DSing sites in Australia

[Foxy]

Has anyone found any DSing sites in Australia, particularly Victoria? Myself and a few members of our gliding club are keen to try it..

Thanks

Adam

[Flint]

There are a heap of good D'sing sites around Camperdown. Each year on the Australia day long weekend hundreds of slope pilots congragate on the town and fly, drink and generally be merry, surely you've heard of this event? If not I suggest you attend in Jan 2003. A friend of mine goes every year and he brought back a video of the event, lots of D'sing footage.

Cheers

Dale

PS. Lots around Canberra to.

[Regecide]

So how bout in Sydney?
Most slope sites are right on the water, so there's no real drop off to speak of!
Can a Zagi be DS'd anyway? If not then I won't bother lol

[Ade]

On the right site yes. the boundary needs to be very tight tho. This is generally given with a hill with a very sharp top edge, less than 15ft accross.

Ade

[Foxy]

Yep ive heard of this and have been meaning to get there for the event for the last few years. Maybe this year. I wasnt aware of its DS potential tho. Do you have any more details eg exact location and wind direction?
Thanks for your help.

Adam

[Ade]

Only uk sites, We have a number of sites which can only be used with foamies because the backside is tight for space. We also have a ridge that is about 2 miles long, very steep front and rear, the top is about 8ft wide!

Ade

[Flint]

Sorry, I can't offer to many more details, the area is all crater lakes so wind direction is not an issue, it takes every direction, you would have to go along to find the good D'sing sites, I am yet to attend the event myself, to far away.

Cheers



Regecide

Dont know of any sites in Sydney, send a PM to Oldpilot (frequents the Slope forum), he hangs out there, he would probably know

Cheers

[fatboywings]

Hi guys,

Firstly I must say that We have a hell of a lot of sites here.
I can drive for a max of 15 minutes and cover every wind direction.

DSing sites are found in Southerly, South East, East, East Nor East, and West.

The Largest DSing Site is Best in a SE Breeze and has enough lift to to fly a brick. Only catch is you need to launch with a bungee. The zone is around 100 feet deep in 20 knots. I have maxed out the F20 from caterbury sailplanes in these winds but need a higher perfomance plane and will have one with in a fortnite.

I fly Fatboy Combat Wings made right here in Newcastle. They are a step ahead of the low wind market. Check out www.bitss.com.au/fatboy/

We are able to show you how it works and a new type of soaring I am developing which is the larger circuit Rotor Soaring. It's even faster.

To answer a couple of quickie's, Yes you can ds a zagi, but they don't fly to well in less than 7knots.

As for a sharp peak to have a cleaner seperation boundary to ds, not really necessary, it depends on 2 other things first, 1 the front of the slope ie angle and 2 wind strength. You do not really need a sloping back side. If you go to South Bondi Point in Sydney you will be witness to another great zone, which I will now be hunter and killed for publishing. Oh well, leave it in the air.

Might See ya up here, accomadation is no problem.

[Andrew Hayes]

I fly a lot around melbourne and victoria. Camperdown is a great slope but I don't think you can ds there. There seems to be a little confusion above about DSing verse normal slope soaring. DSing is over the back of the slope and needs a sharp ridge. I've seen a few possible spots and have tried it once or twice without any luck so far. A coastal sand dune may be the best bet around melbourne.

[fatboywings]

For The guy above spreading the mis conception about needing a sharp ridge or cut away on the back of the slope. I can and do DS on a regular basis. If you want to go on thinking that you need a sharp ridge to DS you will never get around to actually doing it. Most slopes that have an edge dropping down to around 70+degrees will get you a zone.
At South Bondi there is a huge DS zone and it is not a ridge line or anything.

So pleas, before commenting on DSing and spreading mis information go and learn how to do it. I have written an article for those that are interested in doing instead of talking about something that they have very little experience, obviously.
You can find the article @
http://www.bitss.com.au/fatboy/

Kin Regards Benjamin

[Andrew Hayes]

sorry about that benjamin - i was refering to the earlier post about camperdown. I re read my post once it apeared and realised it looked like I was questioning your DSing prowess. Camperdown really is un DSable because the hills are only about 35 - 40 degrees and roll over the top. Your fatboy wing looks quite interesting. I'm toying with buying a canterbury sailplanes JW. how do you think these compare?

Kind Regards

Andrew Hayes

[fatboywings]

Andrew,

I am sorry to go off alittle back there, please forgive me. I will be anounci8ng the dates of the Next Newcastle Flyinn here very soon.. I hope you can find the time if your in the area. Some guys are coming from Byrin possivbly so it would just add to the flavour.
Re the Fatboy v's JW,
Can't compare they are built for different purposes. As for combat it would be good to see a few in action against one another. I hae a friend in Sydney whom is coming up soon to do just that, so I will keep you posted. The Fatboy is design to get you flying and looping and rolling in 3 to 4 knots for an average pilot and thermal for an experienced pilot from a hand launch.
In conclusion
Both are excellent Weapons in their own right but for different conditions.

Kind Regards
Benjamin