Back to Main Page Back to Archive 2003

Index to weather maps

Hangola April 20-24, 2003

Flight Reports

The subject line just about sums it up. Karen, Sparky, Ellis, Mike M and visiting pilot Ignacious all had PG sleds at Bill's. It was Karen's and Saprky's first bag flights there. Wind went too cross by the time I got in line to launch. Chris M. had a sled in his US.

Off to Fisher, 2 extndos for me (both via bag). Ellis had a sled and a 15 minute soaring flight working the area in front of launch. Ignacious climmbed out in a thermal but didn't know what to do with it-- he's new. Dan, Mark C., Carlos and Chris all had extendos. Sparky and Mike M. bailed to Middletown Hill (350') where Sparky had four flights and Mike had two. Got home too late again.

Matthew (daylight savings time is killing me, of Karen and Matthew)

Left the house at 0900 and headed up to Bill's. Got set up, but conditions were pretty drab. Air was bouyant but not enough was coming in for any soaring. Since I was already set up, I took my sled like a man (Not like a certain Tjaden I know of!) Ellis had laid out a spot for practice so I decided I'd at least make my sled count for something. Uneventful quick flight, but set up my approach and nailed my spot. Strong takeoff and good landing. Mission accomplished. Took the Bandito ride back to the top with Ellis & 7 others crammed into her SUV (Did I mention all of our gear was crammed in as well?) All of us made the mad dash to Fisher's Road where we sat trying to decide whether to set up or not. As Matthew continued to tell jokes, the hot air seemed to quickly burn off the surrounding clouds until we had blue sky abundant (thats my story, I'm sticking to it) Had to talk Matthew into not bailing for another site since he was the only observer out there. By the time it got around to my time to fly, I was already making excuses: its dark, its cold, the moon is in the wrong quadrant, hey...I think I saw an Iraqi SAM site behind that tree. None of them worked so I decided to take another sled. Had a good strong launch and tried to fight Mother Nature to let me above the ridge. Every time I thought here we go, MN put another sinkhole in front of me. Finally lost the battle and headed towards the primary. Had a great approach and landed in the first half of the LZ...nice easy flare (as opposed to my 17 pieces of flair) to a pinpoint foot landing. Once again ... Mission Accomplished. 12 minute Extendo. Packed up again and all of us headed to Mercersberg for a nice dinner since Dan suggested NOT doing the Breezewood thing. Unfortunately Dan didn't call ahead and wasn't aware that the town of Mercersberg closes at 6pm on Saturday night (whistling in the background...tumbleweeds blowing across the streets) so we all headed to Hagerstown for beer and more beer, oh...and dinner as well. Explained the difference between bottled beer and draft schooners to Nacho, our visiting Mexican pilot. 12oz versus 30oz or better stated...quantity versus quality. He quickly saw the error of his ways and ordered a schooner. Albeit was a 16 hour day by the time I got home, it was a great time with good flights and good company!

Christopher McKee

Marginal conditions prevailed. Some PG'ers went off around 1-1:30. It was hit and miss. One got up a couple grand over launch, but then sunk out fast. The cycles were spaced out too far, so you got one thermal and then you got sunk. High clouds were moving in, so I took my one thermal ride. The hit and miss conditions continued for a bit, but then for a little while, some PG'ers and a guy in an Extacy seemed to hang in there a little longer.

BTW, I've heard of this, but untill today had not really seen it. The Extacy guy is in his 3rd season. He flew a sonic before the Extacy. He didn't have to land. He went up and stayed up till he decided to leave (had to get to a family thing). I've heard they were awesume (and easy) to fly, but untill now I'd only seen H4's flying them.

A bunch more PG & HG pilots were heading up to launch when I left. I'd be interested to hear how things went for them.

Happy Easter
Jim

I hear yesterday was booming at kirks! Jeeze... I was at home... what what I thinking!??

Flew Saturday and Sunday here in Santa Barbara. I launched Eliminator late on Saturday (about 1 ish) and saw conditions deteriorate as the flight grew longer. Thermal tops were turbed out by the NW flow coming over the back ridge. Also the west winds increased at lower elevations. The dynamics of this site are pretty amazing. Strong westerly can make landings a problem so I cut it short and headed out when they picked up. 2 hours and just under 5k.

Sunday I flew from the Alternator launch. Marine inversion and upper level clouds made thermal flows intermittent, weak, and pretty turbulent. The highest flights were had by the single surface gliders. With lift weak and chopped all I could do was fly in broad circles where farts were most likely to pop through. The price of spilling out of a tight core was just too high. Everything was very technical today and I had to work very hard to stay up. Drifts switched directions by zone, altitude, and plain randomness. The 2 SS gliders that got through the inversion made it over 4k. I topped out around 2.5k but fought hard to hang in for an hour fifteen. A handful of other pilots were not so fortunate. One of my buds was practically speed gliding to the LZ (not intentionally). Then to add insult to injury his girlfriend wouldn't stop gloating on the radio from four grand.

Great weekend overall.

Kev C

Jim, it got much better after 5. My wife and I flew well over an hour between 200-600 over launch. I think somebody went to the Gap also. My wife was very happy to finally fly for more than an hour for the first time.

Overcast skies at Manquin Sunday. Went there to aerotow, but since there wasn't much hope of me soaring in those conditions, decided to go the cheaper route by truck towing to practice patterns and spot landings with the Eagle. Did 5 truck tows and landed within 50 feet of the spot 4 out of the 5. All my landings were good. Paul, Ralph, Craigin, Carlos, Holly, Ray and others were there. Many decided to truck tow and there was a line to get on the truck much of the day. Howard

Actually the soaring wasn't bad early. Manquin seems to always lift off around 11:30am. I launched a little after noon, and after an initial fight around 800', I was able to climb up to 3400' for about a 50 min. flight before the haze worked in. Even after the haze overspread the field, Paul T. got at least a 30 min. flight. It was definitely a crank-n-bank day though. The thermals were tiny and drifting pretty good. Lazy circles weren't going to cut it. My landing sucked though...got slow and got my butt kicked.

So.....how was Holly's third spot?

Roland (who finally mailed his check to join the CHGPA today, do I get an award?)

PS. If there are any bluegrass and good beer fans out there, one of the local microbrewies in Richmond has bluegrass every Sunday evening, and the best IPA I've ever had. Makes for a nice ending to a day of flying.

A sad day. Terry passed away at 2:05 this afternoon.

No information available on funeral arrangements at this time.

Joe

We flew out butts off at Manquin this afternoon. Found out about 4pm that Terry had passed. Figured Terry would be pissed if we stopped flying. I was busy helping get a new tug pilot trained by letting him yank me in the superfloater. So we kept going with Terry in our thoughts but concentrating on the task at hand. Then I let him tow me up in a brillant sunset on 225 falcon to boat around. Could see the mountains behind the setting sun. Pretty sure Terry was there. God I'm going to miss him.

Terry was one of the best people I knew. Always helpful, always supportive, funny, just a great person to be around. He was always there for my couple trips a year to the mountains to help me pick a good cycle to launch in. After we were done flying, we drank a toast to Terry, then ate some spiced sausages, then drank some more. Now I'm sitting here in front of the computer. God does this suck.

Roland

Been there, done that!

MFP was GREAT yesterday! Got there just before 4:00, wind still blowing a bit and at 90 cross but I had confidence in what was to happen. Tim Eggars was already there along with Mike from Charlottsville(as I recall). I sat for 30 min. enjoying the sun for a few when I should have been setting up. As I was about 2/3 finished with setup, the wind died down and towing began. I'll let that be a lesson in itself (be prepared). We each got about 5 tows each. The air was unbelievably smooth and great for tow traiing. I got to 900-1000 on each tow, and had enough altitude to do some 360s before landing. The evening was VERY instructional for me in that I gained a new understanding of lots of speed on approach. I wasn't in danger with what I had been doing but realized I just needed to fly faster. On the last flight, I set up for base/final and circled about 6 times to loose altitude before coming in. I don't have a vario but it almost seemed that I was just floating there. Man, I've got to get a vario/alt! This may be boring for some of you but for me, it was GREAT! Hoping for another chance next week. :o)

Rance

Yesterday I was flying. It was one of those beautiful crystal clear, blue sky spring days. Around three o'clock I had just crossed Seven Mountains, had a big grin on my face and was wondering what the mortal people were doing. I was in the zone, soaring in the spiritual place that sets me free. As I glided along with that big grin I was lead to a thermal by a red tail hawk. As I carved through the sky with my wingman, surfing the invisible wave, I let out a big holler/laugh/whoop sort of thing and wondered how Terry was doing. I remember flying with Terry on his 70+ mile flight out of the Sac in April 2001. Early in the flight I lead the way, marking thermals in my trusty Target for Terry and Tom. I think that was one of Terry's great flights as he blasted past Tom and I to go on and land just because he got cold. He was in the zone that day, soaring in that spiritual place. Yesterday, around three o'clock, going through 5000MSL on a beautiful spring day I think it was Terry leading the way for me as we shared that spiritual place together. When we soar we will think of him, touch his spirit in the sky and he will live on.

Mitch

Decided to start aerotowing lessons today on my day off. Figuring the rain wouldn't hit the Eastern Shore until later, I went to Ridgely.

I never met Chad, so his loss didn't affect me the way it did others. And I wasn't sure how I'd play it. I ended up not mentioning Chad, pretending I didn't know anything, figuring they didn't need to be reminded by a total stranger of the tragedy.

Everyone there (Sonny, Kristen, and...well...I can't remember their names) seemed to be doing fine. If hadn't known, I wouldn't have guessed. Sonny showed me what I needed to know, and we did two tandem tows. I did pretty well with the towing part, but Sonny wanted to work with me a little on the flying part. I tend to fly like I drive--like an old man. So we were doing radical (for me) maneuvers, like tight turns and real stalls. Not those playful little almost-stalls I did in my previous training. I guess there's always something new to learn.

I should probably go back Sunday to finish my training, but Woodstock is looking kind of delicious.

Daniel and I arrived a little before 12:00. Wind in the LZ was light and variable and when we set up the wind socks it was blowing from the mountain! Got up to launch and it was light crossing from the SW with puffs/thermals coming in now and then. We set up and around 2:00 Daniel got his first mountain flight. Good launch but after clearing the slot he had some trouble getting in the boot of his cacoon and wasn't controlling the glider the best. Eventually smoothed out and did basic sled to LZ. Winds were blowing from the mountain so he did a wheel landing as we had discussed earlier. SUCCESS. Marc Fink, Chris McKee, and R2 showed up about the time Daniel was launching. I had to wait for a cycle and flew one of my Falcon trainers. Worked hard and caught some lift were I got up to about 1500 above! Didn't last that long and encountered some 400-600 down. Got a little over 1/2 hour and landed with very light NW wind in LZ. Marc flew his PG toward the end of my flight and got some of the down air. Ralph did a sled and a very low 180 in landing but pulled it out. Broke down and headed back up.

Chris did a sled, Marc flew again and got a little above for a couple passes. Daniel got to do his second flight with lighter conditions. Good launch and did much better getting into his boot and had a much better flight and standup landing.

Congratulations Daniel on getting your first two mountain flights.

Thought a bit about Terry and Chad while there, as well as most days, and it saddens me that we have lost two great pilots and friends!

- john middleton

-----Original Message-----
From: John Middleton
Sent: Friday, April 25, 2003 10:54 AM
To: CHGA Discussion List
Subject: [chga] Woodstock on Thursday

[JM] Daniel got his first mountain flight. Good launch but after clearing the slot he had some trouble getting in the boot of his cocoon and wasn't controlling the glider the best.

[DB] John's being kind here. I couldn't get into the cocoon because I was flying upright. Caught in the excitement of the moment, I forgot to transition to the base-tube! I couldn't figure out why I was having such trouble getting a leg in ...duhh. I eventually did a chin-up to take weight off the leg straps and wormed into the boot. During all those contortions, I was flying herky-jerky.

[JM] Eventually smoothed out and did basic sled to LZ.

[DB] Yeah, I finally proned out and started flying right. About that time a light went off, OHHH, that's why it was so hard to get in the boot.

[JM] Winds were blowing from the mountain so he did a wheel landing as we had discussed earlier. SUCCESS.

[DB] John being diplomatic again. I confused the windward and leeward ends of the sock and thought the wind direction was copasetic. So, I did my figure 8's on what was actually the upwind side of the field. I realized my mistake as I turned onto final. Fortunately, the winds were light and I just rolled in.

[JM] Worked hard and caught some lift were I got up to about 1500 above!

[DB] John being modest. He flew aggressively and made an awesome low save.

[JM] Ralph did a sled and a very low 180 in landing but pulled it out.

[DB] John being not so diplomatic :) Ralph pulled off a rockstar landing (even if it wasn't planned). If you know the scene in the "the Blues Brothers" where Akroyd (sp?) and Belushi parallel park via a 180, you've got the picture.

[JM] Daniel got to do his second flight with lighter conditions. Good launch and did much better getting into his boot and had a much better flight and standup landing.

[DB] Ah, redemption, but I don't think any of the birds were worried about losing their jobs to the new kid on the hill. Thanks to John for taking off work and condolecences to all of you who knew and loved Terry.

Daniel

	previous page	back to top	next page

This page last updated April 30, 2003