Task 5, Day 7 Final day of the competition. With Timothy out and repaying the rescue favour by driving retrieve for Thor, it was left for me to collect Mick and James. Mick elected not to take off as the conditions were very light and side on and he is still a novice pilot. James was actually doing quite well on course, but then landed tail wind and dislocated his one shoulder badly and the other slightly. The Barraba Hospital staff thought he had broken his right arm as well, but a trip to Tamworth hospital loaded with morphine ended with the good news that he only had the dislocations. They put him back together and then out on the streets at 22h30 at night. No available beds. I drove through and picked him up and took him home. Sadly, James did a runner on his share of the retrieve driving costs which put a damper on the experience of driving for hang glider pilots. Task 4, Day 6 Very proud of James Crago who flew to goal at Wee Waa. The last successful pilot to get in and we were there to see him land - next to the cemetery.... Timothy skewered his glider onto a 30m eucalyptus tree. He was unhurt but his beautiful Malibu was close to trashed. The Volunteer Rescue Association was there with all the equipment but no climber to fellow hang glider pilot Thor from Norway stepped into the harness and climbed up the tree to get our friend down. Useful thing these hang glider support ladders - James one had many multiple uses :-) I collected Micky near Four Ways and we then races through to Goal where we just new our hero would be :-) Stopped at the Narrabri Gas Station for the best burgers in Narrabri - a massive bun filled with a meat patty, fried egg and loaded with salad. Delicious - even for on who does not normally eat burgers.
Task 3, Day 5 - Results
A
better day for my 'boys'. James Crago needed one more thermal to make
goal past Narrabri. He finished 8th with 97.6km so very well done! Timothy Ettridge kicked the minimum distance suck to fly 11.9km, a Personal Best for him in this competition. Mick
White is still feeling his way around launch - at present taking off
too late I reckon. Mick is a novice at flying competitions and inland
sites so it may take a little time for him to settle in. Congratulations to Scott Barrett for finishing the day in first place.
Task 2, Day 4 My crew all landed in the bomb out in front of west take off. They were not in a good mood. I
enjoyed a flit around for 45 minutes on my glider practising manoeuvres. I looked longingly at the horison, but restrained myself, spiralling down to fulfil my driving duties.
Task 1, Day 3 Route - Mt Borah west take off - Upper Horton - Cobbadah - Barraba airfield. Distance approximately 97kms The team I am driving for are Timothy (USA), James (AUS) and Mick (AUS) Mick
did his début inland flight with great success, scoring the best in my
team for the day, flying his first XC of about 18km. When I know the results for all competitors, I will post them here.
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