The 32nd FAI World gliding championships in Uvalde Texas has been billed as the Olympics of Gliding with 120 pilots from 40 difference countries. All roads lead to Uvalde which is at the cross roads of two major highways. Highway 90 runs east west from Florida to Los Angeles ; Hwy 83 runs from the Mexican boarder to Canada and to demonstrate the importance and the support for this competition they shut down Hwy83 for an hour. This enabled all the teams to take part in a pageant finishing with a parade around the Honey Bowl sports ground where we attend the official opening ceremonies; including a fly pass of the P51 Courages Glen piloted by 24 year old Conrad Huffstutler.
The town of Uvalde is certainly putting on a huge welcome for all the international pilots and guests. The hospitality of the Texans is overwhelming, they have opened up there homes for us to stay in, lent us their cars and opened up their pools for us to cool off and enjoy. Many of the businesses in the town are sponsoring an international team by providing us assistance with anything we need plus each team will have a special dinner function put on by our sponsors. The Australian team is being sponsored by Roadrunner Energy, suppliers of all propane needs for over 30 years.
