What I had know but not realized until today was how important the work I have been doing with the OzFlarm collision detection system. The ‘gaggle’ which is the huge number of gliders in a thermal climbing is really dangerous… And too many pilots have been killed by a mid-air collision. At an event earlier this year there were aparently six near misses, or which two were really really close near misses. Gliding is apparently one of the most dangerous sports.

Most of the world champion gliding pilots have had collisions that they have survived – which surprised me. And this is why the people at the competition were so enthusiastic about having out device in their planes. I have some software to be modified, but it seems to be mostly doing what it is supposed to. This is fantastic news.

I think I have travelled about 500km today. Correction: I have driven about 500km today. I also went in the glider so that was more distance. Driving back was not too bad, but took longer than I expected. I ended up coming back via the putty road and Windsor. I decided not to come back via Newcastle this time… Maybe my next trip up north…

The Putty Road is always interesting… I have not been on it for such a long time, and it does not seem to be as twisty as I remembered it. I think I actually enjoy bits of this road.

But one day I will have to do a day trip to Putty to visit. It is in a valley about 4km off the main road. It would be good to see what it looks like. On the Putty Road you dive though a number of valleys – and it is such amazing country. I could just imagine the name of any of these being called ‘The Secret Valley’…