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Interesting clouds pictures can be found here;

http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2009/10/29/Weird-Rare-Clouds-and-the-Physics-Behind-Them.aspx

We have recieved notice of a facebook group for Nth Queensland Hang-glider pilots. Lincoln is in Townsville and is keen to start training in Cairns ASAP. In the meantime, he has set up a page for anyone flying hang-gliders in Nth Qld (and has a facebook account) to get together and talk about our favourite subject!

If you have a facebook account search for the following:

NthQld Hang Gliding

Hello all

The Gillies competition dates have been re-announced. Sat and Sun the 28th and 29th of November. Keep the weekend after that free as well, just in case. Rex will be a back-up, as usual should the weather not be playing fair.

Ring Brod (4053 4686 or 0419 800 820) in the morning  between 8 and 9am to let him know you wish to enter and to find out what is happening.

Just to get you inspired…..

Don’t forget to bring the $20 entry fee with you.

September 26th was the weekend organised to travel to Eungella for a comp.
Bob & Tracey, Terry and Ekatarina, Townsville Sean, Michael & his family, Brett and Louise, Brod and Russ. With amazing timing, the biggest dust storm in 50 years hit Nth QLD that week! The dust was still hanging around, and caused lots of problems over the weekend. Brod and Russ went early and got a few flights in with the PG for Russ and HG for Brod.
Ivan from Airlie beach turned up on Saturday evening as well, bringing some great videos that we watched on a screen set up on the edge of the escarpment. Also had a couple of PG pilots from the local area. One ended his weekend throwing his reserve! Glider and pilot OK. Reserve is still MIA, after a gallant rescue attempt the next day failed.
Conditions were light on the Saturday but everyone got a flight before the sea-breeze kicked in and killed off the thermic activity. Brod got within 1.5nm of the goal, an intersection 12km SE of Pinnacle pub. No-one else got close. Bob got a personal best at Eungella, almost to the second crossing of Cattle Creek (see video) Terry not far away from Bob.
As usual, those that attended learned heaps about their gliders and flying in general, such as setting up landings, different thermalling techniques, watching for power lines, and nil-wind landings. Excellent take-offs and landings were a highlight of the weekend.
The conditions didn’t improve on Sunday. It was very light westerly all day, until the sea breeze kicked in again. The dust had been slowly clearing out of the valley, but the sea breeze pushed it all back in again, so the wind was on, finally, but we couldn’t even see the road at the base of the mountain. So we’d set up, sat around all day, started packing up, set up again on news the breeze was on the way, and then packed up again! Very frustrating!
Evan has a Nanolight that he took for a run on Sunday afternoon. An ‘interesting’ take-off, involving a drain, a road and a jump! Ask Brod next time you see him!
A couple of good flights on the Monday rounded out the weekend.
If you get the chance, come and fly Eungella. The scenery is spectacular and the flying is excellent. Lots of accommodation options, with the most civilized set-up area in the country. Not many places you can rig the glider, have a hot lunch while your partner/retrieve driver swims in the pool, and then go flying!
It really is worth the 10 hour drive!

Check out Azure Photography’s on-line album of the still images.

Below is Bob’s video of his flight.

Wayne Bagnell has the HGFA bettsometer up at the moment. If anyone would like to use the device while it is in the area to check your wings fabric strength, please contact Wayne at (wayneb@optusnet.com.au) or his phone number is in the members list

Today we drove out to the Gillies launch site to check out the new fence erected by National Parks a few weeks ago.

Check it out!

Soon you will be able to check the weather on our website!

Queensland Transport and the Department of Main Roads has recently granted permission for the Cairns Hang Gliding Club to install a state of the art weather station at the Rex Look-out.

Not only will it save our pilots time and fuel on driving to the look-out to find the wind is not great for flying, the local community will also benefit from this club initiative. There are many people in the community who rely on weather reports for work and recreational activities, our weather station will be able to give accurate and up to date information at the click of a button.

Access will be free via this website and you will be able to read live information such as wind strength and direction, barometric pressure, rain fall and other conditions.

Work has begun on the plans for installation, so stay tuned for the launch date.

Our Club had our yearly parachute re-pack on the 9th July at the PCYC hall at Manunda.

Terry and Ian came down from Atherton and Barney came down from Port Douglas. Brett and Bob and Tracey also went along and Teddy lent some moral support!

Barney’ parachute was the only one to be re-packed. Luckily, as when he threw it out it didn’t work!

Brett checks Bob's parachute

Barney prepares for his practice throw!

At our last club meeting a date was decided for the Eungella competition.

The weekend of 26th September 2009 is the date. We are assured by tried and true veterans that this will be a good time for a comp!

For accomodation contact

Eungella Chalet                        07) 4958 4509

Broken River Mountain Resort 07) 4958 4000

Eungella Cabin                        07) 4958 4590

The Eungella holiday park is now closed but camping will still be available on an honesty system.

All welcome. You may contact the club for more details or Brod Osborne our comp director.

Hope to see you there!

I know you have all been waiting for another trike video! So, here it is!

Morning Tablelands Flight from Tracey on Vimeo.