And then there was one, then none.

Sorry for no posts last few days, long days [even rest days] and always seem to be rushing.
Second last day was the fastest of the comp. I started late and was still with a good pack, SS, XXL and A at the second turn. After that the difference between 800kg and 850kg started to tell and I fell off the back, also slower on final glide.
Yesterday went OK with an early start but I lost 25-30mins under 1000' about 30km from home just over the Serbian border.
Today the forecast was bad so David decided to de-rig. We were the last to grid just in time for the cancellation. Congrats to Michael Sommer in Open who made it 3 in a row!
As we were de-rigging Kerrie's bag was lifted off the front seat of the van with all the money we had got out to finalise accommodation and her glasses, phone, camera etc.
Just back from 3 hours at the Cop shop!
We leave with fond memories of many of the people here but a sour taste in our mouths generally.
Off to the dinner as thunder rolls.
See you on an Aussie gliding field soon! Kerrie will continue to update on our blog, we have about 2000km more to do in the trannie with the Nimbus on the back!
Tom

Last Day Cancelled

Today has been cancelled due to a front with storms that went through about mid-day.

As everyone was derigging, Kerrie had her bum bag stolen out of their vehicle,money, credit cards,glasses and phone taken. So we get another visit from the Rendoserg(Police for those who have not been paying attention)

David and Lesley have departed for Germany with glider in tow. Tom, Kerrie will be spending a couple of days in Budapest before heading to Denmark via the slow route.

I am off tomorrow for Frankfurt via a day or so in Budapest on the way home, I am looking forward to some decent weather in Australiaand a decent salad.

Tonight we have the final dinner in the hangar and the closing ceremony tomorrow morning.

See you all at home sometime

Cheers Greg

Day 7 All Up In The Air

The weather looked promising early today, but as the morning progressed, by 0945 rapidly filled in with cu and some high level cloud to the east of Szeged.

Open Class launched @ 1200, followed by 15M, then 18M.

Open Class are tasked with 3 1/2 hr AAT; 18M 289 km "speed" task.

Feedback from Tom and David at 1600 onwards indicate very soft conditions. The Polish 18M hotshots have already out-landed. I'm sure there will be many more before the day is out..............

Stalwarts and Unsung Heroes

International night

Ron Tabery and family

Uli Schwenk, jovial as ever!

Kerrie, Tom and David

Peter Carey

Tonight was "international night" in the large briefing hangar on the airfield. As usual, there was much guzzling of delicacies, washed down with alcohol in various guises. Pasta and Palinka, beer, bocconcini and bruschetta, wine and wodka........gateaux and grappa.........a fun mix of food and very sociable people made a great night.

The events of recent days have had a pretty profound effect on the Aussie team members who remain, as would be expected. At least this evening we all had the opportunity to mingle with our fellow competitors and teams in an atmosphere of friendly ambience.

Team Captain Greg has had some fraught and stressful times in recent days dealing with various police, officials and local "civil aviation authorities" and has done a sterling job in dealing with a situation that no team captain would ever want to find him/herself having to deal with, especially in a foreign country where one does not speak the local language, nor where English is widely understood. Thanks Greg for doing what needed to be done in "uncharted territory".

Thank you to Tom, Kerrie and Graham, Mark and Schmidty, who were there to de-rig Lars' glider, download traces from his logger, liaise, fetch and carry as was required, etc, etc.......... Truly, team support epitomised.

Thanks also to one of our Aussie team members who has to date not been mentioned in any of our blogs but to whom we owe a great deal of gratitude and whom we must congratulate for his invaluable help, intervention and proactivity and advice with Lars' predicament.

Our unsung hero is Peter Carey from Benalla. Peter is a Hungarian-born Australian. A quiet, unassuming gentleman who has really come into his own and been indispensable these past few days.

Peter has also been doing some "PR" with the locals and we all had an invitation to dinner with a local Hungarian family yesterday evening. Our host was a pilot with a local business and is friends with Hegedus Laslo. We were overwhelmed by the hospitality we were shown by "Willie" and "Kate" and it was delightful to experience local culture and family life rather than the restaurant atmosphere we've become accustomed to so far. We were also introduced to some fine old Tokaji (Tokay) and "home-grown" fruit Palinka, aka rocket fuel. The food was delicious and plentiful and Peter actually ate lamb, which he normally refuses to eat!

Serious business of flying tomorrow, and so to bed.............................

Day 6 cancelled for 18M and Open

Thunderstorm activity and rain last evening means the day has been cancelled for all but 15 M. At this stage first launch for the 15 M will be 1400. The weather is looking promising for maybe a short task. I guess the organisation needs to recoup the lost flying day for 15 M class.

Task set is 2hr AAT.

Perhaps we will all fly Thursday and Friday............Let's wait and see.

Slow day (yesterday)

I don't know about David but I had a reasonable run until I left a messy gaggle and got rolled. Climbs were better higher and I just didn't connect. Later I left a group again to go in a different direction and they beat me home by 15 mins! Today we MAY have tasked in Australia, the first day this is so.
Tom

Tuesday 27 July

Open just launching Racing task 428 k back and forth in southern Hungary

18 M 330 k Racing tash up in the North East an d back

There are actually Cu arournd see what they say once airbourne

Rest Day for 15M Class

Monday 2nd August 2010

Competition Day 5 18M: Day 6 Open Class

Today was declared a rest day (Day Cancelled) for 15 M due to the whole class' out-landing (many in Serbia) and late arrival back at Szeged last night (and the wee hours of this morning for some!).

Today is blue, with max Cu for the day 2/8, predicted in the late afternoon. It feels hot and dry (less humid), so here's hoping the blue thermals are really there today.

Open class were first to launch @ 1245 and 18M @ 1300. Tasks are 3 hr AAT for both; point to point 327.4 km and 315.6 km.

Start gates opened 1340 and 1353 respectively and Tom and David have both started on task sounding reasonably happy with conditions compared to yesterday. Only reports from Tom have been 2-3 kts going to the dizzying heights of 4,000'! He did however expect conditions to improve as the day progressed.

It's rather sad not having Graham and Mark here now, however we are all absolutely in support of the decision Graham made not to continue.

Long day

The organisers landed out all gliders today. Yesterday the forecast said "not suitable for cross country soaring" - most of us got home. Today the met said "more stable, so better!"
It WAS more stable but NOT better! The first turn for Open class was in the middle of a hilly area with no landing possibilities for about 15km, thermals were 1-2kts [at best] to about 1500' agl in this area. I was almost the first there but had to escape 90 degrees to track for about 12km to get a climb [I was looking for a field to fire up over] The gaggle rolled me there but by the second turn I was in the top three. After some lucky low saves and a second Danube crossing I joined with the US team of Ron Tabery and Garret Willat and with UK pilot Pete Harvey as well. Ron was a little behind but with our info [to stay in 1 kt!] won the day and I managed 7th for 957 pts bringing me up to 19th.
Stats for the day: 37% thermalling, 1.1 kt avg, 87.7:1 overall L/D.
David had a bad run and you know about Graham. I was alone or in good company today so no scares.
Many 15M class gliders landed in Serbia and last heard crews were still waiting at the border to get in!
I hope tomorrow is shorter, over 6.30 today.
Tom

Enough

I am withdrawing from the competition. I have been worried for my safety on every flight in this competition so far.

This morning I looked at the glider on the launch grid and just didn't want to get in.

Maybe a bit soft but I think those who have flown with poor visibility at such low altitudes in such crowded skies (including a few maniacs) may understand.

Graham

Tom started 1345 reporting 3-4 knots to 4000 feet, David still to stast. Tom has just said he would be happy with a solid 2 knots

Sunday

Launch started 1230

Open 438 k Racing task Gate opens 1245

18 M 360 k Racing task still launching

Saturday

1230 First Launch

Open 2hr 30 AAT min 244 Max 473

18 Metre 2Hr 30 AAT min 202 max 383

The day looks iffy high cirus layer few Cu's and CB's forecast for later in the afternoon

2 stroke day

Well, three Pilots home, but all with engines!
Graham did the longest distance behind the finishers so far, Tom and David fired up fairly early.
The weather is really, really not good! Even the storms here have no energy!
Saw 4kts once today, average about 1.5 - 2. "Grey" holes about 40km wide with climbs to 3500'!

Message from Swaantje

Hi Kerrie,
I tried posting something on the team page but I am obviously a bit too stupid to get it right...
I hope the team will recover from yesterdays dreadful news. I looked at the pictures and really, I think you were lucky that nobody got killed in the accident. Thank God they finally gave you the 3 km finish circle! It had been successfully tried so many times!
Well, it can only get better! I hope the team and especially Lars recovers soon from the psychological impact and of course the truck driver from his injuries.
For the next days I wish you all better weather, good results and some fun - if possible! I am following the Aussie blog as good as I can and the comp on the official page!
Unfortunately I have no time to come visiting. So please say hello to all of them and good luck, especially to you and Tom.
Swaantje

New day

Tom, David & Graham all launched.
Open class gate opened at at 1309
18M class gate opens 1329
Climbing 1kt
Cirrus thickening
Met showing rain to NW on Danube

All pilots home safe

Difficult day with best L/D final glides.
This afternoon Lars had a landing accident at the airfield. Glider damaged but Lars is unhurt.

First Launch 1230 We have been told this is definit

It' not Raining

First Take off 1130

15 M 334k Racing Task

Open 379k Racing Task

Followed by
18 M 337k Racing tash

Task B 2Hr 30 AAT's all tasks

Claffey Capers

With yet another cancelled day Kerrie has started a blog on the link to the lower right to complement Graham's.

Cancelled

Today Wednesday has been cancelled, low cloud and rain

Tom's assessment of the day as he opened the curtain ... "it looks flat - not good like yesterday" (when a whole 2 people got home!)

Game on!

Well, what a day! 18m cancelled after launch, 15m on the ground. In Open we started towards a wall of rain and low cloud, somehow we got around that and found up to 2kts to cloudbase [about 2000']. After a real struggle and some best L/D glides [in some horrible gaggles] I found myself with Holger Karow, Georgio Galetto and the Poms just behind Michael Sommer. With so many World Champions around I felt pretty confident. The Danes turned right to a different cloud, it looked good but I stayed with the Germans. [The Danes were the only two to make it home!]
Just after getting into the last sector we all got low and then thermalled downwards from about 800' to 400'AGL as the lower gliders either started engines or landed one by one. The country was very Darling Downs-ish so I rolled the Nimbus straight towards a stubble paddock and fired up! After climbing to 2000' I shut down in lift and flew home with no problems - frustrating!! At least I was with good company and not a disaster day.
Perrrrhaps we fly tomorrow! [ A typical Hungarian dinner followed - about a kg of meat and potatoes and a few beers!]
Tom

Tom reporting 1.5 knots to 3000 ft

Launching

The first gliders are just launching

Tuesday 27 July

18 Meter on front of grid with 273 k speed task B task 2 hr AAT

Open Class 287 k B task 2 hr AAT

15 Meter 2hr 30 AAT B task 2 hr

Weather man said no chance of flying, but we are gridded for first launch 1245

We shall see

Day Cancelled

Grid sequentially dismissed from launching. By 1430 launching cancelled for all classes.

Day one, Take two

Today briefing for team captains was 0900 followed by official briefing at 0930h.

According to the Met briefing, we may have a small window of opportunity for flying this afternoon. This may prove somewhat optimistic.

Grid closes at 1230 with first launch expected at 1300.

We went through the weighing process towing out, so even if we don't fly, that exercise has been completed for the first time.

15 M AAT; 18 and Open racing task.

First Comp Day

Looks like rain.......maybe a small window of opportunity this afternoon. Briefing at 10.00

Day Cancelled

Raining today and possibly tomorrow....

Opening Ceremony 24th July - 7pm

In the beginning they gathered....

The music played.....

They danced for the crowd.....

And they followed the mighty symbol of flight.......

Change of weather

Saturday, July 24th

So here we are, having finished with the official practice days and poised to enter the competition proper. Today's weather change was very welcome after the stifling heat and humidity of the previous week. At 10 am we assembled in the hangar for official briefing. Tonight we will assemble in town for the opening ceremony. We wonder at this time what "plan B" will entail if the marching competitors are doused with copious amounts of sky juice- as this is highly likely!

Thursday 22 July

Another severe heat warning today 35 max forecast, thermals to max of 1600 metres at around 2 mt/sec.
Today is the first time gliders have ever tasked into Serbia.

15 M Task
3hr 30 AAT first leg 75k with 25k circle,then 93k into Serbia with 30k circle, then 180k to the north east to a 28k circle and home via Szatymaz which is the control point 10k to the north.Max distance 607 /301 min
18 M Task
3hr 30 AAT Similar areas to 15 m Max 591 min 287
Open Task
3hr 30 AAT Max 594 Min 284,again to same areas.

New Umbrella Girl Wanted

We all flew today, the weather forecast was trigger temp 33C, max temp 33C and storms!
Lars and Graham [without engines] stayed local in 2kt climbs, David and myself flew about 80km northeast under stormy overcast with indistinct bases. Most glider and instrument issues fixed.
Lots of competitors here now, caught up with Al Tyler from US who we met at Barron Hilton Cup, also the whole South African team and John Coutts from NZ/SA. Eric Heinennen and Antti Lehto are here [Finnish 18m team from Waikerie], Antti was the last Pilot of N4 at Luesse WGC! Ron Sanders is here, we just had team dinner!
Looks like poor weather for the next few days.
Tom

Lars prepares VW Graham in Mr Parker
David and Lesley, maybe our last day for a couple of days as rain forecast for the next two days

All four Flying

David first to launch in WK ,Tom in 4M after yesterday's de-rig and fix water ballast dump valve and the rig again, I hope we don't have to rig the Nimbus too often, is second airborne . Lars in VW has joined the team over town at 2000 ft. Lars has fixed Altir problem, it seems to work best with 12 volts rather than the internal battery.
Graham in MP is last off without use of turbo as Mark found a crack in the engine mount and spares are comming from Shemmp on Tuesday.

The day looks similar to the last few with Cu to about 5000 ft with 3-4 knot climbs.
We'll see how the conditions actually were in a couple of hours

Thursday PM
David and Lars up flying, Graham gets his glider on Saturday and Mark has been helping Tom with the nimbus. Thigger temp was 32 today and it is verry hot here like the rest of Europe.
The Flatland Cup finishes tomorrow so practice will get serious from then.

The Team will be in Szeged by July 15. More posts then