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Cicadas' e-song

St-Auban, 12 July 1997

Last (but not Least) Day

 Today's weather : a fine thermals last day with only isolated Cb on late afternoon and high ground.

Tasks : classical 318, 341, 365 km through southern Alps (Briançonnais, Diois)

Standard class : positions seem well established but if the three french pilot fly together as usual, it's not impossible that they get caught in the same hole...

15 m class : very tight fight for the third place, G. Galetto is only one point before G. Navas !

; W. Meuser is comfortably leading, but how will he fly today if he cannot follow 'Napo' nor overload his glider anymore ?

Open class : as its name indicates, the more open to anything ! only 31 points between 1st 'Gégé' and 3rd, 127 pts between 1st and U. Schwenk (4th) ; both, along with D. Hauss and R. Schöder are possible World Champions !

25th World Champions are :

  • Jean-Marc Caillard (F)
  • Werner Meuser (D)
  • Gerard Lherm (F) Open class last day was a real thriller : R. Schroeder won the task ; G. Lherm had to arrive before 17:48 to keep his first place ; he passed the line at 17:41:21 and was first on preliminary results for 7 points only ; we had to wait some 20 minutes later to know the exact departure time from loggers to confirm his title. Didier Hauss, 3rd after declared times, finally gained second place with GPS ones by only 5 points ! Andrew Davis (with best speed of three classes : 125.26 km/h) won standard day, and Michael Grund the 15m task, with no changes in overall standings.
    Farewell and thanks, Manfred
    Retiring president of OSTIV, the much-loved Dr ; Manfred Rheinhardt, must have been particularly touched by the special message in the sky after briefing yesterday morning : an aircraft towing a banner with thanks to mark is final congress. That bit of fun began an emotional day of farewells, mementoes and warm words from many friends. However, the day got out of hand at the dinner in Les Mées for OSTIV members and guests. FFVV president André Monnet found himself credited with Roland Stuck's attractive wife Annie, who happened to be seated by him, the real Mrs Monet being absent. François Ragot had to be called to order by Doris when the temptation to mimic overcame him. Manfred himself said that he decided it was really the right time to retire when he found that he had presented only half the highest OSTIV award for technical excellence to new president Loek Boermans earlier in the week-he got the certificate but not the solid silver plaque. This omission was corrected at dinner, leading Luc to remark that he was even prouder to have been presented with it twice and would now build it into his wall ! He proved very nifty with the slicing of the baked Alaska dessert.too !  Bye and thanks, Manfred. It was a lovely dinner. See you in Bayreuth !

    Duped by the Doping Draw !
    Anyone seeing a pretty blonde woman drawing lots at briefing might have thought someone was in for a nice prize ! Wrong ! ! The pilots whose names came up went out to fly today knowing that as soon as they landed, they would be whisked off to drink a lot of water and then await the inevitable, to provide a sample for compulsory ( in France) drug-testing, in line with Olympic Committee rules . Hannes Linke had the unenviable task of seeing everything done comme il faut. Chance is a funny thing-well, we all laughed heartily ( that it wasn't us) when three of the names drawn were all on the US Team. It must be said that they were very sporting about it but there WERE a lot of field-landings yesterday ! ! !

    So sorry, Franek
    Franek Kepka, Poland's gentleman of the air , was unlucky yesterday to be tipped up by a strong side gust as he attempted a field-landing in an otherwise good field. The resulting slow ground loop after he caught a wing damaged his ASW 27, though the was unhurt. In a day of ferocious storm activity and multiple landouts, he was the unlucky one

    Flying turkeys
    Bruce Drake was intrigued when " a team " doing something secret in the campsite woods asked to borrow a sharp knife. He lent them his, and learnt about a dark night, a late retrieve, a trailer on a dark road following a lorry which, taking a sharp bend, lost a crate off the back. And what was in the crate ? Two fat turkeys ! ! Roasted, they made a welcome addition to
    the team dinner table !
     

    Complaints Department :

    Two complaints have been considered by the organisers this week, one successful and the other not.
    Georg Degasperi, Austria, asked for reconsideration in the case of his pilot flying HA, R. Haggenmuller, who had a hole in his logger evidence but suitable photo back-up. This latter, however, was, by mistake, showing only the date and not the time. Reviewing all the other evidence, barogram etc, the Contest Director, Michel Fache was convinced that the flight had been correctly carried out and the pilot penalized only 50 points for technical error, instead of the loss of a whole day's score. ( letters available for perusal).
    More complex was a complaint co-signed by TCs of Austria, USA and Netherlands, about a problem caused by software limitations, asking for an explanation for the apparent deviation of the contest from the official rules ( Rule 18.2) Mr Roland Stuck's explanation is available for perusal.

    Au revoir Barron Hilton Cup
    This original international competition, based on distance flights, is in its 17th. edition. In fact, it was in 1981 that hotel magnate Barron Hilton decided to create it out of the idea and with the cooperation of Helmut Reichmann ( thrice world champion, killed in a gliding accident in 1992 ). In Saint-Auban yesterday, current director of the competition, Hannes Linke, and Annette Reichmann reminded the assembled Team Captains of how the Cup is contested. Everey two years, winning pilots, who will have completed the longest cross-country flights in different parts of the world ( Europe, United States-east and west; Far East-Japan, Australia, New Zealand ) are rewarded with a visit to the prestigious " Flying-M Ranch ", in the Nevada desert. The Barron Hilton Cup has a second sponsor from this year, the German Daimler Benz Aerospace company and hopes soon to be able to expand into Africa. Barron Hilton and Daimler Benz have, additionally, offered their support for the 2001 World Gliding Championships which will take place in South Africa.

    José Escanez, gliding man at heart
    The municipality of Château-Arnoux/Saint-Auban has been a partner of the French Gliding Federation for a dozen or so years, since getting involved with the construction of the CFHN. 67 years old, and a native of the town, the mayor, who was elected in 1977, has always felt close to gliding. Always a sportsman ( he almost became a professional footballer for either Monaco or Olympic, Marseille ) he is not, in fact, a glider pilot himself, despite flying quite often with CFHN pilots. He has, though, flown often enough to "  catch the bug " and be left with a burning desire to learn to fly gliders ! Unfortunately, the town hall occupies this conscientious mayor full-time, hardly leaving him a moment , something which he regrets ! It must be added here that José Escanez is a personal friend of one of France's most famous glider pilots ( if not a world champion ) named Michel Rocard, member of the European parliament and former prime minister whom he met when the latter used to fly at CFHN...In reality, he had , as a boy, felt that gliding was inaccessible. The local lads used to make fun of course-members, at what was then the national gliding centre, whom they nicknamed " the Parisians ". This attitude remained tucked away in the brain until the " advance guard from FFVV " turned up with a fat file under their arms. This bright-eyed southerner didn't take long to recognize that here was a chancefor his community to become a mecca for gliding and accepted, on condition that the sport be fully accessible to local people too.( Thus was born the AVCASA, the club based across the airfield and currently presided over by Luc Poty ) And ever since, José Escanez has been able to declare himself " very proud of CFHN's success ". The obvious next step was to host the 25th. World Gliding Championships at Château-Arnoux/Saint-Auban, a legitimate boost that the FFVV was delighted to be able to send him. It is for Mr Mayor, who pulled out all the stops to come up with the necessary finance, an ideal opportunity to promote the advantages of the town but also to integrate the local people with the gliding community.And to anyone who complains about the nuisance of having aeroplanes on the doorstep, he replies " I was born here and I don't hear them ! "
    For this former employee of the Elf-Atochem chemical works, who began a union career before turning to local politics, gliding represents a not inconsiderable economic contribution to the community. He thus took advantage of the championships to organise " economic exploration " days, notably at the industrial complex close to Peyruis.
    At a time when so many clubs are under attack by the environmental lobby or upset locals, one thing is certain and indeed reassuring : gliding in France (and the world) has a powerful ally at Château-Arnoux/Saint-Auban. Thank you, José Escanez.
     

    THE XXV GENERAL CONFRENCE OF OSTIV

    On Thursday, 10th July the Scientific and Technical Organisation of Gliding OSTIV held its XXV General Conference  in one of the SEFA buildings at the St Auban aerodrome.
    Represented were fourteen full OSTIV members.

    After the opening by President Manfred Reinhardt and a special word of welcome to the represenatives of FAI, IGC and EGU, a moment of silence was held in commemoration of OSTIV board members and glider pilots in general who have died in the past two years, especally first OSTIV President Louis de Lange.
    The minutes of the General Conferernce on 19 January 1995 in Omarama, New Zealand, were approved with one small correction.

    Reports were made by the President, and by the chairmen of the Technical Section (Mr W. Feifel), the Scientific Section (Mr H. Trimmel), the Sailplane Development Panel (SDP, Mr A. Patching for Prof. Morelli, who could not attend), the Training and Safety Panel (TSP, Mr W. G. Scull) and the Meteorological Panel (Dr H. Trimmel). The President reminded the audience that details of the proceedings and papers presented have been published in OSTIV letter 1/97. The OSTIV letter is published twice per year and work is in progress to assemble all OSTIV publications on CD ROM.

    The president stated that OSTIV tries to get itself a representation in the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA, Hoofddorp, The Netherlands). Mr W. G. Scull, chairman of the TSP, added that gliding is already represented through the EGU (Mr J.-E. Olsson, Technical Coordinator EGU) and through himself via the British Gliding Association (BGA). A formal OSTIV representation will, however, be very useful. Mr Scull also reminded the audience that summaries of the papers presented in the previous days have been published in Mondial Visions.

    Three types of membership of OSTIV membership exist: Active (DEM 500, intended for organisations, 269 in 1997), Scientific/Technical (for institutes in those fields, cost DEM 150, 6 in 1997) and Individual (for individual pilots and technicians, cost DEM 70, only 269 in 1997).The meeting agreed that especially the number of individual members should be increased, and that an effort should be made here by all, especially in the direction of young people, possibly via Internet.
    All types of members receive the OSTIV Letter, Technical Soaring and the Index, which contains a list of all OSTIV publications.
    The subscription fee for OSTIV has been kept constant over the last three years, thanks to a lot of voluntary work. The balance per 1997-06-10 was approved.
    It was suggested later that unnecessary bank cost could be avoided by introducing a credit card system.
    The President stated that no claim has been made yet for the Dr Joachim P. Kuettner 2000 km Prize and Trophy for the first 2000 km straight distance soaring flight. The flight must fulfil the regulations of the FAI Sporting Code's General Section and Section 3, Gliders, Class D and DM. No difference is made between classes of gliders, including motor gliders. National representatives were requested to spread this information in their national publications as a reminder. OSTIV itself also will make an effort to give more publicity to the prize.

    Mr A. de Orleans-Borbon suggested a motion for the next board to extend the OSTIV influence to other non-IGC but gliding types of activities such as hang gliding. "Absorb it, before they absorb us", he said, also suggesting that this would be a way of reinforcing all types of gliding while avoiding to invent wheels again. The down-scaling of meteorological research also should be favourable for all parties concerned.
    Mr G. Waibel suggested harmonising logger procedures. He said that we should prevent discrepancies like the ones which now exist in the transmission of TV signals.
    Mr T. Johannesen suggested to start an OSTIV 'web page'. The President answered that the FAI has offered to host OSTIV in this. Mr. A. de Orleans-Borbon added that such a web page should include publications and prices.

    A new Board was elected, five board members stepping down. Prof. Morelli and Mr W. Scull remain on. Guided by Mr. Johannesen, the General Conference first elected Mr Boermans as President, then Mr Trimmel as First Vice President, and MM Ashford (Australia), Kousal (Czechia), Maughmer (USA), Olsson Sweden) and Kensche (Germany) as members of the OSTIV Board. Mr Boermans thanked Mr M. Reinhardt for his invaluable and extensive work for OSTIV, which was confirmed by a warm applause by all present.

    The next General Conference will be held during the 1999 World Gliding Championships (WGC) in Bayreuth, Germany. Mr. F. Gai reported on the preparations, already in progress.

    Some of the points, discussed under 'AOB', are the folowing. Mr Johannesen suggested to have an extra European conference when WGC would be held overseas, because the centre of gravity of sailplane development lies in Europe.
    Mr Waibel stated that the cost of boarding and lodging in Bayreuth shall be given due attention, the cost of tickets being relatively low.

    Finally the new President thanked secretaries Ilse and Ute for their work for OSTIV and Mr F. Ragot for his arrangements for the Conference. The meeting unanimously agreed to make Mr M. Reinhardt Honorary President, Mr P. Weishaupt Honorary Vice President and MM Patching and Smith Honorary members of OSTIV.

    The day was concluded with a memorable dinner, which was not disturbed by the thunderstorms which developed in the near vicinity, in 'La Marmite du Pecheur in Les Mees' with ladies and even children. In several speeches Dr Manfred Reinhardt was thanked for all the work he has done for OSTIV, for his knowledge and professional approach, and especially for his warm friendship. All wished him all the best in the future.

    GLIDING PARTICIPATION IN THE WORLD SOLAR CHALLENGE,

    AUSTRALIA 1998

    FIRST OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT FROM AUSTRALIA
     
    The World Solar Challenge is a major event held in Australia for solar-powered vehicles which participate in a race from Darwin in the north to Adelaide in the south of the continent. Participants range from teams representing manufacturers to entries from schools and colleges driving vehicles constructed by students. The next World Solar Challenge race will be held in October 1998.
    The Gliding Federation of Australia has entered into negotiations with the owners of the event, Australian Major Events ( a branch of the South Australian Government ) to involve gliders in a parallel race following roughly the same track as the cars and in similar though not identical stages.
    Up to twenty gliders will be launched from Darwin on the same day the cars are flagged off and will proceed in relatively easy flying stages down the centre of the vast continent of Australia. No race with the cars themselves is intended.
    Competitors will need to have considerable cross-country experience and the ability to withstand the relatively high temperatures which are so much a feature of the Australian outback. Accommodation will be at a premium due to the unaccustomed influx of visitors and contestants to a largely uninhabited area so camping out under the stars will most likely be the order of the day.
    The logistics of providing tow-planes, retrieve vehicles and crews to cover the vast distances involved in such a venture will not be cheap but the rewards are likely to be excitement, flying over a part of the world seldom seen from the ground, let alone the air, and the opportunity to participate in a spectacular event.
    The total distance to be covered is 2,695 kilometres which will be flown in seven stages, the longest from Bond Springs ( near Alice Springs) to Cooper Pedy ( the opal city), a distance of 621kms.
    It is anticipated that the whole event will be very newsworthy and will provide a great opportunity for widespread publicity which is not always easy to obtain for gliding.
    Negotiations are also underway with the University of Stuttgart to try to obtain the participation of Icare 2, the first purely solar powered glider. This magnificent machine, testimony to innovation and modern engineering, would most surely enhance the gliding side  of the whole event if its participation can be secured.
    The Gliding Federation of Australia intends to ask for expression of interest worldwide from glider-pilots who would like to participate in and experience a unique and memorable long distance contest in an area not often host to powerless flight.
    It is intended to hold the World Solar Challenge every two years across the continent of Australia.
    Roger Woods,IGC,Australia.(via E-mail to A. Sheard.)
      Au revoir et merci, Manfred
    Manfred Reinhardt, président sortant de l'OSTIV a dû être particulièrement touché par le message spécial qui lui a été adressé du ciel après le briefing hier matin, un avion remorquant une banderolle avec des remerciements. Cet événement n'a fait qu'inaugurer une série de paroles de sympathie de la part de nombreuses personnes. Cependant, la journée a pris fin lors d'un dîner aux Mées pour les adhérents de l'OSTIV et les invités de la FFVV, au cours duquel Mme Stuck s'est vu baptisée Mme Monet, la véritable Mme Monet étant absente. François Ragot a dû être gentiment rappelé à l'ordre par Doris pour lui éviter de s'esclaffer. Manfred Reinhardt rappela que c'était pour lui le bon moment de se retirer, lorsqu'il a réalisé qu'il avait donné seulement la moitié de la récompense remise au nouveau président Loek Boermans plus tôt dans la semaine, autrement dit le diplôme sans la plaque en ragent. Cet oubli a été réparé au cours du dîner. Ce qui a fait dire à Loek Boermans qu'il était doublement touché d'être doublement récompensé. Au revoir, Manfred, ce fut un excellent dîner - et rendez-vous à Bayreuth 1999

    Contrôle anti-dopage
    Hier au briefing, une jolie blonde procédant à un tirage au sort, avait quelque chose d'un show télévisuel... Perdu, car les pilotes dont les noms sont sortis sont partis voler en sachant que dès leur retour, ils seraient dans l'obligation d'ingurgiter une grande quantité d'eau, et de l'évacuer (!) en vue d'un prélèvement pour analyse (en France) anti-dopage, en conformité avec les règles du Comité olympique. Hannes Linke a eu le privilège d'observer le processus de bout en bout. Le hasard fait bien les choses, puisque sur la liste des tirés au sort, trois l'ont été au sein de l'équipe américaine le quatrième fut un Français : Jean-Marc " Chacha " Caillard). Inutile de dire qu'ils ont fait attention de ne pas se vacher pour ne pas manquer le rendez-vous...

    Nâvré, Franek
    Franek Kepka, gentleman polonais, a été fort malheureux hier, se faisant prendre par une rafale de vent de travers alors qu'il se posait dans un champ autrement tout à fait convenable.. Le cheval de bois qui en a résulté a endommagé l'aile de son ASW 27, lui s'en sortant indemne... Il faut le plus malchanceux de la journée d'hier, qui fut pourtant riche en orages violents et en atterrissages en campagne (quasiment la moitié des concurrents sont allés aux vaches).

    Les dindes volantes
    Bruce Drake fut quelque peu surpris lorqu'une équipe fougonnant discrèrement dans le petit bois du camping, est venu lui emprunter un couteau pointu. Il leur a prêté, et a entendu une histoire de nuit noire, de dépannage tardif, d'une remorque sur une route sombre derrière un camion qui, lors d'un virage serré, a perdu une partie de son chargement. Et qu'y avait-il dans cette caisse ? Deux dindes bien grasses ! Bien préparées, elles ont notablement amélioré l'ordinaire du dîner de cette équipe de vélivoles...

    Bureau de doléances
    Deux " complaints " ont été soumises aux organisateurs cette semaine ; une a abouti , l'autre non.
    Georg Degasperi, pour l'équipe d'Autriche, a demandé que l'on reconsidère le cas de R. Haggenmuller (HA), qui a subi un trou d'enregistrement de son logger, lui imposant une preuve photographique de son point de virage. Le pilote a malencontreusement oublié le photo-time, la photo n'indiquant que la date ? En considérant les autres paramètres du vol (barogramme, etc), le directeur de la compétition, Michel Fache s'est vite convaincu que le vol s'était déroulé très correctement, et le pilote ne reçut qu'une pénalité de 50 points pour " erreur technique ".plutôt que l'annulation de son épreuve.
    Plus technique, une " complainte " signée conjointement par les capitaines d'équipe autrichien, américain et hollandais, à propos du passage de la ligne de départ antérieur à un départ raté.. La réponse de Roland Stuck  est disponible auprès de l'organisation.
     
     

    Baron Hilton Cup

    Cette originale compétition internationale, basée sur la distance, en est à sa dix-septième édition. C'est en effet en 1981 que le magnat de l'hôtellerie Baron Hilton en décidait la création, sur une idée et avec la coopération d'Helmut Reichmann, trois fois champion du monde, qui devait disparaître en 1992 dans un accident de planeur. L'actuel directeur de la compétition, Hannes Linke, et Anette Reichmann, ont rappelé hier à Saint-Auban, devant les chefs d'équipe, la nature de la Coupe, qui récompense tous les deux ans, par un stage au prestigieux " Flying-M Ranch ", dans le désert du Nevada, les plus grands circuits réalisés dans diverses parties du monde: Europe, Etats-Unis (Est et Ouest), Extrème-Orient (Japon, Australie, Nouvelle-Zélande). La Baron Hilton Cup a aussi depuis cette année un autre sponsor: la firme allemande Daimler Benz Aerospace, et devrait être étendue bientôt au continent africain. Baron Hilton et Daimler Benz ont d'ailleurs offert aussi leur patronage pour le Championnat du Monde de 2001 qui doit se tenir en Afrique du Sud.

    José Escanez, Vélivole de coeur
    La municipalité de Chateaux-Arnoux-Saint-Auban est partenaire de la Fédération française de vol à voile depuis une dizaine d'années, lorsqu'il a adhéré au projet de construction du CFHN. Natif de la ville, cet homme de 67 ans, élu maire en 1977, a toujourscôtoyé les planeurs. Pourtant sportif (il faillit devenir joueur de football professionnel, recruté par l'AS Monaco ou l'Olympique de Marseille), il n'est pas vélivole, même s'il a volé exceptionnellement, avec des pilotes du CFHN. Il a d'ailleurs volé suffisamment pour " chopper le virus ", et avoir une furieuse envie de faire du vol à voile ! Mais, en maire consciencieux, sa mairie l'occupe à plein temps, ne lui laissant guère le loisir d'apprendre à piloter un planeur...Ce qu'il regrette ! Il faut dire ici que José Escanez est un ami personnel de l'un des vélivoles les plus célèbres de France (même s'il n'est pas encore champion du monde), j'ai nommé Michel Rocard, député européen et ancien Premier ministre qu'il rencontre lorsqu'il vient voler au CFHN...
    En réalité, il n'avait pas de prédisposition à soutenir le vol à voile : " gamins, on pensait que le vol à voile nous était interdit ". En ces temps-là (déjà), il était fréquent que les jeunes du pays aient maille à partir avec les stagiaires de ce qui était alors un Centre national de Vol à Voile, surnommés avec mépris " les Parisiens " ! Cette idée lui est d'ailleurs restée stockée dans un coin du cerveau, jusqu'à ce que des envoyés de la FFVV débarquent dans son bureau avec sous le bras un dossier bien ficelé. Ce Méridional au regard vif n'a pas mis longtemps à être convaincu de l'intérêt pour sa commune de devenir la Mecque du vol à voile, et à accepté, à condition que le vol à voile devienne accessible à ses administrés (ainsi est né l'AVCASA, actuellement présidé par Luc Poty).
    Et depuis, José Escanez se déclare " très fier de la réussite du CFHN ".
    La marche suivante ne pouvait être que l'accueil du 25è championnat du monde à Chateaux-Arnoux-Saint-Auban, un ascenseur légitime que la FFVV est ravie de renvoyer. C'est pour Monsieur le Maire - qui s'est investi afin de boucler son financement -'occasion idéale de valoriser les atouts de sa ville, mais aussi d'aider à l'intégration du vol à voile par ses administrés. A ceux qui se plaignent d'éventuelles nuisances en provenance de l'aérodrome, il aime à répondre " moi qui suis né ici, je ne les entend pas ".
    Pour cet ancien employé de l'usine Elf-Atochem, qui a débuté une carrière syndicale avant d'entrer en politique, le vol à voile représente un poids économique non négligeable pour Chateaux-Arnoux-Saint-Auban - il a donc profité du WGC 97 pour organiser des journées de découverte économique, notamment de la zone d'activité, proche de Peyruis.
    A l'heure où de nombreux clubs souffrent de problèmes d'environnement et de critiques de la part des riverains en colère, une chose est sûre et  combien rassurante : le vol à voile français (et mondial) a un allié puissant du côté de Châteaux-Arnoux-Saint-Auban. Merci, José Escanez.

    Défi solaire

    Le "  Défi Mondial Solaire " est un événement important en Australie, pour des véhicules propulsés par l'énergie solaire, lesquels participent à une course de Darwin au nord à Adelaide au sud du continent. Les équipes vont des constructeurs aux écoles, dont les véhicules ont été construits par les étudiants.
    La prochaine course aura lieu en octobre 1998. La fédération australienne de vol à voile est entrée en négotiation avec les organisateurs de l'événement, Australian Major Events (une branche du gouvernement de l'Australie du sud) afin d' inclure des planeurs dans une course parallèle, qui suivera à peu près la même route que les voituressur des étapes quasi identiques.
    Un maximum de 20 planeurs seront lancés de Darwin le jour même du départ des voitures et continueront par étapes de vol relativement faciles en descendant par le centre du vaste continent de l'Australie. Ce n'est pas l'intention d'entrer en compétition avec les voitures. Il faudra néanmoins que les vélivoles soient assez expérimentés en vol en circuit et qu'ils soient capables de tolérer les températures relativement élévées rencontrées dans la brousse australienne.
    On ne loge pas facilement un si grand nombre de visiteurs et compétiteurs dans une zone fort peu-habitée. La vie sous la tente sera donc la solution pour le plupart d'entre eux.
    La logistique, en ce qui concerne les avions-remorqueurs, voitures de dépannage et équipes de dépanneurs, à travers de très grandes distances , coûtera cher mais, en revanche, il y aura la sensation de découvrir, en vol, une partie méconuue du monde, inconnue autant du sol que de l'air et l'opportunité d'assister à un événement spectaculaire.
    La distance entière à couvrir est de 2695 km, en sept étapes, la plus longue celle de Bond Springs (près d' Alice Springs) à Cooper Pedy (cité d'opales), soit une distance de 621km.
    On suppose que l'événement sera plein d'attractions publicitaires, une rare occasion à exploiter pour la communication du vol à voile.
    Des approches ont déjà été tentées avec l' Université de Stuttgart afin d'obtenir la participation de l' Icare 2, le premier planeur totalement propulsé par l'energie solaire. Cette machine magnifique, preuve de l'innovation et de la technique moderne, réhausserait certainement le côté vélivole de l'événement, si son concours est assurée.
    La fédération de vol à voile de l' Australie a l'intention de demander aux vélivoles du monde de déclarer leur désir de participer et d'assister à une compétition longue distance qui sera unique et mémorable dans une zone qui ne se trouve pas souvent hôte au vol sans môteur.
    L'intention est d'entretenir un Défi Mondial Solaire tous les deux ans à travers le continent de l'Australie.

    (Received by E-mail from Roger Woods, Australia)
     


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