Gawler Airfield
The general layout of the Gawler Airfield is shown in Figure 1.
The airfield is situated Lat 34.36.05 S Long 138.43.02 E, approximately 2 km west of the Gawler township and 40 kilometres north of Adelaide, the capital of South Australia. The Adelaide Soaring Club has operated from the Gawler Airfield for over fifty years.
Take Off Grids and Tie Down Areas
The airfield has two runways. Runway 31/13 is 1400 metres long and is comprised of compacted clay and gravel. Runway 05/23 is 1700 metres long and has a bituminous surface. The runways are currently edged by 300 metre grass verges which will be extended to accommodate further take off grids.
Take off grids and tie down areas will accommodate up to 120 gliders.
Launching will be from bitumen strips on the main runways.
The landing area available at Gawler is comparable with that available at previous World Championships. With the exception of the designated tie down area, the entire airfield is available as a landing area.
Hangarage will be available for competitors needing to undertake repairs, but not for general use. Security patrols will protect tied-down gliders at night.
Water
The airfield is connected to a permanent supply of filtered water from the local water authority, and adequate points are available from which water ballast can be taken.
For the convenience of competitors and their crews, an International
Village will be established on the perimeter of the Gawler
Airfield.
The organisers have an area set aside near the main
hangar for a Team Village.
This will comprise of individual caravans for teams who require them.
They will be in a shady area and have power
connected. Teams can use the caravans for team meetings, storage etc. They
can not be used for overnight accommodation.
The caravans can be made
available at a cost of $AU600-00 for the 3 weeks.
Team managers requiring
this accommodation must contact 2001secretary@gfa.org.au
Facilities at Gawler will include a large air conditioned hangar - converted for meal and bar facilities. The closing ceremony will also be held in this area. adjacent to the tie down area and will provide the following facilities:-
Tasks will be set within the area bounded by 30.00.00 S - 36.00.00 S and 137.30.00 E - 143.00.00 E. The boundaries of the overall competition area are shown in Figure 3.
The potential to fly tasks in excess of 1000 km, while remaining over populated and landable areas, exists within the area. Challenging tasks can be set which can then be flown with a high degree of safety. Terrain within the area is generally flat or gently undulating with cleared fields larger than 50 hectares normal. Three narrow and relatively low ranges (1160 m max) run to the north of Gawler. Natural bushland exists in some segments of the area, but landable fields are well distributed.
Gawler has held many successful soaring competitions including State and National Championships. During these no accidents attributable to the site or surrounding terrain have occurred.
Numerous flights in excess of 1000 km have been made from Gawler and the current Open class National Records for out and return distance (1016 km) and 15 metre speed around a 1000 km triangle were flown from this site.
Eight gliding clubs (excluding Gawler), with sites suitable for practice, are situated within the proposed contest area. There are numerous airfields which are not permanent gliding sites that could also be used with minimal prior planning.
Airspace
The Gawler Airfield and parts of the contest area encroach on military airspace.
Special airspace clearance arrangements are routinely negotiated for Nationals and State competitions conducted from the Gawler Airfield and assurance has been given by the relevant authorities that this same concession will apply for these Championships.
