Friday started out with reasonable weather but it deteriorated in the late morning with scattered showers. FQW and the tug (WGC) started out early and made it to Rawnsley without significant issue. Peter Cassidy had a Cessna from Parafield but left at lunchtime and, after a stop mid flight to wait for weather, eventually made it to Hawker.
Saturday had WNW winds which allowed a number of intrepid pilots to try the Chace range when the weather cleared. Nigel made an ‘outlanding’ at Arkapeena after venturing too far down the wrong end of the ridge. The owners of Rawnsley Park have bought the campground at Arkapeena and have closed it. So the gates were locked forcing the retrieve crew in by foot to facilitate the aerotow retrieve. Then Simon in the Stemme (SIO) found some wave after an engine assisted climb above the clouds late in the afternoon.
Sunday had WSW winds but low cloud and rain. When the weather cleared in the early afternoon, all aircraft were launched. Rawnsley Bluff didn’t work too well but those that were skilled, daring or both made it around to Pompeii Pillars at the western end of the Pound where conditions were fantastic!
Monday had SW winds but low cloud and rain. When the weather cleared in the early afternoon, all aircraft were launched. Rawnsley Bluff worked better and made it easier to get around to Pompeii Pillars at the western end of the Pound where conditions were fantastic but hampered by low cloud. Wave was present but was constantly shifting. Nigel Z climbed in it for a bit. Mark N and myself in GZQ pottered around in the bottom of patches of it but never found a consistent climb (didn’t lose much height though).
Tuesday had the worst weather with WSW winds which tried to clear late in the afternoon. A spirited attempt was made to aviate but the rain got in the way too much. Dick Smith flew in late in the afternoon in his helicopter.
Wednesday had higher cloud base but very light NE winds. Dick Smith departed at 0900 in the morning. Nigel and Anne worked Point Bonney and thermals for around an hour each late in the morning before everyone packed up.