Latest news June 5, 2006 Outlandings. 14.00 Outlandings might be the topic of this afternoon. Just 15 minutes ago we had a big shower with some gusty winds. MK is still on the strip, but not alone anymore ,as just before the shower ,an 18 m. glider came back with pilot Tibor Fratrik from Slovakia in CX, the Ventus 2CXT and called it the day. I just admired before start , their gorgeous little baby.
More outlanding messages came in.As far as I know from South Africa ,the team accompanied for the occasion by Canadian helper Art Grant ,is just leaving for the retrieve and from Argentinia ;Javier Gaude from 15 m. class who landed after 50 km.
Glider MO, Mogens Hoelgaard flying in 18 m. class for Norway just arrived back here too.
Swiss female pilot Yvonne Schwarz had to land after 155 km.
But I am not going to give you all outlandings ,as you can see them and the start times from each class,on the result page.I hope anyhow still and expect ,that we do see finishes here today too. It might be a bit of a lotterie-day and that is always a bit sad on a WGC, but not unusual.
However while looking at the vpos tracking in the restaurant on the big screen earlier at lunch, I saw 2 pilots in 18 m. class flying E. from the track and more then 100 km out, with an altitude of 1200 m.
14.50 Another glider arrived back here at the field a minute ago; SS with Argentinian pilot Gustavo Saurin. The weather in this area is improving again now and the sun is shining.
MK is still on the strip! Poor guy!
15.10 Several people, and I see Austrian meteo expert Herman Trimmel here in the chatroom too ,are studying the satelite pictures and over several radio's I hear weather reports given to the pilots. Still a lot of them up in the air ,which is good!
15.45 We defenitely expect finishers and the first to come in after finishing the task, was BB with Janusz Centka. He arrives just NOW.More pilots are on final glide!! Stand by!!!
16.00 About 15 minutes there were no finishes and then ....3 pilots directly came in, low behind the trees ,but with big speed . Fabulous to look at!! They were 15 m. gliders ;
VW, David Mockler from the USA who came in first. A few seconds later
1R with Dutch pilot and current European Champion Steven Raimond and at the same time
V 8 with Hungarian pilot Gyorgy Gulyas.
They arrived on the right time. The weather is good here ,but there are still some possible showers around close to the field , which might come here or might be in the way for pilots who arrive at the last point.
16.40 While except for TWO , all gliders make a straight in landing, trailers come back from a retrieve and others prepare to go for one.All direct landings are very disciplined .Wind is 20 km /h and landings are on 05.
Open class glider MK did not see the air today and the problem might be bigger then hoped for as I see them de-rig the glider and put it in the trailer and look at it close to the hangar. Let's hope this is NOT the end!
17.00 It is raining on the last leg to come in W. from the field.. The sun has disappeared . Very unlucky for pilots on final glide. But behind it , it looks clearer again.No gliders have arrived for the last 15 minutes except for one who used his engine to come home and it is REALLY cold outside
17.30 Pilots in 18 m. class and open class are still flying. TC's advise that the shower to the W. has nearly passed by.
We expect and hope for more finishes. Those pilots with thermo clothes are such lucky pilots!! It is freezing cold, or is this just because I live in Australia.No , cause I spoke to pilots which were still shivering after arrival.
