On Tue, 10 Nov 2009 00:36:52 +0000 (UTC), Martin Gregorie
wrote:

On Mon, 09 Nov 2009 14:26:35 -0800, vontresc wrote:

On Nov 9, 4:00Â*pm, Uncle Fuzzy wrote:
On Nov 9, 5:28Â*am, nimbusgb wrote: I am
looking to compile a list of 'The Ultimate Soaring Adventures'.
I'd
appreciate any input from the forum on what they see as the pinnacle
of
soaring whether it is a 1000km task, flying New Zealands wave or some
other goal that may be beyond the day-to-day pilots reach.

I'll put up a list on a website once I get some input.

My 'Bucket List'

Sierra Wave
French Alps
New Zealand
Ely NV
All three diamonds in one flight.

That's a pretty good list.

I personaly would add getting a bungee launch in something vintage
(SG-38, Minimoa) at the Wasserkuppe, and flying the Morning glory in
Australia

Substitute The Mynd for der Wasserkuppe and the bungee launch can be
done, though you'd have to settle for a T.21 rather than an SG-38.

The favourite pre-war bungee launch point is unusable because it is still
occupied by the bones of a radar site than still contains a giant
golfball. It was my understanding that they no longer bungee off the hill
but I'm happy to be proved wrong. Its certain that the majority of their
launches are aero tows. They do have a winch, but it wasn't in use either
time I've visited der Wasserkuppe.

I believe there are four airworthy Minimoas. One lives at Dunstable. I
don't know where the others are.

Another item for the list: a winch launch into wave. Its been done at
Portmoak in Scotland and I think its possible at Jury Hill on the North
Island of New Zealand.

This has also been done in Australia off winch launches from Ararat AF
(Victoria) contacting the Grampians wave. On another day a pilot was
on final at below 600 feet AGL, contacted the tertiary rotor and
soared to over 13,000 feet (and the Grampians Mts are, at best,less
than 3000 ft above surrounding terrain.

Geoff Vincent
Grampians Soaring Club
Australia