More than 40 sailplanes and their pilots will fly from Chinchilla in this year’s annual Easter Gliding Competition. The event, run by Caboolture Gliding Club and Gliding Queensland, will see massed launches from Chinchilla Airfield daily from Good Friday 2 April through to Saturday 10 April.
“The sight of 40 sailplanes being towed into the air in quick succession by a small squadron of powerful tug aircraft is an exciting sight,” says competition organiser and Caboolture Gliding Club Chief Flying Instructor Brian Wade. “Visitors are welcome to come and enjoy the spectacle, which will be starting from about 11 am every day of the competition.”
“The Easter event has a reputation among soaring pilots as a friendly competition and this extends to visitors and onlookers, who are welcome to ask questions and be shown around by event officials after the launching is complete.”
Among the 40 plus men and women flying from Chinchilla will be pilots who have flown in elite national and international competitions. Two of these are Darling Downs fliers Mike Codling and Alan Barnes, who will be using the Easter competition to hone their pair flying skills for the next gliding world championship in Europe.
Mike and Alan, who fly with Darling Downs Soaring Club at Jondaryan, were selected as team representatives for Australia and have already flown together in Europe as part of their preparation for the worlds.
Other pilots are coming from as far away as New Zealand to compete in this year’s Easter competition.
Further information:
Garrett Russell 0412 374 477 gjr@powerup.com.au
