Slope flying at Tapanappa
Sunday 24th, 2016
Every year SSL has an organized slope flying event at this fabulous location around the Australia Day public holiday. This year the holiday falls on a Tuesday but after looking at the predicted wind forecast for the region, Manny and myself made a decision to go on Sunday.
Turned out to be a good choice. When we arrived at 10am, Crash Carpenter was the only person there and he was busily rigging up his K18 and old Stratos 5 F3B/J model. The wind had just started to pickup but was from a more southerly direction. I tossed an old “foamie” off the slope but struggled to maintain any sort of height. I had to do a “walk of shame” much to the amusement of a family of kangaroos watching☺ So Manny and Crash launched their thermal ships and had no trouble finding good air.
Around lunchtime more fliers turned up and the wind strength improved. Pretty soon the slope was filled with models of varying style and condition and the wind came to the party by swinging round to SE, directly onto the slope.
A group of fliers from NSW turned up. Usually they are flying Golden Era and pylon models I believe. Also in attendance was Andy Smith from Victoria.
Quite a few models were maidened on the slope. Steve Nelson brought out an immaculately built 2 metre model called a Miles and another ARF scale ship for their debut. Sam had a molded 2 metre ARF that he proceeded to put through its paces. Kirk Winters had a large scale Minimoa there for a test flight. You can see from the series of photos that Bob Edgecombe did a sterling job of launching it. Once it was up it didn’t want to come down and many circuits and fly pasts were done until he got it back to terra firma in one piece☺
Rick Burnard flew a Miles 2 metre that had recently been repaired. He also had an old Flamingo that with Manny’s help in taming it, flew lovely.
For those in the club who’ve never been down before please make the effort, you won’t be disappointed. Even if you don’t fly it is a great place to relax and catch up with fellow modellers for a chat.
Good soaring,
John Blanchard
