I observed an amusing landout last season. Fortunately was only
involved in laughing and making 'helpful' suggestions.

Visiting pilot had the use of a local clubs Grob 103. On his last day
he went along the Hawkdun range, got low, and had to land. He picked
the only large, flattish, green paddock around. This paddock should
have notches on a fencepost or something for the number of gliders
it's killed. It's very rocky and a Duo was wrecked there when the pilot
misjudged the wind earlier in the season. Lucky for the Grob the only
damage was to the wheel fairing.

Naturally with a couple of mountain ranges between the Grob and Omarama
he doesn't have radio contact. Some broken messages get relayed and
a retrieve is organised.

There are a few problems. It's a club glider, and from an out of
town club. No-one knows where the trailer is. A quick ring round
finds that the trailer is in Timaru. Probably not registered etc.

Although the paddock is only 50km or so from Omarama there are a few
mountains in the way, so it is at least a four hour drive. The last part
requires a four wheel drive too. And it's going to be dark before the
retrieve gets there.

Gavin has landed the Cub in the paddock before, so if the Cub was
available he could go down and tow the glider out. But the Cub is
in Timaru for maintenance. Another ring round finds the South
Canterbury club towplane (it's their glider) is also not available.

I suggest sending a towplane over and dropping a sleeping bag and a note
to let him know we're not coming today.

About now we find out that the pilot has to be in Christchurch to
catch his flight home at midday the next day.

Getting the glider is looking to hard, so now we're just looking to
get the pilot out tonight so he can catch his flight tomorrow. The
car thing is discussed, but it's not going to get there before dark
so there may be issues finding the glider. And the road isn't great
so there is a distinct lack of enthusiasm for a road trip. Gavin
rings around some of the locals and finds a farmer with a helicopter
who's prepared to help.

The end of day one has the helicopter taking some pickets down to
the field and bringing back the pilot. All happy so far.

Except maybe the gliding club whos glider is now picketed in a remote
paddock, abandoned by the pilot who has left the country.

Day two. Gavin calls a friend in Queenstown who has a towhook on the back
of his 185. He comes over to Omarama and picks up two people to get the
glider. One to fly and one to run the wing. Naturally it's a busy day
at Omarama and the two who are left on the ground in the afternoon are
the towpilots. So Jules takes off with our two tow pilots for the
retrieve.

The retrieve goes well, but takes a little while. Jules gets a bit
of a thump from a big rock, but had been warned and let some air out
of his tyres. No harm done. They get the glider airborne and fly home.

While they're having a good time down south, the entire Glide Omarama
course fleet land out up north. First time the whole fleet has landed out.
Five gliders. All on airfields. But no towplane to come get them because
the towpilots are all away getting yesterdays landout back.

So, the towpilots get back and immediately take off the get the fleet.
Jules goes to Lillybank up north of Lake Tekapo to get a Duo. The other
four made it to Pukaki, so Annie goes to get them in the Dakota. The
Dakota has been giving some trouble with the nosewheel shimmying,
and on the seal at Pukaki it feels pretty bad, so after two tows Annie
comes home leaving two glider behind. She doesn't want to break the
towplane.

By now Jules is on his way back from Lillybank, so he stops in at
Pukaki on his way past after dropping the Duo and gets the last
two home.

We get everyone on the ground before dark. Well, before you need lights
to land anyway.

Jules has to spend the night though. No way to get back to Queenstown.
Lucky for him most of the pilots owe him beer for rescuing them.

--
Philip Plane _____
|
---------------( )---------------
Glider pilots have no visible means of support