I'm trying to think of another spot where you can fly right down town like you can at Merewhether, Dixon Park, Monument, and Scenic launches.  That you fly in crowded urban areas and land on the beach with lots of people on the beach.  Where you can knock off at work at 4 PM and get out to take a flight without having to travel a long distance.  Where you can pack it up on the grass and then go for a beer.

Santa Barbara comes to mind.  There are places apparently where you can launch and fly the beach there, but almost everyone went up to Eliminator, which was ten minutes up the hill.  In Santa Barbara the hill launches are closer, as you have to go out into the Hunter Valley to get cross country inland flights at Newcastle, but you can do pretty nice cross country flights at the beach from Catharine Bay just a few kilometers south of the Airborne factory.

There is aerotowing in the Upper Hunter also.

Seems to me that the Newcastle pilots and their club have a hang gliding paradise.  The local councils gives them permission to fly over the lads who are out their surfing from many launch spots and provide minimal hassles.  The weather is nice and there are many many different types of launch sites within two hours. 

Tuesday it was northeast, so we decided to go snorkeling after work.

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Quest Air Superbowl Party

(Quest Air)

Jamie Shelden|Quest Air|weather

Jamie Shelden «jamie» writes:

We're planning a big Super bowl party weekend this Saturday and Sunday February 3^rd and 4^th. The flying weather is looking nice for Saturday and we'll have a big dinner and party in the clubhouse Saturday night.  If the weather doesn't look so great for Sunday or for those that want to see the game on our big screen TV, we'll have beer and refreshments for the Super bowl on Sunday afternoon.  So, come on out and join us for some great winter flying and with any luck we'll get another wardrobe malfunction for some extra entertainment.

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Cleaning sails

gear

For spot remove: Methylated Spirits (that's the product name here in Australia). Automated dishwasher soap.

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Microsoft flight simulator action figure

(Airborne factory)

Rob Hibberd|Scott Barrett

Rob Hibberd «RobH» writes:

http://www.airborne.com.au/pages/home_n.cfm

Scroll down it is on the right hand side.



For Microsoft's 2004 flight sim Airborne C4 Hang Glider.  Depicting our latest topless competition hang glider, two detailed fully animated models are included, one with a landable/prone pilot the other prone/weight shifting.  Both 2D and VC views with digital instrumentation

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Flytec Championship and the Flytec Race of Champions

(Quest Air)

Jamie Shelden|Quest Air|USHPA

Jamie Shelden «jamie» writes:

The USHPA executive committee finally agreed to exempt us from the 65%/35% rule.  This is great as it allows us to let in all of those diligent pilots that were at their computers at 4 PM (EST) on the 15^th. So, everyone who registered on the 15^th of January, 2007 is in (regardless of their nationality). In the meantime, we have a few places open still for American pilots and on February 15^th, if those places aren't taken, we will give them to any foreign pilots on the waiting list.

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2007 New Zealand Nationals

(Tapawera, NZ)

Alex Charles

Alex Charles|New Zealand Nationals 2007

Alex Charles «alexcha» writes:

Day 1 - Sat 27 Jan

Conditions at Tapawera were marginal in the morning with low cloud, but the sun came out in the afternoon and pilots made the best of light conditions to fly a short task down the Tadmore valley.  The day was won by local Nelson pilot Dave Newton, second Chris Lawry, third Matt Barlow (last year's winner).

Day 2 - Sun 28 Jan

With low cloud base and northerly winds pilots towed off the Tapawera airstrip for a task down to St Arnaud, but the heavy cloud cover made lift difficult to find and everybody was forced back down to the airfield and the day was cancelled.

Day 3 - Mon 29 Jan

Pilots launched early into overcast skies but hard working pilots were rewarded with light lift to fly a triangular task down the Tadmore valley.  Matt Barlow won the low scoring day.

Day 4 - Tue 30 Jan

The best day's flying of the competition and the organisers set a 60km task along the Motueka valley.  An unstable sky, 5000 foot cloudbase with 1500 ft/min thermals.  Pilots flew in strong SW winds and at times had to work hard to fly upwind.  Michi Friesenbichler was first to goal but was later found to have narrowly missed turn point two so David Sieb who also made it to goal was the winner on the day and collect his first points of the competition after having to sit out the first three days of competition while waiting for glider parts to be sent.

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