HGFA Skysailor Magazine

12 SKY SAILOR January | February 2019 Sarah “Being a novice and with new gear yet to be flown for more than a couple of hours, I was really looking for an opportunity where I could get current, build my confidence with my wing and ground-handle in a safe environment. Lacking flyable weather throughout autumn and winter in Victoria, and not really knowing anyone to get some pointers, I felt like I was going to be wasting the season ahead because of my lack of confidence. So when I opened an email from the HGFA advising that there was a ladies fly-in at Rainbow Beach, which was open to PG2 pilots and above, I immediately signed up. Over the course of three days, I not only got familiar with my lovely new wing (and a lot of sand), but I was also able to ground-handle confidently in some pretty tough conditions, along with performing my first top-landings. The support and encouragement among the girls was great and the event was organised incredibly well by Kirsten. The amazing site of Rainbow Beach was a massive advantage, literally a playground of sand where you can ground-handle as much as you want, and fly along a beautiful coastline with the added highlight of migrating humpbacks below your feet. I’ll be signing up for the next one, as there is still so much more for me to learn and master, and these events not only provide the opportunity, but also a great environment to meet other flyers from around the country.” Kaz “I’ve been searching for a long time to find my tribe – a place where I belong, where I can be myself, feel supported and do what I do in the company of other like-minded people who get it, get me…. I was beginning to wonder if I would ever find that space, and then along came the women’s fly-ins! OMG! Where did all of these amazing women come from? I have been flying for two years and rarely seen any other female pilots, but thanks to Kirsten and the NSWPHA, I am starting to find my tribe. I have always wanted to fly at Rainbow, but due to logistics and not feeling confident enough to just rock up at a site by myself, I had never flown there. So, with no plans for the long weekend, I booked a last minute ticket and headed north. Yippee! I was picked up at the airport by a fellow pilot, Cath, a remote area locum GP (who was a total flying froth-monster) having accumulated more hours in the air in her first five months than I had in two years – this was going to be a great trip! Needless to say, the car ride went fast with endless chatter of flying sites, goals, ambitions, Sarah Photo: Molly McEwin Kaz Photo: Molly McEwin The Pot of Gold at the End of the Rainbow