Wondering about warm clothing.... What is the best solution to keeping warm in the air at this camp? I have some cold weather gear but I thought it may be better off hiring a ski suit locally for the camp. I expect there will be ski hire shops in Cooma. How have others dealt with needing warm clothing in a cramped glider cockpit?
Greg – the locals use thermal underwear and a mixture of cold weather outer layers BUT remember don’t get too padded up you still have to fit into the glider and fly it. If we are flying on a blue day the glass house effect of the canopy keeps those parts of your body exposed to the sun relatively warm, BUT any part under the dash board in older style cockpits can get very cold and don’t forget your feet warm – chemical foot warmers help there. On days when there is a pre frontal overcast (cirrus) above it can be just plain cold
The camp is towards the end of the ski season, so the weather should be warming up a bit, you may pick up some ex hire ski pants from your local ski hire shop, and they don’t have to be in perfect condition. For keeping warm on the ground, layers, a beanie gloves and a good outer shell garment to keep the wind out.
The layers of clothing are important - as are dry socks just before flight, and thin inner gloves beneath your outers, and a good beanie. Head loss from your head is high!
On the preparation front, visitors need to get their maps and charts organised, taped together, cut and foldded, marked up with the airspace boundaries - so check out the wave flying guide links on the webpage.
Club instructors WILL provide airspace briefings on the first weekend - but you need to be prepared.
Do not forget that visual nav is primary, GPS sets can shut down and cold batteries have a habit of running flat just when most needed - so prior navigation preparation is vital.
We also have an absolute obligation not to bust airspace, and to keep our priviliged airspace access open for all to enjoy. Breaches may endanger this access. So please prepare carefully on navigation aspects.
The 2008 Wave Camp has been a great success, everyone enjoyed more then one wave flight during the week with the Friday and Saturday turning in perfect wave conditions and 4 new Diamond Height Claims will be claimed – Congratulations Bill, Morgan, Greg and Scott; there were many PBs too.
Special congratulations goes to Bill Hatfield who had places to be but decided to stay a few days longer than planned with good wave conditions forecast, Bill not only flew his first Diamond Height gain on the Friday, he also took home the inaugural Allan Armistead Memorial Trophy for the greatest height gain during the camp. Then accepting the trophy Bill made a new rule for this trophy too; “if you win this trophy you have to come back in person and hand it on to next years winner” Great rule Bill, your bunk is already booked for next years camp.
There were disappointments too, Jon Millard missed his diamond height by just 500ft while John and Brian from Adelaide achieved a diamond height gain during a mutual flight in the DG1000S, great practice for next year guys.
My thanks goes to everyone who attended, you made my job easy by enjoying your selves – even though Bill kept on reminding us that we were not here to enjoy your selves, he were here to fly
5 comments:
Wondering about warm clothing....
What is the best solution to keeping warm in the air at this camp? I have some cold weather gear but I thought it may be better off hiring a ski suit locally for the camp. I expect there will be ski hire shops in Cooma.
How have others dealt with needing warm clothing in a cramped glider cockpit?
Cheers,
Greg wilson
Greg – the locals use thermal underwear and a mixture of cold weather outer layers BUT remember don’t get too padded up you still have to fit into the glider and fly it.
If we are flying on a blue day the glass house effect of the canopy keeps those parts of your body exposed to the sun relatively warm, BUT any part under the dash board in older style cockpits can get very cold and don’t forget your feet warm – chemical foot warmers help there. On days when there is a pre frontal overcast (cirrus) above it can be just plain cold
The camp is towards the end of the ski season, so the weather should be warming up a bit, you may pick up some ex hire ski pants from your local ski hire shop, and they don’t have to be in perfect condition. For keeping warm on the ground, layers, a beanie gloves and a good outer shell garment to keep the wind out.
The layers of clothing are important - as are dry socks just before flight, and thin inner gloves beneath your outers, and a good beanie. Head loss from your head is high!
On the preparation front, visitors need to get their maps and charts organised, taped together, cut and foldded, marked up with the airspace boundaries - so check out the wave flying guide links on the webpage.
Club instructors WILL provide airspace briefings on the first weekend - but you need to be prepared.
Do not forget that visual nav is primary, GPS sets can shut down and cold batteries have a habit of running flat just when most needed - so prior navigation preparation is vital.
We also have an absolute obligation not to bust airspace, and to keep our priviliged airspace access open for all to enjoy. Breaches may endanger this access. So please prepare carefully on navigation aspects.
The WaveGuide is here:
http://canberragliding.org/Gliding/WaveGuide.pdf
Essential reading from the experts.
The 2008 Wave Camp has been a great success, everyone enjoyed more then one wave flight during the week with the Friday and Saturday turning in perfect wave conditions and 4 new Diamond Height Claims will be claimed – Congratulations Bill, Morgan, Greg and Scott; there were many PBs too.
Special congratulations goes to Bill Hatfield who had places to be but decided to stay a few days longer than planned with good wave conditions forecast, Bill not only flew his first Diamond Height gain on the Friday, he also took home the inaugural Allan Armistead Memorial Trophy for the greatest height gain during the camp. Then accepting the trophy Bill made a new rule for this trophy too; “if you win this trophy you have to come back in person and hand it on to next years winner” Great rule Bill, your bunk is already booked for next years camp.
There were disappointments too, Jon Millard missed his diamond height by just 500ft while John and Brian from Adelaide achieved a diamond height gain during a mutual flight in the DG1000S, great practice for next year guys.
My thanks goes to everyone who attended, you made my job easy by enjoying your selves – even though Bill kept on reminding us that we were not here to enjoy your selves, he were here to fly
Cya Next Year
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