SAFA Skysailor Magazine

17 November | December 2020 SKY SAILOR “Most years, my wife and I are usually running around due to the scale of the event, but this year I can honestly say I got to take a step back and enjoy it. A big thanks goes to Viv Clements our club President, who has spent a lot of money and time promoting our sport – he is the reason we get so many Kiwis attend- ing – the whole Executive members are always giving to the club.” Bruce believes events like the Dalby Big Air are just one of the ways we can preserve the sport of hang gliding and actively welcome novice pilots into the sport. “I would love to see our sport train pilots via aerotowing. We could have a training curriculum where we start with a tandem flight and then progress to tows by quad bike in novice gliders,” he said, “I am 70 years old now, and if this ever happens, I would love to fly the tug. It’s a safe and quick way to whet their appetite, but also a great introduction into the sport. Once they have their aerotow licence, they can then progress to their hill launch licence if they want to. This can do a number of things: It will give inquisitive, prospective pilots an insight into the sport a lot faster and they can be airborne in a relatively short period of time. The benefit of aerotowing is that we can ‘turn the mountain’ around into the wind. Most mornings and late afternoons, give a great opportunity for training. Dalby is one of the only places in Australia, possibly the world, that aerotows from such a busy airport, and we do it successfully because the club Executive is genuinely grateful to be there and values our good relationship with the Western Downs Regional Council and the commercial operators at the Dalby Aerodrome.” The 2020 Winners Open King Post 1 Brod Osborne Scott Ireland 2 Olie Chitty 3 Tony Giammichele All photos: Michael Zupanc