Wave Flying from Bunyan
One of the few Gliding sites in Australia to experience wave!
As the Westerlies build into Spring, the opportunities to fly high from the Canberra Gliding Club abound. The Snowy Mountains push the Westerly breeze up, and then it can be seen to bounce east across the basin and out to the coast. On those days where you can see the beautifully smooth lenticulars lined up, its a sure fire sign of the wave in action.
But how does 'wave' work? Much like a stone in a river, when air meets the mountains it splits up to go around and over. However when the mountains form a range, the air has no choice but to go up. The stronger the wind, the higher it goes. But as reaches an apex, the air comes back down towards the ground, and this turning point is where those smooth lenticulars are shaped by the air bending back to earth. Once the air comes back down to the ground, it will usually 'bounce' due to the complex science of differential temperature oscillations, often doing this multiple times in a row, and forming parallel 'streets' of wave lift downwind.
High and Far
Wave flying in itself is not inherently dangerous, however it creates a unique environment which can be hazardous to the unfamiliar or unprepared. Wave can take you as high as 20,000 or 30,000ft on the right day, which puts the pilot in a low oxygen, low temperature environment, and often with challenging meteorological conditions. The are serious safety implications with respect to preparing the glider, equipment, navigation, radio, and airspace, as well as the fitness of the pilot or passengers. Safety comes first, always, so pilots need to be aware of the risks and possible consequences, their emergency actions, and be prepared for any of them. Visiting pilots should note that dual flights with a local qualified instructor maybe required prior to wave flying from Bunyan in their own aircraft.
Bunyan Wave Soaring Rules
Rule 1. You have to be there
Rule 2. You have to take a launch
Rule 3. It's only fun when it is done safely
Rule 4. Prior Preparation Prevents P*$s Poor Performance
Rule 5. Notch it or botch it!
Rule 6. If in doubt, head upwind first
Rule 7. New batteries always; cold used batteries die fast when needed most
Rule 8. Keep warm - more layers beats bulk
Rule 9. Altimiters usually unwind faster in sink than they wind up in lift
Rule 10. Every wave flight is a cross-country flight, no matter the glide angle
Articles by club members on their wave experiences
Jon Blacklock - It's Cold Up Here, and I Really Need to Pee
Rick Agnew - Sky Surfer - How to Fly the Wave
Monaro Post - Article on the 2018 Bunyan Wave Camp
Bunyan Airfield
Located an hour South of Canberra, 10mins past Bredbo, and 15mins from Cooma, Bunyan Airfield on the Monaro Highway is home to the Canberra Gliding Club.
Visitors please follow the road to the clubhouse, or pull up next to the horse float if we have aircraft operating on the runways.
