Conditions look excellent. We can see the cloud on the horizon, it looks huge. The motorgliders launch followed by Angus and Ken. I am surprised at how quickly its approaching. My engine is not starting I cannot believe that I'm going to miss this. Its getting close now as I abort the idea of launching into the approaching gust. I finally get to see this thing from the ground. A guy from the pub when asked what it was like he said "Have you seen Independance Day" that describes it perfectly. This massive ominous cloud blocking the light.
2stroke is behind me as I yell out to him about the gust front. I point the glider to where the gust will be coming from and the wind dies away to nothing. The gust front hits as the cloud passes overhead. I look up and can see Ken. It doesn't look like he made it in front of the cloud but he has. Ken later describes his epic flight in his FUN. He flew to Escott then hopped across 4 successive Morning Glories until finally restarting in the air and returning to Burketown. Angus also caught the main cloud, an excellent present for the birthday boy. Paul the pilot later described that he saw Angus as he flew past in his plane and watched Angus get blown over the back off the main cloud. Paul even managed to snap a couple of photos of Angus falling over the back. This cloud looked huge from the ground but the top was only about 1500ft high, perfectly formed.
A succession of glories pass. I decide to try and catch a the fourth or fifth one. I takeoff and head for the wispy cloud marking the front of the cloud. I encounter lift and stop the engine. I climb to 2500ft and I'm still below the cloud. Later, I find out that the first one topped out at 1500ft. Ken found each successive glory's lift went higher and the cloud was also higher. Maybe as each cloud passes its pushing up the inversion.
The cloud dissipates rapidly then I hit sink. I land on the side of the road a few k's past the Escott turnoff. I start my engine, wait for a break in the traffic and walk to the middle of the road. I launch into a nice headwind. I stay low about 350ft where there is less wind as I fly along the road back to the airstrip.All hanggliders return to the strip under their own steam. Everybody had a great time. Ken, Angus and 2stroke all got their first Morning Glory flight. I was happy with my self retrieve but vowed not to be slow getting off the ground again.
We were all back having breakfast by 9:30am