SAFA Skysailor Magazine

34 SKY SAILOR September-October-November | SPRING 2026 This event was our biggest yet. Back in May (the Fourth be With You), the Jedi Glide Academy had attracted just under 20 Mintys, this time we’d nearly doubled that number. The format is simple; each Minty is as- signed a mentor for the day, Senior Safety Officers control launch and offer site briefs and advice, and I herd the cats and make speeches. Mentors chat to Mintys on the ground, give them the chance to ask ques- tions about anything, and then take to the air to show the way. Mentoring is not instruction and each Minty is ‘pilot in command’ and respon- sible for flying and landing safely – only general safety calls are made on the radio, this isn’t coaching. After a hilarious welcome speech from the Canungra Club President (me), and a serious landing field brief from the SSO team, the travelling circus travelled to launch. Hinchies is a beautiful, manicured lawn set on the side of a 500m AGL plateau in the Scenic Rim Region, South- east Queensland. A brief speech from me (shorter but still hilarious) was followed by a serious site brief from SSO Team. Return of The Jedi Ewok Dave Gibbs points out his forest home Photo: Allen Weynberg