SAFA Skysailor Magazine

33 SPRING 2026 | September-October-November SKY SAILOR Return of the Jedi (Glide Academy) by Allen Weynberg, CHPC President A long, long time ago (8 August 2026), in a galaxy far, far away (Canungra, Queensland)… I’m in the bomb-out at Hinchies for the second time today, and I couldn’t be happier. Okay, I’d like to be up there, under that fluffy cloud with the group of mentors and their PG2s, eyes wide and grins wider, but here suits me fine. There’s a warm fuzzy glow; we are doing a good thing. As I pack, another Minty wobbles into view, lands a bit downwind, rolls in the grass and stands up with a loud whoop! That sums up the day – safe and happy. The third in the series of mentoring events run by the Canungra Hang Gliding and Paragliding Club was held on a beau- tiful, sunny, light wind, slightly thermic Saturday at the beginning of August. While much of Australia shivered, Queensland enjoyed fantastic winter flying. My constant prediction of perfect weather on the chat group in the lead up to the event must have been heeded by some deity, and over 35 low airtime PG2 and PG3 pilots (Mintys) gathered with 30 or so experienced club pilots (Mentors) at 8:23am in the car park below the famous Hinchies launch, near Canungra. Sermon on the ute – Photo: Jonny Durand