Page 29 - MFW June 2025

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march 2025
29 th march 2025
29th march 2025
th
Report: Stew Cox
Photos: Ross Gray

Levin turned on another stunning day for the Autumn
Levin Glider Fun Fly. Winds remained very light and
variable all morning before settling into a light sou’west
drift about lunchtime that was just strong enough to
enable good bungee launches. The day started with a
clear azure blue sky and not a cloud to be seen. Despite
the lack of clouds there was thermal activity from the
outset. It stayed this way until late morning when the
strong thermal activity generated large cumulus clouds
marking strong lift. The Levin MAC weather station
showed a mean wind speed for the whole day of only 6.4
km/hr. Often the slight increase in wind was just a thermal
infill as huge thermals settled over the flying field for long
periods of time. Perfect thermal soaring conditions.

Attendance was the best yet at a Levin Glider Fun Fly with
31 attendees flying and several wives, friends and Levin
members coming along to watch. There were five fliers
that attended the event for the first time which now makes
59 individual fliers that have attended at least one of the
four Levin Glider Fun Flys held to date. Kevin Daly’s
initiative for the Levin club to put on such an event and the
good teamwork of club members to run it has been well
rewarded by the popularity of the event.

All local clubs were well represented with particularly
good numbers from the Kapiti club and Palmerston North
Aeroneers with seven and six fliers respectively from
those clubs attending. Clubs represented included
Palmerston North Aeroneers, Hawkes Bay, New
Plymouth, Ashhurst, Kapiti, Wellington and Levin. It was Top to bottom:
Bryan Treloar's electrified Aquila was typical of the older designs
very pleasing to see Levin Juniors Dominic Moyle and brought back to life with an electric motor up front.
Couper Bartosh at the event and having no problem Kevin Botherway (Rowdy) looping his 4M F5J Plus X continuously while
finding thermals to achieve long flights. Three fliers came climbing from low down in a strong thermal.
A typical morning scene above the Levin flying field.
from Hawkes Bay. MFNZ President Kevin Botherway,
John Pfahlert's electrified 1950 Leprechaun on climb.
fresh back from the World F5J Champs in Argentina,
Trevor Glogau's 1939 Earl Stahl Hurricane had character in the air and
drove down from Hawkes Bay for the event as did shared thermals with more hitech designs.
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