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Hangola January 25 - 26, 2003

Flight Reports

Fair PG training conditions at Smithsburg this morning. Arrived at 9am to 7-12mph, cross from the left, occasionally straight. I made 17 PG flights (total # is now 98), kiting to the top each time. The sun came out for awhile and provided some thermal 'pops'. I flew Zagi for awhile and departed around 11am. No one else around.

'Spark

Went to ManQuin and talked Steve into opening the towroad. Put my glider on a launch dolly and rolled onto the runway. Steve drove his truck up, got out and walked back to me with the towrope.

I hooked in, waited for the wind to stop tailing, and said "Go 2 Cruz!!"

3 minutes later, I discovered that it was soarable!
Terry... how sweet it is!

Aviation was committed at lizzy Saturday :) The road up is still doable with 2wd, but getting tricky. I'd take the back road. I just slapped the chains on and motored on up. It's no problem in 4x4.

Windspeed was 10mph switching between W and WSW. Air aloft was WSW. It was not a fall asleep day but there was good lift up to around 600 over. Strong sink kept ya on your toes. Speaking of toes, I gotta find better socks. I was snug as a bug in my harness, but after a 1/2 hour or so my toes started getting cold. After about an hour things were starting to not be fun so I left the ridge.

Oh, met one of the locals at the gas station. Drives a big red Dakota, real friendly. Lives at the bottom and watches us fly all the time.

Jim

Just me and Lloyd.

Saw 2 other guys down there with Lloyd after I took off... didn't ask who they were though. Mighta been the local RC guys, couldn't tell.

Jim

Dan Tomlinson and I thought we'd have the farm to ourselves when we arrived about 11:30. as we were setting up Dan's Ultrasport (we share, because there is plenty of time to fly while the previous pilot recuperates from the carry back) we were joined by bagwingers Carl Dennis and Jim Kaplan, and shortly later by Manquin habitue' Tim Eggers with his big Falcon.

Temperatures soared up to over 40! Winds followed the forecast directions of SSW early turning WSW as the afternoon progressed. They might have gotten up to the forecast 7, but I doubt it. More like 3 to 5.

Dan and I each got in a couple of flights on the US. Tim had some excellent flights on his Falcon. He is developing a good strong launch run. Carl and Jim kited a little, and then each made several full flights with their PGs.

We were all gone before the snow flurries started, and the accident on I-95 northbound between Quantico and 234 (a CJ5 rolled on its side) only slightly delayed us. Pre-Spring training hill flying is both fun and good for you!

Cragin

or a day that was forecasted to be WSW all day...it actually turned out to be a fabulous day at Long Green Hill in Baldwin, Md. which is about 10 minutes from my HG shop. Long Green faces due south, but allows SSE and SSW launches and landings. A steep hill, its' a perfect H-1 hill, allowing for plenty of airtime to work on turns and going prone.

Two students canceled but the third ( Alexi..the flying H-1 rooskie ) arrived at the shop ready to go. After trying on some stock harnesses' we headed out to Long Green; bagging plans to go to Herring Run. We arrived to find winds blowing straight in ( south ) and sometimes even SE. We assembled the Falcon2 195 and 10 flights later called it a day. George Tutor stopped by after his helicopter flight lesson down at Martins State Airport and bantered with us while we broke down. Shortly thereafter...it began to snow.

A good winters' flying-training day. And...with temps above freezing, it almost felt like spring !

Rich Hays

Got out to MFP on Sunday. Winds were a little gusty, maybe 10 to 15 at midday. Temps had warmed to the mid 40s, so this represented an opportunity that I had to exploit. I had 4 truck tows and worked on landings and approaches. The early afternoon thermals were weak and compact so I bagged it at about 1:15. Nice to get out...

John Claytor

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This page last updated February 2, 2003