Gliding at Bryon Bay
 

There are 2 separate gliding club outfits at Bryon Bay airfield- both with similar names -although one also operates as High tech Gliding.

Can anyone offer constructive and non-controversial advice about the differences between the two and their respective merits?

Am off to see the relatives and see the Morning Glory and want to glide from Bryon to Mt Warning - hence the question above.

Thanks

G'day Slats,

Just contacted a good friend who glides out of Byron Bay regulary, he said that he'll send me some info in regards to your question below. I'll replace this message with his comments soon.


go_soaring! instead

P.s. If your after any other info re: gliding in Aus and where the best places to soar are, feel free to drop me a PM

there is only one place in Aus to glide and that is Benalla:)

there is only one place in Aus to glide and that is Benalla:)

Dam straight!!

I pretty sure that one club is an actual club and the other is a commercial op.

thought the only decent morning glory was up north

Well it sure as hell 'aint Waikerie anymore!:ugh::ugh::sad:

As promised, please find below my mates (in Byron Bay) reply to your request..

go_soaring! instead


Byron Gliding Club Inc Vs Byron Bay Gliding Pty Ltd

Byron Gliding Club was established in early '90s and is a club of about 50 members. They operate 2 motorfalkes (one 2 wheel and one Jabiru powered) and are involved with a fair bit with training. They also have a Dimona h36 (with big 2.5lit engine) and a Grob IIIc SL self launch glider which I believe is very nice to fly unlike earlier Grobs. Mark Laird and Ian McPhee (both very experienced x country pilots) are in that club and when they take the Grob to gliding competitions they seem to do well like often winning days!!. Russell White is also in club and he is the person who pioneered flying on the morning Glory and usually 1 or 2 club gliders go north . Byron Gliding are at the white hangars and you must drive past Byron Bay Gliding blue hangars. I think you will find this club offers better value flying. By the way the Jabiru makes for a very interesting motorglider - climbs at 600ft/min (800 solo). I know Ian talks of glider towing with Jabiru falke to tow single seaters!!!.and he has done much on engine installations as you will see on their web site www.byrongliding.com

Byron Bay Gliding Pty Ltd is now run by a enthusiastic french man called "JB" but started with another person about 6 years ago who left Byron gliding club. They are the first gliding you come to when driving in in 2 blue hangars and have about 15 members. They also have 2 single wheel falkes ( C and older D falke which is converted B falke). They also have a new ASK21 Mi motorglider. They also do training and I believe JB is a good instructor but they mainly do joyflights for Tourists/backpackers. I think there is less experience with cross country flying within BBG They did have a DG500M but I gather the owner no longer lets it be used by "JB's club" even though it shown on their web site.

To add to confusion there is also Byron Bay Gliding Inc with think one member!! and now the DG500M

Byron is a beautiful place to fly and could recommend it to all BUT soaring is not that good with soaring about 2 days a week (lots of rain) where as if you go west 100km to the other side of range (eg Warwick Qld - Southern Downs soaring club) you will get much better soaring and cross country.

So that is the story of Byron Gliding confusion

thanks all
 

Huge thanks to all for this info and help.

This has really helped. Have the luxury of 6 months off and aim to see the family in Vic and Old and then pitch my tent at an Aussie gliding club and finally nail the soaring itch.


Cheaper than staying here on Mud island.

Ian McPhee & Mark Laird are both top blokes. Very relaxed people, Ian is the absent minded professor type. I recall a story when he was at Lake Keepit. Apparently he was doing some part time maths teaching at a high school in Tamworth. The yarn goes that, being the absent minded type, he once drove all the way from home to school, was just about to get out of the car in the school car park, and only then realised that he had forgotton to put on a shirt......

That's the way I was told it, I'm sure it had been embellished somewhat:ok:.