The Gliding Club of Victoria will host the National Multi-Class Gliding Competition in January 2009 between Monday 12 to Friday 23 inclusive. Previous comps have attracted around 60 gliders (66 in the last Multi class in Temora in January 2008), so we anticipate around that number. We will cap the number of entries to 60 gliders.

Will there be opportunities to fly during the comp? In previous years when we have hosted the National Club Class and have had around 60 gliders competing there has been opportunities to do cross country soaring around the competition. There are basically two options. Get out early and launch before the competition or wait until the comp fleet launches (about 1 hour) and launch after them.

The Competition Director is required to have at least 1,000 metres of convective air (air that’s got thermals in it) available (about 4,000 feet QNH) prior to launching the fleet, so there is opportunity to get into the air and start a cross country task before the comp gets launched. Also, if the expected numbers are reached, we’ll have a few extra tugs about so getting airborne quickly shouldn’t be a problem. The Comp Director usually likes to have a few aircraft launched before the fleet to act as ‘sniffers’ to verify the conditions.

There are however some limits. If you launch before the comp and hang around Benalla you may be joined in the air by 60 other gliders! So, you need to be confident and safe with these numbers of gliders about! The Comp Director usually declares a turning direction while themalling in the Benalla CTAF for safety reason. It’s a good idea to know what the direction is in case you’re up there and joined by others!

At the other end of the day is the end of the task. With AAT (Assigned Area Tasks) the bulk of a class will come home at around the same time. This makes it awkward to be in the circuit area at the same time as arriving competition gliders. I have seen eight gliders in circuit at the one time; everyone managed their position well, landed appropriately and maintain appropriate radio comms - easy. We usually halt club launching (to keep the tugs out of the way of finishing gliders) and ask club gliders to land unless they are confident to stay airborne during the finish.

The ‘speed tasks’ run during the competitions are usually flown during the “best part of the day”, this ensures the best possible speeds are achieved, however, it also means that there are many hours of soaring available at either end of the competition task, so a chance to gets some good flying in.

These National level competitions also attract some of Australia’s best pilots. All of them, I have found, are more than willing to pass on ‘secrets’ or techniques they use to fly fast. This is a great opportunity to learn!!

If you want to help out and enjoy the atmosphere mark these dates in your diary and come up to help!