While Andrew was doing the internet upload I met a Harley Sportster mounted biker. He is learning to fly and interested in all flying machines. The Flyke seems to attract them. He kindly teed up the local instructor, Dave to open the gate at the airstrip before we rode out. Escorted by two Harley’s. The bikers came and watched us launch at about 5pm into a light North easterly.
The launches went well. I am slowly getting the hang of my new Naja glider. It is demanding but extremely satisfying when you get it right. While on the road we bought fuel at a small outlet but it was a bit dud and climb out in the thinner air of Tenterfield required full bickies and a hunt for any rising air, so we thermaled in the slightest puff for quite a time with the throttle on the stop, ever so slowly making height in the required direction. Andrew radioed that he had an occasional miss and as it was getting late we made the decision to return to the strip headwind. We took some good video of the Flykes. The granite tablelands are a joy to fly, and abundant safe landings near roads a bonus.
We made a plan to ride back into town after landing but as Thomas was still in town he returned and we camped there the night. Andrew decided to sleep under the stars in the freezing cold and I took the cozy option and slept in the bus.
Day 3
We were on the strip early, fresh fuel and ready to rock. I was warming up then Andrew started up then it stopped and wouldn’t restart. The miss Andrew experienced in his last flight, had become a stop. Better now than in the air. I checked the spark, none. Checked wires for breaks and joins for integrity. All seemed good. I compared ohm readings with my unit then pulled the magneto for a clean. That seemed to do it and it finally fired up. New plug new cap. The sky had turned a bit nasty with a large cunimb down the track. I laid out thinking about a look. A dust devil then picked up the wing and spun it in to a mess. I thought I had enough omens and packed it for another day on the pedals.We had a lovely uneventful ride down the range to Ashford via Bonshaw. Around 130km by road with great scenery and some more lovely people to meet along to way. We rode into town, Andrew checked out the local strip for an early start, while I got fuel and Accomodation. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
The launches went well. I am slowly getting the hang of my new Naja glider. It is demanding but extremely satisfying when you get it right. While on the road we bought fuel at a small outlet but it was a bit dud and climb out in the thinner air of Tenterfield required full bickies and a hunt for any rising air, so we thermaled in the slightest puff for quite a time with the throttle on the stop, ever so slowly making height in the required direction. Andrew radioed that he had an occasional miss and as it was getting late we made the decision to return to the strip headwind. We took some good video of the Flykes. The granite tablelands are a joy to fly, and abundant safe landings near roads a bonus.
We made a plan to ride back into town after landing but as Thomas was still in town he returned and we camped there the night. Andrew decided to sleep under the stars in the freezing cold and I took the cozy option and slept in the bus.
Day 3
We were on the strip early, fresh fuel and ready to rock. I was warming up then Andrew started up then it stopped and wouldn’t restart. The miss Andrew experienced in his last flight, had become a stop. Better now than in the air. I checked the spark, none. Checked wires for breaks and joins for integrity. All seemed good. I compared ohm readings with my unit then pulled the magneto for a clean. That seemed to do it and it finally fired up. New plug new cap. The sky had turned a bit nasty with a large cunimb down the track. I laid out thinking about a look. A dust devil then picked up the wing and spun it in to a mess. I thought I had enough omens and packed it for another day on the pedals.We had a lovely uneventful ride down the range to Ashford via Bonshaw. Around 130km by road with great scenery and some more lovely people to meet along to way. We rode into town, Andrew checked out the local strip for an early start, while I got fuel and Accomodation. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.
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