Post by thevon on Nov 14, 2009 22:02:37 GMT 10
Had a really nice arvo's sloping and DSing at Maleny today. It's a different site to last week - it's a private property which is used by parasailers. You have to get permission each time and tread carefully.
It has a really steep frontside with a sharp lip, and a lovely big grassy paddockbehind. Great for landing, but also DSable when the wind's right if you get very low and hug the paddock, flying knifedge close to the paddock! It's a bit tight but probably better than some of our other spots.
The lift at this spot is biggest in easterlies, and it was ENE most of today, so it was great lift. The DS was turning on and off like a switch (only on about 10% of the time) most of today. There were huge thermals moving through. Then about 4pm the wind shifted more north. Strangely, the DS got reliable and smoother. Speeds were only sub-100mph, but it was classic stuff.
The Ditza is a little screamer and performed beautifully again. I popped a servo loose on a rough landing but fixed it beside the car. The Vector was in its element again.
This was Sean's first time ever DSing the Orca, which is primarily an F3J (thermal) plane. Light air, but a lovely site and a classic sloping afternoon.
There were up to 5 paragliders (jellyfish) hovering and cruising the ridge in the later arvo. I wish I'd thought to get some video of us carving it up below, between, around and above them. They were completely unconcerned and when we chatted with one of the guys later he commented about the gliders "Gee those things are quick aren't they!"
When they had a bit of height we could DS well below them. But near sunset they were cruising right up against the lip, even below the lip, almost touching the trees with their bums. It was very hard to DS then!
Here's the video:
www.vimeo.com/7608302
It has a really steep frontside with a sharp lip, and a lovely big grassy paddockbehind. Great for landing, but also DSable when the wind's right if you get very low and hug the paddock, flying knifedge close to the paddock! It's a bit tight but probably better than some of our other spots.
The lift at this spot is biggest in easterlies, and it was ENE most of today, so it was great lift. The DS was turning on and off like a switch (only on about 10% of the time) most of today. There were huge thermals moving through. Then about 4pm the wind shifted more north. Strangely, the DS got reliable and smoother. Speeds were only sub-100mph, but it was classic stuff.
The Ditza is a little screamer and performed beautifully again. I popped a servo loose on a rough landing but fixed it beside the car. The Vector was in its element again.
This was Sean's first time ever DSing the Orca, which is primarily an F3J (thermal) plane. Light air, but a lovely site and a classic sloping afternoon.
There were up to 5 paragliders (jellyfish) hovering and cruising the ridge in the later arvo. I wish I'd thought to get some video of us carving it up below, between, around and above them. They were completely unconcerned and when we chatted with one of the guys later he commented about the gliders "Gee those things are quick aren't they!"
When they had a bit of height we could DS well below them. But near sunset they were cruising right up against the lip, even below the lip, almost touching the trees with their bums. It was very hard to DS then!
Here's the video:
www.vimeo.com/7608302
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