Peter Cook. 2005

A wee jaunt;

It began on a recent mid Jan weekend when the big wings came to soar Taupo.

Sat began NE cool and blue, by lunch cu’s popping, big wings watered and all pilots fed, launching began early PM. A slight delay on the grid, and then off short tows into strong therms, which gave quick climbs, to 6k+ft for a bit of X-country.

The big wings had vanished as usual by the time Mr National Contest Director John VHE in a PW5 was seeking an OK from ChCh control to climb to 8k ft cloud base near the field. Libelling below, carrying a weak Taiwanese battery, I couldn’t see the need for upper air space so spotting a street I straight lined Broadlands at 80 odd kts. The ride was a bit rough with little height lost. Took a turn at Broadlands for another straight line toward Minginui village at the foot of the Ikawhenu Range. Pushing up the mile wide farm gap in Kaingaroa Forest at a good rate, only turning for bearings and take in the view, also slowing to cross broken bush covered terrain (balls?). The plan was to track south down the range to surprise cloud-scrapping John near Rangitaiki. Drats, conditions appeared a sick along the Range, the vario drowned, a sea breeze? So with a rapid back track towards Taupo, linking forestry cut over areas was returning triumphantly from Waipuna Falls.

Huh, a new challenge. The Falls!

Rangitaiki basin was blue but with plenty of height the push was attempted. Those therms just got further apart and weaker, a function of my height I guess. Taking stock literally, the farmland had come to meet me and grovelling from circuit height, which gave a chance to listen in on the big wings exploits over top of Ruapehu nearing the Military. Confidence low also, I called base, “a potential land out 6M N of Rangitaiki”. John Curtis replied, “there’s couple of big air fields out that way”. After a while, the half kt strengthened, the day saved for a beat up on 5mile, Acacia Bay and Kinloch returning hastily to Tpo GC Centennial Park base for beers, Fish ‘n Chips and more high flying tales from the others.


Peter Cook

June 2005