December 22 - Rest day Called in honor of Herbert Weiss

Dear Gliding Friends and Fans:

It was officially announced a the 10 a.m. briefing that the pilot involved in the fatal crash yesterday was Herbert Weiss, "29", of Germany. Of course, we all knew who had lost their life, but the family needed to be informed. The soaring world has lost another one of the many special people that make our sport so interesting. Today will be a rest day as the consensus of he pilots was that we should honor Herbert and take time to remember him. International racing pilots are an elite family and our family is one short this morning.

The facts are as follows: While coming out of the 2nd turnpoint, 075 Siberia, Herbert, in his ASG-29 impacted terrain with high energy on a spine about 300 meters from the top of the northern ridge. The winds were out of the Northwest at 5-15 mph, with mild turbulence in the area. The loss of live telemetry enabled Gavin Wills, with Steve Jones (GBR) analysis, to go directly to the crash site once the last competitor was home. Gavin saw the wreckage and Herbert's body thrown some meters from the aircraft. It was immediately apparent that it was probably not survivable. Gavin landed at the Makaroa Airstrip and waited for the SAR helicopter from Queenstown to pick him up. On arrival a the crash site, the -29 was inverted with serious damage to the underside of the cockpit, ground debris on the undersides of the wings, and the perspex and contents of the cockpit strewn in a fan shaped pattern up to 100 meters from the initial impact site. Everything points to a a high energy impact with terrain. These are the facts as we know them. How this happened we will never know and have no right to speculate on.

Speaking as a pilot, I think if I would have to leave this earth, I would prefer it be while flying in such a wonderful soaring heaven as Omarama and to have it come quickly. All indications are that this was the case with Herbert.

Who did we lose? A 59 year old teacher who had been gliding since 1969,(just a little after I first arrived on this earth). He leaves a wife and two children. A two time German National Champion and former member of the German Gliding Team, Herbert had over 8,600 hours in gliders with most of it flying cross country and racing in every type of task area. Herbert was a competitor. He came to New Zealand to win this championship - he told this to everyone at the field here. He was doing what he truly loved when he died.

What can I say about Herbert? I had only known him since I arrived here at Omarama on December 6th, but a kinder man nor a better glider pilot I have not met in this sport. Always with a smile on his face, a friendly "hello Tim, how was your flight?" each morning, a wonderful gentleness with our daughter "Baby Sarah", and a wonderful sense of humour. He was a person we get into this sport to meet. Talented, complex, and focused, Herbert was a great glider pilot.

I will carry away two memories of Herbert on the day he was lost to us:

Firstly, his inadvertent "mooning" of team TM on the grid while changing into his flying gear. It brought a welcome break of the tension in the pre-launch grid for us and the other pilots around him. And yes, he appeared to have on clean underwear :-)

Secondly, my last sight of him was from behind (as usual) and him pressing into the Lindis Ridge and getting away a good few minutes ahead of me and others. His swooping, aggressive style was glider racing perfection.

I am sorry I did not have the time to know Herbert better.

We go into the breach each day racing gliders, confident in our ability to handle all conditions and situations. Sometimes we cannot do justice to the challenges and sights we see while racing gliders, but we owe it to our wives, children, and friends to do our best to come back so we can share these wonders with our fellow racers and our families. Please be safe out there.

Sincerely, Tim McAllister
Team TM
FAI World GP Gliding Championship
Omarama, New Zealand
December 22, 2007