Gariep 2004
This season has started off with a bang! With only a few gliders unpacked in the beginning, strong weather enabled pilots who had just arrived to quickly accumulate long distances.
For the first 12 days, the cloud base averaged about 16000ft and only on one day was below 14000ft. Average climb rate over this period was just over 5 m/s. So far there has not been one day when flying did not take place.
Klaus Egelhardt soon flew two 1000km, one being an FAI triangle. This was followed by George Kirchner with a 1000km and Gerd Kalisch just missing it with a few flights over 950km.
With our new 3 blade large diameter propeller, the Samba is towing better than a 180hp Super Cub, so we are seeing tow cycles of around 7 or 8 minutes, even with large two seaters.
With the announcement of the FAI/IGC Centenary celebrations, we have decided to extend the season at Gariep until the 13th February, to enable pilots to compete for the special diploma from one of the best sites in the southern hemisphere.
Update 5 December:
The weather continued strongly with cloud bases mostly over 15,000ft and cumulus remaining until late. Many pilots flew over 9 hours daily, landing well after 7pm.
By 22 December 13 1000km flights had been flown, some being over 1100km, and several being FAI triangles. The first 18m ship to fly a 1000km this year was flown by Erazem Polutnik of SeeYou fame. Other notable achievements were 300km by Steve Clark in a Jantar, 750km by Mike Barenbrug in an ASW20B, 500km by Braden Zietsman in a Kestral and Daniel Rodick in a DG600M.
In the first month we experienced only 4 out landings, only one being in a farmer’s field, the rest on some of the Karoo’s excellent airfields. The locals are always friendly and excited to receive these visitors from out of the sky. Walter Burki received derigging help from the Petrusville under 15 soccer team, who use the cross runway to practice on.
Jurgen experienced the hospitality of a B & B in De Aar, after prudently deciding to stay the night instead of trying to reach Gariep. A paragliding club helped him launch his DG600M the next morning. In all cases the mobile phone coverage helped immensely.
After 1 month, we experienced our first heavy rain shower, but the next day was bright again, and long flights again took place.
The weather continued to improve up to the end of December. During this time Astrid lodges a German women’s record for distance and Klaus and others managed further long flights. Hurbert Stehr flew his Ventus 2M 1030km at an average speed of 150kph !
Unfortunately Gunther's Samba was hit with a violent dust devil at landing and was substantially damaged. John, the pilot escaped luckily with just a few broken bones, we wish him a speedy recovery.
By late January 18 flights over 1000km had been flown. The total distance flown was over 215,000km, with only 8 field landings. A total of 75 pilots attended from 8 counties, half being from South Africa.
On 6 th February, the camp closed. After working almost a straight 90 days, the camp director is going for a short holiday.
Peter How
Daily Report and Statistics
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