FLY, TRAVEL, LEARN!

I've been staying busy lately planning plenty of clinics, comps, and events for the upcoming hang gliding season.  Some cost money and some are free, but all of them have a value of gold for pilots looking to continue to develop their flying skills.  Of all my former students, the ones that have progressed the most appear to be the happiest, and they did it by going out there and getting in to it.  Hang gliding really does pay-back.  Big-time.

Here's one of the plans that I've dreamt up...

The Hinterlands Drifter Tour will be a guided hang gliding tour providing advanced instruction and assistance (I'll be there 24-7, well actually 24-6) to a small group of Novice to Intermediate pilots at a number of flying sites along the Australia's East Coast Hinterland, from October 30 to November 4th.  The route is loosely planned, to make sure that our crew is at the right place at the right time based on forecasts and tips from local sky junkies.

How will it work...?

The driver and I will pick you all up at the Gold Coast Airport.  Your hang glider will already be on the VW Van, just bring your harness bag, a camera, and a change of clothes.  Show up rested, because we are going pack-in as much hang gliding as we can, as we slowly make our way back down to Sydney. To keep it simple, breakfast and lunch will be covered in the price (TBA).  At night, we'll eat, debrief, and stay at a local pub or motel.

We'll be looking to fly at some of these classic hang gliding sites: 

• Canungra (Gold Coast) :  There's 2-3 popular flying sites where I would have just flown in the Canungra Classic.
• Killarney (Gold Coast, further inland):  This mountain is HIGH with several launch options at about 3400 feet ASL!  
• Byron Hinterland:  There's a site there, if it works out.
• Laurieton: Lots of beautiful sites with many wind options.  Plan on this one unless we just can't get enough of the fun up north.
• Hunter Valley:  Don't forget about the Watagans National Park

Each day we'll look at various routes and flight strategies.  Then hit the sky together on radio with our driver chasing below.

By the end of the journey above, we'll have enough "so there I was" stories to last us till 2012!

I hope this blog strikes a chord for some you hangies out there.  On a trip like this, the amount of available instruction is off the charts. I'll have an opportunity to help our crew with so many aspects of advanced hang gliding (from thermaling & flying XC to programming your GPS) as we'll be side-by-side, on the ground and in the air for 6 flying days.

More details are available on our Events Page.