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Hangola January 2, 2000

Dan Tomlinson and I headed down a bit late on the 2d to get in a training hill day as our first flying of the year. The forecast was S to SW, 5 to 10. Yeah, right. We arrived shortly before 2:00 to find John Middleton with a class of 4 students, on lunch break. The wind was HONKING and they told us it had been like that for an hour. We set up and waited out the lulls to get some flights.

The wind tended to be 15 to 25, with a lot of the time at 20, and a few gusts near 30. We didn't fly when it was like that. Dan and I each got in three flights. John's students got in 6 to 8 each. He will probably report on them. I was trying various gliders, flying Dan's Mark IV 19, John's Mark IV 17, and one of John's Falcons. It was fun getting the feel of each. I really liked having the Falcon for the last flight of the day - 15 fewer pounds to carry back to the top at 4:30!

The gusts and thermals were interesting. On my first flight I got into two brief areas of sudden lift, and flew out past the edge of the pond. I think that is the farthest I have ever had to carry the glider at Taylor's. The wind was strong enough that it was a day to practice launches and landings, not fancy turns.

What a beautiful way to start the year! 60 degree, shirtsleeve flyable weather. Not a day to be indoors! See you all on the mountains, soon!

Cragin S

And this is the day I pick to finally get my checkout and Bi-annual in the 172!

Brilliant planning. Winds aloft were strong enough to require a 30 degree crab to maintain course at full cruise. I'm guessing 50 mph at 5-6k. A little bumpy down low on approach but not as bad as might be expected - still, glad I wasn't in a HG trying to put her down that day.

-- Joe

Pretty nice. Sunny and warm (65 or so) and blowing in a little. A paraglider pilot (Fred {?}) was first off followed quickly by Billy Vaughn. They struggled for awhile but eventually lost it. So the rest of us, Me, Tom and Claude, decided to wait. Waiting is not my specialty.

I am a waiting impaired individual. But I managed to hold out for half an hour or so and lo it got better and we soared. Modestly perhaps but hey... 500 over was good. 300 was usual. I think we all made 700 once.

Ya shoulda been there.. ps I think the road is actually getting a little better. Some of the bigger holes are filling up with random transmission parts. Tom's truck made it up w/o any obvious damage

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This page last updated January 3, 2000