SAFA Skysailor Magazine

16 SKY SAILOR January | February 2020 locals and a mountain flying champion. Without their help, there is no way I could have flown those sites. It was late April, and the season was drawing to a close – the thermals weren’t too rough and rowdy which was nice. Having mostly flown flat paddocks and sand dunes, it took some time to get used to how close those guys fly to the big scary mountains, rocks and trees… Then there were the light wind launches… The ramp at Mt Buffalo and the take-off slot cut into the forest at Mt Emu seemed to be asking the question, “Just how good is your take off run?” Just like that day on the training hill, it was time to go back to basics again. This time it was the basics of launching a hang glider. As newbies, we got the full mountain flying induction (several times over). We were taught the fundamental importance of understanding and carefully choosing the air you will be moving through as you take flight. It’s not what you feel on your face when you start your run, but that parcel of air up ahead, revealed by the rustling leaves or the flickering streamers at the bottom of the launch slot. You have to watch and take some time to get in tune with the cycles and how the thermals and terrain are interacting with the prevailing breeze. Then, when you decide to launch, you really have to go hard. Put every ounce Pat and Dan Hangie accommodation at Pat’s place RUN! The Mt Buffalo ramp Photos: Tony Smith Back to Basics