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Hangola April 27, 2003

Flight Reports

The call was for light NW with an early shut off, they lied. 6 of us were all in the air by 1300 in STFI albeit somewhat choppy air. Everyone had their fill and the sky was empty by 1500. The valley was working superbly and offered pleasant boating at 3500 above. Tops to 4000' (5700' MSL) times between 45 min. to near 2 hours. TR, Jesse, Doug, Shawn, Steve Crichton, his friend Don (doing his first mountain soaring flight), and me were the culprits......Bob.

Arrived 9:30A with driver in tow. Leisurely set up under a cloudless sky. Pilots started trickling in around 11A. Conditions north cross to straight in on the launch ramps. Marc Fink flew first, got up, and got a good hour plus in difficult conditions. Kevin Carter launched next, and had to put down in the field by Rt. 16. One of the landowners down there does NOT like pilots landing in the field. Luckily Kevin ran into a nicer adjoining landowner. I suited up twice, only to stop before I got up to the ramp because of conditions cycling rapidly from good straight in to way north cross. The third suit up was a charm, and I got off in straight in conditions on the ramp. Found out the air on the ridge was 90 degree cross from the north. Caught a choppy thermal between the towers and the main LZ. Climbed to about 1300' over. Started sinking big time and decided that these conditions reminded me of frustrating days in the past. So I went in and landed on purpose in the main LZ. Got to watch John Dullahan climb out to 2500' over in the same spot I caught my thermal, and go OTB. Later he said he got 15 miles. Kevin Carter landed after a second flight. Dan Tomlinson and Mark Cavanaugh bobbing up and down on the ridge. Left after seeing Marc Fink get another soaring flight for around a half an hour. Hope it went magic for the rest of the pilots waiting to fly.

Bacil

Never went magic..I launched 3rd in the final cycle of pilots at 5:30. Ridge lift was barely surfable. Caught lots of bug fart thermals coming up the mountain off Rt 16. Could ride them up to about 250 above the ridge but by the time I caught the next one, I had lost the gained altitude. Peaked at 362 over for a fraction of time, spent most of it going in circles from ridge level to 300 over. Tried to catch some thermals coming off the east edge of the LZ but ended up confusing Joe Brauch who couldn't tell if I was thermalling or setting up an approach, when in fact I was doing both. Joe is so easy to confuse with all that tye dye anyway. Ended up with roughly 35 minutes with a great spot landing.

Christopher McKee

Little Gap was awesome today. I did a personal best (anywhere) of 3k over launch and it was just gorgeous. Many others got as high, but that was pretty much the ceiling. The views were amazing. Jeff, Matt, Bill, Brad, Terry, Joel, Jerry, Brian. Everyone had fun. One harmless tree landing by the P1 (no speed bar! yikes!). My wing also got a 6-inch rip along one seam incurred on the windy setup and untangling. Didn't notice until airborn and then just kept an eye on it.

I was out of radio comms for last 1/2 hour of flight because I tried to lower volume and changed freqs instead. D'OH!!!

Matt and Terry almost flew to California and back along the ridge. Wait, no. They had leighs around there necks when they came back. I think they passed CA.

Jeff will post cool photos and video as usual.

Jerry

Made it to Georgetown. 25 miles? Blue sky. Abundant light lift --200fpm was pretty typical. Light west aloft. NW and stronger near the ground. Got to 4300 near the field in the first thermal but after that went on glide at 3500 to 3800 -- the climb rate after 3500 was really really slow.

Well, I thought I'd go out there to see for myself what a mountain launch looked like. The short version is that from Fredericksburg VA, it took me 4.5 hrs. to get to the launch.

The long version is... I left just after Church at 12 noon, followed my borrowed gps for Shortest Route (which took me through several back highways), still good speed but certainly not the quickest. Got 3 miles from the WS exit and tread started flying (but not thermalling) off my left rear tire. I removed my jack from under the hood (note this for later) and went to fix the tire.

Didn't like my rear-end being 2ft from speeding vehicles so I lowered the hood (not latched) and drove off into the grass with just the left tires on the pavement. Lowered the spare, changed the tire, chunked the jack etc in the bed of the truck and I was on my way, right?

Before I got up to speed to get back on the hwy I heard this tinkling sound. Stop, crank up the chain that holds the spare, back on my way, right? Just about the time I started to merge back into the right lane, the hood (recall the note earlier) came rising up to meet me and WHACKED the windshield. I CAN'T SEE WHERE I'M GOING. But I hadn't got going that fast yet so I pulled over. Fortunately, the window was not damaged, but it did break off one wiper blade. I got out (with a smile on my face, really!) The hinges were mangled to the point that it would not close. What I needed was the jaws of life. I managed to bend the left one back to where it at least was not binding. I was working on the right side when this car pulled up behind me (in the grass to the right of my truck) and scared me. It was a friendly patrolman. He apologized for scaring me and asked if there was anything he could do to help. I asked him for a sledge hammer but aparrently they don't get issued hammers. I thanked him for his offer then sent him on his way. I did manage to get the right side bent back a little. I went ahead and put the hood down, bending the right hinge a little further out of whack (a technical term). I put two bungees on REAL tight and again I was on my way, right? Just before I again tried to merge, the hood looked precariously like it wanted to raise up. Again I stopped (anyone keeping track yet?) and took a 3/4 inch rope I had and wrapped it all over the front to tie it down. This worked well this time. FINALLY, I successfully merged (in my mind at least) back onto the highway. Wheels were rolling, wind was blowing in througn the side window, life was good.

I got off at the WS exit, no more help from the gps. I had directions (from who knows where) loaded into my PDA. Next time I'll use the ones in the Site Map that I failed to take with me (Note to self here). I was unable to find Moose Rd. so I stopped twice to ask the locals where it was. One advised me to go in the wrong direction (which I did not do) and the other was not helpful either. Sometimes when you ask someone for help/advice, you just have to say "thank you" and then do just the opposite. I ended up finding the Moose, took a left where I thought I should, ended up at the LZ (smile on my face again). Walked across the field to find two PGers just packing up their bags. They directed me to the road to launch.

I then made my way up the mountain, valves clattering up the steep grades (it's a tired truck). Oh, so that's what "Tower Rd./Cemetary" meant on my directions. Got to the top and saw a familiar sight, a glider rack (on a jeep). Asked one of the passerbys where the trail to the HGers was, he directed me to the path to the Fire tower. Walked up to the tower, saw the gliders (another welcome sight) but couldn't get to them. Walked back down the path to another turn off. Still couldn't find the path to the HGs. Trapsed through the underbrush and could only then say that I had made it. I looked at my watch, 4:30. A 4 1/2 hour trip from my front door in Fredericksburg VA to being able to touch a glider. Not the best time by any means.

Back to the HG part of the story... As expected, wind was very light, not many cycles. 4 guys were there, 2-3 from VT and a local. They all ended up launching about 5:30, all sleds. One caught just a burble, but the other 3 found nothing at all. I sat just a while enjoying the view and the serenity. God's creation is so beautiful from up there. Can't wait till I can make it up with my glider for the "much better view" from the air. The trip back was much better, from up top at launch to my front door, only 2 hrs. :o)

As to the truck, stuff happens. Sometimes all you can do is laugh. There's definite advantages to driving a $600 truck. I'm thinking that maybe I'll just get some huge lap hinges (the kind you see on a wooden gate in your back yard) and simply hinge the hood from the side. Given the current system I already have for the rack, the side hinge thing would give it that finishing touch to the 70's/Sanford look (right Chris?). The possibilities are endless!

Sorry for the long read but I figure someone might find it comical. I'll be back up there (hopefully soon) to help out, learn to read the wind, and soak up as much other knowledge as I can. Hope you all get some good flying this week.

Rance

2nd note to self: Try to get someone to take a new guy to a site if it is his first time. I know if I had asked, many of you would have been more than willing to indoctrinate me to Woodstock. Next time, I'll be sure to ask for the help.

I got 20 minutes, maybee 200 over. Should have stayed out past 16 and searched more. Did the same thing Mark C did and bailed back to the ridge and got spanked. Headed down where Chris was and killed his lift too. Headed out to the south end of the LZ in hope that something might kick off....nothing. Chris did catch a little "no sink" and that put us both landing approximatly same time. Yes, too much tie-dye and my bandana was too tight. Truck made it home without too many complaints.(251,000 miles)

Reminder to all those almost 3's :0 Your job is to go first in marginal conditions and fly though the lift and indicate where the thermal core is by lifting the appropriate wing then leaving the area. Since you will have landed fist you should immediatly help out superior pilots (especially observers) by meeting them when they land and offer to carry their gliders out and break them down. ;)

joe(next week, same Battime, same Batchannel!)

I was marking the thermals...for Kevin though. I thought as a superior UltraSport pilot, that you wouldn't need a lowly hang 2.9 to mark thermals for you. I was acting as a boyscout should and doing my good deed of the day to mark thermals for Kevin so he could make it to the primary in the Falcon. I will place my UN placard on my UltraSport next time and you can pimp off me JoeB! I'm also becoming a signing member of the Non-Proliferation Treaty to Ban Tye Dye!

Christopher McKee

Sunny and freakin warm. Winds were a bit strong in the am, but mellowed a bit after noon and people took to the skies :) Soaring conditions lasted well into the evening. I went up for "a sled" at 5:30 and found myself at 4k (again).

Boy howdie it was fun flying the Discus. Nothin like having a nice tight vg in strong conditions. I felt very comfortable drifting away from the field to stick with the thermals. Zip it on to get back, pop it off to thermal... yum. Brought the Sting, didn't bother to set it up. It was so good to see everyone out enjoying the weather. I wish I could have gotten "sick" today.

Jim

What a great day at the Sac. I got there about 9:30am to calm conditions. That was ok though because it was hair cut day for the Sac.

Doug R. was just coming out of the thick hair after cutting for quite some time. He must have gotten there bright and early. He went to Ringtown then. Thanks Doug.

Bill Buffam, Lenko, and Pat Feudo had arrived just before me. Joe and Karen Gorrie were already there cutting.

Joe and Karen came out of the thick stuff to set up and replace the sock again. What a pretty sight, that bright white sock blowing in the wind.

The rest of us preceded to cut the entire slot. Shawn McDuff came with saw in hand and got about an hour in when his saw took a crap. He went to Ringtown as well.

Tom Gartlen, along with Jack (sorry don't remember last name)came around lunch and soon to follow was Jeff Harper. Everyting is clean down to the last 50' prior to the woods at the bottom of the slot.

After all the work was done we started setting up the gliders. Bill was the wind tester for a sled. He did not have a very good landing but was alright. The glider took most of the energy up so he only had a scratch or two.

Jack was next on the hill. He was scratching in some kicky tight thermals. Not alot of gain. After about 15 min or so he landed. Jeff Harper got gains to about 400 over then the LZ called his name.

Tom, the air hog for the day got to about 3500' flew way out to the valley and back and finished with landing on a postage stamp size of grass. Nice job.

I launched in a nice cycle and was going up, then down, and up. Then it hit me, I realized the LZ was lonely there was no one in it so I made a bee line for it. The LZ had a big smile when I got there. I felt so welcome. #!@%. Joe launched only to find the same as Jack. Nothing.

Christen Titone showed up while we were setting up the gliders. So we made him go down and do some work before he could fly. He was a trooper. He put some time into the hill before launching and getting the next best flight he was around 3000' or so. Joe made a second flight only to find the same, and Jeff harper took a second extended to 600'. I am not sure of the time for Tom and Christan but I am sure it was over an hour or so.

Good hair cut. Good flights. Good sock. Good friends. It was a good day.

Lloyd (glad to be in the mountains flying after a month)Wilcox even though it was a sled.#@#$$%/. Sorry. I know I should watch my language.

Had a great time at the Pulpit marking the skies for all the POTATOES! Many many thanks to the incredible generosity of Ellis the new leader in the XC driver awards! I don't think I ever pulled more then 3 battens before she rolled up.

Gary, in an effort to redeem myself for T-boning the Zagi I made sure to grab your (hopefully) forgotten toolbox off Launch.

Kev C

The day started out with popcorn puff cumies all over the sky and birds at coudbase around 10 am. Seemed to just dry up and disappear by 12:30 giving us a blue day.

Several pilots flew, but none of us had any spectacular flights as the mid day inversion handed us light lift mixed in with 800 fpm cores topping out at about 3800 feet. With 3800 feet in the bank I set off on a short X-C flight. My second attempt for the season netted my landing about 7 miles out and about 150 feet from my landing of two weeks ago. I oughta be able to do better than that.

Pilots making it out to enjoy the pretty weather were: Ray M., Chris C., Claud, Billy V. Mike, 4 first time students and myself.

Steve Wendt flew his vintage Falcon ultralight a couple of times around the pattern for the first time since its resurrection. It is very interesting seeing it fly by with transparent wing skin.

Lastly, does anybody know if there are any memorial arrangments for Terry. I and others have heard very little. Thank you in advance for any information you wish to share.

John Claytor - Richmond, VA

I had a great time at the Pulpit Sunday. Lots of waiting for the right conditions. Helped retrieve John Dullahan from his XC flight which broke up the afternoon waiting. He made it 15 miles to near the Corning plant out Rt 11. Fully expected to find everyone gone when I got back at 5:30, but found everyone still at launch and the winds cross from the north. Doug Henderson sacrificed himself and broke down. The winds straightened out soon thereafter and everyone launched in a hurry. I had a good strong launch into 15 mph straight in and got a little pop in front of launch but sank to 90 feet below launch as I headed down the ridge. I worked spotty lift down towards the point opposite the LZ and managed to get 30 minutes climbing to 250 feet over at one point. Once again I had a North cross in the LZ, went for the NW strip with a jog in the end to the north for a one step landing near my spot. Anyway, it was a rewarding flight for me because I had to work hard to stay up and was successful. Many thanks to John Dullahan for observing me. Howard

John Dullahan reported and I experienced significant turbulence above about 1000 over launch at the Pulpit on Sunday. The North cross had the predictable effect of creating rotor surfing conditions low. (For those of us who launched fairly early.) But why the increased turbulence at higher altitudes under a completely blue sky and generally fairly light winds? Usually 800 feet or so will put you above most of the turbulence. This is a new data point for me if anyone can answer it.

Good flights everybody especially the new guys. I witnessed a lot of good launches and no bad ones!

One tow for me at Redwing. Waited out the strong part of the day. Launched at 4:40pm. Bill (you gotta love him) U. played the key role by dropping me off in lift. Had a wonderful time for the next hour playing in the sky. Topped out at 4200'. Really sweet air in which to get acclimated to my new Xtralite 127. Great day!

Judy

Yes, Richard I did get to fly also. Not much air time, went out and turned left to parallel the LZ. Thank you John Dullahan, for observing me. Howard and I got in late, blabbing to each other and missed our turn, went over the WW bridge and uturned on 1 south. Doh!!!! Anyways, had a great time launching and chasing (searching) for John.

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This page last updated May 7, 2003