Omarama December 2012 - January 2013

While the late Peter Lyons was a regular visitor to Omarama, it has been a good few years since Gliding Hawkes Bay & Waipukurau last visited as a club. With encouragement from Graham White, four other members joined him in the trip south to coincide with the National Championships. James Foreman took his LS3a (MF), Jason Price the club’s Grob 103C Twin III SL (HB, a self launching two seater), Jason Kelly took a LS4 (NJ) and Graham had his LS8 (XS.) David Davidson completed the group and he flew with Jason Price on three days in HB.

After the long road journey south, visits to possible safe outlanding airstrips were made prior to flying and some of these were looked at further as the first flying day was spent in familiarisation of the local area and conditions. Graham decided not to fly due to a head cold. With thermals, ridge and wave lift to use, good local flights were had by all.

With a non-flying day the next day, further safe outlanding airstrips were visited which also showed some of the different types of terrain that could be flown in.

The next flying day saw Tony van Dyk lead James and Jason Kelly around until James had a problem with his aileron tape and Jason a problem with his radio while all were climbing in wave with oxygen. Meanwhile, Graham in his LS8 was giving Jason Price and David Davidson advice as they flew HB.

Staying in the camp ground, the meat supplied by James was eyed with envy by other campers and devoured by hungry pilots. The van Dyk's also graciously assisted with cooking facilities when torrential rain hit the area. Water bombs on otherwise dry evenings from a number of parties were met with retaliation with Terry Delore attracting a personal dousing even though most of the water bombs missed their targets.

All too soon our time was up and it was time to return home. Despite the weather giving us all four seasons during our visit of summer heat, snow, rain and electrical storms, we managed some good flying with Jason Price teaming up with Graham in HB for some one on one tuition while James and Jason Kelly explored the area further. The weak conditions on one day saw Jason Price and David become the first pilots in New Zealand to outland HB in the South Island. With a good number of flying hours clocked up in a short period of time and the potential of the area barely scratched, all agreed it was certainly a trip worth repeating.

Photos taken during December 2012 / January 2013 Gliding Hawkes Bay trip to Omarama.