Soaring Highlights

November 1980 Return to WGC

In late November 1980, I returned to the Waikerie Gliding Club, being the first time there since my first visit in February 1980.

During the three weeks I was there, I oompleted a "Silver C" duration flight of 5 hours 19 minutes on Monday 24 November 1980.

The next day I backed up for a "Silver C" height, distance and duration flight by flying to Loxton and landing.

On Friday 5 December 1980, at the end of a great three weeks, I succeeded on my first attempt at a 300 km flight to qualify for the "Gold Distance" and "Diamond Goal" FAI badges.

Hooked On Soaring

From then on, most of my annual leave plus long weekends were spent at Waikerie. I was hooked. In June 1992, I put pen to paper and wrote an article "Plane Sailing" for BHP's Grapevine magazine, describing my feelings about gliding.

Visit To Benella Gliding Club

In a Hornet at Benella, Victoria (July 1982)

In July 1982, I accompanied Gene Baddonas, a BHP work colleague, to the Benella Gliding Club, Victoria. Gene had just recently flown solo for the first time and was being allowed to fly solo in the club's IS28B2 two seat trainers.

I had flights in the club's Hornet and Mosquito gliders. Some weeks later I took Gene to Waikerie where he flew in a Grob Astir CS, his first single seater, plus joined me on a brief cross-country flight.

Gold Height Flight

On Monday 31 January 1983 I did my "Gold Height" flight: 1,600 ft launch, 12,600 ft max height, for an 11,000 ft height gain. Flight time: 1 hour 21 minutes.

First Gliding Contest

In February 1983, I entered my first gliding contest. Amazingly I managed to win my class flying a Twin Astir, even with a strong field of international and Australian competitors. My first and last competition — why ruin a perfect record!

Lining up on the pad for a day of competition at Waikerie (February 1983)

Assistant Gliding Instructor

I turned my focus to becoming an instructor. In April 1986, I qualified as an Assistant Instructor after completing the week course at Gawler, South Australia. Memorable and testing flying with senior instructors: Reg Moore, Geoff Howard, Mike Vallentine and Rob Moore.

Ridge Souring In The Fliders Ranges

On the June long weekend the Waikerie Gliding Club goes to Black Springs, in the Flinders Ranges, for its annual ridge soaring camp. June 1986 was my first exposure to this and I loved it.

On both times I went to the Black Springs ridge camp, I was fortunate to be one of the pilots participating in a dual tow to the ridge, plus a ferry flight back from the ridge. I never travelled there by car.

I vividly remember a great one hour flight on a Monday playing chase the squalls with Maurie Bradney (in a second glider) as everyone else stayed on the ground.

Heading South at Black Springs. Ridge on left, high and slow. (June 1986)

Heading North at Black Springs. Ridge on right, low and fast (June 1986)

Camping at Black Springs, in the Flinders Ranges. (June 1987)

Honour Flight

I was honoured to be chosen to participate in a fly past for Ron Thayne's funeral on Monday 30 March 1987. Ron was a great human being and a stalwart of the Waikerie Gliding Club. The next day I sent my first student, Paul Donnovan, solo. Ron would have loved that synergy.

Soaring With Jock Barratt

Jock Barratt and the Pelican (Nov 1981)

I was honoured to be chosen by Jock Barratt to be one of five people allowed to become part owners of the Pelican, a side-by-side, two seat, wood and fabric glider, which first flew on Sunday 22 February 1953. Designed and constructed by WGC members, especially Jock, it's a part of Australian aviation history.

Jock was a founding member of the Waikerie Gliding Club and a gliding instructor, when the club formed on 25 May 1937.

The Pelican syndicate all but banned Jock and myself from flying together. We had a habit of doing an aerobatics routine which the others thought was too much for the old girl!

I remember with delight the wink Jock would give me and the twinkle in his eye as we prepared for our flights together. To fly with someone with so much integrity, knowledge, and experience was just so very, very special.

Jock Barratt getting ready to take someone up in the Pelican. In his 80's and still flying the 28-year old glider he designed and built! (November 1981)