A diary of the Aussie team's journey through the 2007 Paragliding
Worlds at Manilla, Australia
Pilot Profile
Name:
Andrew Horchner
Age: 41, Marital
Status: Just married
Job and how often in a typical week would you fly:
Rope Access Technician. I try to fly at least once a week as I can
step outside my door at home and walk 100 meters to the launch
Sponsor: SE Queensland Paragliding and
GIN Paragliders
1. What equipment do you
use:
Gin Boomerang 4 and soon 5
Woodey Valley X-Rated Pod Harness
Flytec 5030
with a backup GPS Garmin 76s
2. Approx hours airtime:
I have about 3,500 hours of flight time.
3. When did you learn to fly and where?
1992 with Phil Hystek from the SE Qld Paragliding
4. Best site in Oz:
Killarney, it is so good I bought the place
5. Best site O/S:
Chamonix, France
6. Best comp task you’ve
flown so far, the most memorable:
Flying a task in Paedrehita 105kms multiple turnpoint task
and came in with a top level of pilots and racing in over the
goal
line first.
7. Why do you fly:
I love to compete against other pilots and to fly with friends
8. Best flight ever:
Flying over to Canungra from Killarney looking down on the volcanic plugs
of the great dividing range. I was travelling over the ground at a
rate of 98kms per hour as the Hang gliders were struggling flying a
head
wind while I was cruising over the top of them and a great rate of
knots.
9. Worst flying experience so far:
Throwing my reserve parachute
10. What tips can you give to newcomers
to the sport:
when you feel like not flying don't. Don't allow peer
group pressure rule your flying. A good flight is a
good launch and a good landing!
11. Who do you most admire in our sport?
All those pilots who get back on the glider after a bad scare or accident.
They are stronger people then I.
12. What are your other favourite
hobbies/sports:
13. Favourite band and song? None
14. Best book you’ve
read so far?
15. Have you ever thrown your reserve?, if
so tell us about it.
Yes! I Was training for a comp the day before and was in a rush to catch
up so I attempted to speed bar my Boomer III through the edge of the
first thermal and got a cravat. I tried to get it out by full stalling,
tugging on different lines but the glider kept on winding up and overshooting
me so I decided to throw the rag. I managed to land in between two crossed
power lines and a house roof without a scratch. I then spent the next
5 hours untangling the glider with the help of many people.
16. Biggest flying mistake so far?
not flying a day as far as possible in
a AAA comp in Manilla and coming 2nd
by only 3 points. If I glided another
100 meters that day it would of been
enough to win the comp!!
17.
What are your personal flying goals
I want to get the title of National Champion!
18. Where are you going to be in 10
years time and doing what?
The same but maybe in a quieter glider!!
Pilot Profile
Name: Andrew Horchner
Age: 41, Marital Status: Just married
Job and how often in a typical week would you fly:
Rope Access Technician. I try to fly at least once a week as I can step outside my door at home and walk 100 meters to the launch
Sponsor: SE Queensland Paragliding and GIN Paragliders
1. What equipment do you use:
Gin Boomerang 4 and soon 5
Woodey Valley X-Rated Pod Harness
Flytec 5030 with a backup GPS Garmin 76s
2. Approx hours airtime:
I have about 3,500 hours of flight time.
3. When did you learn to fly and where?
1992 with Phil Hystek from the SE Qld Paragliding
4. Best site in Oz:
Killarney, it is so good I bought the place
5. Best site O/S:
Chamonix, France
6. Best comp task you’ve flown so far, the most memorable:
Flying a task in Paedrehita 105kms multiple turnpoint task and came in with a top level of pilots and racing in over the goal line first.
7. Why do you fly:
I love to compete against other pilots and to fly with friends
8. Best flight ever:
Flying over to Canungra from Killarney looking down on the volcanic plugs of the great dividing range. I was travelling over the ground at a rate of 98kms per hour as the Hang gliders were struggling flying a head wind while I was cruising over the top of them and a great rate of knots.
9. Worst flying experience so far:
Throwing my reserve parachute
10. What tips can you give to newcomers to the sport:
when you feel like not flying don't. Don't allow peer group pressure rule your flying. A good flight is a good launch and a good landing!
11. Who do you most admire in our sport?
All those pilots who get back on the glider after a bad scare or accident. They are stronger people then I.
12. What are your other favourite hobbies/sports:
13. Favourite band and song? None
14. Best book you’ve read so far?
15. Have you ever thrown your reserve?, if so tell us about it.
Yes! I Was training for a comp the day before and was in a rush to catch up so I attempted to speed bar my Boomer III through the edge of the first thermal and got a cravat. I tried to get it out by full stalling, tugging on different lines but the glider kept on winding up and overshooting me so I decided to throw the rag. I managed to land in between two crossed power lines and a house roof without a scratch. I then spent the next 5 hours untangling the glider with the help of many people.
16. Biggest flying mistake so far?
not flying a day as far as possible in a AAA comp in Manilla and coming 2nd by only 3 points. If I glided another 100 meters that day it would of been enough to win the comp!!
17. What are your personal flying goals
I want to get the title of National Champion!
18. Where are you going to be in 10 years time and doing what?
The same but maybe in a quieter glider!!
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