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Hangola June 5 - 11, 2003

Flight Reports

LINGO ALERT-- LINGO ALERT-- LINGO ALERT!!!! See parenthetical expressions for definitions.

Where was everyone??? It was great at the stocker (Woodstock) yesterday.

Mike McDonald and I flew our bags (paragliders). Steve K, Homer (John McCallister) and Adam also flew and John M. showed up with both bag and plumbing (hang glider) and elected to fly the plumbing, a Falcon. Steve had launched and landed before we arrived and got about 5 k over at around 2:30- 3:00. Homer and Adam launched just as I arrived in the LZ at about 4:00pm. I launched around 5:00. It was pretty damn turbulent down low. But the worst I had was a small tip flutter (minor collapse in the corner of the canopy). I had to bury the brakes (push the brake toggles down to my waist) a couple of times, however, to keep the wing from surging (getting too far in front of my body-- generally, a pargliding wing must stay centered above the pilot as best as can be achieved to remain stable-- unless when performing aerobatics). I got up to 2100 over launch, mostly parking (slowing down to zero ground speed) in the thermals. It was a tad too windy to do more than one or two 360s. And even then I had to work my way out to the valley before circling. It smoothed out higher up and as the day wore on. But the winds picked up a bit and I had to put full speed bar on (step on a bar that's conected to lines that pull the leading edge of the canopy over to increase speed in a similar fashion to pulling the bar in on a hang glider) to make it over the LZ. I decided to land just in case winds picked up instead of backing off as predicted. Got an hour and ten.

Mike had to go full speed bar and pull big ears (Mike just has big ears. He's very sensitive about it so don't say anything. I don't know why he likes to pull on them.) to keep from being pinned (making no forward progress and usually going backwards while losing altitude) on the ridge. John M. flying a Falcon never even noticed the increase in winds. And about a half hour after I landed the winds did back off and everything pretty much shut down... no magic air (same is glass-off). I've always thought it funny that my PG (paraglider) is supposed to have about the same glide as a Falcon. It may have something close in calm air or when heading downwind. But with any moderate headwind, a PG is just a brick compared to the current lowest performance hang gliders.

Matthew (just kidding about Mike's ears, of Karen and Matthew)

Lauren, All,

I went by Taylors on the way home from work. The grass/hay was really high on the top. Needs mowed bad. I mowed it once last year before I started taking lessons. I could possibly do it again once the hay is cut. The hay in the LZ was up to my armpits. However, the ground was actually dry (except for one particularly wet spot I stepped in). I figured the rain would have affected it more. I'll go by there regularly and keep you posted. It's time to make hay, right?

When I got there, there was a guy (Alexander) that spoke broken english. He hadn't flown his bag in 4 weeks and wanted to fly at 20ft before going back to WS. He flew twice then we both left.

I picked a hand-full of daisies for a surprise boquet for my wife. By the time I got home(only 20min), they were drooping. But water perked them back up quickly. Made a couple of points with that one. :o)

Afterwards I dropped a proposal by the new Stafford Regional Airport. I'll be checking back with them next week to meet with them to discuss using the 30ft hill next to runway 33 for a training hill. It's only about 30 ft high but it IS an alternative to Taylors. It's a ridge about 100 feet long facing 330 degrees. Radios will probably be required for monitoring GA and there is a small gully at the botton. John M. has been out there to look at it. He could probably give you a more realistic opinion as to how useful it could be.

Rance

Just a super day! 7k never happened but it was thermaliscious to 4k anyway. Caught a few nice big, juicy fat ones to that wet cool place in the sky. Everybody seemed to enjoy the thrill of the hunt and the nice break in the monsoon season.

jeff

Things I did after work today:

1) Saw big landfill north of turnpike bridge into New Jersey.
2) Realized I was starving for air-time after being water-logged for months.
3) Went home, took nap.
4) Woke up, grabbed wing (PG) and headed back towards that hill. Time: 5:00 PM.
5) Discovered hill was actually in PA, by a big East bend in Delaware river
6) Discovered there were actually two hills, and I set my sights on the northern one.
7) Drove around perimeter and discovered you needed a "special little pass" to get in.
8) Drove back to nice fence gate I had seen earlier.
9) Did not see the somewhat small "no-tresspassing" signs posted at a wide angle on portions of the fence.
10) Did see the nice gap in the fence where a chain kept the gate closed (large enough to squeeze through).
11) Parked my car in front of fence, which was apparently no longer being used because land fill was topped off at this end and grass was growing all over the land fill as well as the road.
12) Put on boots.
13) Grabbed gear, threw it over 8 ft high barbed wire fence. (I figured the fence was there to keep wild kangaroos out).
14) Squeezed through fence and hiked to top of stinky land fill in high weeds.
15) Kited for a while, flew down a little bit, side-landed, walked back up.
16) Walked to other end of hill.
17) Kited some more, flew down a little bit, side-landed in about 20 seconds (big flight)
18) Grabbed gear, walked to bottom of hill, started to put gear away. Saw bikers looking at me from road.
19) Two pickups full of dump workers arrived. No threat. However, indicated security was pissed off.
20) Saw some security trucks.
21) Heard sirens.
22) Heard more sirens.
23) Counted about 3 police cars, a fire truck and an ambulance by the gate where I had snuck in.
24) Said, "Oh, shit."
25) Heard one of the security guys say they called rescue (for unknown reason).
26) Rescue guy came and asked if I wanted to be seen by paramedics. I told him I landed very gently -- as gently as "stepping out of your car into 4 feet of grass" I told him.
27) Rescue guy left. Ambulance left. Fire truck left.
28) I finished packing gear.
29) The police woman from hell arrived.
30) She apparently has never had sex before and is in her mid 30s.
31) She bitched at me and took information.
32) They drove me to the exit.
33) She bitched at me some more and said to get the hell out of there before she "kept going" whatever that meant. I think she really wanted to have sex, but I didn't want to ask about that.
34) Counted about five more trucks full of really bored folk milling about looking at the poor sap who just got caught climbing up and flying off a big pile of smelly garbage.
35) Drove away.
36) Went home.
37) Took shower.

daily adrenaline quota reached

Yesterday I had one of those flights I have dreamt about, a flight from Ridgely to the beach on the Delaware coast. With a nice light NW forecast, the day looked promising and with cu's popping since before noon, it sure looked good. I finally got set up and was promptly towed up around 1:45. At around 1800 feet the tug did one of those steep climbs signaling a thermal but I hesitated thinking maybe I am imagining the lift. Just then, the tug had another big pop even higher, so I pinned off into 350 up on the 30 second averager and climbed to 4100. Ric Neihaus and I then headed out together, team flying, trying to fly slightly cross wind to get more miles before hitting the bay/ocean.

Lift wasn't real strong at times, but there were plenty of clouds as markers. Ric and I separated around 25 miles out. I soon found myself at 5100' just north of Georgetown thinking I have been here several times before, but didn't have the altititude to cross Rehoboth Bay to the beach. But this time a cloud street started forming to the east at the perfect moment, so off I went. About ten miles from the beach, the street ended. But I still had 5000' and could see the Delaware Bay, ocean, Rehoboth and more ocean. I was not sure about the glide into the sea breeze headwind and the expected sink. However, that was not the case. I found very little sink and made good time hitting the beach between Rehoboth and Dewey at 3000' above sea level!

I turned south down the barrier island and spent the next 10-15 minutes flying down the coast, trying to commit the details to memory. The pods of porpoises swimming in the ocean, the waves rolling in, the wetlands in the bay, and everything else. After a few miles, and down to 700 feet, I stopped and did some 360s to check the wind direction. It was blowing straight in from the ocean. I picked a spot to land where you can drive onto the beach to surffish and went on final. I immediately saw that the sea breeze was south cross, did a quick 180 and did a one-stepper 20 feet from the ocean!

To top off this flight, the one fisherman nearby headed out before I could break down, so I had the beach to myself for two hours before my ride back. The nearest person was a mile or so to the north. There were porpoises, ospreys, and gulls galore working the schools of fish right off the shore. Needless to say, I had a great time swimming, body surfing and hanging out until Mitch Shipley and Rich Green picked me up. The water was the perfect temperature and after swimming, I sat out in the sun to dry off. What a day! Oh yeah, it was approximately 49.7 miles from Ridgely. A special thanks to Rich and Mitch for the ride back. I still can't believe it.

Tom

Had a nice (but short) flight at plowshare today. The coastal weather here is very upside down right now and it seems to have affected this inland site as well. Here in Santa Barbara it is cool and totally clouded/fogged in. I haven't been flying as regularly the last few weeks so the airtime felt great. An inversion capped the party at about 500 over launch and that was pretty much the cap for everyone. Beneath that lift was often strong and turbulent but manageable. Right now it isn't the Eutopia it was in Feb/March but still ain't bad.

Tom, Congrats on that great flight! Seeing as I am a flat land thermalling dud I am double impressed.

Kev C

I was down in Williamsburg for a conference, but was already scheming to bug out of the Friday wrap up session and take advantage of a rare sunny day. Woke up at 3 AM and decided to drive instead of just lying there. Surprised my wife as she was out for a run when I drove up the street. Checked the listserv and saw Sparky's post about no TFR at High Rock until 1230 and agreed to meet him in the LZ. Beat my way up New Hampshire and Georgia Avenues to I-70 cause the beltway was hosed getting to 270. Got to the LZ about 1130, threw my glider on Sparky's car and we headed up. Hay in the LZ was about chest high, Sparky reviewed the technique for how to deal with it (more later). Turned out I had stupidly left my harness in my own car down in the LZ, but Sparky, that prince of a fellow, ran back down and got it while I set up. Wind was a bit over 10, fairly straight, but veering around to the south as the day progressed. As I fininshed setting up, Sparky dragooned a couple of wuffoes into crewing and I launched uneventfully at 1205. Got right up to 400 over, but gradually sank back to launch level over 15 minutes (probably just my poor technique - I think there were lots of thermals, but I haven't got it yet) so I headed out and was a bit surprised at how fast my new Eagle sank on the way (flying too slow?). Arrived at the SE end of the LZ with 350 feet or so, did a couple of figure eights, but was low enough so I came in parallel to the trees until turning (or being turned) into the crosswind at the spot. Flared high - too high and too weakly - and beaked it, bending/breaking a downtube. Anyway, am I the first pilot to fly High Rock without needing a waiver since 11 September 2001? While we were gone, one of Emma Jane's sons - Harry - bush-hogged out a breakdown area right in front of the pavilion just for me. Sparky and I each left $20 with Emma Jane - the cosmetic surgery and a new hairdo seems to have helped both her appearance and her spirits. Thanks, Sparky, for observing and giving up your chance to fly and for all your help. While I was up, I noticed a tightness in my face and figured out it was the shit-eating grin I was wearing inside my helmet! This was only my second High Rock launch and the first with the Eagle. What a nice place! Got home and reloaded the car to take the family out to a church retreat (Episcopalian - much drinking involved) in Orkney Springs - got quite a bit of mileage in one day! Called Sunny at Ridgely this evening when I got back asking if he had a downtube: not only did he have it, but Brian V-H delivered it to my door a couple of hours later like Domino's pizza! Thanks Brian! Gotta get out to Ridgely tomorrow or Tuesday and work on landings!

Hugh

Had a fun day at Ridgely on Sunday despite overcast skies and low clouds. We all did pattern tows to about 700-100'. I flew the U2 three times. What a sweet glider-- towing is straightforward, handling is great and landing is easy, easy, easy. I liked it a lot better than the similar LiteSport. I also flew the baby Stealth. The thing tows like it's on rails and it handles great. But it lands FAST!!! Had to use my Ultrasport running technique to stay on my feet. Karen flew the baby Stealth twice and Brian VH and Christy also flew it. It was a decent turnout with about 20 pilots-- Craig, Geoff, Joe and Janet, Christy and Rich, Craig, Bob B, Bruce and Barb, Paul and Lauren and a bunch of Ridgely Regulars who I still have no clue as to their names. We also got to see C who we haven't seen since he went off to grad school. He has a paraglider now. So he's joining us on the dark side.

Matthew (of course today is beautiful, hrrrmmmpph! of Karen and Matthew)

Had a few students that had fun flying at Oregon Ridge even though conditions were light and cross a lot of time. Other pilots (Danny Brotto, Daniel Broxterman) also had a number of flights. Training hills can be FUN.

- john middleton

Three optimistic (horney) pilots showed at Jack's Sunday hoping that the weather folks were gonna be right. Well, we all saw what happened, but we flew anyhow and were rewarded w/ small, but workable t-mals for about 90 min. or so to gains of 1000+. Yeah, more sun woulda been better, but it was rewarding and fun. That and my pants and harness are CLEAN! Attendees: Tom Beatty, Dave (Spoons) et moi.

Ditched work at 1 PM and headed out to Ridgely arriving at 3:30 (had something going on at work Tuesday - turned out to be nothing important - should have ditched work all day both days). Took me an extra half hour to install one of the new downtubes - first time with all the clevises for the wires etc. First tow in fairly strong crosswind yielded some good broken thermalling experience - got lots of zero sink with brief patches of 2-300 up - 30 minutes, whacked the landing. (Landings was what I was there about.) No thermal activity after that. Enjoyed feeling a little more confident exploring away from the field with the Eagle than with the Falcon - not very far away, mind you. The strengthening wind actually helped with my approaches and flares. Last two of four landings were marginally acceptable. Sunny's advice was right on and a big help. Let's hear it for tow parks! - Hugh

I quietly deleted the "swamp bitch" signature from my file several months ago, hoping that the title had faded from the small brains of my fellow pilots. But no... The first thing that happened at the fly in was Bruce Satatis showed me a suit he had brought for me. It was a water suit, made for a Navy "Seal" or some similar function, complete with feet and an opening for my neck to poke through. He asked if I would mind having a romp in the swamp.

Got dressed, jogged out to the swamp and leapt in. Swam around for a few minutes and decorated myself with swamp fauna. Much clapping and picture taking. Exited the swamp, undressed, then bolted to the bathroom to scrub my hands with antibacterial soap.

Wolfed down burgers (thanks, Barb!). Set up and flew. It had been three weeks since my last flight, and even though the ceiling was low (maximum, 800 feet) , I wanted some air time. Was so pathetically air horny that I actually was thrilled after four pattern tows. Managed to land decently even though being filmed. Visited with our great friends. Of course Sunny and Kristen and Adam were there, but Jeff and PK and his wife (Karen, I think), and Cragin and Jim and Jason came, too. Lots of others. Very fun.

Lauren (OK, SWAMP BITCH!) Tjaden

Yesterday was GREAT. The temperature rocketed past 80. I was sweating even in shorts and a tank top. I took my first flight about 100. I sunk out after 20 minutes even though Adam was brilliant enough to find a thermal for me to pin off in. I kept changing where I wanted to make my final approach because the wind was shifting rapidly. I finally had to make a decision, and my approach was long and safe but I'll be damned if it didn't end in the biggest friggin' puddle you ever saw. Shamu could have used it as a pool. Since I got my new harness I have never rolled in except on purpose (this is my way of saying although I sucked yesterday, I don't usually), but man, I belly flopped in that mud. I had mud in my hair and up my backside but at least it was soft and warm. OK, let's not dwell on it. At least my vario still worked and the parachute was OK.

Tried again. Tow wasn't bad but I broke a weak link around 2000. I was playing with my GPS and when I looked down the plane had disappeared. Tried to pull in but it was too late. Snap! I figured I must at least be in a thermal but I couldn't find anything. Sinking rapidly, I remembered a thermal I had flown through earlier on tow. I zipped on over but was getting really low by the time I arrived in the general vicinity. But then I found IT!

The thermal was weak at first, but it got stronger or maybe I got more to the middle of it. My vario started registering 500-600 up a minute (for a long time, this is no exaggeration) and Ginny climbed like she had rocket boosters strapped to her. I reached close to cloud base, at 4990. Jeff M. thermalled with me some and it was REALLY fun. Winds aloft were probably 15, though (and of course I was way downwind of the field by then), and the lift started petering out. I aimed back at the field and flew through some nice ones but I really wanted to get home and my glide in the Eagle just isn't that great, even at the exact prescribed 31 mph. Couldn't find a thing on the upwind side of the runway. But I was pretty happy and spent 59 minutes in the air so it was OK. Even landed OK though my motto after blowing a landing seems to be to flare even later and weaker. Ginny dropped me on my feet anyhow.

Everybody said I should have just gone XC and I probably should have, but I have never been and I want to be really tuned with my landings and approaches before I go. Am starting to feel more like my old self in that regard. Hopefully I will be a better judge of glide after a couple intensive weeks of flying.

PK was the sky stud with 26 or so miles (he will need to give you better stats). Bruce Engen and Steve K. flew, too, as well as Ralph. (Bruce commented that I should bring a change of clothes every time I come to Ridgely, given my history.) Paul made a short XC, and Ray got back into the air with some tandems and should be on his own again soon.

Couldn't sleep last night. Too excited. It's ridiculous. I'm pathetic. But I don't care.

Lauren Tjaden

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This page last updated June 11, 2003