AN EXCITING DAY OUT By Lionel Page
By Lionel Page
Lionel Page is an instructor with Auckland Aviation Sports Club, based at Whenuapai, where he has been fl ying since 1993. While other clubs get excited about ridge running, AAV love it when the Westerlies blow because they can soar the cliffs along the West Coast. Lionel tells us about his first coast run.
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One Saturday in the middle of October the wind was blowing hard. I had looked at the Met Service report the night before, which mentioned 25 - 30 knot NW winds, turning to SW through the day. I wondered if a run down the West Coast would be on. So when I turned up at Whenuapai and saw Dave Foxcroft at the gate, I knew an attempt was on. It would appear that Lionel Page and Dave Todd had the same thoughts. We did some last minute weather checks and managed to convince the towie to come out and take some idiots up in these strong winds, while we prepared our mighty steeds. After rigging and DI’s were completed, we lined four gliders up on the grid. Dave F in the PW5 went first, I followed in the Astir. Mr Rook (towie extraordinaire) negotiated some squally showers on the way out and dropped us off at Bethells Beach. I do recall the comment from our towie, who said, “I do not have enough fuel to go to Australia,” as we hit the coast. I assumed this meant I needed to release from my yellow security blanket. I was instantly in lift at 2500 ft and found Dave miles below me, to-ing and fro-ing up the coast between Piha and Muriwai. We waited about an hour for the others to be towed out. A messy, squally shower had delayed their launches. However, time passes quickly when you absorb the spectacle of the West Coast beaches, cliffs and the power of the sea. With the gaggle finally together, we proceeded south, where we ridge soared at 90-100 knots along the cliffs. Lionel and Dave
December 2012
12/12/12 10:23 PM
