Yes, we really did make the trip despite the rather damp conditions this side of the Ruahines. Messrs Miller, de Abaffy, Struthers, Carter, Spence & Griffin left their gumboots and oilskins and headed for Waipukurau Gliding Club to sample their wave.
We were billeted at Rob & Pat Orr’s farm inland from Waipawa in the shearers’ quarters and in a sleep-out. Three in each. For us in the shearers’ quarters, the sound of a rock landing on the roof at 7am was due warning that the others were on their way to breakfast and for us to chew over the plans for the day.
On Saturday morning, after touring Rob’s methane gas plant where enough gas is produced to run two trucks, the family car and fam tractor from rotting pumpkins or apple pulp, we headed for the airfield where aerobatic competitions were being held. (NZ Championships) The weather wasn’t brilliant. Passing showers, high cloud base and very humid so wew didn’t rig the gliders but spent an enjoyable day however, watching the antics of Pitts Specials and John Raven’s Sonerai scorching around the sky doing outside loops etc. A cabaret was held that evening for visiting pilots and club members in a vacant hangar suitably decorated for the event.
Sunday dawned a little brighter, so with the prospect of wave flights, we were on the field at 8.30am rigging the Blanik and Astir for flying at the conclusion of aerobatics at around 11.30. The Ypuk’s club K6, K7 & Astir were also on the start-line and by noon the all clear was given. Rob Orr with scribe in the back seat of JB towed west-wards behind a Cessna 150 to 4500ft and we contacted wave near Ormondville then climbed slowly to 8000ft in 1 to 2 knots of lift. We estimated the wind speed at this height to be in excess of 35 knots. This made our speed very rapid indeed, passing over roll clouds but encountering no sign of roughness, we arrived over the airfield with 4000ft on the clock. Most other flights that day were undertaken locally due to the presence of rain to the west. That night we hangared JB and picketed the Astir outside.
Before sunset a local hot-air balloonist carried out some test hops across the airfield whilst tethered to a car. Bob and Rangi became willing ballast and enjoyed the thrill of thermic induced lift without wing. A well organised BBQ topped off our first flying day.
On Monday morning, lenticulars filled the sky to the west which appeared encouraging for the two 50k attempts by Chris in JB and John Carter in NG. The task was set for a remote start at Oringi & return to Ypuk, so getting established in the wave was essential at 3000ft would be essential. Neither pilot was successful with John being dumped in rotor 28km to the south, landing in a large paddock with close road access. Chris made it back to the field after an hour or so.
After retrieving John around lunch-time, the sky slowly cleared and it became unbearably hot, thermals soon popped. (Rotor induced according to the locals.)
Chris packed Peter in JB (Peter thought it was the other way round) and they towed to 6000ft in search of wave – not a typing error – they couldn’t miss. Peter’s story follows. Bob and John Carter had half hour flights in NG exploring the district. John actually thermalled out to the East Coast over no-mans land maintaining a good margin of height.
On the Blaniks return, Rangi & scribe shared nearly three hours exploring the western edge of the thermal area, climbing to nearly 7000ft at one point while pushing westwards over the Takapau plains. Sink was not a problem apart from one particular roll cloud that we passed under on our way west.
We ceased flying before 7pm, had the trailers packed and ready to roll at 7.30 and then, a quick beer with Bavel Peacock and other Ypuk members. After thanking our hosts for their hospitality we commenced the long haul home.
In conclusion, this weekend sure sowed the seed for future trips in coming summers and Waipukurau with its variety of soaring conditions is an ideal site for such a trip.
Back at German Hill, cooler Autumn temperatures with weak thermals prevailed during March. However, a number of half hour flights and half hour training flights were possible.
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A postscript to the story is that John Raven was boxed in by cloud during his flight back to New Plymouth was guided to Wanganui airport by Air NZ pilots and Air Traffic Control and then hitched a ride home with the group in the car towing the Astir trailer. (Rangi claims they recognised his knobbly knees!)
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