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Post by windsock on Mar 22, 2009 19:49:32 GMT 10
Tried a new site at Woody Pt this morning which was unreal. It’s the cliff just above the old Gayundah shipwreck. I have never tried this location due to lack of landing area, busy road (site is right next to road) and site being fenced off. The ‘Danger, Keep Out!’ sign might have also had something to do with it . The wind was S at 16-17knts, and there was great lift. The real down side is the lack of landing area as you can see in the photo. However in a Southerly direction you have a nice head wind which enables a clean approach to land on the small grass area. I stayed on the road side of the fence but it was still easy enough to get my plane through the fence. If you constantly land well at Shorncliffe you shouldn’t find it too hard (not for beginners). Anyway I rang Andrew and went flying down there this afternoon. The wind was more SSE, lift was still great but it was extermely difficult to land. In fact the only way I could get my plane down was through a bad crash landing into the steel fence . Andrew wanted to fly his Vector and found a fantastic landing area just to the left down the bike path. There were no problems flying along the front as you walk down to the grassed area for a perfect landing. It was easy enough to see through the trees as you made your way down. To sum up, great in an S or SSE, but much better landing opportunities in an SSE.
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Post by thevon on Mar 22, 2009 21:00:01 GMT 10
Had a GREAT time flying with Gerard at a new spot which really pumped in the SSE wind today! Gerard rang this morning saying he'd just tried this spot just near the SE tip of Woody Point, right above the Gayundah shipwreck, and just opposite the Filmers Palace pub. Reckoned it was awesome, so when I got free about 3pm today we met up there. I remember Swoopdown saying he'd in desperation flown there once - the yokels on the pub verandah were cheering him on, and had to land on the road. But I've had a look there in the past and it was no good. I suspect they've cleared trees since they put the hi-rise next door, because now there's an open lookout area directly above the rusty Gayundah wreck. It's very steep (too steep to walk down) and it's in a nice bowl with a great view of Brisbane, the Port, etc. Gerard launched his Ozprey and was carving around in very clean lift getting really decent height. Unlike our easterly Woody Point spot, the lift is strong and you're not flying over trees etc. There’s a little grass patch on the hilltop where Gerard landed, but there’s also a huge patch of buffalo grass to your right that you could crash into if you didn’t mind climbing over to get the plane. I went to launch my Ozprey but despite working at home, the switch plug died due to the effects of salt water incurred by the dunking it got after a mid-air collision whilst “pylon racing” (really tree racing) with Nick and Gerard yesterday. So I considered the possibility of flying the Vector, and walking back to our normal spot to land it on the beach. I went for a walk back along the road to suss it out and realized it was a long walk back. Too far. I gave up, walked down to the water and returned via the path next to the water and found that there was a park with a smooth grassy area no more than 40 metres from the flying spot, just around the corner to the east! I started to wonder if it might be possible to land a moldie there. It seemed unlikely as there are usually rotors behind the beachfront trees, but I walked around and the wind seemed to be coming cleanly thru a gap in the trees. Looking at the small area, lamppost and trees and the concrete path crossing the strip I got butterflies thinking that I might have to give it a try. I went back and got Gerard to walk to the patch while hovering his plane. You can see thru the she-oaks easily to keep your plane visual while you make the short walk. Gerard did a couple of approaches and his foam Ozprey cut cleanly with no hint of turbulence, then he landed nice and flat. Wow, it looked like the air was flowing cleanly off the sea and up the gentle slope to the landing strip. I then flew the Vector (which was great) and after 20mins or so decided to try the landing. Did the walk to the patch and expected to do quite a few approaches before committing, and if it didn’t look good I’d walk way back to the usual spot. So I did a high-ish and fast circuit over the strip, then a bit lower and tried flaps – I was going to go around but she looked so good I hung on and realized it was looking like a landing! She came in perfectly and touched down flat and softly, skimming a couple of feet before stopping! Man, I was absolutely stoked! Again I have to say this isn’t hard! Assuming you can hold a decent line, moldies with flaps are sooo much easier to land than most foamies. Obviously a bigger risk if you stuff up, but the Vector didn’t show a pitch or a wobble. After a rest I decided to have a go at doing the same thing with the Fazo. Fast forward thru the bit where it had a poor range check and I changed receivers. We had lots of spectators while flying – there was the rabble at the pub over the road plus lots of sightseers who stopped and 3 of them thanked us for the show! It’s definitely an ego trip flashing a big shiny moldie like that, I admit it. Not often I hear ladies saying to me “Oooh, that IS a big one!”. I had a bit of a battle throwing it off as the wind had picked up, then it flew brilliantly. There was no problem doing heaps of loops, rolls and inverted laps. To cut an already long story shorter, the landing was an exact repeat of the Vector’s and to top it off some folks had stopped to watch and cheered when it floated down and settled gracefully. That was all the flying buzz I needed for today. Gerard must have spent a solid hour and a half with his Ozprey in the air and it really looked good. Post-script: I spent ages working out how to put labels on the Google Earth images then by the time I'd posted it, Gerard has beaten me to it with a great report with photos too!
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Post by chamm37 on Mar 22, 2009 21:50:49 GMT 10
Looks really good guys....will have to go and try it out sometime ;D allways wanted to fly there but the old and wise grandfather had said it wouldnt be flyable by now it looks like it is so im going for it next time the wind is right ;D ;D ;D
Regards, Chris ;D
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Post by sean on Mar 23, 2009 10:48:03 GMT 10
Well done guys, sounds like an exciting afternoon!
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Post by knoxie on Mar 23, 2009 13:49:56 GMT 10
Hi Guys
Gunna give it a try fly as well.
hey how do you up load photos or images to this site, want to add one to the Market section but don't know how to get the pics up.
Knoxie
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Post by thevon on Mar 23, 2009 14:52:49 GMT 10
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Post by windsock on Mar 27, 2009 12:58:40 GMT 10
Went down the other day for a quick fly but couldn't get any lift, 3 crash landings. Before I left home it was SSE but when I got back I checked and it had turned ESE. It seemed that there was a breeze but no lift. Looks like it will only preform in a S or SSE direction.
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Post by thevon on Mar 27, 2009 18:17:52 GMT 10
I went down for a fly with the Vector about 5:15 today and it was ESE - I didn't bother trying the new site (maybe we should call it "the Wreck"? But I suspect it will always be "The Pub"). Anyway the lift was huge at the usual spot. Landing was faster as it was crosswind, but still nice. The Vector skims so far on the sand!
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Post by windsock on Mar 27, 2009 19:21:53 GMT 10
I must have just missed you Andrew. I was down there around 4.30pm and it was magic! The OzPrey was getting really good lift and the breeze was so clean. I landed my plane and tried both your numbers but couldn't get through. I left around 5pm and it was still good then. I think the low tide makes a difference.
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Post by windsock on Mar 28, 2009 9:41:49 GMT 10
Went for a quick fly at the Wreck this morning, wind was at South and it was creating great lift. It's funny going for a fly so early (8am), the outlook to the bay is stunning at that time in the morning.
I was doing half pipes with the OzPrey and the amount of height it climbed to was really enjoyable. This site really works well, it's has a bowl shape which I think produces the quality lift.
Had two landings on the small patch of grass which wasn’t too difficult in the southerly conditions.
Gerard
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Post by combatnoosa on Mar 28, 2009 9:55:52 GMT 10
Hey Gerard, you think you got a good Bowl, this is where I fly in Northerlies It is a bit of a hike but well worth it! Granite bay if you were wondering, next time there is a northerly send me a PM if anyone wants to fly there! Jay
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Post by windsock on Mar 28, 2009 10:01:53 GMT 10
WOW , that looks great.
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Post by combatnoosa on Mar 28, 2009 10:04:36 GMT 10
there is only one problem tho, if you wanted to fly a mouldie you would need to go at low tide if you didn't want to catch your plane or down it in the bush
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Post by windsock on Mar 28, 2009 10:29:14 GMT 10
Where is Granite Bay? I tired a search on Google earth and it came up blank.
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Post by combatnoosa on Mar 28, 2009 11:00:21 GMT 10
I wish there was a way to post files on here kind of annoying not being able to post a .kmz file Here are the coordinates: Lat 26°22'44.43"S long 153° 6'38.64"E jay
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