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Never
give up Sunday |
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11-Aug-13 |
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A beautiful winter's day at YCAB. The extension of
06/24 is visible at right below the garbage tip
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[photo: Nathan Bowtell]
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From: Garrett Russell
Date:
Sun, Aug 11, 2013 at 6:58 PM
Subject: Never give up Sunday @ YCAB
To: cgcmemlist@vicnet.net.au
When Steve Bowtell, Rod Elsworth and I sent our
"weather is here, wish you were beautiful"
message this morning we would have been justified in
giving up. We knew AEI Kevin Rodda was on his way but
there were no AEF passengers or other members
anywhere. What¹s more, the precedent from Saturday
was depressing only four launches, three of which
were the duty instructors taking family/friend
flights!
But with Kevin’s urging (wearing his Treasurer's
cap) we decided to unwrap CQC for at least one
flight. No need for a Duty Pilot for that, so Rod went
off to be useful elsewhere while the rest of us got
the glider and tug ready under a Tiger Moth formation
flying display to mark the official opening of the new
RWY 06/24.
I had only got one wing cover off before a lanky
figure loomed on the horizon. David Guzzwell,
suddenly free from other commitments, had come out in
the hope we might still be there. Then Shane Tuck
phoned, also full of hope, and the day had a whole new
complexion.
Not enough of a complexion, mind you, to justify
doing the whole Pie Cart thing although we
did come close to that with a visit to the tie downs
from a father and Air Cadet daughter enquiring about
membership. Two possible members in future, but as
they did not have time to take AEFs today we could
proceed with our minimal plans and equipment: one
glider, one retrieve car, one flight sheet and a
couple of hand held radios.
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Nathan Bowtell and Kevin Rodda "in
station" in CQC on tow behind TOJ with Steve
Bowtell on board.
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[photo: Nathan Bowtell]
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First launch was Kevin
Rodda and Nathan Bowtell to 2,800 feet. They returned
after 20 minutes, thus establishing the basic rules
for the Ekka Sunday 1,800 Foot Challenge.
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David Guzzwell, after suffering a low level rope
break which would see him signed off daily
checks, took up the challenge and came back 31 minutes
later with the flight of the day. But if you think
that also won him the challenge, you weren¹t there to
witness the evolution of a handicap and point scoring
system worthy of the America¹s Cup competition
committee!
And by the time Kevin and Nathan, then Shane and I
launched for further challenges, the sea breeze
had destroyed any chance of a change in results.
To the tune of sideline sledging that would make
Shane Warne blush, and involved Speedy
Gonsalves as well as the rest of us, the 2800 Foot
Challenge will be called a draw (we never worked out
what the prize would be anyway).
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Nathan Bowtell and Kevin Rodda in CQC on
final for 12 grass left ... looking good as they set
up for landing ... constant direction, constant speed
and constant rate of descent from an already
established overshoot (their aiming point is about 50
metres short of the white runway marker that is midway between the tug and the 12
piano-keys ... the white runway marker is their
intended touch-down point).
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[photo: Nathan Bowtell]
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But the winner, as they say in the best sporting
cliches, was the club spirit that showed in the
fun everyone had. No one had heard such laughter along
the flight line since the time Billy Connolly flew
with us.
The day ended with six flights (two each for Kevin,
David and Shane) and1:38 total flight time.
It's just a pity there weren't more members to
share such a beautiful day!
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Garrett
Russell
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