internet problems

We're experiencing some internet problems over here and I'm using a courtesy computer right now. I hope to be able to update in the afternoon.
I'm planning on finally making that bloody speed record today. It's about time...

strange conditions

I gained quite a lot of experience yesterday. Already on tow I noticed a "wall" of really poor visibility airmass to the south. Since my task has been set up to the north-west-north and that mas was still sitting pretty much far away I didn'tr even bother. The conditions over the field were really good. I got a climb to 10000ft with an average 7 kts and decided not to wait long and started the task. The winds aloft were pretty strong and from NW so the first leg was with a headwind but I was hoping I can manage it under a sort of cloudstreet without circling till I reach the first turn point. The two remaing legs were supposed to be with a tail wind component. I didn't quite make it without circling to the first TP. It wasn't too bad though since I hit a thermal with 9 kts average all the way up. I noticed the new airmass approaching when I was reaching the first TP. I started getting lower and lower, couldn't find a descent climb and just kept going. It got harder and harder to find anything especially being so far apart from the cloudbase with such a strong wind. My XC speed was going down but I kept going and reached my second TP. I headed back home and figured that the new mass was already all the way down there. Suddenly it go really hot in the cockpit ... I looked at the OAT and it went up 10 degrees! I have to mention though that I stayed more less at the same altitude. So there it was, the hot dusty air shutting off the good thermals. I made it back without any problems but working on the altitude required to finish not lower than 1000m below the start altitude cost me so much time that I wasn't able to keep the XC speed.

This stuff is over the area today morning and keeps the sun from operating and heating up the ground. I already figured that it needs a lot of heating over here to really kick in. The first usable thermals start around noon or even later whane the temperature reaches ca. 35 degrees. It's gonna start later today and get low - around 7000 ft. Not really good for a speed task ... We're thinking about going to Dubbo's ZOO where I can hug a Koala Bear. The predicions for the next days are confusing. It all depends on the mass that just moved in ... it might keep moving forward and pass or back up and mess everyting up for the next few days ... Nobody knows for sure though.

Hans approaching ...

Dan

Patrick, Morgan & Zigless

green frog

I spotted this sweet thing last night on our deck. How cute is that?

after morning briefing

A late start is predicted again today. The airmass is very hot at high levels and needs a lot of heating down here to get going. We already had 33 degrees here in the very early morning. It's gonna go up to mid-forties again today. We should get some Cu's north-north-west of the field. It should kick on around 2 pm again. I stick to the 200 km speed task since the cloudbase is predicted much higher today. The initial plan that I just figured out is: Start Point I - Collie Airfield - Nevertire - Start Poiint I. Or maybe the other way around depending on the winds aloft. According to Blipmaps that's exactly where the Cu's should be between 3 and 4 pm. XT is already ready to go and it's time to water me up and keep cool as long as possible.

The extreme heat is sometimes hard to deal with. It's still better than the freezing cold back in Europe though...

We developed a brand new peeing equipment for me and it's just awesome so I don't have to bother loosing couple of hundrets feet during the procedure I used to apply. I'm taking 5 liters of  drinking water for every flight and can drink it all now :-)

another day another try

The first Cu's appeared in the sky around 2 pm yesterday. I declared 200 km triangle for speed and launched. The first leg, going straight to the south, went pretty well - 135 kph after 80 km distance. The clouds were far apart and I could allow myself just to pick the very good climbs which become rare around the first turnpoint. I got really low and already started thinking of making friends with Peak Hill Airfield. I spend 25 minutes to find a descent climb and get high enough to continue. There goes the record ... I was't able to pick up that speed on such a short task anymore. I switched to fun-flight mode and just continued were it looked good. I got a really good climb to 11000 ft. It was only 8 degrees up there. What a bless! The German boys and Paul were thinking about getting their gold height that day so I decided to find cloud high enough for them. It wasn't the day for that either. It started to blue out from the west. I reached my second turnpoint just for fun and headed back home.

You might be laughing about me wearing this silly looking net. I thought Ziggy was kidding me when he got this thing for me. It turned out to be really usefull though. Because the air is so dry in here all the insects are searching for some moisture. They just try to get in any body opening they can find - your mouth, ears, nose. It just drives you nuts. Wearing this net keeps them away from your face and you don't bother anymore. Good stuff! And I really don't give a damn about how I look :-) ... since everybody looks the same.

morning briefing

All weather forecasts predict blue for today again. It's all changing soooo fast. They've been talking about thunderstorms yesterday and now it turned to blue. There is still a slight chance they are all mistaking and we'll get a good day. All I can do now is get ready and wait for the decision... Why can't we just get one straight forward day with no concerns whatsoever?

:-(

Well ... it didn't work out again. The day turned out to be awfully blue with really choppy thermals. Winds aloft were pretty strong and thermals were really hard to work with. I launched wit the 610 O&R declaration anyways, stayed up a little bit and felt down the sky. I landed full water and had to call it a day. Few Cu's popped up very late in the afternoon right around the airport. Paul is planning on getting his golden height and went up around 4pm hoping he could achieve it. Although the clouds looked like there were pretty high ... they were not...

We still have a few days left here and I'm not planning on giving up.

today

610 km O&R is declared and I'm getting ready to launch.

rest day

It turned out to be a rest day today. I just needed some rest after yesterdays long flight. I got a bit dehydrated and it was awfully hot today - 43 degrees. I just spend the whole day in an airconditioned room and I've been drinking a lot of water. I've already learned what it means to really get dehydrated in Nevada couple of years ago and it put me to bed for quite a while. It's way warmer out here ... I recovered and I'm ready to fly the whole next week. Let's get going :-)