12 April 2009

Bassano - Italy '09

We arrived Sat 4th – sorry for the late update, we've been really busy (and I couldn't get internet – that's my excuse).

It's been flyable every day since we arrived. First day GR had a top to bottom as he was itching to fly!

Leading up to the comp which started on Thursday we had 2 days with over 8,000ft base and very difficult to get down.

The comp organisation is absolutely superb. Nice landing field and take off is very nice too (but could do with some trees chopping down).

3 Tasks so far all over 110k – lots in goal every day.

Been doing LOTS of tweaking with my new glider and trying to get used to the difference between Moyes and Aeros – am nearly there I think. With lots of help and advice from Gerolf (without his help I would have been stuck) which was especially needed as in order to get the glider in time for this comp it came out of the factory not test flown.

Day 2 there was a mid air between Gunter from Austria and Fabien from France. Both landed safely and didn't have a punch up in the field..... but Gunter's glider was torn on the top wing tip. It was a brand new sail that got ripped thankfully he had his old sail in the car. Aeros 1 – Moyes 0.

Day 3 Fabien from France (a different Fabien) hit a tree on landing and was taken to hospital with concussion. Olav from Norway was also concussed on landing and taken to hospital. Meanwhile another pilot was sucked into cloud and pulled such violent G that something broke on his glider but he carried on flying. When he landed he found the keel was broken! Amongst the free flyers there was a mid air between a HG and PG. The PG flew OK and away but the HG flipped over and landed upside down on the top of the mountain with chute half deployed (both pilots unharmed). Also amongst the free flyers there was an atos that managed to rip his wing before take off and didn't notice.

When considering all these accidents we need to consider the volume of flying that is going on here – the number of HG and PG's in the comp + free flyers. GR reckons 1,000 take offs a day!

Day 4 today.

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