Launch Sites
The main launches are on this hill where Andrew's property is
located. These photos face south-west and west. To the left we've got
the Condamine Gorge, which the easterly and south-easterly launches
are facing. These launches are just behind the top of the hill visible
here. A gravel road (2WD) leads up to the top of the hill and beyond
to the western launches.
Turning a bit further to the right we see the old western launch just at the top of the spur (the open area), and the flatlands behind. A newly cut better western launch is located on the slope behind the spur. Killarney town is about 5km behind the spur.
Eagle's Launch Southeast
The Southeastern launch altitude is 1023m. Both Eagle's launches
overlook the Great Condamine Gorge, with the Condamine river running through.
The bombout is in the valley in front of launch.
Killarney is down to the right at the mouth of the valley on the first picture,
and behind the camera on the second. The last is a panorama of about 270°.
Brosnan's knoll to the right of launch is a useful thermal trigger and provides
an easy escape towards Killarney town, and
the spurs jutting out behind launch work very well, too. From about 10km
over the back, it's open plains as far as you can see.
This is the lush, green state of launch as of November 2007.
Eagle's Launch E
The eastern launch is fairly new and recently grassed over, as the
last pictures show. Altitude is 1002m.
The valley in front leads to the Condamine Gorge in the distance, and the
distinctive bright open area on the ridge on the horizon is Carr's Lookout. These photos face due east. The panorama spans about 180° and shows the newest,
final state (without the tree stumps).
There is a house thermal in front and slightly to the left of launch, which
is fed from the gorge.
A nice grassed launch as of November 2007; things have improved a lot
since 2003!
Carr's Lookout
Carr's lookout, at an altitude of 1093m, is another local flying site
which faces east to northeast. Simon Bolitho, a local farmer owns the site
and has been supporting flying in the area for many years.
Carr's is located right on the border between NSW and QLD and about 15km
east of Killarney Town in the middle of the Main Range. The first
photo shows Carr's Lookout from
the bombout valley facing west.
The flatland behind the range in the next two photos (facing east) is the area around
Maroon Dam and Rathdowney; the last photo faces due north.
Heading over the back from Carr's is hardest as the launch is high and
backed by a high plateau. From Carr's you would head towards Urbanville or
Woodenbong. There is a power line running down the cliff to the east of
the actual launch which may be difficult to see in the late afternoon and
when you are scratching low near the cliffs. The cliffs below launch can
kick off bullet thermals.
Fillon's/New Western Launch
The newly developed Western launch is owned by Sandrine and Oliver Fillon
and is at an altitude of 964m.
A panorama taken during the cleanup work. It spans about 210° and faces
due west.
As the westerly wind comes over lots of country until it hits
the launch ridge, it can get bumpy. There is a house thermal to the south
of the rocky spur and further to the south there are other ridge spurs coming
off the plateau which work as triggers when going towards Stanthorpe
or Woodenbong.
In November 2007 some further work was done on Fillon's launch to improve its
usefulness: the lip at the bottom is gone, and the launch was turfed.
Hoffman's/Northern Launch
Hoffman's is at 1119m and owned by the Hoffman family; it faces predominantly
north. Very picturesque facing the western side of the Great Dividing Range,
it offers quite some height difference down to the bombout. Heading over
the back, you fly over Emuvale. Bombout access is from Emuvale/Rockbrae.
Hoffman's hasn't been flown much but it has a lot of potential.
The first panorama faces towards the northwestern side of Hoffman's, where
the valley in front joins the plains near Emuvale. The other panorama faces
northeast.
