Caboolture Week at DDSC

Friday 16-Oct-09

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01. Gliders out of the hangars and ready early for the trek to 30 ... hopes are already high for a big day ... but some real concerns about the crosswind.

02. With CGC's Club Libelle (JY) not required again today, the opportunity was taken early morning to de-rig and load her into the trailer ready for the trip home tonight.   

03. The flight-line stacked and ready to go!  

04. David Higgs ready to run the wing for Mick Moloney who is looking maybe a little too relaxed ... or is he just contemplating the permanent loss of his "Four Minute Mick" title by pushing his personal best of 4:56 out past the 5:00 barrier? Mick made sure of that later in the day with a radio call to DDSC glider base at around 15:30 (from low and close to the field) to confirm his exact launch time (which was confirmed as 10:39 before he made sure that he landing comfortably past 15:39). Very well done "Five Hour Mick"!  

05. David Higgs after running the wing ... looks like Dave may be subconsciously putting in a little left aileron and rudder to assist Mick in handling the crosswind?

06. Kevin Roden and Barry McCarthy ... last minute instructions and strategy discussion.

07. David Higgs certainly had a spring in his step as he carried out the ground duties!

08. David Hawes and Kevin Roden getting ready to launch with Peter Stephenson on the wing.

09. David Hawes and Kevin Roden ready to "rock and roll" and there was indeed plenty of "rocking" as well as "rolling" during the launches today into a gusting crosswind as well as in the lower level thermals encountered soon after launch! Peter Stephenson is also on hand to assist with the launch.

10. Fortunately all pilots got in at least one launch each today before the crosswind (straight across the field from the south ... from left to right as can be seen from the wind-sock on top of the hangar further down the field past the clubhouse) became too strong and gusty to continue. With no more launches it became a day of waiting for the guys who got away early to return with hopefully good news re their personal tasks for the day.   

11.  David Higgs spotted this glider thermalling below him near Macalister and then, to his surprise, realised it wasn't one that had been launched from DDSC today ... perhaps it was from Kingaroy?

12. Spot the trigger-point of this thermal that David Higgs was in near Broadwater ...  the dust rising from the tractor working in the small square-shaped yellow paddock near the centre of the pic can be seen feeding up into the rising air mass.

13. Back at the Clubhouse late afternoon where John Knox and David Higgs congratulated Mick Moloney on his excellent personal achievements today. Mick shouted the drinks for the second day in a row! John deserves a very special thanks for his efforts to keep us launching as often as possible this week despite the fairly ordinary weather that was thrown at us. No doubt many will remember John .. or at least his voice ... from his fantastic career in Queensland and particularly Brisbane radio (to listen to "Knoxy's" farewell broadcast on "Good Times and Classic Hits - Brisbane's 4KQ" click here). John has also recently commenced doing some tug duties for CGC at YCAB.

14. A very contented Mick Moloney at afternoon debriefing ...  checking the trace of his big flight.

15.  Mick Moloney and David Higgs with Kevin Rodda re-counting his rapid air-brake decent in the Puchachz from 5,500 feet over the feed lot near Bowenville Pub to join downwind at 2,200 feet (1,000 AGL). The empty cans behind David's laptop were actually a set-up ... they resulted from the efforts of a few on the previous night ... and had been strategically placed to be out of his view while the pic was taken from the other side of the briefing room!

There were some good flights recorded today despite the turbulent conditions and the cancellation of any further launches around lunch time due to 15+ knot crosswinds. Mick Moloney capped off his Silver C tasks with a 5 hour+ flight (including a repeat 50km flight for the week just to help pass the time away whilst on task). David Higgs tried for a 300 klm task but had to  call it off after rounding three of his four turn points, he also landed after 5+ hours.

A very special thanks from all at DDSC this week to Peter Stephenson (Organiser) and Kevin Roden (Duty Instructor/Coach). Also to DDSC for making us so welcome and to the DDSC instructors and tuggies who volunteered their time during the week. Despite the less than favourable weather conditions we had a great week at DDSC and many personal goals were achieved. The highlight of the week however was the co-operation, teamwork, comradery and "eagerness to have a good time" that was displayed by all pilots involved in "Caboolture Week at DDSC 2009".    

Click here to view a brief video from Monday of Mark Thompson and Kevin Roden thermalling at just over 40 knots approaching 6,000 feet in an almost 19 knot thermal.

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