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Hangola June 8 - 9, 2002

Flight Reports

Arrived at Fisher Road around 12:40P to what seemed soarable conditions and nice puffy cumies dotting the sky. Larry Huffman, J.R., and Doug Wakefield the only pilots present. Set up and gave it a go around 1:30P. Turned right and was met by small, bullet shots of lift and serious sink on either side of the bullets. Hung out by the high point SW of the bowl but was scraped off the ridge. A good SE headwind stopped my progress towards the main field so Anna's field was the LZ (with an expected 90 degree cross). Went down to the notch in the SE corner, slipped a turn heading back towards the mountain, got overbanked, and struggled to get the glider around and pointed down the spine. My left wing was perilously low to the ground so I barely banked the glider and it came around. The groundspeed was very fast (quartering tailwind) and I was headed straight for the telephone/power lines. Decided to just roll on the wheels rather than risk flaring up into the telephone line. Stopped rolling just short of the telephone line. Phew!! Back at launch Larry Huffman gave it a go around 3P and struggled for a good while before getting to 1K' over. Larry went out into the valley, lost it all, and ended up landing in a huge farm field about 2 miles upwind. He reportedly beaked his landing. Brenda picked him up and they headed home. J.R. took off while Larry was still up, and he got to 700' over before he was scraped off of the ridge for the 3rd time. J.R. ended up whacking so hard in the main that the Talon flipped over and J.R. was a turtle. He was OK, and the glider seemed undamaged. By this time Paul Donahue, Deb, Pat Brooks, and Tom Flynn had arrived. I quickly set up again and gave it another go after 4P. Went down to the high point again and hung out there for at least 20 minutes, struggling to get up. Got to a paltry 200' over launch during the time there. Decided to head back towards launch, and was scraped off the ridge. Went out to land in the main field this time. Came in too high, and hit lift in the center of the field. Didn't look good, but a sinkhole on the backside of the lift got me down on the ground quickly. Flared a little early, banged the right corner of the control frame on the ground, and a small bend in the downtube resulted. Better than the trees that were not but 20 yards away. Too much excitement already, but the next landing was another doozy. Tom Flynn came into the field, seemed to be rocked by turbulence on final, whacked hard, and his shoulder took out the right downtube big time. He was OK. After seeing all this, Pat and Doug decided there will be another day and broke down. Back at launch around 7P Paul Donahue took off and got up easily to several hundred over, but the air was still "textured". Left with Deb pondering a flight. Winds all day were SE to S, no SW.

Bacil

There were a lot of people at Ridgely for the fly-in yesterday. It was officially a one-day event, but there will be a lot of activity today again. They had four tugs. Ellis , her dog, and I flew from Bay Bridge to Ridgely in a Diamond Katana (all-composite two-seater - dog in Ellis' lap), then flew back and returned with glider-bearing ground vehicles. I had 5-10 minutes of thermalling time, which was perfectly acceptable for me. Had to leave early 'cause I had tix to Prairie Home Companion at Wolftrap. Gorgeous day and evening! - Hugh

The usual fair of (2)PG's, (4)HG's, and a student flying Bill's new Falcon showed up for L&V conditions. When the light winds blew, the were mostly SSW/SSE and provided some good flights after a strong launch sprint.

A nice lesson/story for the day was Yuri and his 10M Pulse. Yuri had picked up the Pulse a few weeks ago, so it is still a fairly new glider to him. He was dropping his left wing each time on landing. He worked very hard at correcting this, but it plagued him all day. Then he took a look at his glider... he noticed that his left wingtip surface wasn't as smooth and tight as the right. After some investigation, it turned out that his tip did not have the right twist to it. You could see that white straps around the end of the poles were at different angles on each tip. Bill made some adjustments and wouldn't you know it... Yuri imediately started sticking no-step landings!

Lorin showed up with her Falcon and practiced her landing flare timing with Bill. Bill's student, a H2 had learned to fly by boat- towing in FL showed up to continue learning footlaunching. He had to leave early, but got some good flights in the Falcon.

The PG'ers exercised a fair ammount of patience and managed to grab some good flights when what little wind there was blew in strong enough for them to fly.

As for me, I brought my new (used) Supersport to learn to fly it. Norm would approve, I now have a Wills Wing ;) We dubbed it the "Fruit Loop"... you'll understand when you see it (it's hard to miss). I've gotta say, I'm glad I learned to fly in the winter... dragging a glider up embreeville on a hot day kinda sucks. I brought one of those "Camel Back" water backpacks and boy-howdie!... it's my new best freind!

Thanks to Lloyd and JD for cutting down that grass this week! We wouldn't have been able to fly otherwise.

Jim

Saturday Ridgely Fly-In

Highland Aerosports hosted their third annual spring fly-in at Ridgely Airport on Saturday. This is the first I have attended. Sure glad I learned to aerotow last year. Sure glad I went. Sure glad it didn't rain. Sure glad Chad and Sunny have gotten so darn good at throwing a flying party.

I left the house early (7:30) to be sure to miss the beach traffic on the Bay Bridge. Clean, easy drive, no back-ups, and I was there about 9:00. Later arrivals said there never was a bad traffic period, but I was still glad to be an early arrival. Flying had been happening all morning, so I can't claim wind dummy status, but I did go for an early launch at 11:45. Great tow behind Louis in the ultralight tug up from Florida. But I found no lift at all so sledded back down from 2.500 feet in 16 minutes. I had hoped to try for a spot landing, but a glider had landed five minutes earlier and was in no hurry to leave the target area. I did a nice no-step landing on the other side of the windsock from the target.

From my landing I walked immediately back to the launch line and readied for flight #2. Launched at 12:10 behind Louis, again. Spent 1,000 feet of descent looking for lift near the runway, to no avail. However, I found light, broken lift over the trees and swamp at 1,500 and slowly worked back up to 2,400. Two other gliders joined me in the lift. I drifted south, losing those little thermals for a while, and eventually getting back down to 1,600. Found some new lift over the farm buildings, and this time worked up to 3,100. The other two gliders played in the same sky. We saw a group of 6 or 7 gliders at about the same 3K level to the west of the runway. That group eventually left the airport for a short cross country. I stayed closer, but when I decided to land in the main LZ, had not left enough altitude to set up a good approach on the target spot. Another clean 2-step landing across the field from the spot. Total time, 61 minutes, two low saves.

Relaxed and enjoyed the weather and the company for an hour and a half. Feeling great on a beautiful day, I decided to fly again. Few pilots were launching - they thought the sky did not look like it had many thermals working. I launched at 2:35, this time behind visiting tug pilot Joe. He dropped me right at a booming thermal, that I immediately used to reach 4,200 feet. One other glider joined me to play in it. Where were the others? We drifted to the south, and I got down to about 2,400. Found lift under a cloud and learned to track under it by keeping my shadow inside the cloud's. Neat. Got back up to about 2900. The cloud dissipated, the shadow disappeared, and I went searching again. Was down close to 1,500 and found new lift. Had to work a bit to stay in it but took it up to 3,200. Neat, low save #3 for the day. I saw Ellis join me in this one. Finally lost that lift, and headed over to land. Plenty of altitude and no traffic on the ground, so I was able to go for the spot. Looking good.. into the target area... only a little short... waited as long as I could to get close to the center... about 25 feet from the center, flare to my knees! Darn, gotta be on the feet to count. Oh, well. 52 minutes, great top-out, and a low save: good flight!

More social time and enjoying the people and weather and flying stories, and I decided for an early evening flight, as long as the glider was still assembled. Launched about 6:15, behind Joe, again. Found NOTHING. Was back on the ground in 13 minutes. But, I did a great no-step landing right in the spot target! It would have been competitive in the contest, except that the contest ended at 5:00. Missed it by 90 minutes. Oh, well.

Finished the evening with the superb barbecue buffet provided by the Highland Crew. Somehow fitting to find frog legs on the menu - I guess that was revenge for the frog invasion at the 2d annual fly-in deluge.

Full day with four enjoyable flights, surrounded by pilots, kids, dogs, friends, great food, superb weather. And no traffic problems on the Bay Bridge going or coming. Wow. This is the good life.

Thanks, Sunny, Chad, and the entire Highland Crew.

Cragin

I would like to thank Highland Aerosports for hosting a funtastic 3rd annual fly-inn. Weather conditions were perfect with light winds and plenty of lift making for losta soar muscles and cold fingers. Plenty of fun gaggles to fly with marking lift all over the place.

The Highland Crew out done themselves with plenty of tugs and ground crew that kept things moving at a fast but safe pace. I think Chad gave me the quickest tow ever to 2000' the turbo tug is unbelievable I thought I was coming right out of my harness, thanks Chad it was real!! It was great to see so many pilots enjoying themselves in one place.

Congratulations to all the comp winners!!!!!!!

Can't wait for next years 4th annual fly-inn.

Doug.

Super day at the hill. nice turnout including but not limited to: Bill U, Bill,Jerry,Judy,Yuri,Gary, countless students and others. everyone got their fill today. When I left @ 6:30 pm. I had 11 flights and there was still people greedy for more. No injuries as far as I know. It was good to be out again. nice to see so many faces.

As for those wearing shorts, check very carefully for ticks. I found one on my calf and one way too close to my twig and berries. Thanks Llyod and J.D for the grass cutting.

I usually don't report every hop, but I thought it might be of interest to some to hear about folks like John and myself, who after spending too much time driving and waiting, have lots of fun flying PA's countryside. Saturday flying conditions were great for paragliding - light winds and plenty of lift. I launched near John& Siggi's house and used the motor to gain about a 1000ft until I caught the first thermal near cloudbase (-500ft of course). Following a northerly track, hopping clouds, I was able to stay between 1500ft-3500 ft AGL, using the motor only occasionally in big sink between thermals. About 13 miles out I turned around and returned in figure 8 course to the launching site. About 26 miles out and return; 46 mile GPS track (lots of turns!) in 2h:30min with a little more of 2 litters of fuel burned. Cold fingers and lots of fun. Most memorable was to be thermalling with a gaggle of 12 vultures, who were leisurle out-climbing me.

In hope for more light and variable days, Chris

I wish I were better w/ names. Jim Keller, Terry Spencer, Bruce ?, Jim ?, Chris ?, Doug Perkins, Steve Valdez, Carlos, Ray ?, Tim ?, and ... okay, yes.. well, now I've established I'm horrible w/ names. Suffice to say, lots of people came down to Manquin to tow Sunday. Saturday I refamiliarized myself w/ a Sonic 165 (had been flying an Eagle 164 on my past few trips down to MFP) w/ 5 evening sleds. That evening, Steve Wendt deemed me fit for mid-day air the following day and at a bit after 3 PM Sunday, I got my first sled in.

First... let me put my sleds in perspective. I have 51 sleds via truck tow under my belt this year. Perhaps its because I'm truck towing (not yet AT rated), perhaps its because I have only flown with a vario twice, perhaps its because I've been generally flying later in the day... but I have 51 SLEDS under my belt. Too many. I was beginning to have doubts; thinking that all the other pilots exchanged some secret handshake with the sky gods before launch and that I would never be worthy of learning that secret handshake.

Low and behold, however, today at about 3:30, that all changed. With 3 pilots already in the sky, I suited up and got ready for another tow behind the truck. Steve Wendt was kind enough to offer me the use of his Ball M19 vario (now one of my best friends) and off I went. The first 1/2 of tow kinda sucked. I was climbing oh-so slowly. Finally, at the middle of the runway, I found some nice lift and started to climb at a respectable rate. By the end of the tow, I was climbing nicely at the rate of about 800 fmp. I released and immediately headed back to the middle of the field and started turning in some meager 100-200 fpm lift. I circled and circled and after spending some time around 1800 AGL, I finally decided it was safe to zip up my harness (I've been too lazy to do this on previous flights as I would have to turn around only 3 minutes later to unzip for my approach landing). I continued to circle and continued to go up.

I didn't get real high... only about 2450 AGL, but this was the *first* time I ever went UP after releasing from the truck! (yes... I'm still wearing a big, stupid grin on my face from the experience). I eventually found 3 different areas of lift; one that momentarily propelled me up at about 800 fpm. I continued to circle and eventually had Tex fly by in the tug close enough that he was able to call out a whoop of enthusiasm to which I responding with a rather enthusiast whoop of my own.

I flew w/ about 5 other gliders in close proximity, many of us working the same pockets of lift simultaneously. Jim Keller and Doug Perkins were on their own programs, higher and further downwind that the rest of us, but for a bit... I think the other pilots said I was on the top of the stack, but Bruce said he eventually topped out at a bit over 2500.

Alas, all good things must come to an end and a flush cycle commenced. One by one, pilots came down from the heavens. I darted through sink to the three areas of the field I'd found lift before. I found nothing. I did, however, get to gaze at the top of Terry's Talon as he scratched down below me looking for lift. Seems he felt badly thinking he was chasing me out of lift. Really, I was more or less chasing him around the sky, figuring he better what to do to stay up than I did.

Finally, after all but one pilot was on the ground, I did a few turns along the treeline to the north of the field and turned on final. Landing was okay, but not picture perfect, but I was on my feet and wackless.

I managed to stay up for 38 minutes and came back to the set up area to be greeted by many smiling faces all congratulating me for a great flight.

Okay... so now that there's a glider I call my own, when do I get to fly my Sonic again? Oh yea... wait... first I need to buy a little friend of my own. Steve's vario was awesome. I need to get one of those to call my own too.

Thank you again, everyone who was down there cheering me on and I can't wait to fly with you all again!

Holly

Last Saturday, I did something I hadn't done for a whole week; flew my hang glider at the Manquin Flight Park. My last flight there was fairly decent; having logged 3:44. This week, as I rolled my dolly to launch, Steve Wendt offered, 'See you this evening.' Little did I know...

Q began popping before 11 AM, a sure sign that the upper air was as cold as advertised. Base was initially low, 15 hundred, then 25 hundred, and as the air continued to warm during the afternoon, Qbase steadily lifted toward a daily max of 5300' The deep layered, east wind promised to provide plenty-o-moisture for a full day's worth of white puffies aligned in streets. For the really adventurous pilot, I believe it was possible for someone to have flown all the way to the mountains in a very rare flow regime.

As Tex towed me toward 25 hundred feet, I opted to release early @ 2K' b/c the image on my heads-up display showing the tug well above and me way off centerline and banked hard to the right, didn/t match any of the pictures I've seen of HG aerotow operations.

The first two hours were trailer park trashy (over the falls and two slack-wire free-falls while straight-n-level) but the lift was broad and reliably located beneath each Q cloud or haze dome, such that staying up was more or less bullet proof. Had the lift been smoother, the 'No Boating' flags would have been hoisted.

The nature of the air changed for the better during the third hour as there was much less turbulence and still plenty-o-Q. The remainder of the flight was spent the same way as the first two hours; hopping Q2Q, staying high all the while. Very little sink was evident between Q, and what strong sink (-700'/") there was, was a reliable signal that solid lift was just ahead.

Conditions were such that I was able to explore each quadrant of the flight park at distances up to three miles afield. The wind aloft was ~10, so it was easy to ply my SPAM 167 wherever and whenever.

At the start of the fifth hour, the warning light on my bladder came on and stayed on, so I began a slow descent to the LZ but kept running into fat, lifting cores of 4-600 '/". I can be such a slut when it comes to thermals. If any ol' one comes by and lifts my wing or tries to grab the speed bar from my hands, I just don/t have the strength of character to say no. I tend greet each thermal I meet the same way, 'Take me, I/m yours.' I/ve even been known to have gone out with ankle biters.

Having now descended from just shy of 5100', 56° air temperature, and fourteen minutes shy of five hours, I landed cleanly, much to the dismay of some of the assembled masses who were hoping for something a bit more entertaining. Back at the setup area, Jim Kingsley noted that some pilots had shown up after I launched, flown, and had already left the park. It was 6:20 p.m. I had been fighting the war against gravity since 1:20.

Sunday was another stay-upable day at MFP with an unusual number of gliders soaring hither and yon. While it was, in some aspects, not as grand a soaring day as the day before, Mr. Al Luminum did make a rare DT sale and Holly scored her first soaring flight (0:38, 2500'). Truck tow pilots had good success, as forecast by the Truck Tow Soaring Index of -11.

With summer's stagnant heat and humidity looming on the horizon, there won't be too many of these kind of flight park days left, although the upcoming weekend does look kinda promising.

Cast: Roland, Carrigan, Holly, Dave, Terry, Doug, Kinsley, Carlos, Tom ? (new guy from Army), Ray, Bruce, Chuck, Chris, Hank, Karma, Tim, Aero Joe, three tandems, and probably a few others I can't remember or didn/t see.

JK

This is a chronicle of personel jinxes. In fact for a long time the best thing going for me was watching the crew babes run around bare-foot in the grass; at least until Erica figured out what was going on and took evasive action.

I was trying to tow the K-2. Had done it before in mild conditions with no problems, but when I took it up mid morning on saturday The weak link popped at a few hundred feet, then when I tried to flare on landing found out the bridle had wrapped around the speed bar. Only a slight inconvenience, since I was using Ellis's big wheels (which was okay since she was using Cragin's, and then the story gets complicated).

Went up again, and found myself ALL OVER the map on tow, scaring myself silly. Couldn't find any lift, but landed with a no stepper. Went up again, but about 100 feet above the trees found myself going into what verged on a logout, so pinned off, circled around, found the bridle wrapped around the speedbar, and rolled in cussing.

Then I switched to the falcon and the birds were singing in tune again. Until the brand new weak link vaporized at about 1000 feet for no apparent reason. This was the landing that won me second place at the spot landing contest, so I guess the link was my friend after all.

Adam handed me a fistful of weak links this time, and I went up to finally thermal around 4 pm. Did I mention the altimeter function of my vario was on drugs? Strange to see it jumping around between 240 and 360 feet after you've zeroed it on the ground, but a nice kick to the ego after a few turns in a thermal to look over and see yourself at 64,000 feet. Came down and landed 4 feet further from the spot than last time.

Then I traded for Ellis's spectrum, hoping to discover the secret to her longevity. Sweet glider. She pulled up in my falcon right behind me (squawking and hollering about the haunted altimeter), but after boating around for awhile looked down and what should I see, but my own falcon weaving around below me! Aha! That explains everything. Ellis claims she was flying too fast the whole time, but we all know better. So she comes down and before she knows what's happening lands with a no-stepper, then I come down and before I know what's happening slide in on my belly. We got them gliders trained.

So I win a wind indicator for the spot landing, only to find out it doesn't really work: the little fan gets stuck at low speeds. Since it's also a flytec I guess I could send it back with the vario. Or I could just use it as an altimeter, tape it to my vario, and not send either one back. Decisions, decisions.

Brian.

Ridgely was the place to be on Saturday. We got there late, as usual. But it didn't matter. Thermals were cooking all day long. On my first flight I got 1:20, 11 miles and 4200'. I'm still pretty pathetic at going XC from Ridgely. But I was pleased. I landed in a HUGE, mowed yard and the homeowner came over and let me use his phone. A quick phone call to Ridgely and Rich Gren offered to come pick me up. I hadn't even finished breaking down when he arrived. Thanks Rich!

Back at Ridgely, I took a spin on the new LiteSport. For the first time ever in my life, I was dropped off from tow in a thermal (BIG THANKS TO BEN KNIGHT!). I was so surprised to actually continue to go up after I turned away from the tug. Usually I'm down to or lower than 1000' before I find any lift. I topped out at 4500' and figured that I better return the glider so others could try it. But the next person on the list, Sparky, had gone home. So I wandered about a bit until I found another thermal, a weak one at 1100', that took me back up to 4300'. I then started to get radio mesages from Karen that Paul Tjaden wanted to fly the LiteSport. But, gosh darn it, I just couldn't find the down button.

The LiteSport definately has more speed and better glide than the Ultrasport. But like the Sportser I tried a couple of years ago, it wants to wrap up into turns. The Ultrasport will usually just lock into whatever bank angle is chosen. Staying centered in the thermals was a lot more work with the LiteSport-- lots of high siding and lots of pitch input. But it also had some of the qualities of a paraglider. My paraglider surges forward and up as it's about to hit a thermal (my ultrasport does the same thing to a lesser extent). TheLiteSport behaved more like my paraglider giving the feeling of being sucked into the thermals. So finding thermals was easy.

On tow, the bar pressure was more like that of a Pulse (i.e. like a bear) and it was just a tad twitchy. It also weighs a lot more than the Ultrsport. A fun glider, but I still like my Ultrasport better. And then there was that getting down problem. After some more calls about Paul wanting a test flight, I started to shop for some sink but kept running into little bubbles. I then saw Chad's Stealth coming right at me. Uh oh! They sent Chad up to chase me out of the sky? I cranked a few spirals, found some descending air and landed after an hour and forty minutes.

It turned out to be Mike C., not Chad, in the black Stealth doing a test flight. Oh well, it gave me time to fly the orange Stealth 3.

My, what a nice glider. Way twitchier on tow than anything else I've ever flown. I got out of alignment with the tug 3 times but managed to get it back. But the fourth time, at 2300', I was way below and inside and at the verge of lockout. Just as I was about to hit the release, the tug pilot waved me off. It looks like we were on the same page. Off tow, the best way to describe the glider is SMOOOOOTH!. Everything was smooth-- pitch pressure, turning, the VG. I didn't have to crank to bank. It didn't want to wrap up into the turns and you could still bank it way over and push out and it didn't mush. Even though everything had pretty much shut down, I was esily able to work patches of zero sink and even climbed a little. It had a phenominal sink rate, great glide and setting up an approach was no problem. Landing was definitely easier than with the Ultrasport. It's the only glider I've liked more than mine. But I'd have to be way better at towing before I ever considered it. Plus, it's still a bit on the heavy side. When they can make a glider like the Stealth 3 that's easier to tow and weighs under 70 lbs., then I'll consider getting a new glider.

Matthew (when's the next fly-in?? of Karen and Matthew)

Yes, there were a lot of nasty landings in that field that day. Once I stuck a streamer in the field (after the bad landings) the cause was obvious; the prevailing SSE wind was rapidly flip-flopping between blowing straight down the field and funnneling in through the "slot" and small hollow on the east side of the field, creating a sudden switch to a E to NE quartering tailwind, which everyone encountered when they landed.

I think the best way of avoiding this is:

1. Land well down to the S end of the field but still be ready for a switchy/crosswind landing. An added benefit is that this is the only part of the field where landings aren't slightly downhill.

2. Also, take time to set up a wind indicator in the field (we didn't). Although you must land pretty much south in this field, it is still nice to know if you have a cross/switchy/down wind landing coming up so you can prepare.

3. I hate to say it, but I believe that on stronger SSE days, the new "primary" field just isn't going to be safe to land in, and the old secondary field is just as bad as well.

This nasty condition can probably be mitigated somewhat by cutting down the thick clump of trees that I think is causing much of the problem, but it will be a lot of work even if we can get the permission.

BTW, Me and Deb both flew in the evening air; (about 50 min for me and 40 for Deb). When we landed at 8:15 there was no wind at the ground surface and the landings were fine.

...and also, the whole Ritchies Knob LZ (both sides of the road) has been planted in corn this year. A few more weeks and no more landing there until November.

Excellent fun!

The crew at Highland was ready and then some. 5 tugs available. Even more launch carts. A whole slew of groundcrew wearing company colors. Of course, this meant that eveyone would leave their gliders in the setup area all day long. Strange to be soaring around with a half dozen gliders staying up all over the sky while the majority of the fleet remains parked in the setup area. No accounting for taste, I guess.

Didn't get much above 3500' the first flight and decided rather late to bail on the first bunch going XC, seemed too early. (After bailing over the back at the Pulpit last week in the first thing I found, then breaking down 6.5 miles from launch as cloudstreets form up and glider after glider passes by overhead on their way to Emma Jane's, I've gotten a little more discriminating). Ended up scratching over the silos at 600' for a while before turning base to execute what would turn out to be a 3rd place spot landing during a long North cycle. I'd rather be lucky than good any day of the week. They do need to knock down that funky looking antenna next to the hangers, though. Kinda got in the way and made me overshoot a little.

Went up again about 1 1/2 hours later (way cool launching whenever you want, all day long, no line) and this time got up to 4200' or so (base) and decided to go with the the drift and clouds - which were winds light outta the SSE up there; a little stronger and more NE down lower. That directional shear remained pretty much the same throughout the flight. Ended up about runway heading, 16.5 miles out circling around over the water watching the boats cruise around and slowly setting up for a field along the shore. Remembered the sea breeze. Was there a Bay breeze, as well? Couldn't figure out squat doing circles 'cause of the shear; threw a smoke at 400' or so. Winds NW at 5. Ha! Fool me once....

About the same time I figured this out, I determined that the feild was actaully, probably in some sort of extremely baby crop, so I aimed for a spot in a tall grass drainage area along the shoreline side. Nailed it. Good thing, too, as the landowner, while cordial, was extremely concerned that I had not actually stepped foot into his 1" tall soybean field.

He was happy, I was happy, but we should be careful out there. The whole peninsula - practically - is in some sort of crop right now. Just because it is landable, doesn't mean that you should.

3+00 ToT, 16.5 miles (which turned out to be a sorry 5th behind Rick N. & Co., Tom, and Mike Chevalier). Great food. Great Party. Great day.

Next day I blew off setting up the Fusion again in favor of Janet's already set-up Falcon. Man it's fun to crank & bank that little thing. Got my dad a tandem for Father's day. Had Chad pull me up to 3500' just ahead of dad's tandem and formed up on his right wing for a little close fingertip (formation). He really got a kick out of that.

-- Joe G.

OK, Guess I'll add my $. 02.

Would have to agree that the Ridgely crew is great at throwing a party. Nothing was spared to make certain a good time was had by all. They even managed to provide very acceptable weather for the festivities. The only downer of the weekend was Matthew (I'm going to airhog the very last ounce of lift beforeI land and let Paul fly the Lite Sport) of Karen and Matthew. The Dog!!

We arrived late Friday in time to set up camp and find some food with Christy and Richard. I had decided that Sunday was looking better for going XC so had a great time on Saturday hanging around the field and learning to share a thermal with 10 or 12 other pilots. Can be interesting at times! Got about 1:25. I also couldn't figure out why there were so many gliders parked on the ground when soaring conditions were so good.

BTW, Lauren was taking advantage of some smoother air Sat. AM and was doing a pattern tow to 1,000' to work on her approaches and landings. I was strolling around below when I started hearing this voice from above repeatedly shouting" Woo Hoo!". Lauren had found some early lift and was busy working it and obviously having a lot of fun doing it! She got about :30, Not bad for a pattern tow but she did take a lot of ribbing for her serenading everyone.

That night, the food was delicious and plentiful & the partying excellent. I even managed to get to the "finals" of the electric spoons game before I realized I'd probably be shocked into a coronary before outlasting Adam and Scott.

Sunday Morning was spent busily preparing myself for my first XC. I went over the sectional charts with Tom, Dave P. & Steve and showed Lauren where I'd most likely go based on the forecast winds. I checked my radio, made certain I had my cell phone and some water to carry along and talked to Matthew about what to be aware and cautious of when landing out. Then I sat around the airport all day waiting for the lift to turn on. Finally gave up and settled for a 25 min. extendo. Oh well, that's Hang Waiting. Still had a great time and got to fly my first high performance glider. Can't wait for the next one!

Paul Tjaden

I launched at 1:25 and landed 2 hours later. Interesting flight with 3 low saves below 1000 ft. The lowest one I had the pod opened setting up for a landing and saw a dust devil swirling around in a wheat field. Made a bee line for it and reached the column of dust at 420 ft. The rodeo ride smoothed out at about 1000 ft and I topped out at 3900, back on my way.

Another low save over a residential area of Easton from 500 ft. Ball players at a rec center saw me and yelled and waved. Back to 3900 .

During the 2 hours of flight the wind direction shifted gradually from the NE to East. A look at the GPS track log on the computer later showed that in the direction of thermal drift.

When I was over Easton the drift wanted to take me out over a peninsula towards the bay. I went sideways to try to extend the XC farther but sunk out, landing south of Easton. 19.5 miles

The GPS, a Garmin 45 is for sale.

MC

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This page last updated June 11, 2002