Flying With Eagles

Its not really a fancy title that I made up, its how it really went.


When I first spotted the eagle and started following him

The forecast was for South to Southeasterly winds prevailing, with moderate strength that makes it dead straight on Everton Ridge - The Pines. So I headed off and met with my fellow local airmen at the landing paddock, right there the wind didn't seem to be blowing as it was still as, so we decided to go and have a cup of coffee at the Everton Bakery and see what the weather brings us. As we sat there, we noticed a bit of movement in tree leaves but it wasn't quite enough. Anyway we left the bakery and headed up the hill where The Pines launch is, and not to lift anyone's hopes, the wind up the top was nothing more than some light puffs into our miserable face. That was the case until Late in the afternoon where a more consistent 10-15 knots breeze came through and everyone decided to have a go. I had my glider half set up by then so it didn't take me too long to get organised and be the first to launch and watch others while they're getting set up.



The eagle getting closer as we were soaring the ridge face

While I was soaring the ridge lift (I was about 300ft), I noticed an eagle just catching the same elevator as mine and started getting closer to me, so I kept on following him with every direction change he took, this guy knew where the best patches of lift are as my variometer kept singing all the way as I followed him. And because of his lighter weight, he kept on getting closer to me until we were less than a wing span apart where he noticed my intrusion and took evasive action. However it didn't take us much long to make friends with each other as he didn't seem to mind my company, we just had to keep a minimum separation and everything was fine.


Sneaking Behind

A few minutes after that as I followed my comrade to the eastern side of the ridge that I didn't dare to come along on my own, because if the wind suddenly drops off I'll have no where to land but in a crusty old loudmouth farmer's paddock, but I thought these eagles are so good at it and I'm sure he wouldn't bother to go across there unless if its really pumping. And to my surprise, the other family members turned up, another eagle (I guess partner eagle) with a little eaglet, and we all flew over the eastern side of the ridge topping up our heights, and I had an awesome flight with them for about half an hour where the other pilots started taking off which pushed my sky friends to say good bye, its too crowded for us.


Hello Sky Mate


Heading East


Tell you what, they never like it when you are above them

These eagles that I flew with belong to the Wedge Tailed - Eagle Breed, Australia's largest bird of prey, and one of the largest eagles in the world.

A Wedge Tailed Eagle


Back to flying with birdmen, formation flying


The wing of a Birdel

Flight Withdrawal Symptoms

Its been a while back since last I had this updated, well I just get a bit lazy which is not uncommon for me when it comes to online staff. I actually did have some interesting flights even after summer had finished, one in which I clipped a downtube as I landed in a wind rotor, and that added a little to my tight budget, but anyway I had some fun.


View Over The Buckland Valley


View Over Mt Buffalo's Gorge

Nowadays I see we are heading into a cold and wet winter, unlike last years winter when we had the drought and I managed to get some nice flights. Mt Buffalo is the hit in fine and sunny weekends (which hasn't happened really in three weeks) as granite rocks heat up much better than wet ground when the sun shines upon them, that produces some light thermals making the air buoyant for extended flights, something in the range of half an hour.


Launching From Mystic Hill In Bright

Ah, one more thing, I'm flying back to Jordan for a month this summer (during OZ winter), but this time I'm going to be a passenger enjoying my window seat view. I know its going to be tempting watching summer clouds over there in Jordan and not being able to fly, especially the fact that wind patterns have a touch of west in them over summer (and hence more moisture in the air) which improves lapse rates and climbs underneath cumulus clouds, anyway I'd better not daydream too far off.


Just After Having My Flight Fix!! Fulla Life