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Hangola July 21 - August 12, 2003

Flight Reports

With the prospects for Woodstock completely out the question, as a last ditch effort I called my friends down at T-Row. John Harper said there were rain pockets but he expected that it would probably clear up. I decided to risk the drive and headed on out at 2:15. I got down there at about 5:00. John took me to the LZ and we discussed the approach, the get-away, the NW corner, the SE corner (oh, I'm sorry, that's another story Alice). The LZ is just slightly down hill for the predominant wind direction. However, the wind was almost dead calm at the time so we talked about the possibility of coming in from the other direction. I'd look at the streamers when I got there to make that decision.

We drove back to launch. I had been to the NW launch one time before to check it out so it wasn't new to me. I found out that setting up on a slope was certainly different. John talked me through the specifics about the slot etc. and I was ready. I asked him about flying around the knob but he said I'd be plenty high enough to go right over it. I wasn't sure but I trusted him.

The gnats were swarming so I was ready to get out of there. There was absolutely no wind coming in most of the time but I felt confident in the conditions. I yelled 'Clear' and started running down the long ramp. I would have been more comfortable with a little wind helping me with flying but by the time I reached then end, I had lifted off.

The initial view was somewhat intimidating due to all the trees below with no place to land directly below me. I took that in a few seconds and then kicked in to my harness. As he had assured me, I was plenty high over the knob. I headed straight for the LZ. John said later that he thought I stayed just slightly left, just a little security I guess. It was nice seeing some new scenery below me. It is amazing, the views that God has allows us few that have taken up this sport. Flying straight for the LZ, I could hardly feel any bumps at all. I got there with plenty of altitude and set up for my downwind leg. The streamer showed me that an up-hill landing was very doable. I made only one circle before kicking out of my harness, extreemely high this time (maybe 400' or more).

I started my 'Attack' toward the ground. I could see that Steve (last name?) was hearding the cows out of my way (thanks). The field for the NW launch is extreemely long and would be very hard to mess up an approach. I turned on base, then on final carefully judging my path to stay clear of the thorny brush I had seen up close and personal before to an uneventful two-step landing. Wow! That was certainly different than at the tow park. It was only a 6 minute flight but Lord, thank you for this opportunity. As Paul said, tow parks can have their place, but the mountains are sure nice too. Trading 5+ hours of driving for 6 minutes of flying may not be logical to the non-flying community, but for me, it was a blast.

Thanks again to John and Steve from CVHG. T-Row is a nice site and a great bunch of guys. I can see myself flying WS with my friends at the Capital group but can see myself spending some time down south too. One more step accomplished.

Rance

Turned out to be a pretty good day at High Rock!

Several work issues conspired to delay my departure; I didn't hit the road until 5:15. Traffic was heavier than last Wed; arrived at launch at 7:00.

Conditions were cross-left, as expected. Hugh and 'Spark were soaring, and Eddie was ready to go. So I helped him launch (wuffo on the downwind wing), into 5-10mph conditions. Good cycle, good AOA, wing angled a bit left, not much of a dive out... and then Eddie was up without much work.

So I was psyched! But, figured I might just help run shuttles and such, since no other pilots were expected, and because the MPs have gotten so picky about the gate.

Not so! 'Spark landed after 15-20 minutes: he was on his Falcon and it was pretty cross up above; and he was sore from a recent Zagi-retrieval misadventure. So we coordinated to get my and Hugh's vehicles outside the gate, then he helped me launch (wuffo on the downwind wing again).

The 10mph cycles were all cross, so 'Spark helped me pick a lull with better direction. The 4th one felt good, so off I went! I had more of a dive-out than Eddie, prob. because I took a lighter cycle. But no problems climbing out, and I was soon chasing after he and Hugh.

I managed about 500' over and maybe 45 minutes. Eddie got maybe an hour. Hugh might have gotten as much as 2, not sure.

At the end of my flight I had the ridge to myself, and the sun re-appeared from behind a cloudbank, just over the horizon. Big, purplish-red ball touching down on the Pulpit ridge, near-magic air, no worries about traffic... It was schweet! :-)

Strafed the spectators at launch a bunch of times before heading out for a landing. Did a reverse approach, but forgot that there's a bit of a downslope once past the windsock. So my landing was a 'plunk' rather than a flare; disappointing after last week's, but I ain't complaining!

Stumbled across a classical station playing Holst's 'The Planets' on the way back. It was perfect for the return trip!

These long summer days are just great... As they say, life is good! :-)

--mark c.

Well, it was another banner day at Ridgely today. Everyone had great flights and a bunch went XC. My first flight was 25 minutes - got to 3200 feet. Second flight was the fun one. Launched at 4:00. (Is 4:00 the magic hour at Ridgely?) Had a weak link break at 900 feet and then climbed to 3000 feet - never climbed that much before in a thermal. Lost that one and then found scattered light lift between 700 and 1100 feet over the trees near the hanger. Boated around for at least 10 or 15 minutes there. Total flight time was 50 minutes. Lots of people there - Paul, Lauren, Rick Niehas, Doug Rogers, Shane, John Chambers, Jim Rooney, Carlos (arriving for his lesson to get his AT Rating), and more. Howard

Gliders, gliders everywhere.

Ridgely was workin (and I wasn't). Many other delinquent hoolagins joined in the fun. Base was 5&1/2k Cummies all over the place to the East of the field. Kinda blue and scattered to the West. Rick went somewhere. Didn't hear where. Paul went to the beach :)

Jim

Another spectacular day at Ridgely! Lots of pilots getting lots of altitude and air time. Adam was brilliant, once again, and placed me nicely in a boomer that quickly took me to 5,250 (not as high as Jim Rooney) but high enough to feel pretty good about leaving the field. I had considered going up wind and trying for an out and back flight but the sky looked great to the East and not so great to the West. Rick N. had also suggested we "go to the beach" so off I went across the Choptank River.

Not going to bore you with lots of detail. Winds were very light so most of the distance had to be made on glide. There was almost no drift while thermaling up. Caught sight of Rick early in the flight but then lost him. Don't know where he landed. Cloud streets were not well defined but lift was plentiful. Dropped to 1,700 once but most of the flight was made between 3,000 and 5,500. Was getting a little low as I neared the coast but found smooth evening lift over Milford and climbed to 4,500. Could have gone higher but that altitude put the coast within easy glide so I continued east. Hit the coast with more than 3,000 feet altitude and lift was still abundant.

I think I could easily have boated on down the coast towards Rehobeth but landing opportunities at Slaughter Beach (nice name) looked good and a major road leading back to the shore from Rt. 1 made pickup fairly easy for Lauren. I cruised back and forth down the beach in very buoyant air as I slowly lost altitude. I had planned a beach landing right in front of a long string of beach homes but as I got lower, decided to move south past the homes where a landing along the dunes would work if the beach didn't look friendly when I got lower. As I got near the ground, the beach looked very landable so I moved close to the water and touched down softly about 10 feet from the ocean in that lovely, smooth, marine air.

To make things even more perfect, Lauren had stopped flying, back at Ridgely, around 4:30 and had been chasing me in the truck. She was with me probably five minutes after I landed to help me carry my glider down the beach and enjoy the special moment with me.

The flight took 2:18 with a maximum altitude of 5,512 feet and a distance of 31.5 miles. I launched around 3:15 after an earlier 40 minute flight around the field that had not worked out nearly so well.

Still didn't see any dolphins like Tom M. did so I guess that gives me something to shoot for later.

Paul (God, I love this Sport) Tjaden

Went with the family and some friends to spend the day at Kings Dominion yesterday. They all wanted to spend the entire day there which sounded a bit too much like work for me. I decided a mid day diversion to Manquin might be just the thing. After about 3 hours at the park I took the 20 minute drive to Manquin and was in the air about 2:15. Tex dropped me in a nice thermal which I took up to over 4000'. Enjoyed nature's air conditioning for a while before I had to land and get back to the park for some more fun with the family. Actually the park was pretty fun with the kids now being old enough to enjoy a lot more of the rides than in eralier years. All in all a great day.

Kelvin

Arrived at 12 noon to find Joe Brauch and his friend Michael Hayman in the shade of Joe's UltraSport. Michael is returning to the sport after a long hiatus. Set up the new Eagle while the two took flights. They stuck around so I could get in a few flights. Got in 3 flights. Need to learn how to land again. The dry grass is actually slick. I tried to run out two landings and slipped both times. Out of training hill shape, so I stopped after the 3 flights. The 5 windsocks helped. Saw lots of South, SW, and West cycles.

Bacil

A pretty good day at Dickey's. Gary S. and I met at the LZ at 1:30 and loaded up and packed in. After we set up a large dark cloud moved in and shut down the good 8-10mph cycles and looked like it was threatening to rain. But it moved on and the cycles picked back up but a little lighter. My Ultrasport wanted to lift off a little early so I pulled the nose down a hair and took 1 more step and then pushed off the rock for a good strong launch. (according to Gary) Gary joined me just a short while later. I got 950 over launch and 1:10 flight time. As it backed off in the evening Gary and I found ourselves scatching below the road so we decided to head out for two good landings.

Hank

My flight was 1 hour and 40 minutes. Wind was west, smooth - I was scared to run downwind along the ridge to right of launch, but once Eddie got up with his Sensor, he showed me areas of lift both left and right of launch which I attempted to exploit, but was probably too ham-fisted and/or tentative to really grab. At the end of the day, he waved goodbye, then ghosted out to the west to land in his own backyard! I want a commute like that! Launched with a USHGA observer on each wing, no wuffos, so no comments from the peanut gallery, OK? Eddie reported my left wing dropped scarily on launch, but all I knew was a bit of a diveout and then light-but-consistent lift to 4-500 over. Landed barely within 50 feet of the spot, observed by Sparky. Emma Jane is in fine spirits (says her taxes are all paid and she doesn't need any more money). Thanks to Sparky and Eddie for observing - with special thanks to Allen since he gave up a chance to PG at the Cumberland fair - we were going to switch gears and head over there but I couldn't get over to the rendezvous fast enough, so we went back to High Rock. Sparky is working on getting a truckload of gravel for the road to the LZ (need CHGPA board to authorize funds to reimburse him) plus he's going to paint the gray basecoat (with sand for non-skid) on the rock to cover all the graffiti so Bruce can come behind him with the logo before the party. What a guy! - Hugh

You can land the Fairgrounds going either S or N and the poles are far enough apart to go a little west or east. The wind is generally funneled by the hills the border the LZ so it's usually blowing N or S. Larry Ball got 3 hours Saturday and I got 2 hours plus. Rich got his first 2 mountain flights. Four paragliders also soared. It was great flying. Thermals only to a couple of grand over. Pretty warm low down.

Larry and his wife Lesa decided to join us in New York instead of going to Michigan. We all spent last night in Linda (one of the FIFI now) house (first night was sleeping in the truck at a truck stop). She has a flight park about 15 miniutes from her house. We're planning to go there today and probably tommorrow. She has kindly called in sick (post-frontal disease) so she can join us. Should be fun.

Christy

Great flight Paul! I'm amazed by your excellent progress. I don't think I even soared until my 3rd year in this sport. Nice work.

I never heard you on the radio but was flying at the same time. I was headed for Rehobeth as Karen's sister was there for the weekend. I was shut down by the sea breeze 13 miles out for a total of 33.6 miles. The next day I did make it to the sand at Bower's Beach just south of Dover for 26.4 miles. Karen and Jabin chased me both days! What an enjoyable weekend!

Ric

PS What do you mean by "real beach"?

HAD A GREAT DAY AT BLUE SKY LAST FRIDAY. DID FIRST TWO AEROTOW SOLO FLIGHTS WITH EACH BEING VERY SUCCESFUL----PERSONAL BEST FOR ALTITUDE AND FLIGHT DURATION. THANKS TO STEVE AND TEX FOR THEIR TUTELAGE. THEY TRUELY DO HAVE A GREAT TRAINING SYSTEM.

follow-up report

Please excuse my inattention to the manners and ceremonies established by convention as acceptable or required in this social relationship. As Mr. Rupp has indicated, My name is Tim Eggers. My previous post to the list eluded to two aerotow solo flights at the Blue Sky flight park. As a hang two rated pilot in training these were my first two aerotow solo flights. The elevation above ground level was 2100 feet with a flight duration of 17 minutes. Though these are likely nominal accomplishments for advanced pilots, they do represent milestones in the development of the skills and judgement necessary for this aspiring pilot to achieve the dream of free flight.

With some sincerety and a boat load of B.S.,

Tim

Saturday, Paul and I drove to Westfields at 7 AM, so I could practice my ever-so-rusty footlaunch skills. But the LZ was overgrown with weeds, and the hill was, too. We left for Fisher's without ever untying Ginny from the truck.

I was unsure if I would launch. I felt established in my footlaunch skills last winter (I have to laugh, remembering all those days at Smithsburg. I struggled up the hill while Kevin sprinted up it, and even though I didn't nab half of the flights he did, I still nabbed quite a few). Since last winter, I enjoyed a couple of flights at Woodstock and leapt off the Rock a couple of times more. However, for footlaunching, that's it. I have flown a great deal through aerotowing throughout the winter and even the rainy summer months.

Paul argued that since I am so current in the air that I would be fine for launching, though I wasn't so sure. But Fishers launch is lovely. Not so steep, but wide and open, the trees far below, not reaching at you from the sides. I thought even if I wasn't perfect I could get away with launching, and set up.

The early pilots soared. Larry was the first, and he was forced to scratch for a bit, but then he soared like a Falcon. Or a guy in an Attack Falcon. He is so good he isn't really a proper measure, but I didn't launch then, anyhow.

I wanted to bolt to the LZ, to plant my windsock and see just how tiny it was. I flew Fishers once before and landed well, but I remember being terrified of the LZ. But it looked huge to me this time. Didn't see how I could miss. I guess that's the difference of a year's experience.

When I finally WAS ready to launch, all the pilots in the air sunk out. I should waited. But the wind picked up, and I was hooked in, and I decided to launch. First big, stupid, mistake.

My launch was OK, and really not OK, either. Wasn't a death-launch. Not frightening, but certainly not ideal. I thought I was balanced before I ran, but my nose rose a bit high. That, coupled with my launching in a lull, meant I skimmed close to the terrain for a few feet. I don't know why I would think I would be perfect after no practice, even though I tried to think about it first.

I turned into the wind and my vario briefly came to life, but then it screamed in alarm -- SINKSINKSINK -- just as I wheeled back along the ridge. Then I just screwed up more and more. I was not above the ridge -- though I was briefly 45 feet above launch -- and it was too turbulent to squeeze close. I finally started to fly towards the LZ, but I kept flying through thermals. When I turned, though, I fell out the edges of the thermal. I even circled a few times, when I was far away from the ridge, but I was damn low, too. Every circle, I blew back towards the ridge, further away from the LZ I thought was so close. I finally bagged it for real.

When I arrived at the LZ, I didn't scrape over the trees, but I was low. Brief summary. Low low low. No brains, bone head move. I looked at my vario and noted that I was 300 feet high as I drifted over the windsock. However, my vario was set 165 feet too high, so I was lower than 150 feet in reality. I suppose this is one of the very valid reasons that the experts tell us NOT to rely on our varios, but to spot our angles. I turned and was so low and it was the worst approach I have ever done. My wing curled towards the ground and I screamed. I thought what I think when I see the hindquarters of a 1300 pound horse slamming down on top of me. This is gonna hurt.

It didn't. Ginny had a bent batton that Paul straightened. That's all. I didn't even nick myself.l. So lucky. So ashamed.

I broke several cardinal rules. I got to my staging area very late. Actually, I never arrived there. If I had 500 feet I would have been fine (even using the vario with the wrong altitude). I followed this rule going XC and with the time the altitude allowed me, even in a strange field, I could set up a good approach and land fine.

I got greedy about the lift and got low. I didn't allow myself the time it takes me to accurately assess my landing.

Second, I flew upwind when I was low. This is inexcusable on my part. Even arriving low at the field, I had plenty of time if I had just used my brain. I could have done figure eights over the end of the field and done a decent approach.

Thirdly, I didn't focus on my spot, until it was far too late. By the time I turned to actually look at it I knew I was screwed. Of course I was tremendously upset because of my embarrassment for making a mistake that I never should have any reason for making. I am appalled to provide such a bad example. And then a F-ing bee stung me in the mouth and I was grateful to be alive but really wanted somebody to just shoot me or at least just be allowed to slink home in shame.

Everybody was nice. I felt like I was in one of those dreams where you stroll through your high school and then discover you don't have your pants on. Paul drove to the party at HR while I chugged a martini.

Barb and Bruce outdid themselves. We wolfed down beef and sausage and ham. Brian played some flutey-instrument while Susan Pierce accompanied him on the fiddle. The bonfire roared and Joe Gregor received an award. Paul brought me a B-day cake and we all drank too much. And then we struggled home, exhausted. So everybody was great. But I am kinda stupid. I'll try not to scare everybody like that ever again.

Lauren

I too have been a blunder king lately Lauren. On Saturday G Smith, myself, Sean and our gracious driver Aaron headed up to Piute in the Owen's Valley. Actually, we headed to Walt's Point first but the road was closed from some landslides. Just the usual dirt and rock that spills down after the viscious rains. The skies were blooming awful fast and furious so we hauled-A up the valley to Gunter/Piute. Talk about hang waiting. Drive way up a sketchy mountain, set up. Wait. Break down. Drive down some. Change heart. Drive back up. Set up again. Wait some more....Sound familiar? A marginal "window" opened and a sled seemed safer then a trip back down the 4x4 road so I hooked in. On launch I felt like I was dragging an Ox cart...AKA a big glider with the nose pointed at the sky. I was shocked to see just how high the nose was on Gary's video. Flat slope launches are your friend! Lift was good and I think I got to about ten five or eleven. Gary and Sean wisely chose to wait for another day. The sky looked like absolute crap.

Sunday was crystal clear except for the inversion at about 9k. You could see the brown line for at least 40 miles up the valley. Launch conditions seemed good if anything a little light. Cummies blooming off the ridges looked inviting and I was practically salivating. Lift was super soft and I climbed out of the launch S L O W. From there I worked for ages to try and ratchet up my favorite spine to no avail. I have only flown long XC in the Owens when thermal tops were psycho high so I couldn't even fathom traveling spine to spine from only ten five (live and learn). Vario batteries gave up their short charge about 2 hours into the struggle, and maybe 5 miles from launch. Oh well, the spirit of Bacil lives on. Lift improved slightly as the day went on but South flow was very light to nil and it was hard work every step of the way. By far the hardest flying workout of my life. I finally the lift (or maybe just me) petered out at the Onion Valley and flew out past Independence for 7:30 and 25 miles. I hit max altitude long after I shut down the vario but I am guessing it was between 12k and 12.5k.

I was really dissapointed Gary didn't get to fly. There was some miscommunication with the drivers and they got up too late to allow time to fly and catch a plane. Either way, the bustling metropolis of Lone Pine just won't be the same without us. We all had a great time and both Sean and Gary got some good footage of the Owen's. It was a first trip for both of them and I was thrilled to be a part of it. That valley is just so huge, it is so difficult to put it into words. Also bringing together the two best video chroniclers of Hang Gliding I know was a real kick too. Worn out hikers walking through the motel lobby didn't know what to think of the crazy guys huddled around the big TV with their video cameras and a tangled mess of wires.

Kev C

From Rich:
Many thanks to my observers: Larry and Lisa Ball, Jim Rowan, and Christy, who all helped to get me in the air at the fairgrounds and again later in NY. Launching with the blessings and assistance of real pilots made my first mountain launches enjoyable. After two quickie sleds at the fairgrounds, Larry and Lisa Ball joined Christy and me on my first hang-gliding road trip. We met some great people in Syracuse NY who got a kick out of our Southern accents. Larry and Christy showed them that we Southerners could fly however, logging the longest and highest flights at the Finger Lakes tow park each time out. After the first day sledding, we set up under a sky full of promising clouds. Then, just about the time the tug pilot arrived, lake effect pushed everything south, leaving mostly blue overhead. Being the lowest rated pilot, I was drafted to take the first tow to scout conditions. Unfortunately most of our lift had drifted south and it was only sledding for me. Our third day was great. The clouds were back, everyone stayed up, though, while I caught several thermals, I was not able to stay up much more than a half hour for each flight. It was a good learning experience however. Next we headed an hour south to a ski area for my first mountain launch from a slot. After setting up Larry and I checked out the conditions, and worked out my game plan. I was lucky not to have to wait long for a great cycle. Ridge lift was strong and getting a couple of hundred over launch was no problem at all. With more help from Larry on the radio I was able to work lift in a couple of areas on the ridge, and managed 800 over launch. Late in the day everybody went out to the LZ at once which turned out to be a problem for me as I ended up busting down tubes (another first of the trip) avoiding a glider that arrived just before me. Over the week I logged over 5 hours in the air.

Rich

Not sure if it's accurate to say Larry and I got longer flights than the local pilots. I think Fellow-FIFI Linda Salamone who was our host scored flights that were at least as long. What a generous person she was on top of being a great pilot. She gave us the use of her big living room for the 4 nights we spent in East Rochester. I can see her being on the Women's team one of these days. Since February a year ago, she's gotten in 200 hours of flying. She flies every day she can which isn't too hard, at least for driving time, since she lives 15 minutes from the Finger Lakes Aerosports Park. FYI, they're having a fly-in in September at which all the major glider distributors will be there with demos.

What Rich didn't mention is that both Larry and I sunk out while he was going back and forth on that little ridge. Back and forth for 3.5 hours. The little sh**. He also didn't mention the size of the LZ that his downtubes were taken out in. I used all but 20 feet of it, lengthwise, when I landed after my second flight, in no wind conditions.

Christy

Brian and I arrived after most others, plus I participated in the shuttle to put vehicles in the LZ, so I launched after the flush cycle. Got up in "gnarly" air to secure ridge lift 200-400 over. Joe B. and I shared the ridge for awhile, then I noticed his Ultrasport (nice ice-blue leading edge) circling another 300-500 up. Went over there and encountered nice punchy lift that made the vario have a tizzy. Guess that "gnarliness" was thermals, huh?! Gee, that business about circling in lift actually works, even when you're shuttling back and forth in ridge lift - duh! Really enjoyed tightening my circles on the downwind side to stay on the ridge - fun maneuvers not only without losing altitude, but gaining! Only drawback was some nausea and headache probably more attributable to dehydration and hunger (missed lunch). Max altitude: 700 over. Duration: 1:40. Joe and I went out to land in buoyant air just because dinner would be served at High Rock soon and people were waiting in the LZ. I arrived still 200 over launch altitude, did some spiral dives to 700 AGL then unzipped and adjusted leg loops/gonads for comfort. Turned downwind with 460 feet AGL showing (more like 300 per the previous discussion) but undeniably high. (N.B. Decision to start DBF approach based on visual reference, not vario - didn't want to do one more 360 and end up low.) Had to burn it in (should have burned harder/more consistently) so floated most of the way down the field. No spot landing this time. The LZ is huge - I could put a Cessna in there (not sure about getting it back out...). Eagle weathervaned a lot up on the ridge and turns were sluggish at first until I got more adventurous while thermalling. Want to fly without the tailfeathers next smooth mountain day. HR dinner was superb! Thanks, Bruce and Barb! - Hugh

P.S. Off to Montana for two weeks, mostly hiking and car-camping with family (mountain bike trip got canx due to fire hazard), but I am in touch with the HG community out there...

Btw, just wanted to let everybody know that after all the flying was done, except for Carlos setting up again to fly a second time, Joe Schad whipped out his trusty weedwhacker and proceeded to do site maintenance until the weedwhacker ran out of gas.

Thank you Joe!

-- ellis

Just a quick note on our trip to Big Spring for the Nationals. Bruce Engen and John Claytor were with me. Last year I reported that the flying conditions at Big Spring were the best I have ever experienced. This year was significantly better.

In the seven days of competition: 27 hours and 430 miles. 1,000+ climb rates on the 30 second averager each day. Topped out anywhere from 9k to 12.5 k msl (or 7k to 10k agl). We each set personal records. Look for the article in the newsletter.

Tom

Tim and I made the 15min trip to Walker Grant Middle School this afternoon to try out this short hill. It is basically the Terrace above the soccer field. As I said in an earlier post, my measurements show it to only be about 20ft high. First thoughts might be that that is just too short for any good. Well, when we got there, the wind was cycling up to about 5-6mph. Tim set up the streamers and I got ready to launch. The first two clearly showed that I needed more run in my launch. I finally got the hang of the hill and ended up with 8 launch and landings. The last one showed me what was really possible with today's conditions.

To sum it up, I landed 7 of the 8 on my feet (pretty decent given the conditions I thought). To really use the hill though, Tim and I agreed that a westerly wind of 10-12 would be optimum. A 5mph cycle almost doesn't cut it, then again, maybe that's my inexperience too. Anyways, its here, its usable in the right conditions (like any hill), and until school starts, it is beautifully manicured (for free) and has no one around to run into.

To get there, take 95 S. from DC, Exit Rt 3 East and go to Rt 1. Go S. on Rt 1 until you see the car dealerships on the left. The school is at the light just before the first car dealership on the left. Enjoy.

I'm tellin ya, Tim is such a great guy, he didn't even bring his glider out just so he could help me haul mine back up the hill a few times. Friends don't get much better than that.

Rance

While in Idaho on vacation I did a few PG flights in Sun Valley/Ketchum. When I was there a few years ago also flew at the same site. Anyway, there is a ski resort and you can take the chair lift up to the top and fly down. The mountain is about 3000' above the LZ (LZ altitude 5800' MSL), so sled rides are 15 minutes! It commonly gets windy in the valley in the afternoon so most of the flying is in the morning to very early afternoon. Local pilots get some good X/C and fairly high flights now and then. First flight was an extended sled for 20-25 minutes. Second flight, I launched probably around 12:00 and had to scratch for some lift and finally found some and got up above the top of the mountain. Wind at launch was probably 3 - 8 mph. A few tandem flights (which they charge $175) had launched earlier and then one after me, all had gotten up and then headed out in the valley. Another pilot and I are were soaring above the mountain maybe 1000 above and as I started moving gradually toward the valley still over the mountain got into some pretty good lift and kept climbing. Thinking, wow this is cool as I am getting to 10,500 MSL, let's see if I can get up to 11,000. Well 11,000 came and went and I am still climbing. Gradually still moving toward the valley and still climbing. When, I got to 12,000 it's starting to get chilly and I am starting to think about hypoxia having an effect in the next 1000. Well, I am still climbing, and starting to get worried! Thinking about using my speed bar to fly faster or using Big Ears unless I can find some sink. Start looking for sink and finally find some where I start circling trying to get down. Got down to 10,500 with a major sigh of relief and head out into the valley. At this point, I just want to get down and land, so I find some more sink and head for the landing zone. After landing I notice I am a little shakey but this passes in a few minutes. It's interesting how you/I react when you experience a flight that getting quite a bit over you head. Sure wasn't expecting that type of flight. This flight was just under an hour and I got to 12,580' MSL (actually I had my altitude setting about 300' low so I really got to 12,880). My highest PG flight. Did a couple more PG flights the following days and did get above on one of them a bit out front but not to the degree as before.

Pretty neat place to PG.

- john middleton

Had a few students yesterday at Taylor's farm. Winds were fairly light, in sometimes and cross left other times. Right after we got set up a shower came through for 10+ minutes but then stopped. Conditions fairly warm and muggy but reasonable for flying. My student Alek did really well and passed his Hang 2 flying skills, and student Ken did good and passed his Hang 1 flying skills. It's great to see the progression of both of these pilots. Other students also got flights in and I did four flights.

- john middleton

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This page last updated August 14, 2003