Leonardo - The Global Flight Database

Regarding the Triangle: 

Never tried to do this before as I have always lusted after Straight Line distance :-)  But this was fun.  The air was smooth and I had three different air currents to climb into.  After a few low saves leaving Koringberg, I slowed down and worked on getting up high and staying high.  The longest time was the leg out from Koringberg to Piketberg into a ENE wind.  The most alarming was when I descended back at Koringberg out of a North wind, only to find myself going backwards on half speedbar at around 20kms in the strong south wind.  Took me 5kms to land safely without being dragged.  A bit cross with myself for having got into this situation in the first place. Not my style normally, but the flatlands are forgiving which is why I fly them. However I hope to make better decisions next time.

A story later of Free Flying Adventures with lots of photographs, but here are some Leonardo Stats in the mean time.

Leonardo Link 

The Koringberg Triangle

Takeoff Info Takeoff 11:42:31 Cornberg - ZA Landing 16:55:59 Cornberg - ZA [~3.1] XC Info Linear distance 23.2 km (4.4 km/h) Max Distance 24.0 km (4.6 km/h) OLC Distance 62.9 km (12.0 km/h) OLC score 125.79 OLC score type FAI Triangle	[ Paraglider ] Shaolin Flight Info Duration 5:13:28 Max vario 4.0 m/sec Min vario -5.6 m/sec Max alt (ASL) 3280 m Min alt (ASL) 154 m Takeoff alt (ASL) 376 m Altitude gain 2904 m Max speed 72.6 km/h Mean speed 28.5 km/h
CommentsWhat a lovely day!!! My Flytec 5020 switched off twice in flight but Norad has stitched the 3 tracklogs together to make my first ever beautiful FAI Triangle. Thank you Norad! I think that with my average speed being 4.4kms I have to work on tactics and speed now :-), but I was working on endurance airtime today. Will write a story later and submit photos. The majority of the flight was absolutely fantastic, flying in smooth air from Koringberg with good height at 2000-3300m ASL for 5 hours, but when I descended to land I got caught in the strong seabreeze and was blown backwards on half speed bar at 20+ kms for 5kms before I landed safely in a big open field - my 4th choice as they zipped by below me. Spirals, big ears and half speedbar and Quick Releases used, so as not to be dragged. I was lucky. The air was smooth and the flatlands so forgiving.

Leonardo - The Global Flight Database

Mount Borah to Baggabri Gap A slow 30kms in 1h47mins (quite a frequent route when we did the XC Open in Feb ealier this year)

Mount Borah to Halls Creek, Split Rock Dam and back - free triangle of 60kms in 3 hrs40mins. He has included some nice photos of the area.  Some good 6ms climbs.

In South Africa 16 December 2007: 

The Gradient Team are in De Aar and SA Record Holder and Gradient pilot John Broderick started the clock ticking with a 100.9km flight to Noupoort on Friday.  John was flying a Gradient Avax XC2.  He normally flies an Aspen 2.

Similar conditions and direction to my own strong wind flight, but John went all the way to the mountains.

Nice flying Mrs Braid :-)

Pilot: John Broderick   Date: 16/11/2007                                        LEONARDO LINK TO FLIGHT Takeoff Info Takeoff 12:19:39 De Aar - ZA Landing - Noupoort 14:36:59 XC Info Linear distance 100.9 km (44.1 km/h) Max Distance 101.7 km (44.5 km/h) OLC Distance 102.8 km (44.9 km/h) OLC score 154.21 Gradient Avax XC2 Duration 2:17:20 Max vario 3.9 m/sec Min vario -5.3 m/sec Max alt (ASL) 3150 m Min alt (ASL) 1434 m Takeoff alt (ASL) 1734 m Altitude gain 1416 m Max speed 86.0 km/h Mean speed 48.6 km/h