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Hangola August 12-18, 2003

Flight Reports

I sent this to a couple of very supportive friends, Cragin being one of them. He encouraged me to send it to the whole list. As embarrassed as I am, I'm also still jammin'... so here goes.

Well, I'm wondering how I should put this... you will probably yawn.... but at the same time I'm elated! I got my H-1T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I can't believe it!!!!!!!!

Been in Chicago for 2 weeks now while flying at Cushing Field under the instruction of Arlan Birkett at Hang Glide Chicago. At the tail end of my vacation Lisa, my daughter, and I got to the field late. Traffic on 55 was horrendous as usual, even for a Sunday. Hot, hot, hot and sticky with hundreds of acres of sweat bees. I sat there watching one person after another go up either as tandems, solos, or flying trikes; even a couple of small planes. I'm anxious. Lisa's scared for me (she's never watched me go up) but at the same time bored and hungry.

I thought there were two Polish-speaking people in front of me, but Arlan grabs the harness and waves me over. I felt like a Plain-Jane-Wallflower at a High School dance with the Quarterback asking me to dance. ME? MY TURN NOW???!!!

NO GOGGLES!! No HELMET!!! I thought there were 2 more people! Where's those darn goggles?!?! One of the ground crew ran up the runway and grabbed the helmet from a trike pilot and gave me his own shades. I whip those buggers on, tighten the strap and climb in. We do a quick hang-check and Arlan waves to the Ukrainian tow pilot. The tail waves back and we're off.

After about 2500' of pure air, clouds only in the distance, he tells me to check our altitude and release at 3000'. Ok..... I'm ready. 2900, 2930, 2970, 3000, Release!~~~~~~~~

He immediately instructs me to do the 180 west, 90 south, 360 south, then increase speed, push out, head north..... well, I headed west perfectly. He said that was a perfect turn and the sunset was looking exceptionally beautiful this evening, but he'd like to see me finish with north! OOPS! :) Then came more dives and turns and all the hoops and ladders. He asked me to try a perfect parallel to the runway and prepare for landing. I did, got to the fence line and did my perfect left, straightening out just right, left again and he told me to come in a little faster. I pulled in, and in, and in a little more and eased out just at the right time. The wings seemed to be cocked just a tad to the right but I was coming in dead center. There was a glider on the right edge of the runway but I kept my eyes off of it and focused in on where I wanted to be if the glider just kept on going. Then we stopped. It was a nice landing if I may say so myself.

We got out and Arlan tells me, "You did all the flying from release to landing without me doing a single thing." Yeah? You kidding? YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!! I was doing my Kokapelli dance when he told me, "You just earned your Hang 1." I started flailing my arms around then ran over to him and gave him (probably) his biggest hug of the day! Don't know why for sure, but I walked down the runway back to my kid, not even thinking of the golf cart that was there to get me. Finally got in and we drove down to where she was and I'm sure I looked like a complete idiot talking into the video camera! LOL

Waited around and he filled out my USHGA paperwork, took my money and gave me a discount since he didn't have change. I promised to return as soon as I get back to Chicago and we took off. The moon was as full as I've ever seen it, larger though, and it looked as if it was only inches above the horizon. Lisa drove the 2 hours home and I sat back, staring at that moon, and feeling like I had just accomplished a major lifetime feat.

Well, it was a major feat for me. Last year at this time I was just finding all of you. I was so excited to find pilots anywhere but the Outer Banks! Trying to go for foot-launch lessons several times with Richard it always fell through. My husband Ringo's 5 by-passes in September, having to stay with him afterward, my head-on collision with totaling my car in January... Then the FIFI get-together in February. Trying to climb up Smithsburg's hill just about killed me. I felt like such a schmuck. I was with Sheila and SHE was the one that was pregnant (and carrying the glider). I was giving up inside thinking that the RA had gone too far. That's when Chad and I started corresponding, preparing for springtime lessons. After last spring, I seriously thought I'd never go up again... never. My body was crap and everything was just turning against me air-wise.

Then with a serious change in meds because of my ulcers and hospital stay, my body started to work some... just enough for me to say, "This is the Summer of ME!" That IS what I've named it. LOL To finally get back up in the air was one thing... a wonderful thing. But to actually get some letters and numbers next to my name instead of H-0, (at least there's no W- R- or E in it even if it sounds that way).... Oh WOW!.... and at 50 old years...... YAHOO! MAGOO!

I did that last flight in my 2K2 Pulpit T. I'm dying it pink.

All smiles and breathing deep,
Suzanne

Too much fun, too much sun. Mainly too much gin.

Set up Ginny in the shade by the office. Noticed what looked like a slight imperfection in my leading edge in my preflight. Wondered if I hurt Ginny in my infamous Fisher Road landing. (BTW, I have been told I apologized about this landing, too much, by many people, and that folks would really start to think I was dumb because of my self-flagellation. Ok, so I am not sorry, I am really a superior being. I was just very embarrassed. Hopefully I have absorbed some lessons. And I apologize for apologizing, if that's not too insecure.)

Everyone suspected I was hallucinating about the leading edge, but Sunny pulled out a ruler and confirmed that I was. Just an illusion caused by the sun shining through my wing. I only point this out because I can't tell you how much I appreciated being taken seriously, instead of being brushed off with "I'm sure it is fine." When I launched, I had no concerns that Ginny would suddenly disassemble midair. Adam and Sunny continue to behave in the most professional manner possible (at least during flying hours).

Flew a few times, got an hour. Paul snagged 80 minutes. Very smooth air, nice since I haven't flown much due to the weather. I am SO good on tow when the air doesn't ripple and the plane never moves. Absolutely awesome. Tried to thermal in my less favored direction, to the right, though I plummeted to the ground after losing a thermal this way. Guess you gotta learn somehow.

I am actually pretty established landing -- the worst I usually do is run a couple of steps. I had 3 decent ones. I am so grateful for my easy-to-land-Eagle. But my approaches need work. My first one, I did a no-step right by the gliders, and like Paul said, it woulda been really impressive if I meant to do it. I was sweating those last 50 feet, wondering if I could fit between the gliders and the ditch on the taxiway. I was high, and didn't know if I could make it onto the ground in time to avoid a collision. It worked out great, but your heart shouldn't be beating like that on a landing.

Second landing I was smart. The direction of the wind (NW) makes for the most difficult approach into the windsock field, but I left high, and played around by the end of the field until it was time to go onto final (something I can actually judge). Didn't leave room for a long final, but it was long enough.

The third approach, I did a zillion mile final, but the wind increased, and I ended up short. Way short, really. It was safe enough, but I think maybe it's better to play over the field, instead of spotting the angles from far back. Conditions can change, rapidly. Any thoughts, BTW? You all have so much more experience than I do.

I should add that Ric N. carried my glider home after my last landing (he is so sweet, he said he was sorry he hadn't met me by the far reaches of the airport, where I landed). But damn, it was fun flying. I don't know why I like this so much.

After flying, Paul and I climbed into the Ridgely swimming pool (a glorified "kiddy pool") and got absolutely ****faced drunk with Les, Vern, Cindy and George, their friend Paul and my Paul. I dove into the pool -- many times, I confess -- and Paul (the one that's not mine) performed cannonballs. Some folks took off items of clothing. I behaved extremely badly, but thankfully, I can't remember most of it (but, damn, there's enough. I have spent the day alternating between wincing and laughing). The Highland staff was too busy working to join us in our bad behavior.

Note: If it gets dark enough, and you drink enough, even us old folks look pretty good. Hoping to see you in the air (or the pool, at least if you shave).

Lauren Tjaden

Sorry I wasn't connected to the info.

Went up to see Sparky and Bob G. They were planning on heading to WVA but persuaded me to check the Rock with them. After watching Sparky Zagi the lightest wingloaded machine ever built to hundreds over I decided to set up the big boy wing.

Launch winds were pretty light with varying strength cycles. The thermals were small, light, and short lived. I didn't expect to stay up since I'm a bad wind dummy for the soarability of these conditions. Sparky flying the Zagi, Bob piloting the chainsaw, and the locals helped me find enough lift to get a half hour or so.

Kev C

It was a good day today. Had a nice mountain bike ride with Doug then flew the sailplane with Doug for 1 1/2 hours and had to struggle to stay legal and keep 500 foot clearance from cloudbase. That is always so hard to measure. Doug of course demonstrated that he will probably be a natural at flying sailplanes (no surprise) as he was thermaling for quite a while and flew very well.

Dennis

Real nice day at Jonestown. At bit X from the East but not a problem. Nothing outrageous just real pleasant. In order of occurrence.... 2000' above, beer, cigar, a little pussy, feet in a cool creek, beer, wings, more beer, and ice cream. In order of arrival.......Karen & Joe, Bob Cook & Shawn, Jesse, & TR. BTW, Shawn named his new orphan kitty "Jonesy".........Bob.

We saw clouds ... we saw rain ... we saw lightning ... we heard thunder ... we felt wind. We left Pulpit ... we went to HR ... we felt NO wind. Brian VH and I took 5 minute sleds in Uber-Light conditions at HR. Matthew took a flight at Pulpit, but got hammered pretty good ... not fun flying.

To elaborate on Chris's post: everyone went through the same set of reactions upon arrival to the pulpit. I think Dan T's was the most quintessential. He arrives and looks at the non-white clouds, notes the haze in the air, and as he walks by us (busy setting up gliders) announces that if anyone actually decides to fly, he'll just be wire crew today, 'cause it's not looking good. Then he starts tramping up the hill to the ramp. Cavanaugh stage-whispers to the rest of us that he'll change his tune pretty quick once he gets his nose in the wind. Within seconds there's a whoop from the ramp: "Wow, these winds are sweet!". Another recruit to the dark side.

But despite the terrible season so far, all caution has not left us with the first nice puff of wind. We remember the forecast for thunderstorms, and can't see anything through the haze. So we sit and wait. Eventually we hear thunder. We sit and wait. Eventually we see virga heading our way. We lay down our gliders (Okay Matthew: we will never make fun of your advice again) and some of us make a run for the bar. As soon as we get there rain pelts down like god's gravel truck dumping it's load. We try to call Dan Broxterman at the training hill with news that we've all gone XC, are scattered between Mercersburg and Waynesboro, and could he please come pick us up please? But it's raining too hard to hear anything. Another great joke shot to hell.

When the rain abates Chris decides to go check on the gliders. He comes back with a story that my glider had been picked up by a gust of wind and flung into the forest. He's got a straight face, but it's McKee we're talking about. And Matthew had stayed holed up at launch, available for consultation with the messenger. I decide to reserve judgement.

Going back, I come upon my harness dangling from a tree (nice touch). My glider is sitting upright on the other side of the picnic tables. I'm not convinced until Karen told me it really did get picked up and paper airplaned across the tables, but they set it up to dry and hung up my harness. I still claim Karen DID tell me I simply had to go visit London Bridge when I was in London...

Eventually the sky cleared out, but the winds stayed strong. Matthew flew, but it was going cross and he couldn't get much ridge lift. We decided to head to HR.

After 20 mph winds at the Pulpit, the last thing we expected to see at HR was dead air. But it was dead air. The general consensus is that the falcon pilot should go ahead and please the crowds, so I set up and do a pleasant little sled. Chris McKee follows in his inauguaral flight as a H3. We were getting some small puffs coming in to assist the launches.

Okay, now some fun with Emma Jane. Turns out I'd had an allergic reaction to some old insulation we removed from Dan Broxterman's ladder, and my face had swollen up. Allergy medecine didn't help much. By the high rock flight I was looking like a mongol, or a space alien with slitty eyes, or one of those old theater masks. Walked in on Emma Jane, she looks up and says "Oh, I guess you'll be wanting to fill out a waiver". Didn't say anything, assuming if anyone can recognize a distorted face it would be her, but introduced Dave Bodner, who DID need to fill out a waiver. Finally after listening to my voice she gives a start and says "Whatever happened to you?!" Hadn't recognized me. Hell, looking in a mirror, I didn't recognize me, though I felt pretty much okay.

Dave took me home, and since he could see how my face had progressed, talked me into stopping at the emergency room, even though he had to drive all the way to Arlington after taking me home. I filled out paper work, and sat down. Called into triage, came back out after having blood pressure and temperature checked, and since I wasn't gonna keel over, was sent back out to sit down. Called in to register, then sent back out to sit down. Called in to meet with a doctor, who evaluated me then told to sit down on the bed and wait for my medicine. A nurse came in and stabbed my behonkus and gave me pills, then asked me to sit down and wait to see it the swelling was going down. I mean my face, not my behonkus.

All this time Dave was patiently waiting. I asked them to call him in, and we spent another 15 minutes before we could see some signs of swelling subsidence. We left around 2:30 AM. Dave is prince among mortals. Beer is simply not adequate.

I'm starting to look recognizable again. Thanks, Dave.

Brian Vant-Hull

Kevin,

Only a half hour? I'm impressed, but not with Wonder Boy, with my own flight. :o) (really humble here hugh?) I took 3 truck tows out at MFP yesterday. On the 2nd tow (next to the big toe) I got a 15 min. flight. Never got over release altitude but did manage to keep from coming down as fast.

Funny thing talking to another guy there. He spoke of adding up his training hill time in SECONDS before he got very far. I'm still excited when I can reach just 15 min. If I got 45min or 2k over launch I think my head would explode from the excitement!

Rance (still waiting for just 1 soarable day.... this year!!!)

PS: Glad you got some time flying.

I gave into temptation and ran up to HR. I suspect that Ridgely was the ticket today but I left work later than anticipated to make the Ridgely run attractive. Flags looked decent on the way up, I was optimistic. Hardly a breath of wind at HR at 4:30, nobody there... not even an wuff... ouch! Crows were soaring low over the ridge, wings wide out. Went back to the gliderport, sat in my LS-8's cockpit, and made "woosh" sounds.

I wish this weather would break.

Danny Brotto

Definitely a good day. Its great to see a bunch of us got out and enjoyed the break in the weather, we sure did need it. After reading Bob's post it sounds like the moutains are finally working again Boo Waa! One thing Dennis forgot to mention was the low save he pulled off right over the airport. It looked like we were destined for another extended sled as we slowly descended to 1000'agl. Just one 360 away from setting up the landing approach we flew into very light lift. I wasn't sure at first whether Dennis would go for it or not since we were pretty low but he continued his turn around again and then a few more 360's and we started to gain. At that point I was happy radio down to the airport that they could continue the towing operation as they were keeping the runway clear for us to land. It didn't take long until we spotted some vultures and went over to join them in the best part of the thermal. Once at cloudbase (3400'agl) I think we both breathed a sigh of relief. I honestly couldn't believe it, we were at cloudbase, and it was a strange feeling, like I had never been there before. I guess it was just a whole new experience flying seated inside a canopy and all but it was definitely cool! From that thermal on it was jumping from one cloud to another, only the clouds were much further apart. To top the evening off Natalie and I dug the motorcycle out of the shed, aired up the tires and cruised around the hillsides till dusk. Life is good!

Doug.

Went to High Point Sunday. Got about 30 minutes. Only one cloud was working, the rest just looked like they might. Blue skies. Really nice day for sitting on top of the mountain.

Discovered the curved tip wand was split about 5 inches up from the narrow end (the one that fits into the cap). Discovered this when I took the cap off and the split could come apart....

Christy

I taught at Kirshners on both Saturday and Sunday. Could not believe how much haze there was on Saturday. The most I have ever seen. When we got to the site, Daniel was already there and set up. While we started setting the gliders up, he did a flight then a couple of storms moved through with thunder, lightening, and raining on the gliders. The rain stopped, then the wind direction was bad. Dried off the gliders and started doing our warm up runs with the gliders. Daniel packed up and left. The wind direction gradually improved. Around 3:30 - 4:00 the wind direction got fairly good and we got some good flying in. Packed up and stopped by the Pulpit on the way back The wind was coming in a few miles an hour but everyone had already left.

On Sunday, no rain, partly sunny and a lot less haze. Wind direction pretty bad (out of the North to NNE) most of the time but occasionally doable. Two students who are getting toward their hang 1 got some decent flights. A female first timer mostly got ground running practice and one minimal flight. Stopped by the Pulpit on the way back where the wind was quartering from the rear.

- john middleton

Ridgely was a great way to spend a Monday yesterday. Work finally cooperated so I was able to take off on a day that looked like it might even be soarable. The sky looked great in Annapolis when I left, but the eastern shore was pretty well socked in with cloud base around 400'. So I sat there and waited while the cloud deck started to break up.

By noon it had opened up enough for me to get a couple of sleds in to shake off a little rust. After some discussion with Paul, Lauren and PK we decided it looked pretty good so off we went. Paul launched first and I followed him. I found nice gentle lift in the 200 fpm range but couldn't get up to Paul. I saw a nice looking field off in the distance that looked like the only dry spot around and it was in full sun. I tried to get to it but hit sink along the way and decided that if I was going to get back to the airport, I'd better do so now. I made it back with a little altitude to spare.

We all landed and hung out for a little while then decided it was probably pretty good up there when we saw the PK and the tandem glider at cloudbase. I found the same sort of conditions as the previous flight but lift was a little more abundant. I was working under the leading edge of a cloud when I saw Paul zip in under me and start working the same thermal. As we circled, Paul drifted a little further out in front and beside me (to the East, I think) and climbed above me. That led me to scoot over to where he was circling and wham, 500 fpm right to cloud base. Pretty cool.

I flew out from under the cloud and headed back toward the airport. Found no significant lift along the way so I landed after 45 minutes. Total airtime for the day - 1:45. First time at cloudbase, personal best altitude gain. All that and I was home in time for dinner with my family who were adequately impressed with my story.

Ridgely Rocks!

Dave

Soarable conditions at Ridgely yesterday had Lauren, Dave R., PK, and I all at cloud base around 3,500'. Areas of lift were punctuated by large areas of sink and I managed to sink out after 45 minutes on my first flight. Went back up and just had to try an XC after spending 20 minutes boating around in the wisps of cloud. Made it to Denton just cruising along under a cloud bank with almost no loss of altitude but when I tried crossing a blue hole, I fell like a rock. Might have gotten back up but I couldn't see any friendly looking LZ's ahead of me and under the next cloud so I stayed in the area of a landable field while searching for lift and losing 1'200' . Landed SE of Denton for 9.6 miles. The lack of friendly LZ's this time of the year does make it a bit tougher. Don't want to end up in a 10' tall corn field or landing in chest high brambles like PK did yesterday. He was OK and got 20 miles, BTW.

Lauren had nice flights, too. Not sure of her stats so I'll let her tell you.

See ya,

Paul

Paul and I flew Ridgely on Monday. I decided not to try XC again until some of the corn and soybeans get cut. The number of landable fields has shrunk like a cotton T shirt in the dryer. 1st flight Sunny hauled me to the North side of the runway, upwind. He dumped me in a powerful thermal, and I was whiting out in seconds. Played there a long time, eventually started to sink. No clouds directly downwind so aimed sideways at a billowing cummie.

We intersected, but I couldn't find lift. Nothing. Decided the cloud was played out. I bailed for the opposite side of the runway while I had the altitude to clear it, headed towards a huge line of clouds. They were further than they looked. About the time I realized I wouldn't make it, turned to look at the clouds I left. Enormous. Puffing like a kettle on the stove. Oh well. It wouldn't be interesting if it was too easy.

Approached and landed well. It's easier to play with varied approaches with the wind from the North than the Northwest, because those bothersome trees aren't in the way.

Sprinted back into line. Sunny hauled me downwind (winds were light, probably 5-10 aloft), into the path of a developing front. Immediately was in great lift. Finally decided I was going to fly straight for a second and zip up. Never would have flown straight for that long without turning in that kind of lift except for being distracted. Luck is better than skill any day, though. About the time I got zipped, my vario went nuts. The thermal was so big I had just been in the edge of it, but I found the core by accident. Only problem was I reached the cloud in about 15 seconds (about 3500). Spiraled down and flew up again.

Paul -- who soared a few hundred feet away -- radioed that I might want to scoot to the side of the cloud while I had the chance. Uh oh. Lots to remember. I wasn't in imminent danger of being sucked up, because the lift was controllable even at cloudbase, but skirting the edge of the cloud was smarter than hanging out in the middle. Flew out of the lift and then had to find some more. Paul radioed he was still under the cloud and was nearly to Denton.

I didn't fly downwind, back under my cloud, because I would have to leave the field, but I couldn't fly upwind, because this blackish cloud had formed was UNDER my altitude. Nice line of cummies towards the field. Hit nothing but sink. The only lift was right by the little front. Approached and landed fine.

Climbed in the truck and met Paul the other side of Denton. When the cloud played out, there weren't many landable fields, so he didn't dare search very far. Got excited as we drove beck to Ridgely. Clouds still looking good.

Hooked up a last time, towed into air that never moved. Knew I was out of luck for lift but it was pretty and I managed to pull off the last landing, too, even though it was in front of everybody and that's usually when I save my most spectacular stunts for.

David R was VERY happy, having spent the afternoon at cloudbase, and Cindy and George and their friend Paul all took turns in their planes enjoying the perfect evening. Adam thrilled us with some radical stud-boy aerobatics. Couldn't stay and party, even though the pool beckoned -- too much work the next day.

Drove home smiling.

Lauren Tjaden

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This page last updated October 2, 2003