2010 Forbes Flatlands - 10th day
The day was called due to general pilot fatigue (which may
represent a safety issue). The forecasts were mixed again with the BOM calling
for 41 degrees and blowing dust (very windy on the ground) while the local
Forbes forecast from RASP was for 36 and 8-10 knot surface winds.
Given the average wind through the boundary layer at fourteen knots out of the
northwest all day long, we would have to have a task to the southeast. We came
up with one zigzagging in that general direction and sent the sport class
directly to Woodstock.
The forecast said that we would likely have few cu's and good climbs to 10,000'.
The winds would most likely not be a problem unless the RASP was wrong or there
were gusts. OD was not an issue.
Vicki and I held a straw poll and it was evenly spilt 20 to 20 for and against
calling the last day. Some felt that there was a possible safety issue, due to
weather or due to pilot fatigue. Vicki and I along with the safety committee had
numerous discussions until I called the day and the safety committee agreed just
before I announced it. I had voted to fly the day.
No one wanted to make such a decision given that there was such a split in the
pilots' feelings about flying or not flying. Vicki reminded pilots earlier that
when Bill Moyes put on the Worlds near Bright and Mt. Beauty they flew for
seventeen days straight.
It was another great flying event at Forbes with wonderful tasks and many many
hours in the air. Of course, we could have flown every day. Zac was able to move
into third place after winning the last day. Jonny was firmly in first place.
I had thought that I had messed up by not flying to the end of the clouds off
the course line on the 9th day. Juerg, who was with me under the clouds, said
that he and Carl and a few other pilots followed the clouds and as soon as they
left the clouds when they ended they went down and landed. So that wasn't the
way to go after all.
Belinda and Davis in Forbes as pictured in the Forbes Advocate. 
Vicki called to report that a dust devil came through the launch area around 1
PM, flipped over Leroy's Dragonfly and broke the fuselage. This is the time that
we would have been launching. The tug was tied down.
http://OzReport.com/1263259066
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