This article by J. & D. Willson and Chris Cullinan was first published in Australian Gliding, July 1971.
Twenty gliders and crews assembled at Horsham Aerodrome on February 13th for the opening of the annual 8 day competition conducted by the Wimmera Soaring Club.
All craft were handicapped, the line-up and fumble factors being:-
Arrow ( 1.08)
Blanik ( 1 .10)
4 Boomerangs (0.98)
2 Foka 5's (0.92)
2 KA6 (l.00)
K 7 (1 .12)
K 13 (1.10)
Kestrel (0.82)
L.O. 150 (0.96)
Olympia (1.24)
Open Libelle (0.87)
Open Cirrus (0.84)
Phoebus C (0.85)
St. Austria (0.92)
St. Libelle (0.88)
Clubs represented were :- Bordertown, Casterton, Colac, Geelong, G.C.V.,Kurweeton, Millicent, Sunraysia, V.M.F.G. and Wimmera. Geelong G.C. brought 5 sailplanes up for the week.
This large number and variety of gliders resulted in a most interesting competition. While no handicap system can be perfect, the pilots of the lower performance aircraft were given an unusual and welcome opportunity to compete on near equal terms with the others.
Many of them made the most of this and achieved good scores. It was apparent however, that the handicap factor did not fully compensate for the vagaries of the weather such as strong winds.
The Site
Horsham aerodrome once again proved an excellent summer cross country soaring site. Situated a couple of miles from the city of Horsham, the aerodrome is surrounded by wheat country, with large flat open paddocks, scattered farm houses and few trees. Power lines are the main hazard. At this time of the year there are many dry stubble paddocks and some fallow paddocks interspersed with grazing land. The fallow paddocks are a joy to the glider pilot for in the searing heat of summer with its often cloudless skies, they produce superb indicators of the thermals. The dust devils may be seen from miles away, rising hundreds of feet into the air, some broad, some apparently only a few feet wide, some with double cores, twisting, swirling and bending, showing wind direction and wind shear.
To the south, the Grampians ranges and heavily timbered country deter most glider pilots, except those bent on height records in the wave set up by the winter westerlies. This area was avoided during the competitions. To the west the Little Desert, covered with low scrub, also had to be treated with respect. Many pilots found excellent lift over the Desert, and could stay high enough to glide clear of it if necessary.
A wide choice of accommodation was available at Horsham. While some relaxed in the relative luxury of motels and hotels in the town, others camped at the aerodrome or in the town caravan park. The latter has excellent facilities, marred somewhat by a particularly vicious breed of mosquito. Food and hot and cold drinks were available at the main hangar at the aerodrome all day and far into the night, thanks to the tireless efforts of the organisers, particularly Wimmera club Secretary, Shirley Griffin. An excellent barbeque dinner was available each evening. People cooked for themselves over gas barbeques and enjoyed the friendly atmosphere and lively discussion of the day's events.
Organization
Briefing in the hangar at 9.30 each morning was ably conducted by Max Hedt, who was also chief task setter. The previous day's winner was presented with a pewter mug trophy. The latest meteorological information was supplied by Ian Searle, who also acted as the scorer, Max usually added a few succinct comments on the weather based on his extensive local knowledge. After marshaling, a sniffer was sent up to ensure that pilots could remain airborne, then launching proceeded. Three tugs were present, though only two could be used on most days for one reason or another. Tony Tabart did a sterling job, often launching half the field with his Meta Sokol before stepping into the Kestrel to compete. Starting line procedure was greatly simplified by not attempting to police heights over the line. There were no indications that anyone took advantage of this honour system. Pilots were required to photograph turning points, and enlarged prints of most of these were on display in the hangar.
Weather
The weather during the competition was unusual, in that although it was very warm,there was a striking absence of the fierce hot north winds preceding cold fronts which we have come to expect in summer. For almost the whole competition there were hot days with moderate north easterlies, occasionally freshening to strong. Most pilots would have preferred he more varied condition, normally experienced.
The Tasks
Tasks were mainly speed triangles over the wheat country to the north and east of Horsham. On two days, a new task called Designated Start point, was tried as an experiment, and voted a great success. On these occasions, the pilots chose their own turning point from a list of 28 places given to them, and were scored on the distance achieved from this point back to Horsham. This task required the pilots to think for themselves, instead of just trying to do the best they could on a route dictated by the organisers. Success depended on an assessment of the weather, and a choice of direction to make the most of it. The choice of turning point could be changed in flight according to the conditions encountered and the expected weather developments for the reminder of the day. Unlike the conventional speed tasks this enabled pilots to make the most of the conditions. It was thus a better test of the pilot's total appreciation of the art of soaring.
DAY 1, Saturday, the l3th February,opened the proceedings with a triangle Horsham-Donald-Beulah-Horsham : 239.5 KM
The Met boys forecast S/E winds at 15/2O knots, 2/8 Cu based at 3,000 and good thermals. However, the task setters, Max Hedt, Mike Debney and Steve McFarlane were proved over optimistic as only 4 pilots got back to Horsaram.
Scores were devalued as per the Nationals Formulae this day and final results showed:
71KPH A. Tabart, Kestrel, 598 pts.
56KPH W.Johnston, St.Austria 686 pts
60KPH J. Grosser, Cirrus, 648 pts.
2077 km were flown on task this day; several craft returning to the field after attempting the first leg.
Pilot Comment- G. Morgan in the ASK 13: Task too long for the day. Narrow Thermals - strong - weakening as Cirrus came over. Very noticeable wind shear on landing.
DAY 2, Sunday, l4th February, introduced a new task - Designated Starting Point. Briefly this is a free distance out and return task, the competitor photographing the furthest given turning point he can reach and then soaring back to the field. No score is accumulated for the outbound journey - only the trip home. There is no start gate, no finish line, no timekeeper. It is left to the individual pilot to judge the day and fly right up to his capabilities (See .Soaring, of May, 1970, for a complete outline of this task.)
An early inversion at about 4,000 feet was predicted by the Met. with plenty of moderate turbulence expected after 2,OO p.m. No Cu was forecist and winds tended to be North Easterly up to 5,000 feet then swinging North Westerly.
Several aircraft had an easy run, returned to the field and locally soared for a few hours, whilst others were still airborne at 1900 hours on their final glides.
Thermals streeted into wind. 1 M/S was plentiful, 2 M/S was about and 3 M/S was there if you worked hard. Thermal cores were tight with an inversion at 7,000 feet.
C. Crittenden, Cirrus, 242 K - 840 pts.
B. McLaren, St. Austria, 206 K- 783 pts.
D. Wilson, Phoebus C, 2llK - 742 pts.
C. Cullinan, ES60, l83K - 742 pts.
Pilot Comment: . B. Mclaren in the St. Austria : Good run to the Murray River at Balranald. Very hard time in the river area - day not long enough.
Meanwhile about the field Max Hedt flying the Hutter challenged the Kestrel being soared by Geoff Strickland. Neither pilot will comment who got to the top of the thermal first.
DAY 3, Monday the 15th February saw a speed task about a 309 K triangle - Horsha-Wycheproof-Hopetoun-Horsham.
Moderate turbulence was forecast by the Met. with winds at 20-25 knots to the North East. No Cu development was expected.
Seven aircraft made it home, the final leg dumping most of the rest.
98 KPH, A. Tabart, Kestrel 820
74 KPH, F. Erdmann, L.O. 150 753
74 KPH, W. Johnson,, St. Austria 719
3628 K flown this day.
Pilot Comment : J. Grosser in the Cirrus: Good task for the day.Conditions reasonable but thermals narrow and inconsistent.
DAY 4 , Tuesday, l 6th February was blowing a North Easter at 35 knots. Good thermals were forecast with 3/8 Cu based at 7000 feet. The task was an O/R to Marnoo, a cross wind jaunt of 150.7K. 77% of the fleet completed the
task.
Thermals streeted with 1 M/S fairly easily obtainable and 3 M/S was about if you looked for it. The day pulsed and start time was important. Below 1500 feet the lift weakened and became difficult to work. It was a day to get high and stay there. Most seemed to use a McCready setting of 2 M/S.
B. McLaren, St. Austria 849 pts.
A. Tabart, Kestrel 820 pts
M. Debney, ES60 800 pts.
Pilot Comment: T. Philcox in the Open Libelle: Thermals diffctcult to centre - maximum height 4,000 feet - a struggling day with rough thermals. Plentiful landing paddocks with excellent surface and easy access.
DAY 5, Wednesday, 17th February dawned with a N-E breeze at 15 knots. Dry thermals were predicted with no thermal streets and a weak trough was expected at Nhill at 1500 hours with winds swinging N.W. The task again was Designated Starting Point. To even up the time lag between first and last launch, and the ensuing mileage differential, a start time of 1300 hours was enforced. As the gate opened the Kestrel, Cirrus and Std. Libelle were observed thermalling dead over the line. Half their turn was behind the line and the remainder over it - tactics?
Scoring distance totalled 1176K whilst 2653K was flown overall. We all commiserate with the pilot who flew 106K, photographed his turning point and only got 14K of the way back Distance scored - l4K.
J. Grosser, Cirrus, 144K (Speed) 840
A. Tabart, Kestrel,l44K (Speed) 820
K. Nolan, Olympia,89K (Hopetoun) 756
Pilot Comment: G. Sunderland in the Open Libelle: Turned at Wycheproof - not far enough - it really sorts out the men from the boys.
DAY 6, Thursday, 18th February, saw the N-E stream continuing at 15-20 knots and a promise of moderate turbulence with no Cu.
The task was a 159.5K speed triangle Horsham-Jeparit-Nhill-Horsham. Cu formed late in the day and everybody got home.
Under 2,000 feet lift was roughly 2 M/S up on one side and 1 M/S down on the other. Over this and up to 8,000 4 M/S could be obtained under Cu. A good day for the speed set. Tony Tabart went around twice as did several others.
I22KPH, A. Tabart, Kestrel 820 pts
87 KPH, J. Grosser, Cirrus 429 pts
83KPH W.Johnson, St.Austria 426 pts
83KPH M. Hedt,ES60 Hors Concours 454
Pilot Comment: L. Lukrs in a KA6: Conditions Good.
DAY 7 , Friday, 19th February and the N-E stream still continued at 25 knots. 3/8 Cu was forecast with bases at about 5,000. The 309K triangle Horsham-Wycheproof - Hopetoun Horsham was again set.
1 M/S was abundant and 4 M/S could be found by picking the right Cu. A layer of Alt. Cu. cast ground shadows and upset planning. Streets too far ahead. Penetration was not easy, the K-13 having to go to rough airspeed to get anywhere. Many pilots turned back and landed at Horsham. A rain squall cut off most on the final leg and only six got home.
95KPH, A. Tabart - Kestrel 820 pts
64KPH, B. McLaren, St.Austria 720 pts
57 KPH, R. McGillivray LO 150 717 pts
Distance flown 3332 Kilos.
Pilot Comments: C. Crittenden in the Cirrus: Hard work.
FINAL SCORES:
1st A. Tabart, Kestrel 800 pts
2nd B. McLaren, St. Austria 784 pts
3rd C. Crittenden, Cirrus 657 pts
4th J. Grosser, Cirrus 656 pts
5th G. Sunderland,Open Libelle 632 pts
7th D. Wilson, Phoebus C 609 pts
8th J. Harsley, St. Libelle 589 pts
9th K. Nolan, Olympia 537 pts
1Oth J. Buchanan, St.Libelle 5 l3 pts
Tony Tabart from Kurweeton for the second successive year was presented with the winner's prize, a Winter Barograph, by Wimmera S.C. President, Joe English. Brian McLaren of Sunraysia received the runner's-up trophy.
Pilots' Choice of the most meritorious performance went to Keith Nolan of Sunraysia in the OLY; whilst the award for the best performance for a Silver C pilot was carried off by Terry Hayden of V.M.F.G. flying a Boomerang.
While over 19,000 Kilos were flown on the tasks the weather conditions were not up to standard for the time of year. The constant N-E stream gave strong winds and difficult thermals. Days were considered interesting rather than good.
The Designated Start Point tasks were well received but the distance be tween points, averaging 33 K, was too great and needs to be halved. To overcome the time lag on launching a combination of D.S.P. with a nominated start time may be worthwhile.
Handicapping was generally well received, particularly the offer to amend any handicap AFTTER the competition closed. Handicaps followed the ideas express by D.J. Stewart in April 1970's A.G. However two seaters received a most favourable rating and will be relined to 1.00 next time.
Horsham week, I972 will be from the l4th to 20th February.
Briefing commences 1100 hours.
P.S. On Sunday 28th Feb. Max Hedt and Peter McKee found conditions had improved as they knocked over a 100 km. triangle averaging 89.9 KPH - We had owned the Blanik 12 days.