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Post by sean on Nov 15, 2007 20:28:24 GMT 10
Maybe... but there's trees in those spots too, will check it out next time I have a look.
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Post by ezza on Nov 15, 2007 20:32:51 GMT 10
Even just a gap in the trees so you can get out to the lift. Or like you say, bungee.
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Post by sean on Nov 15, 2007 20:53:07 GMT 10
I'm sure you'd find a way to DS there Ezza! ;D
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Post by pioneerroaster on Nov 16, 2007 16:23:17 GMT 10
The western slope has alot of trees on top. DsÃng might be tricky. Its more of a valley shape so there should be good lift. The eastern side is clearer, and open, and more easier to access. Hopefully there is some wind this weekend and I can suss it out.
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Post by thevon on Nov 16, 2007 19:26:28 GMT 10
My recollection must be a bit faulty as I seem to remember it being fairly good on the W, but I didn't go there with flying in mind. I'm sure there would be away but Ezza it sounds like the DS potential is huge-er for westerlies. Need to check the W side out for E wind DSing before you head up!
Hey this Ninderry guy has a coffee link too - Ezza you and he might be in the same business?
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Post by ezza on Nov 16, 2007 21:33:06 GMT 10
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Post by sean on Nov 16, 2007 22:27:34 GMT 10
Nice find Eric! They do have Mt Ninderry though it's not in the main list: www.abovephotography.com.au/Aerial-Photos/Queensland/Sunshine-Coast/Ninderry/Not sure what year it was taken but the west slope looks much clearer in these pics than it is now. This is the west slope, the brown area on the right is the top of the saddle. The backside (for easterlies) looks perfect in this shot but I assure you it's not really that good: The shot below shows the saddle, once again the brown area at the top of the saddle can be seen in front of the rocky outcrop. It's amazing how good it looks in these pics, but the back didn't seem vey good at all when I checked it out. The only way to tell for sure will be to fly there I guess.
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Post by ezza on Nov 16, 2007 23:16:52 GMT 10
Looks good for a Westerly. Maybe launch from higher up in the brown patch the ds behind the trees down lower. Is the general public allowed in there, near that brown patch?
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Post by thevon on Nov 17, 2007 6:53:41 GMT 10
When I walked thru there 2 yrs ago I don't think there was any brown patch at all. It was so overgrown with tall grass and shrubs etc that the track along the top was like a tunnel in parts! Wow, great photos though and in reality it's even more of a saddle, with a hill both ends - good funnelling effect.
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Post by pioneerroaster on Nov 17, 2007 13:34:11 GMT 10
Well, I just came back from 2.5 hours on Mt Ninderry. All I can say is that you have to go there yourself, just amazing for flying. There is a very cleared area just south of the rocky top, it is not brown like the photo but just flattened grass, and actually very flat(almost horizontal). The cleared slope is easily 80-100m wide and apart from long flattened grass and 3 trees on the ridge its pretty open. The slope is easily 45-60 degrees (way steeper than the photo suggests) across the entire area and points straight east. The brown area on the photo is actually sloping south (down), and there were 3 trees on the ridge that I was attempting to DS through and around (I'm a bit unsure of the technicalities of DSing, but was getting over the back of the ridge). When I got there the wind was a bit light, 5-8 knots, but enough to keep even my brick of a Bee afloat. Within 10 mins it had picked up to a very nice 10-15 knots and the area of lift was amazing. I added some weight and threw the Bee out again. I even managed to fly it properly (I used to think it was sluggish but with such a large flying area I had plenty of height to get the hang of the slow roll rate) and the sheer amount of lift meant you could attempt anything knowing the recovery was easy. You definately would not want to lose it over the front of the slope as the grass is really dense, but there are plenty of landing and launch areas along the very wide ridge.
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Post by ezza on Nov 17, 2007 13:54:50 GMT 10
Great work!! Sounds quite promising. Was the slope down the back pretty clear except for those 3 trees? Had some fun conditions down here this morning. Hoping to get out for some more later.
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Post by pioneerroaster on Nov 17, 2007 14:17:23 GMT 10
Not really, there is a ridge which going east to west slopes west at about 10 degrees, there is a bit of a ditch which would allow you to get below the ridge level. The trees are not very high or foliated, but they are on the top of the eastern slope. It is at that exact spot that the ditch would allow you to get as far below the ridge as possible. This made them fun to use as markers to fly through, worst case you could pull up and over them. On the back of the ridge (western side) its tree heaven, the ridge is about 10m wide. I was approaching the eastern slope on a bit of an angle not straight on, but that was nerves and flying skill level.
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Post by thevon on Nov 17, 2007 14:38:29 GMT 10
Fantastic Jason, thanks. Today's the first really Easterly day this summer so the Windsock fraternity has obviously wasted no time in sussing out this new and promising spot! Looking forward to an expedition up there soon.
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Post by ezza on Dec 27, 2007 7:46:02 GMT 10
Finally got the Opus over to the lighthouse and it is a fantastic DS spot(For about 5 minutes). Woke up on boxing day, to a decent easterly and rain. Went up to the lighthouse to beat the tourists when the rain stopped. Lift was very strong and the fully ballasted(3kg), Opus went straight up! Did some ds and it was really smooth with LOTS of room to move. The biggest problem is visibility over the treetops. Tried a couple of different spots along the ridge then the hoardes of people started rolling in. I just cruised on the frontside and then landed for everyones safety. I am now hanging out for some bad weather during a working week. It was great to finally work out a couple of sweet spots and the LZ. I edited up a nice vid, but when I uploaded to Youtube, the quality was pitiful. So I have put a less edited version on. youtube.com/watch?v=A64dTHIU-Y4 Pretty frustrating as this is High Def footage and it is barely visible on youtube. Anyone know of another way to get the quality up? I might just have to make shorter clips. Eric
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Post by thevon on Dec 27, 2007 8:32:23 GMT 10
Ezza, mate that's really a big step, to have taken the Opus to Byron! Wow, you're really chipping away big chunks at this thing! Good on you. You're sort of like a base jumper ducking in to perform your illegal adrenaline-pumper!! I was just relating your email with excitement to my wife Janet in the kitchen but for some reason she didn't seem excited as me. Can't understand why ... women are weird! Just had a look at the vid ... darn scary looking stuff! Very angry looking cliffs and ocean! But huuuuugge lift! Fantastic. Been ages since I've been to Byron so I can't really work the topography out. Landing must be a bit fun!
On a much less impressive note ... Skyboyken and I went to try out a new DS spot out near Kilcoy yesterday in the SE winds and it was really, really good for DS. I had a good time with the Bat - big smooth circles and you can come back up close to the slope unobstructed. A very clear and steep backside, absolutely no trees down the bottom - you can go down as far as you like and it's just clear space all the way. You can stand at one end and look right across your whole circle ... absolutely excellent, couldn't be better. It didn't have major turbulence over the back like the Camel Hump, and there's plenty of space.
The frontside lift's good - not awesome but good. Wind yesterday was ESE about 15kts at the best, so if you got a 30kt day it would be very impressive. The top of the hill is flat enough for good landings but there are plenty of rocks around. I've been clearing some aside in the main LZ but the whole hillside has scattered rocks.
It's a good place to learn DSing but it's a private property. I've got permission from the owner but it's not an open invitation - I have to keep in contact with him and if we step out of line he'll stop us.
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