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Hangola January 11-14, 2001

I am now officially a towhead.

After 1 early Tandem to 2k and three solo tows on a Falcon, I'm now ready to try it in soarable conditions. T-shirt weather and more of the same tomorrow.

'Sparks

Bill Garrison got off his first two mountain flights today, into the tertiary and then the secondary at Fisher road. Light to zero wind. His flights were flawless, at least as well as I could see up at launch without my glasses. Mark and Sheila showed up to drive - what pals! I'll let Bill describe all the snowy muddy details as he sees fit. Up to this point he's done mostly training hill flights with Richard polished off by a series of lessons and solo pattern tows under the guidance of Sunny and Chad. All the work shows.

BrianVH.

Brian Vant-Hull finally fulfilled many peoples dreams by throwing me off a mountain. But much to the dismay of those many people, I survived.

The air was quiet, blowing in a little bit on the first flight, and dead on the second. Not too bad for a first time off in a Falcon. Both flights were, of course, just a nice sled down to the landing zone. It made for an easy first time out.

Never again will I land in the tertiary field and carry a glider through the snow (...okay, Brian helped...) I'll land in a tree if it saves me that walk. :)

Thanks much to Brian, Mark, and Shiela for ushering me through the process.

Afternoon on Thursday was better. I flew twice on a Falcon for a total of 6 flights that day. Both were 30 minute extendos, topping out at about 3k and 3500. The late afternoon air was great! I learned that towing in thermals requires a bit more pitch input.

Bob Gillisse flew three times, once to 10' with a weak link break, another early release at 900', and a 1 hour soaring flight to 4k after a low save.

I took an early flight (noon-ish) and learned that the K3 tows well (with a fin). The mid-day flight was just over 90 minutes. I took the first thermal to cloudbase at 4k and played around in the mist for awhile before hopping a few clouds upwind toward I4/29 intersection. I snapped a roll of film at base.

Mike Waters is here with his sailplane. He is getting back into HG after a few years off. Today he flew his sailplane (towed it behind the tug!) I enjoyed a few turns in the same thermal with him, but couldn't keep up.

Weather is warm, tshirts. I'll go again at 4:30.

More later ...

'Spark

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This page last updated January 15, 2001