Hang gliders here for the Forbes Flatlands competition were happy to see enough blue sky to get into the air yesterday afternoon.
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About 60 hang gliders from 12 nations were towed into the air from Forbes aerodrome yesterday.
Their target was 180km away, towards Nyngan.
While Forbes traditionally presents the competition with some of the best weather for gliding, the week did not start well.
Heavy overcast, rainy conditions had kept gliders out of the sky for two days.
Pilot Simon West from the Hunter Valley is visiting Forbes for the first time and was hoping for a better run before he flew yesterday.
“The conditions today are borderline ... we’re all crossing our fingers,” he said.
West enjoyed a good flight on Sunday, when he flew from Forbes to Tullibigeal.
“This is the first time I’ve stepped up to open competition and I made target in good time, so I was super stoked with that, especially considering the conditions,” he said.
“This is a brilliant competition, it’s so well run.
“We really appreciate the friendly reception from people whose properties we land on too - some of the country hospitality is amazing.”
The Forbes Flatlands hang gliding competition continues until Saturday and the weather forecast is looking more promising for good thermals for flying.
