By Nathan Johnson on Sunday, June 29, 2008 3:00 PM

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By Mike Maddocks on Sunday, June 29, 2008 9:23 AM

40 minutes to day 2 briefing. The good news is that the drizzle has gone. The bad news is that it was replaced by some serious rain. Check the webcam!!!

By Mike Maddocks on Sunday, June 29, 2008 5:54 AM

Well here I sit watching the rain continue (6am). It has been raining all night and does not look like letting up. But what do I know? Yesterday I was sure no one was going to get home when it went overcast just after launching and the thunder started at 1330. Some airborne photos from Johno to follow show how different it was in the task area. Here's hoping for the rain to clear. For those that do not understand the Jannan Kisat scores on the official web site, it is an annual regional competition. It is been held in conjunction with the juniors this year to get the numbers up for organisational practice.

By Mike Maddocks on Sunday, June 29, 2008 4:24 AM

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By Andrew Maddocks on Saturday, June 28, 2008 7:20 PM

Well done johno. First of all he had to go to an international competition to get his first day win, secondly it was his first thermal flight in this country and in the LS4. Johno was converted into the LS4 yesterday and he did 2 circuits with no lift at all. So it was a very good acheivement overall. I was 0.8 km/h slower due to handicap, comming 4th behind the 2 Swedish pilots.

The flight.

The task was a 2 hour AAT with 2 areas and a control point. It was a very interesting day today with storms to the East and the North-East of Raskala A/F as we started. We decided to start at the western end of the line and head almost due north up the first leg. We ended up turning in line with the turnpoint because of a blue hole. The 2nd leg was different to what I am used to. There was decent scattered cu on track with the rain slightly to the right. I initialy wanted to try the fluffy cu where there was sun shining on the gr ... Read More »

By Nathan Johnson on Saturday, June 28, 2008 7:19 PM

I've been forced by the team captain to write a blog.  Andrew came 4th and I came 1st.  There was only about 50 points between us and we were about 200 above the guys that come 5th onwards!  Top 4 were also the Sweedes, good work guys!

By Nathan Johnson on Saturday, June 28, 2008 5:17 PM

Well we made it back.  We had to dodge a few storms to get home.  Had  bit of a go at pair flying so that ws good fun.  We went well on the first 2 legs, but on the 3rd we had to dodge the storms.  Good learning day.  All I want to know why it always rains on me.

By Mike Maddocks on Saturday, June 28, 2008 4:31 PM

It is 1630 and the gliders are put to bed. Andy's trace has been lodged, with Nathan still trying to get his off the logger. Both made it back after having to go around storms. Lucky it was AAT. The rain hit as we were tying down. Today was better than the last couple, as the storms waited until 1330. We had the opening ceremony this morning before the briefing.

By Mike Maddocks on Saturday, June 28, 2008 5:49 AM

Well after playing courier and driving to Helsinki through rain and snow (maybe not snow but thunder storms) to pick up and hand deliver Finnish approvals, the guys finally got to fly solo. Nathan got to buy the beers after his LS4 conversion. They were the only ones to land back at Rayskala. They did however, wait to launch until everyone else had outlanded, some twice after aerotow retrieves, and only flew in the circuit area. Of the three practice days no-one completed  a task. And we complain about Melbourne weather!!! As I should not have to drive to Helsinki today I should get time for some more photos today. More soon, Maddog

By Andrew Maddocks on Friday, June 27, 2008 1:57 PM

 

 

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