Johnny Jr. is at it again, his last Australian record stood for a short time until Rohan beat him the day before the Worlds started. Yesterday he took it back with a cool 496km! More in the Oz report.
Category Archives: Hanggliding
Re-release of HG2000
I made a hanggliding video in 2000, from the flying that summer. It was filmed with DV and cut down to around 15 minutes. Great fun to make, but it takes a lot of time to cut and edit the film into something that’s short and enjoyable. Recently I dug it out and had a look at it again, I’m happy with it, despite some wobbly camera and way too much zooming. It was the first time I tried a video camera and editing software.
A lot more people have broadband now so it’s possible to download a Divx compressed version. I’ve used the crappy free version of the Divx codec, so the quality it not perfect, but I hope good enough. Let me know if you want a better version.
You need to install the Divx codec first if you don’t have it already. Downoad from http://www.divx.com Take the free version without ads!
The file is 156MB Download of HG2K.avi
I still have a half-finished project from the trip to Australia in february 2000. It was about 25 hours of raw film that I’ve cut down to 4 hours, and from that had a target of 30 minutes finished film. But I never got the motivation or time to finish it off. My computer is about 10 times faster to render and edit than when I started the project so maybe it’s time to dig it out again. There are some really good shots in there, eagles attacking paragliders, trike flying, lots of XC, and more…
Espesetra
Jetta LSK is rebuilding the takeoff-ramp at Espesetra. The new ramp is much bigger and better placed for takeoff, if we can get some gravel to fill in the back it’s perfect for paragliders too.
Espesetra in springtime is a good site with some very strong thermal conditions on the good days. Last May, Arnt and I took off there into some wild lift, I pulled a muscle in my shoulder fighting to stay in a 5-7 m/s core on the way up to cloudbase. I flew almost 100km that day, but the next day I had to land after 30km because of pain in the shoulder.
Arnt and me psyching up at takeoff, pic by Frode Halse
Getting ready for the action! I really hope we get such good days this spring too.
When I had to reinstall anyway…
Having to reinstall a server is a good opportunity to make changes and patch up old software. I have made some changes both visible and “under the hood” of the website. Hope you find the new look attractive and easy to use. As always let me know if there are things not working as expected. Feedback is always welcome!
The plan was to go flying in Vågå this weekend, and to test out the new payout-winch we bought. But the weather forecast predicted some wind, and I was asked to be on call for my job this weekend. I hope we can try the winch soon in good conditions.
Oslo
Back in Oslo. We had to spend one night in London, but it was good to lie down in a bed and sleep for some hours in a hotel. Got the first flight from London to Oslo.
Tragedy
The accident yesterday is a tragedy that cannot be described by words. It’s a big loss for all of us. Our deepest condolances go out to the family and friends.
Merry Christmas
Otto in Oz
Otto Baste made an early start to the Oz season, flying with Tove’s XC tour in Dennilliquin. Yesterday he did a new personal best with 301km, north to Ivanhoe. Amazing fligh, landing at 20:30 at night, check out his tracklog. He reported a strong tailwind, blue conditions, and a late start. This is probably the longest flight by a Norwegian pilot ever, Otto also had the last such record with a similar 245km flight from Denniliquin two years ago.
Otto will be on our team for the Worlds. Jon is also in Oz, no news from him. Maybe he’s still flying :-)
Only 10 days left
Bird Technology
Anmal Planet has some really good video clips from the back of a soaring eagle. Extremely cool use of high technology. It really shows how similar the HG pilot and soaring bird viewpoints are. If we only had the same control of the wingtips…