Rod Smith. 1990

Glider Flights at Benalla

March 1990

Rod Smith's account of a Taranaki Gliding Club group that went to Benalla in January 1990.


A Day In The Life Of a Cross-Country Pilot


After the checks and spins in the IS 28 which goes into a spin like greased lightning, (the circuits in this glider was full flaps and minimum circuit speed of 55 knots), a check flight in their Motor Falke(which flies like a brick), and a paddock landing in the IS 28, we then went into the cross-country course with enthusiasm.
Briefings in the morning and flying in the afternoon.

Friday the 2nd.

One of the most memorable flights was the Lead and follow. John Williamson in the Janus (his call-sign was Magpie). Magpie launched first, aerotowed to 800ft, released and proceeded to climb in lift. After Rangi launched and whilst I waited for my aerotow, everyone heard "Golf Tango, wheel up!". A few moments later, "Ranjee! Put your wheel up!"

After we had established ourselves in lift, Magpie would call us up. "Ranjee, where are you?" The reply "I'm at 5000ft." "Rod, where are you?" I replied, "I'm at 4500ft." "Well I'm at 1500ft, should be with you soon." Fifteen minutes later, "Ranjee, where are you?" "I'm at 6000ft." "Rod, where are you?" "I'm at 5500ft." "Well I'm at 1700ft and I will be with you in a moment." John Williamson, who was the manager of The Gliding Club of Victoria at Benalla, is, by our terms, a professional glider pilot who has represented the homeland a few times, not to mention the speed to fly calculator and other sundry items.

We were under way on our first cross-country, which took us up to Yarrawonga, across to the Warbys, (a range of scrubby hills) then back to Benalla. The interesting part of the flight was that the range of height we worked was between three to four thousand feet. When flying behind the other two gliders you got a real perspective of what was happening. You could see the leader sinking, then Rangi's glider would follow through the air mass and go downwards and then my glider would do the same. Whilst I was in the sinking air the first glider would fly through rising air and gain height of two or three hundred feet and then we would do the same.

Magpie would ignore thermals and you would see your height winding off the altimeter and you would be thinking we must climb this thermal. Straight through we flew until our height was down to 3000ft. Then to our relief, "Magpie turning right, I've got a boomer." We would gain maybe 500ft in four turns. You then heard, "Magpie pressing on."

Like a big streamer flying through the sky you would follow. It was magic. The whole exercise was 120km long and all we had to do was follow the leader. He found the thermals, he told us when to turn and when to press on. Just pure bloody magic. It showed us that we could do it.


We had our gliders booked from Monday to Friday and we had the weekends free. Saturday was boring, so on Sunday the 4th, we hauled out four gliders and D. I 'ed them. Ranjee, John and myself knocked off our fifty clicks Km) out to Katamatite and back to Benalla, a round trip of 120kms. Bob flew to Katamatite, Euroa and home. The next day, the three of us knocked off our 300 clicks, Balldale/Jerilderie/Benalla. A distance of 318kms.

On Tuesday, Rangi knocked off his 500 clicks while I went to the Rock and back, 360kms. John Tullett was the official observer for John Williamson who was attempting to break the British speed record for a 750km triangle. He missed by six minutes! On Wednesday, John and I tried for our 500km triangle but encountered twentyfive knot headwinds on our way to The Rock, which slowed our progress. We terminated the attempt at Lake Urana and headed for home.
This left us about 120km short of our target.

The weather packed a real sad on the last three days, preventing us from trying to complete our last task. CB's and lightning, the likes that you've never seen before.

Well, does it take guts to fly cross-country? Not really, most pilots can hack it, I suppose some can't. This cross-country experience would never have happened if it hadn't have been for one mild mannered gentleman. "Sir Bob!"
Thankyou


Rod Smith



Those taking part in this trip were- Bob Struthers
John Tullett
Rodney Smith
Rangi de Abaffy