has obtained a Porosity tester for local PG pilots who would like to test their wings. The Porosity tester will be at the next meeting of the Cairns Hang-Gliding Club to be held at the Yorkey’s knob boat club starting at 7.30pm on Thurday the 5th August.
Porosity tests are part of good maintenance of your wing and essential to safety. Please take this opportunity to test your wing and make sure she is in excellent condition and won’t let you down when you least expect it! The piece of mind knowing your wing has passed the test will be well worth it. Your wings’ manual will have the details of how many hours your wing needs to be tested by.
As you may or may not know, club members Bob & Tracey Hayes attempted to fly their XT912 to the tip of Cape York recently. The attempt was thwarted only 1 hours flying time from the tip, (65nm) due to low cloud and high winds that persisted for nearly 3 weeks. Luckily, they had a back-up plan, so were still able to complete the trip, although in not quite as much style as they would have liked!
Below is a little preview video of the trip.
Latest video from the Rex lookout. XC from the Rex to Port Douglas, via the bowl. Video taken on June 6th, 2010. Not such an easy day to get to Port, strong sink areas away from the slopes made it difficult to get a good glide. The normally reliable lift areas weren’t as strong as normal, so patience was the order of the day.
The weather station has been returned and has been re-installed. Thanks to all the hard work of the few that turned up on Sunday to help. Special thanks to Paul and Brett for all their running around and attention to detail. Also thanks to Jude, Daniel, Roger, John C, & Trace & Bob for helping out.
Extra bird-detering measures have been installed, and hopefully this will keep them away. The local gecko’s and spiders are loving the condo living the pole provides, though!
Since there has been no Hang-Gliding or Para-gliding lately, due to a distinct lack of wind, we took advantage of the situation and flew from Atherton to Cape Tribulation last Saturday. A spectacular flight with beautiful scenery and we even seen our first Dugongs in the wild!
Our Weather station is still being repaired in Finland and should be ready to make the return trip soon!
A big THANKYOU to all these members who have contributed to help pay for the repairs of the weather station; Barney, Daniel and Dana, Wayne B, Paul, Ron, Uwe, Sean, Brett, Jude, Ted, Tracey and Bob.
We are still about $400 short so please dig deep and donate if you haven’t already, so we can this thing back up on the pole and the website before the season starts.
Well, a gallant attempt was made to stage a Gillies comp on Saturday the 28th November. The day looked reasonable and Bob, Joe, Ron, Brod, Warren and Kieren turned up at Jack’s farm for the drive in. Eva kindly volunteered to drive and close the gates. (thanks Eva!)
As usual, the cycles roared through during set up, then lulled off when we were actually ready to go. Ron lined up first. The cycles made us wait a long time before arriving, so patience on launch was needed. Brod was next, then Bob. Once in the valley, the air was a bit strange. Lots of bubbles but very difficult to catch. Ron run for the point, as did Bob. Brod turned back over launch and had a better time of it. He then went out into the valley and managed to stay up. Ron and Bob meanwhile, kept proving Einstien was right about gravity…
Bob made the turf farm. Ron had an ‘interesting’ downwinder into a cane paddock (see pic) Keiren launched in Warren’s Litesport and had a good run, despite the harness being too small and his legs cramping most of the time. Kieren and Brod both landed at the turf farm as well. Joe and Warren felt the return didn’t match the investment and packed up.
So, we tried but it didn’t quite work out. We are going to have another go next weekend 5th and 6th December 2009. (weather permitting).
