Well, it's high season here in Queenstown. After a dismal start, January woke up and remembered that yes, oh yes, this is Summer. Before this, she was thinking it was Spring for some reason. The Norwester winds and rains have given way to Southerly sunshine :)
The daily routine generally consists of 9am flights (sometimes 8am) that continue on till around 6pm. Shuttle drivers keep the passengers flowing in from town throughout the day. When we're not full up, the tandem pilots that aren't on fly solo for kicks. Up and down the mountain all day. Best bring your water bottle and sunscreen too, cuz that hole in the ozone thing is pretty damn personal down here (it's right over us and bakes us like hell).
Fortunately with the Southerly winds, takeoffs have been easy lately. The 9am's are the trickiest... light winds and passengers that don't run... uhg. The weather's been great though. I haven't had a sledder in ages. Lately I've been fighting to get down. Seriously... sometimes I've been doing wingovers and still going up. Mostly it's just kinda lift everywhere... some light some strong. It's been 3 turns from 2400ft to 5500ft lately. Beyond that I can't tell you... we don't fly with varios. Cornet peak is just under 5500 and our ceiling (Queenstown airspace).
When we get the Norwesters, "the beach" is generally on... so grab your paraglider and head down to the lake for some wicked beach soaring. Norwest generally kills the later half of the day at Cornet... the valley winds do keep it at bay, blowing up the SW launch till then. After that it's over to "the Terrace" if it's on, or the beach. I like the beach so much that I've moved next door to it :)
The last few days have been Coronet days. I can't remember my last sledride. Today was just zoom around the mountain all day long... mucho funo. You seriously had to try to get down... hahahaha, it's part of the job actually. If you keep a passenger up over 20 minutes, they generally puke.
Temps when it's Southerly are Tshirt and shorts. Temps when it's Northerly are light jacket and sandels.
During early January, when the weather was crapola, I took the opportunity to go fly around in the local Pitts "Actionflight" thing. I'm sure everyone here knows what a Pitts is. Holy freaking hell is that fun! It didn't hurt that I know the pilot (so we got to do "unlimited" aero.. torque rolls, etc... vs the normal stuff). If you have the chance (and an iron stomach) do yourself a favor and go. I've never had that much fun in the air... it makes my job look boring.
Cheers,
Jim
January in Queenstown
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
A pitts is an aerobatic biplane.
http://www.actionflite.co.nz/
Fun does not begin to describe it.
Varios are just a distraction for the customer. If we put them on, they stare at them and ask questions instead of enjoying the flight. Much the same reason that we don't let them bring cameras. Since we're always below some ridgeline (the mountains are huge), it's extremely easy to fly without a vario.
Jim
http://www.actionflite.co.nz/
Fun does not begin to describe it.
Varios are just a distraction for the customer. If we put them on, they stare at them and ask questions instead of enjoying the flight. Much the same reason that we don't let them bring cameras. Since we're always below some ridgeline (the mountains are huge), it's extremely easy to fly without a vario.
Jim
Aerobatic Biplane Ride
You don't have to venture halfway around the world for an aerobatic biplane ride. The offer them in Warrenton at the Flying Circus during warmer months. I did one last Fall.... what fun!!!
See-- http://www.flyingcircusairshow.com/rides.html
Matthew
See-- http://www.flyingcircusairshow.com/rides.html
Matthew
January in Queenstown
Jim,
???? Isn't flying without a vario cool?? As unfettered as the birds are.
?????????????????????????????????????????? Bacil
???? Isn't flying without a vario cool?? As unfettered as the birds are.
?????????????????????????????????????????? Bacil
Yup, I do dig flying without the vario.
Granted, there are times when I like having it (mainly when it's really really light lift), but I like it even more when I can get away with not having it.
I prefer staying up over anything, but I prefer staying up in silence over staying up with something chirping in my ear.
Cheers,
Jim
Granted, there are times when I like having it (mainly when it's really really light lift), but I like it even more when I can get away with not having it.
I prefer staying up over anything, but I prefer staying up in silence over staying up with something chirping in my ear.
Cheers,
Jim