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Hangola May 26-28, 2001

I went out to Fisher Road. I figured at least some people would show up, but the place was deserted. At about 3:00 it initially looked good (partly cloudy after apparently raining late AM) so I decided to set up and at least salvage the day by flying in the late foolproof air. There wasn't a soul around, so I was going to be cautious. It wasn't to be; first it turned too NE and gusty, then t-storms started forming all around. Packed it up.

There was probably a 3-4 window of flyability from early to mid afternoon.

Looking forward to chancing it again at Avonmore tomorrow (Mon).

I went. I watched it rain. I went home. Oh well....

Christian

Well, the rain started Friday evening early and continued unabated through most of Saturday, so we didn't even have the Saturday morning marathon of "Where we gonna fly?" phone calls.

Sunday was looking a bit better, although none of the nearby mountain sites looked promising. Mike Chevalier talked to Sunny at Ridgely who reported they had been flying. So Mike and John Middleton decided to head to the Eastern Shore, and John convinced me to join them. We arrived early afternoon to find that although they had been flying tandem lessons in the morning (see Frank & Carol and Bill, below), they skies were a bit threatening. Storm clouds built quickly. John headed home about 4:00, and Mike and I left about 5:00 as the rain was starting. My glider got soaked in the downpour before I reached the Bay Bridge, but almost finished drying in the road wind on the beltway before I got home.

Monday arrived, and John M once more convinced me to give Ridgely a try. He and Mike were both going there again, too. I left my glider at home, figuring that I might get one tandem if lucky, and would not need it. Plus, an empty rack could make me a useful retrieve driver if one of them flew cross-country.

I arrived about 11:30, and found good light conditions, great for beginner tandem flights but not offering much hope for thermal soaring. The overcast was near 100%. Sunny and Chad were busy with several students. Frank and Carol, a friendly couple from Pittsburgh, were staying in a B&B in Ridgely for a week of daily lessons. They were at Highland Aerosports for lessons at the recommendation of Dennis and Claire Pagen. They each had gotten at least 3 tandem flights on Sunday and again on Monday morning. Bill, an intense former A-Team demolition expert and Army chopper pilot, flew a six-pack of tandem lessons. Sunny offered to let him solo, but bill wanted a bit more workout on the tandems first.

I began my own aero-tow lessons with a pair of tandem check-rides with Chad, releasing at 1,500' and 1,000'. These both went very well, so I moved on to solo on an Aeros Target. Two releases at the standard 2,500' gave me really smooth fun flights. On the first I found a bubble and was able to 360 in it for a couple of minutes to maintain, but never really climb. I was gratified that in front of all the other students and instructors, I did pull off two excellent no-step landings. Next time out I will be launching on my own Pulse, and should be fairly close to completing my AT rating.

John Middleton flew twice with great hopes but not much in the way of up. Mike Chevalier had one flight of similar sled-mode, but on his second flight he worked hard for the flight of the day with 22 minutes by careful work of a couple of small thermals. James, a hang 2 from North Carolina was in the local area visiting family, so he brought them out to watch him fly. He also took two flights on the Target. His weak link broke during takeoff on his first tow, but then on his second flight he did much better, giving a proper show to parent and siblings. James and his wife used to live in the DC area, and had had a few lessons with John M about two years ago. When John, Mike and I each left about 6, one late pilot, PK, was contemplating flying the Target that James and I had been sharing. Frank and Carol had returned and were waiting for conditions to smooth out again for another round of tandems.

Cragin Shelton

Who-woulda-thought?

I arrived about 4pm. West winds 15-25mph turning NW at HR. Learned Marc Fink and Rob Millman had arrived and departed. Don't know if they flew.

I launched at 5:15pm after Bob G. Steve Krichton launched next. The air was a bit 'textured' with occasional bullet cores. I landed after 1:20 and 1200 over. The LZ was a bit rowdy and the grass even taller than last week, making for an exciting and less-than-pleasing landing.

Brian VH retrieved Bob and I to assist in the second wave launches. Late launchers were BrianVH followed by Louey T, then Gary Smith. Winds had backed off and conditions appeared to be magic. Back in the LZ, winds were from the S and light.

Gary Smith completed his 3rd H-III pre-requisite spot landing (in spite of the tall grass), landing from N to S, perfectly aligned and just past the cone. Good one, Gary!

'Spark

Well since no one else seems interested in reporting, I guess that leaves the 'honor' to me.

It was characteristic of Seneca Rocks in some ways, and in other ways very uncharacteristic. Friday is historically the best flying day of the weekend, but not this weekend. Rain and lots of it. So I didn't even go. By the time I finished packing it would be to late, so I didn't even start packing until Saturday. Drove through a little rain and some very interesting clouds. Some valleys were total overcast, with lightning to be seen in them, while other valleys were clear and very sunny! Ben and L.E. both flew in one of the sunny valleys, and reported a wonderful time.

Saturday evening was the traditional BBQ, bringing extras to share. I've been experimenting this spring with making corn-on-the-cob on the grill, and it is a skill that I haven't mastered yet - I'm usually eating the corn at the end of the meal. S'mores are a wonderful way to end an evening.

Sunday the early morning sun (uncharacteristic of the area) woke us up. Winds seemed moderate, the forecast looked promising, so up the hill we went. A lot of soaring went on, and like normal the birds do a better job of it than us pilots. We watched numerous ones circling below us, cranking around and ending thousands of feet above us. We still can't do as well as the birds! Ended the day at Seneca Rocks watching the 'cling-ons' climbing around. It was a little cross from the south, but there were some birds able to stay up soaring the cross. Did some biking around the Rocks, and ended the day with another wonderful cook out.

Monday the weather was again gorgeous. It is a wonderful thing to be able to break down the tent dry, and even have the sleeping bag aired out. So many times have we left WV packing up in the rain! I made it past the Rocks and down the valley to the Dolley Sods area for the first time. It is really interesting being that high, and having the top of the highest mountains being relatively flat! Very neat, with wonderful views, being able to see all the way into Virginia!

Overall a wonderful weekend! The weather cooperated, it wasn't too cold to camp, saw some new areas in WV, packed up the car with dry items! And the pictures at http://www.metchorus.org/mountaineer2001.htm will supplement the story!

-Mike Balk

The gang that flew had a good time on Monday at High Point. Winds when we got there were reasonable with a left cross but after Jim, Mark, Mitch, Larry Ball and Homer started setting up, they started cranking. Everyone waited 'till it calmed down then started launching.

Mitch went 50 miles to Martinsburg, Mark went 12 miles to the Highway Dome and everyone else soared awhile before landing in the primary. Despite conditions in the air being SW, reports were that it was relatively smooth.

Sheila

Well, no-one else wrote it up, so I guess I will. Kinda. Haven't had time to dump the contents of my vario yet.

Anyway, pilots trickled in from 2pm onwards: me (supported by Joan, making a very welcome guest appearance at one of our sites), Shawn, Herb, Doug (on a Litespeed under evaluation), Jeff and Alana. After waiting a couple of hours for some ugly clouds to pass over, I finally launched just after 5pm. Everyone followed, and we boated around for as long as we cared to. I think I topped out around 850' over, though I think others got 1000-1200 out of it. I stayed up for a couple of hours, long enough to kick my logbook total over the magic 75 hour mark.

Oddly enough, the wind picked up towards 7pm. It was 26-30 mph up there. Landing was quite gnarly, all of us getting fairly kicked around between 500' and 200' over the field.

Antoine and Terry showed up to do some PG LZ improvements, but the conditions never got close to being bagwing-friendly.

Bill hitting-the-books-for-the-test Buffam

Natalie and I arrived in the L/Z around 4:30pm friday night. The rain held off just in time for us to set up the camper and get our gear stowed. Friday night was a total wash out, but thanks to our neighbor George and his travel trailer with the 20' awning we stayed dry and comfortable as we all sat around the 1/2 keg of keystone light. Wayne Boulden had the flight of the day saturday, actually it was the only flight but he did fly and he walked around the rest of the day with a big smile on his face. Keith and I decided to ride our bikes up to launch and watch conditions as it blew hard from the southeast. Saturday night we held the elections. Everything stayed the same except Shawn McDuff is our new President! We also set a date for a work party at the Kennedy launch, this will be held the weekend (saturday) before the fourth of July. We were informed from the local pilots that it needs a serious hair cut, mostly chainsaw and industrial type weed whips with the ninja blades. Any help would be greatly appreciated. After the meeting the stars came out and we had an awesome campfire into the morning hours. Sunday was a travel day for us, we were packed up and on the road by noon. We stopped by Dennis and Claire's house on the way home to pick up a demo glider. It's a litespeed 4, I will have it on my truck going from one flying site to another getting as much air time as I possibly can untill I deliver it to Highland for the fly-inn this June. If anyone is interested give me a call and maybe we can set something up. If not it will be down at Ridgely for the big party and probably for some time after. I've had one flight on it so far in pretty strong conditions and it was really hard to get a good feel for how it handles, but I can say its launching and landing characteristics are very favorable.

Doug.

Monday 5-28-01 Dickey Ridge: Pete Schumann 2hrs.2200, Tom McGowan 1/2hr., Terry Spencer 1hr. and Ed Reno, some what cross tough conditions,low saves. Since there was time left to fly we packed up and went over to Woodstock. Tom M. ? 1000+-, Terry S. 800+- 1/2hr. and Pete S. 900+- 1/2hr. Pete and Tom landed over the back 8:20pm. Terry landed at the bridge field we all got rides up and home at O dark 30... Tuesday 5-29-01 High Rock: Bob Gillisse, Steve Kinsley, Tom McGowan, Joe Schad and Pete Schumann nice PM. flying. Pete Schumann

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This page last updated June 1, 2001