|
Name: | Steve Nagle |
| Glider: | Ozone Mantra M6 | |
| Flying For: | 22 years | |
| AU Rank: | 15 | |
| WPRS: | 390 |
1. Where do you mostly fly?
Manilla, Bright, Canungra.
2. Which pilots most influenced you?
Brian Webb. All Aussie comp pilots I have flown with.
3. Where and what was your most memorable flying experience, best flight ever?
I had an amazing flight in Oregon last year where I took an aerial tour of the most stunning volcanic geology, had the full variety of booming climbs, tricky transitions,and some low slow saves. I flew the last few hours in gently restitution along the side of a dried lake, landed at sunset, got picked up and ate at a REAL cowboy pub.
4. What is your favourite flying site in your State?
Manilla.
5. What is your favourite site in Australia?
I can't pick one - I love the variety most of all.
6. What is your favourite site in World?
Again variety is what I like the most, but the European Alps are stunning.
7. What is you favourite item in your flying kit and why?
My pimped up Kobo + BlueFlyTTL. It's geek heaven with no end to the ability to modify it.
8. What do you believe to be your strongest flying skill?
Staying in the air (most of the time).
9. What do you believe to be your weak link?
Being too hesitant / reluctant to risk landing early.
10. What equipment do you use, Harness, Instruments, etc?
Ozone M6, Woody Valley GTO, flymaster B1 Nav, KoboGlo with BlueFlyTTL, spot.
11. Best comp task you’ve flown so far, the most memorable?
US Nationals 2014 at Chelan - 200km task with something like 50 in goal.
12. Why do you fly?
For the challenge of cross country flying - like areal orienteering from thermal to thermal - and to be able to visit the most amazing territory from above and cover huge areas.
13. What are your personal flying goals?
For me it's not distance per se, but to make the most of each flying day. Along with that I'm still looking out for the right day to fly a 150km triangle in the flats, and to fly from the Hunter Valley to Manilla.
14. What tips can you give to newcomers to the sport?
Don't measure your fun or achievement in km. If your good day turns bad when you find out your mates flew further you're focusing on the wrong thing. Set yourself goals for the day which, in pursuing them, will improve your flying. A great one for lower airtime pilots is simply to be airborne for 4 hours (or less / more to give yourself a realistic challenge). Another might be a valley crossing or other transition.