Mangamingi 2007

Mangamingi Camp, Taranaki Anniversary Weekend 2007

Saturday morning in Mangamingi, living up to our farm’s name Kohunui (big fog). After quite a cold night the air temperature in the valley dropped below the dew point. A fine hot day was forecast offering a big temperature difference which in turn means a high cloud base – about 5000 ft as it tuned out. The ground was also very dry so it should heat up quickly to make good thermals.

Brendan in RWS towed John in the K7, Steve in the PW5 and Les in the Blanik. I towed PeterW out in his K6 with our little blue plane (LBP) getting a solid 500 ft/min climb. It was a little early for thermals so everyone had a sled ride into Mangamingi. This was Steve’s first paddock landing which will be signed off his QGP syllabus. John enjoyed his last flight in DN before we derigged it and put it in its trailer ready for the Aukland Aviation Sports club to take away. Brendon was finding landing the Pawnee on a farm strip a little challenging at first but made a noticeable improvement towards the end of the day – well done Brendan.

Jim and an old friend visiting from Switzerland took the LBP (little blue plane, JTA) way out east.
By this time, about midday, the first thermal clouds started to pop so John was first off in JB and was soon feeling much happier after losing his K7.
Steve followed in the PW5 and got an attack of homeitis and flew all the way back to Stratford and landed there. Well that was bloody clever! He later worked out that he arrived overhead Stratford with enough height to fly back to Mangamingi – which would have been cleverer. Anyway, LBP to the rescue and I flew Richard over to Stratford and towed him out for his paddock landing in Mangamingi – Steve being left to drive his car back.
Les took the first of three local trial flights and I did the other two while Les flew the PW5 to Eltham and back.

The thermals were strong, fat and high (5000ft) and definitely working as columns rather than our usual bubbles and stayed working in the same place – the best conditions we have seen for a while. I was able to offer the passengers beautiful views of Rotokare, Rotorangi and across to Ruapehu.
Les Peter and Steve stayed the night in our shearer’s quarters after a pot luck barbeque and a drink or two and few stories.
Steve had to leave us in the morning for work leaving Les Peter W and myself.

Sunday’s weather was a little different with no wind and a little fog on the ground but the clouds were moving with a northerly up top.
We DI ed the gliders and rigged my HP18. Jim arrived with another passenger to fly in the LBP. John Frew arrived in RWS. The Pawnee was being stropped around a bit more confidently today – welcome back John.
So here we were, three instructors, three single seat gliders, no students and no passengers. I was off first into a slightly doubtful looking sky probably a little too early. The thermals were back to our usual bubbles but the northerly wind was putting them into streets. After all pushing up wind a little we all had to retreat for slow climb near the airfield.
Conditions got better so off we went again with Les getting a little low and heading back. Peter and I headed out confidently towards the forgotten highway and as it turned out for Peter a little too confidently. A few plaintive calls on the radio about getting low and paddocks and he was on the ground having made his first successful landout. Well done Peter. The paddock turned out to be a farmer’s airstrip near Douglas so RWS was dispatched along with the LBP with Jim and wing-runner Les. So after an indecently short time on the ground Peter and the K6 were back in the air.

Peter and I enjoyed another couple of hours flying with Peter spending some time north of Douglas over the farm he was brought up on and I pushed out towards Makahu where Will Hopkirk lives – virgin gliding territory.
After landing we worked out the logistics of getting all the gear back to Stratford and I took two of my children. Julia and George for quick flights in the Blanik. 1500 ft tow, climb to 4500ft, down with brakes – twice. This was in a very strong convergence line, which the satellite photo later showed was coming from the coastline up by Mokau.

So ended a very enjoyable weekend. In the next three days we had 50mm of rain so the ground is damp again and I’m afraid it will probably be the end of strong high thermals in Taranaki for this summer.

Tim Hardwick-Smith