Significant controversy has broken out here in Austria over the use of loggers and GPS and the impact on the results. The protests are flying thick and fast - unlike the balloons.
The Event Director earlier in the week had stated some additional rules concerning use of 'backup GPS tracks' in the event of a competitor's offically supplied 'logger' failing.
During the early protests today the CIA stated that only officially approved GPS's could be used as backup and that backup logs provided during the week that didn't meet the strict requirements would end in a nil result of those pilots.
Why would someone want a nil result - well if a number of nil results were issued than the scores would be reshuffled for all valid competitors and some would get more points as a result. This is having a significant impact on positions 2 and 3 at the moment with UK's Mike Howard being dropped from 3 to 5 subject to the end of protests....
we are waiting and watching here in Austria...
Saturday, September 20, 2008
All over bar the shouting
Well, we actually did a launch this morning much to Team Gibbs surprise.
At our farmhouse overlooking the Pollau Valley it was blowing a gale but as there was no briefing cancel call we all trundled down to the CLP for briefing.
The smart money was get up and get the 2 tasks done before the strong north easterlies kicked in.
So after a rocket exit from the CLP we tried a few potential sites with Piballs and moved to a site we'd used previously around Hinteregg.
Inflation was an exciting affair as a gust front hit us and Team Springett as the 6.30am takeoff time clicked over. After some strong arm tactics by both teams on our Cameron Racer (Les pulled out and deflated offering us his crew for extra weight) we launched like a slingshot.
It was actually nice in the air although 26kph with turbulence was going to make hitting the marks hard. But then the flight was cancelled and we were ordered to land.
17mins and 45l of fuel later we dropped into a paddock next to the CLP and packed up.
Unless anything changes in the next hour and half the standings for the Aussies are:
Paul Gibbs - position 46 -7859pts
Sean Kavanagh - position 50 - 7655pts
Edwin Michell - position 59 - 7148pts
Les Springett - position 73 - 6685 pts.
Photos to come at some stage.
At our farmhouse overlooking the Pollau Valley it was blowing a gale but as there was no briefing cancel call we all trundled down to the CLP for briefing.
The smart money was get up and get the 2 tasks done before the strong north easterlies kicked in.
So after a rocket exit from the CLP we tried a few potential sites with Piballs and moved to a site we'd used previously around Hinteregg.
Inflation was an exciting affair as a gust front hit us and Team Springett as the 6.30am takeoff time clicked over. After some strong arm tactics by both teams on our Cameron Racer (Les pulled out and deflated offering us his crew for extra weight) we launched like a slingshot.
It was actually nice in the air although 26kph with turbulence was going to make hitting the marks hard. But then the flight was cancelled and we were ordered to land.
17mins and 45l of fuel later we dropped into a paddock next to the CLP and packed up.
Unless anything changes in the next hour and half the standings for the Aussies are:
Paul Gibbs - position 46 -7859pts
Sean Kavanagh - position 50 - 7655pts
Edwin Michell - position 59 - 7148pts
Les Springett - position 73 - 6685 pts.
Photos to come at some stage.
Friday, September 19, 2008
Four flights...is it over...
A lovely cold morning greeted us with 4 tasks to complete.
Paul had 3 out of 4 excellent results just blowing the CLP dual-throw by being too much of a perfectionist as wind changed.
This afternoon's flight was cancelled. Ed Michell couldn't figure out why but then south australians balloonists are used to 50kph winds.
The last flight is scheduled for Sat morning but no-one is confident it will happen.
Will the world champs be over with just 4 flights completed?
Stay tuned...
Paul had 3 out of 4 excellent results just blowing the CLP dual-throw by being too much of a perfectionist as wind changed.
This afternoon's flight was cancelled. Ed Michell couldn't figure out why but then south australians balloonists are used to 50kph winds.
The last flight is scheduled for Sat morning but no-one is confident it will happen.
Will the world champs be over with just 4 flights completed?
Stay tuned...
Thursday, September 18, 2008
Up one minute...down the next
Well on day 5 of the comp we finally got a full days flying . . . and then some.
This morning we flew for over 3 hours doing 5 tasks. A long flight with 3 of the Aussie teams doing really well. We had great winds and excellent steerage after real bedlem at the start. Our favoured launch site below our farmhouse had no resident landlord so we all launched from the roadway - well except for the koreans who tried slipping into the 5m between Team Gibbs and Springett-but moved after being gently reminded. And the russians who do whatever they like.
Team Gibbs, Kavanagh and Springett all had excellent scoring on the targets incl a speed run for 20+ mins at around 7,500 feet. Lucky we took our jackets and gloves, and camera for the magnificent photos of the Alps in the background.
This evening the winds were exceptionally light and we didn't see anyone make all 3 targets. Most balloons landing at sunset after 2hrs flight and a 2km traverse. It was a shocker for Team Gibbs but Team Kavanagh is really on fire with 2 close marker drops. As we wait in line for refuelimg we're yet to hear from Team's Springett and TongueKiss.
I wonder if they're with the same farmers who've been filling us with schnapps for the past 30mins.
Now, if the organisers would get the promised internet happening at the launch field we could upload some more photos. (and if 3 would turn on my voicemail I could return a lot of calls)
This morning we flew for over 3 hours doing 5 tasks. A long flight with 3 of the Aussie teams doing really well. We had great winds and excellent steerage after real bedlem at the start. Our favoured launch site below our farmhouse had no resident landlord so we all launched from the roadway - well except for the koreans who tried slipping into the 5m between Team Gibbs and Springett-but moved after being gently reminded. And the russians who do whatever they like.
Team Gibbs, Kavanagh and Springett all had excellent scoring on the targets incl a speed run for 20+ mins at around 7,500 feet. Lucky we took our jackets and gloves, and camera for the magnificent photos of the Alps in the background.
This evening the winds were exceptionally light and we didn't see anyone make all 3 targets. Most balloons landing at sunset after 2hrs flight and a 2km traverse. It was a shocker for Team Gibbs but Team Kavanagh is really on fire with 2 close marker drops. As we wait in line for refuelimg we're yet to hear from Team's Springett and TongueKiss.
I wonder if they're with the same farmers who've been filling us with schnapps for the past 30mins.
Now, if the organisers would get the promised internet happening at the launch field we could upload some more photos. (and if 3 would turn on my voicemail I could return a lot of calls)
Wednesday, September 17, 2008
More delays but finally a flight
Boy, what a difference a week makes to the weather over here.
The good news is that we actually got the balloon off the ground today. Team Gibbs were super efficient in getting the balloon ready and airbourne really quickly in quite gusty wind. Unfortunately this wasn't the ideal time to launch and we had quite an ordinary flight in strong wind with little steerage. A 10 minutes delay would have been better. So 2 tasks and 20 minutes later we collected Paul miles away after he hit 35kph mid-flight.
Briefing this arvo was interesting. A few pilots got told off for dangerous flying but the wind was still doubtful. So after 2.5hrs from the original briefing time we got the black flag and put the balloon away then grabbed a beer before logging onto the field internet for the first time . . . Intermittently. Then retiring home to Lin's great quiche with fresh veggies from the farm garden.
With an overnight temp of 0C expected we've brought the gas bottles inside and hope the predictions about 2 days of good weather are true.
So, here's to tomorrow and some real competition - with only 5 possible flights left the organisers must be getting a little nervous.
The good news is that we actually got the balloon off the ground today. Team Gibbs were super efficient in getting the balloon ready and airbourne really quickly in quite gusty wind. Unfortunately this wasn't the ideal time to launch and we had quite an ordinary flight in strong wind with little steerage. A 10 minutes delay would have been better. So 2 tasks and 20 minutes later we collected Paul miles away after he hit 35kph mid-flight.
Briefing this arvo was interesting. A few pilots got told off for dangerous flying but the wind was still doubtful. So after 2.5hrs from the original briefing time we got the black flag and put the balloon away then grabbed a beer before logging onto the field internet for the first time . . . Intermittently. Then retiring home to Lin's great quiche with fresh veggies from the farm garden.
With an overnight temp of 0C expected we've brought the gas bottles inside and hope the predictions about 2 days of good weather are true.
So, here's to tomorrow and some real competition - with only 5 possible flights left the organisers must be getting a little nervous.
Tuesday, September 16, 2008
Hurry up and wait
9.30p last night we all got a SMS saying the morning briefing was cancelled, as expected. The 1am SMS inviting us to a Brewery Tour was somewhat unexpected though. But, hey, sleep is optional at a world championship.
We prepped to fly this arvo not really expecting to, and when the weather report in the Briefing showed 55knots at 2000 feet we were not surprised no loggers or task sheets were distributed. So, same old story, hurry, hurry, hurry...but now wait.
Tomorrow, wed, sounds better but still marginal. At least pilot's Gibbs, Spriggett and Michell can stop practising their marker throws from 2nd story balconies.
Team Gibbs is all raring to go. We've come off the back of a win last week and have been filling ourselves with all the health that rural Austria can dish up.
Every morning we rise to a view straight out of the Sound of Music. Drink fresh milk just milked from the farm cow, eat fresh eggs from the 2600 chickens on our farm, raid the veggie patch kindly extended to us by Family Konig and if not flying in the evenings we taste the lovely homemade schnapps and beer from the neighbours who are tickled pink to have a group of Aussies in their midsts.
The takeoff sites the neigbours have arranged for us all throughout the region is mindblowing.
Paul managed to get up a few of our shots onto Aunty Monkey this arvo, care of the McDonalds internet, but the internet at the Comp Centre is still not working properly.
Even Aunty Monkey super-guru and Team Kavanaugh Member Andrew R. couldn't get the Gibbs computers working. The organiser techs also have no idea why most people can't access their internet.
But hey, who needs internet when we've got this lovely hospitality.
So off to bed again for a hopeful flying day tomorrow.
We prepped to fly this arvo not really expecting to, and when the weather report in the Briefing showed 55knots at 2000 feet we were not surprised no loggers or task sheets were distributed. So, same old story, hurry, hurry, hurry...but now wait.
Tomorrow, wed, sounds better but still marginal. At least pilot's Gibbs, Spriggett and Michell can stop practising their marker throws from 2nd story balconies.
Team Gibbs is all raring to go. We've come off the back of a win last week and have been filling ourselves with all the health that rural Austria can dish up.
Every morning we rise to a view straight out of the Sound of Music. Drink fresh milk just milked from the farm cow, eat fresh eggs from the 2600 chickens on our farm, raid the veggie patch kindly extended to us by Family Konig and if not flying in the evenings we taste the lovely homemade schnapps and beer from the neighbours who are tickled pink to have a group of Aussies in their midsts.
The takeoff sites the neigbours have arranged for us all throughout the region is mindblowing.
Paul managed to get up a few of our shots onto Aunty Monkey this arvo, care of the McDonalds internet, but the internet at the Comp Centre is still not working properly.
Even Aunty Monkey super-guru and Team Kavanaugh Member Andrew R. couldn't get the Gibbs computers working. The organiser techs also have no idea why most people can't access their internet.
But hey, who needs internet when we've got this lovely hospitality.
So off to bed again for a hopeful flying day tomorrow.
Monday, September 15, 2008
Its Monday, we must be Hungary
Lots of rain overnight saw us greeted with a cold, grey old day with light rain. Our local spies say tomorrow is likely to follow suit.
Well we got a 4am SMS to say the morning briefing was cancelled. And when the 9:30am SMS came through Team's Gibbs and TongueKiss decided to take a day off and go visit Hungary. Via a castle and Slovenia, as one does.
So after a couple of hours looking at witch-killing gear, crusade armour, flopsy-eared rabbits and great scenery we shot over to the dark side, so to speak. Slovenia and Hungary are both bleak places by comparison to Austria. Far less people, darker coloured clothes, run down buildings, russian era farm machinery, and the odd ex-military establishment.
We did get a great meal at a local pub even if we couldn't work out what we were getting or how much it would cost. Based on Deano's purchase of a keyring in euros and his change in something else we thought lunch with beers was about $2 each. Turns out Deano's keyring came with a $50 tip. Great for Deano but lunch was actually $12.
So after a visit to a couple of grocery shops we made our way home where Lin is preparing a Tuna Bake for dinner.
Tomorrow we hope to fly, and trust the organisers can get their internet working, target list finished, and not schedule clashes with any more airshows.
Well we got a 4am SMS to say the morning briefing was cancelled. And when the 9:30am SMS came through Team's Gibbs and TongueKiss decided to take a day off and go visit Hungary. Via a castle and Slovenia, as one does.
So after a couple of hours looking at witch-killing gear, crusade armour, flopsy-eared rabbits and great scenery we shot over to the dark side, so to speak. Slovenia and Hungary are both bleak places by comparison to Austria. Far less people, darker coloured clothes, run down buildings, russian era farm machinery, and the odd ex-military establishment.
We did get a great meal at a local pub even if we couldn't work out what we were getting or how much it would cost. Based on Deano's purchase of a keyring in euros and his change in something else we thought lunch with beers was about $2 each. Turns out Deano's keyring came with a $50 tip. Great for Deano but lunch was actually $12.
So after a visit to a couple of grocery shops we made our way home where Lin is preparing a Tuna Bake for dinner.
Tomorrow we hope to fly, and trust the organisers can get their internet working, target list finished, and not schedule clashes with any more airshows.
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