Hamil Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 So, NSW's a bust, and I've got to squeeze in a trip to mum's farm (Rosny-think goulburn). Anyone keen for a fly the 4/5th June weekend? I'm thinking I'll catch up with mum and then duck down to Canberra for a wee-fly. Or, if there's no wind, maybe just a beer or two. I'd love to fly on Lake George if that's even a possibility? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 The 4th is out for me (three games of basketball to officiate), but the 5th is do'able. Have a look at Lake George on your way past - it should be covered in water by now (damned la nina). P.S. One of the local politicians got fireworks banned last year - so that part is now off the agenda. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted May 11, 2011 Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 I'm free that weekend, may be limited on the amount of flying that I can do but I make a good cameraman for the moment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted May 11, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 11, 2011 Cool, well lets make it the sunday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Going by the weather yesterday and today, you might even be able to demo your snow skiing prowess Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted May 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyfly Posted May 12, 2011 Report Share Posted May 12, 2011 I'm good for both days... .... so whichever or both Hamil.... I'll organise to get my ph number to you so you can let us know when your getting close to town and we can sort out a meet spot or directions to the oval As Bob said lake George is wet and largely unusable. There is a large puddle in the best part for flying .....and with all the rain we've had this year the scrubby kite-line-snagging ground cover has grown to 20-30cm-ish ..... is everywhere and can be a real pain in the bum when launching and landing. The high growth also covers any rusty steel bit protruding from the ground, (the reason why a belly-pan on the buggy is essential equipment when ripping around out there at speed) most of the bits I've encountered out there have been close to the fence next to the highway. Be careful It'll be great to meet you and your partner if he's coming too... looking forward to it and showing you why coast wind is soooooo much better than the stuff we get here in Canberra..... Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted June 1, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 So how's the weather looking for this weekend? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyfly Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 According to the bom's 2-7day crystal ball -- we should have wind on both Saturday and Sunday with possible showers Saturday.... So fingers crossed we get some.... Hope to see yas... Andy.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jonesy Posted June 1, 2011 Report Share Posted June 1, 2011 The Planets seem to be aligning as footy is only on Saturday before lunch, I'll be there Sunday and maybe Saturday. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Lets do Sunday for the Day? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyfly Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 See you all on Sunday .... Andy.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Let me know where and when, I'll join you too Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 You guys tell us where to go, we're not from around those parts Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyfly Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Have a quick look Here As your coming into Canberra turn right from the highway onto Horse Park Drive and follow it all the way to the end..... I've sent Dropbear a pm with my ph no... any probs just holla.... @ Bob ... Sunday at Amaroo... do you want a call from the first ones out there?... Andy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropbear Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Awesome! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted June 2, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 Pete, you wanna come to mine and we'll head down from here? Others, what time should we aim to be in Canberra? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted June 2, 2011 Report Share Posted June 2, 2011 @ Bob ... Sunday at Amaroo... do you want a call from the first ones out there?... Andy Yes please Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyfly Posted June 3, 2011 Report Share Posted June 3, 2011 No worries Bob Looking forward to seeing you back out there Jonesy.... Hamil I was hoping to be at the oval around 10am. Andy... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted June 4, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 4, 2011 Ok, we'll aim for 10am then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted June 5, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Home safe - didn't get taken out by any self-entitled-politicians driving like manics on the way home, although as a precautionary measure I gave every european car we passed the finger, just to be on the safe side - that way when we merged lanes later they already knew they couldn't push in front. *may or may not have actually done the above* Anyhoo, another good day, it seems Dropbear, Ranger Stacey and I unite with special powers to bring the wind! Great to meet all you guys, we had a really tops-as time, Andyfly, again you reminded us why you're not AndyRoll. Nice to pull the top-hat in anger, good to do 2 pathetic turns in the buggy (but hey, if you can fly in Canberra,.. right?) Good to see Dropbear run off with all the cool toys for hours again (and get some air), and really good to see Ranger Stacey nailing the kite loops. Must have been that midweek session I missed out on, Dave and Luke have the magic touch. BobM esp, thanks for helping me relaunch over and over again, and teaching me a thing or two. See you soon - and stockton in Sep/Oct doesn't count! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dropbear Posted June 5, 2011 Report Share Posted June 5, 2011 Well I heard it mentioned a couple of times prior to getting any kites up today that the inland wind was known for being gusty, and somehow yet I still underestimated it. Still, gotta learn to live with it, 'cos the Snowy Moutains are likely to be worse right? Anyway as for today, we all had a great day, cheers to the Canberra kiters who were great hosts. Andy seemed to make getting lofted look easy, and Jonesey's incredible spins were brilliant to watch not only for the fast paced rotations but also that despite looking out of control, you got the feeling he always knew where the kite was. From my vantage point he always seemed to recover the kite neatly before going on his merry (read: insane) way. Thanks to Bob for helping with tangles and tips. When I got the 6m Access up the fickle wind made me look for something bigger. So I had a go on Christie's 11m Frenzy - first time on something with a bit more performance like that - but found in those conditions it was either tugging really heavily or falling out of the sky. Part of the problem Bob noticed immediately was that the bar it came with was a little short, and flying with it I couldn't it turn quickly enough to keep it in the wind window. So we swapped it out for the 6cm longer bar on my 10m Access, and it was better, but still less nimble than I was expecting it to be. I tried buggying with it, and did maybe a couple of laps, but I probably spent more time out of the buggy sorting out the kite than in the buggy and cruising. And towards the end I got an unceremonious introduction to its lofting capability, so I need more practice experience to get used to that... By this time the gusts were getting strongish and Pip wanted to take a break from flying the 4m Access, so I put that up and found it could maybe pull me in the buggy. When I tried that I had the best fun I've had kiting so far. I spent most of the rest of the time lapping up and down the oval. I found I had to work the kite up and down the whole time, but that was heaps of fun, and I felt quite comfortable with it considering the conditions. Can't wait to do some more *Goes to look at the forecasts* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BobM Posted June 9, 2011 Report Share Posted June 9, 2011 Part of the problem Bob noticed immediately was that the bar it came with was a little short this url is for the frenzy and describes a 54cm bar http://www.flyozone.com/snowkites/en/products/kites/ Can any one tell me where the 54cm is measured. Does it include the flanges to help wind up the lines? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andyfly Posted June 28, 2011 Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 The Canberra wind put on a demo of it's characteristic gusty, direction changing self during a recent visit from Hamil, Pip and Dropbear, which they handled very well.. ...even though it did get very tricky on more than one occasion... Dropbear got quite a surprise, I think, at on stage when his kite was hit by a gust that changed direction on him half-way through. When it happens it's very hard to control even when your used to it happening.. and it certainly wakes a person up... But on the positive side ...the sun was out and there was no frost, cold wind (arctic ) ...but no frost... Thanks for making the effort to come down to fly with us guys it was great to catch up with you all again It was fantastic to see the oval covered in Kites and colour ....it bought attention from a few of the locals including a stunt kite flyer, that we hadn't met before, that had a chat with Hamil about flying....nice... The top oval was being used so we started the day on the bottom oval. Being lower and closer to the hill behind the ovals, which creates a lot of turbulence, makes it not the best place to introduce visitors to flying in Canberra. Having Bob there with all his years of experience of local conditions to share was priceless... ...and appreciated. Onya Bob.. Once the footy was over we moved up to the top oval and the tips continued to flow with Bob letting Dropbear in on some of the top ovals quirky secrets.... And Pip got ready to launch..... It was also fantastic to see Jonesy back in the buggy after his forced break... powered up 720 after 720 done with style indicates his recovery is well on track...great stuff..onya mate... Stu arrived and put his Speed through it's paces with some very nice floaty airtime, forwards and backwards (which I was so busy watching I didn't get any shots of... ... sorry.. ) With weather conditions under the influence of La-Nada this year we haven't had as many good days for flying as we have had in previous years so it was good the wind, as gusty and as cold as it was, played the game for us... Thanks again for doing the hours to get down here and back Hamil, Pip and Dropbear, the great company you all provided made it such a good day to be out flying......hope to do it again soon.. Cheers.. Andy... Ps. Canberra at it's best in winter requires some special equipment which Stu bought along and made good use out of. PPs.Late posting due to computer accepting the photos at the end of the day and then quietly dying after being used by my youngest.. after a lengthy battle I now have all my "stuff" out of the new "door-stop" and into a new plastic box ..waiting to be lost in the next battle with my 7yr old..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamil Posted June 28, 2011 Author Report Share Posted June 28, 2011 Thanks Andy! I'd wondered what happened to the photos You actually got a shot of me in the buggy with Bob helping out - I've got the white helmet - Dropbear's is black (which is awesome, becuase Dropbear actually spent far more time in the buggy ) We'll be coming past soon, but to snowkite - so unless you've got some snow down at Jacka maybe we'll have to drag you down to the slopes Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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