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Hangola July 4 - 8, 2002

Flight Reports

Dave Proctor, Gary Smith and myself showed up at the Pulpit yesterday. Others dropped out due to heat and threat of thunderstorms. Dave launched first and got up right away. Gary launched second and landed 30 minutes later, breaking a downtube. Just as I was about to head to the bar and round up a launch crew, Jose? , a pilot who flies a Mosquito, showed up and helped launch.

Got to 1200 over quickly and hoped to head over the back but sunk out to very rough conditions around the LZ. 2-3 ft high corn and chest deep hay strips made for an un user friendly field, I hit the edge of corn and broke a downtube. Gary hit hay and broke a downtube also.

Dave got over the back and landed north of Waynesboro for 23 miles. Very hot but no thunderstorms. Where was everybody? MC

All those who wussed out,

Shoulda been there. Turned out to be a nice day at the Pulpit. Launched at 1:30 and climbed to 1500 over pretty quickly and left. Abundant clouds and good lift. Never got above 5200 MSL, base looked to be around 7K. Thermals were pretty strong down low but diminished with altitude til they weren't strong enough to climb any higher around 5K. Made it across the valley but got bumped up against the Michaux tree expanse at 4.9K. Hung a right and ran all the way down to NE of Waynesboro with hopes of getting high enough to cross where it was not as wide. Sank out for 23.9 miles straight line distance, 2:35 airtime. Mike Chevalier picked me up before I could finish breaking down. Thanks again Mike. So hot where I landed that the tar on the road was melting.

Dave

Went to Ellenville this week. Arrived Weds. afternoon. Got signed off with protocol in time for a sledder. Thurs., Katy and I (along with most of the locals) hung out on launch waiting for conditions to improve. Temps in the LZ and on Launch were extreme. Launched at 3:30 and enjoyed the AC for an hour and half. Hadda really nice landing just 15ft. short of the spot. That was especially rewarding after watching Paul Voight's "Whack Tape" a millon times! Ellenville was also the first place I ever saw a HG... twenty years ago!! It was great to come back and fly the site.

Because of the heat. We had decided that we'd leave for Va. Fri. morning (in spite of the forecast). Driving home, it looked as if Ellenville would be blown-out anyway.

Got home, unloaded the truck..... all but the glider!!.. and went to WS! Threw Hugh off, and then enjoyed an hour and a half of glass!

Thanks to Tom.. I didn't have to hike up to retrieve my truck! Whew! That woulda been brutal!

Terry

Holy BooYah!

Everyone flew (even Tony) and I think most broke personal records. I'd place bets that everyone soared too... it was just that good. People were landing because after the first three or four hours, well they had to pee (others held it). Sometimes it was scratch and sniff, other times it was "where's the sink!?". Friday was blown out most of the day. I don't know of much bent aluminum and I don't think there were any broken people. It was all smiles in the LZ.

What a weekend!

Jim

Airtime to be had by all! Once in the gate... thanks Jeff! A relativly low turnout early on but picked up after about 2:00pm. Got my highest flight yet @ 2300 over the LZ. (thats where I reset my vario when I turned it on) subtract launch hieght. Stayed up for an hour plus. Didnt like the new harness much. anyone interested in a Aeros comp harness in exellent condition let me know. I got it real cheap, so can you! Trades also considered.

Rooney flew his new sting and tooled about near launch for a while, and got up a little more on the second flight. Bill U. indulged in some evening slop for around an hour before landing in a pretty trashy LZ.

all in all a good day but also a long one. next time will make a weekend out of it. I wasnt woth a damn at work on Fri. Hanggliding hangover or something non alcohol related. see ya out there

Before I launch into my imitation of St. Exupery ("for I have loosed the surly bonds of earth..."), I want to pose a question to the list-serv: can there be such a thing as too much lift? I had the experience yesterday at Woodstock (thanks to Tom McGowan, Dan Tomlinson, and Terry Spencer) after an hour of lingering (malingering?) between 500-1000 over launch of suddenly catching at about 5:30 abundant, steady lift that seemed to be everywhere, including over the LZ. As I clocked effortlessly up to 5500 MSL (3400 over launch) it occurred to me that maybe I SHOULD be looking this gift horse in the mouth: would I have trouble getting down? By locking my elbows straight on the bar at my thighs, I was able to achieve in my Falcon a rock stable 1000 feet per minute descent. Can one achieve something beyond the "never exceed" speed this way? Back down at 2700 MSL/600 over launch, there was still lift but it was retail, not wholesale like above 3200 MSL. Terry said later that it was just evening glass-off with the whole east side of the valley having rising air. (Where is "wave"?) Tom had been on the ground for an hour or more and I didn't have gloves for the higher altitude so I went ahead and landed. As it was I got home at 10:00.) Tom and Dan had thoroughly briefed me on the approach, which helped a lot. I whacked gently in the tall grass, nothing bent or broken. Flare harder next time. 1 hour, 45 minutes. Fourth soaring mountain flight, second at Woodstock. Need a harness with more pockets - had to go back for my bags before I could pack up, lost my cell phone from a chest pocket with flap on my old submarine poopy-suit.

Cheers, Hugh

Hey all,

I got my first mountain flight on my new 166US yesterday after spending two full days on the training hill last week. I showed up at launch about 3pm. Kelvin and Carlos were the only two there. The conditions were a little light but seemed doable. After talking with Kelvin about my training and experience and going over me launch procedure and landing approach he agreed to throw me off. (Thanks Kelvin!) Picked a good cycle and had a strong launch run. Got up to 350 over with two turns, maintained a bit, but was back down to launch level shortly after. Headed out to the LZ to loose alt. and set up approach. Had a good fast DBF at just the right alt. but forgot to pull in a little VG and flared a hair late. A strong flare and a few jogging steps saved the landing though. Only a 12-minute ride but well worth the effort after missing any possible mountain flights for about a month while I got used to the new wing. Kelvin then took a sledder and caught a ride back up top with me. After I landed others started to trickle in. Matthew, Karen, Joe, Ralph and a couple others showed up. I didn?t get to hang around though due to having to get to work for the night shift.

Hank (of Hank & Karma)

Anyone else?

I am planning on an "early" flight. Not much happening at Woodstock today, Karen restarted the curse and then is going sailing on a perfect Pulpit day......save the sailing for SW days :)

joe(next time leave mathew in the lz...he can hike up with the paraglider ;))

Sorry, did not head to the Inn, Helen has to get up at 6 for a 40mile bike ride. I will stick with lugging a glider around for exercise.

Passed Sparky on the way to the Pulpit. He was heading home from Hyner. Terry Spencer at launch when I arrived around 11:30A. Others who showed up to the smoky skies due to the wildfires in Quebec: Dave Proctor, Tom McGowan, Steve Kinsley, Joe Brauch, Chris McKee, and Lauren Tjaden. Took off around 1P in light conditions for a quick sled to the secondary. Dave P. had similar results to the secondary. Back at launch Tom was soaring out in front a couple of hundred over. Steve launched and joined Tom to the south. Terry launched and headed their way but came back in front of launch when a sink cycle brought down Tom and Steve to the south. Terry put on a clinic in persistence and tenacity with light lift in full view of us on the new ramp. He got a light thermal to climb to a couple hundred over, then sank just below launch but stayed in the area waiting for the next elevator. It came, and he took the light lift to 1K' over. I left around 3:30P, and Terry was boating around with the turkey vultures in the poor viz at 1K' over.

Bacil

Me and Joe Brauch launched about 5p, winds were straight up the new ramp at about 5-10. Immediate light lift allowed a little playtime on the ridge, caught one thermal and popped up to about 600 over, but quickly lost it as it drifted over the back. Played around on the ridge a bit longer, then started hitting sink so headed out to the secondary. Joe caught a nice pop and beamed up to about 1400 over. I set up the best approach of my short mountain career and had an uneventful landing in the secondary. Joe played around and then headed out to the primary to a perfect no-step landing. All in all I got 22 minutes and Joe got about 15 minutes more than I. Good flight after a 7 week layoff. Hopefully I don't experience many of those anymore! P.S. Tom McGowan, thanks for the throw-off! Much appreciated!!

Batman

Sir, I can attest that this man has no.... Thanks to prodding from Dave P and Tom's McGowans "Its definitely doable" they pushed me off a late day flight into sooth air. It was not very soarable but there were fat slow thermals...had to turn real flat to get anything out of them. Hooked one to 1600 over. Got one over rt. 16 to 800 over and then decided to follow a master. Hawk about 1000 over halfway between the ridge and the primary. I though she had something. I had her 10'in front and 10' above my leading edge when she went into the sun and I lost her. When I reaquired her she was back at the ridge!@#$%!$%$! (you could tell it was a female because of the "tease")

Anyway 35 minutes and a nice no stepper.
Thanks again for the push from the crowd at launch.

joe(bluegrass music all afternoon from the bar)

Sounds good Dave. I'm gonna take a look later this morning and hopefully be there by early afternoon if things go right.

Hyner was good, I believe it was soarable or flyable everyday of the long holiday weekend. I was only there for one day (friday) and it blew pretty hard out of the canyon until later in the eve when a few of us took sleds. On the trip up to Hyner friday morning I stopped to see if anyone was at Kennedy, but not a soul. Should have stayed and set up, the conditions on launch were 5 to 15 STFI with blue sky and cumies. Found out later that local pilot John showed up about 1/2 an hour after I left to go for Hyner and saw same conditions but did not want to fly alone.

Friday nights activities included plenty of partying around numerous camp fires enjoying the cool weather and a bazillion stars. The midnight sky was one of the most spectacular I've ever seen next to Hawaii. Joe G was primed and told some of the best gut busting stories this side of a S.N.L. I won't mention any names but one strory, (I'm sure its true) was about a hoagie guy getting beat up by an armless man complete with Joe's charads.

Saturday provided us with another north cross so many of us headed for Kennedy. Conditions were about the same as friday but actually a little more cross from the east. I took to flight first and flew for about 1.5hrs topping out at 5600' over launch. Kinda spooking myself getting close to base right when the smoke from the Canadian fires moved in and made it really hazy and impossible to see any blue. Crossing the valley to the right of launch I made it past rt220 and could see the other side of next mountain but turned to come back when I started hitting some turbulence. It could have been rotor but I'm not sure I was still 2500' above launch . At the time I knew nothing about the smoke and could not figure why things were so hazy. Everyone else took off just as I was landing and they all did well with some flights being longer than others.

I left for home saturday night and missed the fireworks at Hyner but heard they went till almost midnight.

Doug.

I finally got my signoff yesterday from Richard Hayes... It was a long time coming. I had a hard time getting over the fear and everything. But I did it... Can't wait to see you all....

Thanks again Richard.... You're the Best!!!!

Connie Phillips

Well, Connie and Frank lucked out and got reasonably good conditions for flying on Monday at my training hill here in Baltimore County. Driving all the way from Pittsburg ( again and again and again and..) Connie finally received her H-2 rating. Way to go Connie. Ironically, both Frank and Connie got signed off at Long Green...just not at the same time.

The conditions were brutal. 95 degrees, humid and just plain nasty narley thermals at times. Winds were light at times, or cycling in at 10-12 SSW. Connie got knocked around but handled it well. 8-10 flights later she got her much deserved rating, with the understanding to continue the process, to further hone her skills by getting back out to aerotow, and to continue on the training hill so as not to lose the foot launch skills developed.

Hats off to her # 1 guy ( Frank ) who schlepped the glider up the hill for Connie to the point of near heat stress. This guy loves this girl. He's been glider caddie for quite a few sites-months, even while working on his own stuff, which by the way he's done a great job too! Lets just hope those long rides back to Pittsburg for him are....
( never mind..not going there..lol )(only kidding)(kinda). LOL

If you haven't had the pleasure of meeting these two, definately introduce yourself when you see them out and about at a site near you. They are really great folks!

I finally got to soar thanks to Mark Gardner for observing me. I launched on my first flight and just kind of soared around for about 15 minutes. It was really great and then I landed. Then I went back to the top, by the time we got back Larry Ball and Lisa, Doug Wakefield and a couple other pilots (sorry I am not good with names)Larry launched and then I launched again (launch was not too good but made the corrections) and I instantly went up off of launch. I stayed up for about an hour and maintained about 1000 over. It was great. I just kept doing a figure 8 and just stayed up. I got to go in the magic air. By the time I had landed it was too late to go again. But again I want to thank Mark for observing me. It was really great to finally soar.... Can't wait to do it again.. Hopefully we will get to go again this weekend... Just can't get enough!!!!

Frank Sherman

Just got back from Kokomo, IN where Cook and I have been for the last 5 days at the Buick, Show Car, Nationals. In checking my EMails there have been several questions about Hyner, my leg, and the Buick show. I'll kill all the birds at once. For those who don't really care, now is the time to hit the delete key. In order then......Hyner was a blast. you' ve read about most of the flying. The weather, river, night sky, camp fires, beer, fireworks, friends and flying were all superb. Those of you who missed Joe G's, once every five year, snoot full drunk, and subsequent hang over missed a good one. There is a LOT more to Hyner than just flying. Those who don't come up for the big weekends are REALLY missing a hang gliding tradition that once it is gone will never ever happen again. Use it or lose it.

The leg then...... On Wednesday after a very funful 1 1/2 hours, while landing in a perfectly smooth field, I mis-timed my flare and had to run it out. After about 2 steps I felt something snap in my upper leg (groin) and a searing hot pain. To make a long story short. I spent the rest of the looong weekend doing yard sales and watching every one else fly. Alana said my thigh would turn blue ( hematoma ) but I just knew I was too tough for that. Alana, I bow to your experiance. One week later, at the Nationals, my entire leg from crotch to below the knee looked like a big fat plum. It is still pretty sore today and a running launch is still not possible. But it is a bit more pink/green/yellow than purple/blue.

The Buick.......It was very well received and garnered much glory and awards..........Bob

First off I want to say thanks to Richard Hayes for his excellent teaching, I would never have gotten to do it without his knowledge and skills and all his patience... He is the very best... He helped me to relax and have fun. I also want to thank Mark Gardner for observing me. He was so calm and relaxed and when he talked me thru it all he made it such a great experience. It was truly the best experience I have ever had. I wasn't expecting to fly when I got there but after seeing the landing field and how beautiful the site was and the fact that there were no trees out in front that I had to get over,just wide open fields I knew I could do it but I was still a little afraid. Frank launched before me and had no problem. He kind of floated around for a little while and then landed. Then it was my turn, Mark and I went up to launch and it was blowing in really nice and I just went. All I could think about was Richard saying "With Speed Comes Control" and "Think Of All Launches As A Dead Air Launch". I had a great launch per Mark... then it was just so comforting having someone in my ear guiding me thru everything. I just did a 360 (which I had done at Ridgely - thanks to Sonny and Chad)and then a few more S turns and then he had me fly fast so I could feel the glider and then I flew at trim for a while and then it was time to land... I did ok but I was a little high and it is a good thing there was the big open field because I used up almost all of it. But I did manage to land on my feet. I was so excited when I landed that I lost the ear piece to the radio somewhere and when I took my second flight I couldn't really hear the radio too well so I just kind of did the same thing as before except that I did land closer to the middle than the first one but I was so focused on landing better that I didn't land on my feet and just came lightly in on my wheels... I just can't express what my feelings were... It was the very best!!! I can't wait to do it again...

Again, thanks so much Richard... hugs and kisses to you.... I wish there was some way I could give back to you what you have given me but there is nothing in comparison to flying.... Love Ya...

Mark thanks again for observing me and making it such a calm and fun experience for me. Hopefully you and Sheila will be there for me again...

Thanks
Connie Phillips

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This page last updated July 17, 2002