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Hangola August 27 - September 1, 2003

Flight Reports

Didn't like the weather forecasts. As Chris said, you can always fly another day. But can you always play hooky another day with a hang driver who also wants to play hooky? In the satellite pictures I saw a clear oval heading for woodstock, and decided I could probably see the storms if it was clear, and if it wasn't clear, just bag it and enjoy the drive. My driver is from china and hadn't seen much of the countryside. I wasn't gonna get more than a sled ride, so there shouldn't be time for things to develop between evaluating conditions and reaching the LZ.

Got up to woodstock, and damn if we didn't have blue skies. As predicted, the wind was trickling in at best. So I set up. Dan, by the way, had done an excellent job cleaning up launch and the setup area. Then in the course of 10 minutes, the valley hazed over and the wind died completely. I mean almost in the time it took me to carry my glider down to launch the conditions had changed. I didn't fancy a dead wind launch on account of the drop-off I remembered at the end of the rock ramp. I sat and waited a bit for a puff of air, then went down and inspected the ramp and discovered that what I always thought was a drop-off was actually a change in angle of the ramp: it keeps going! This changes things. But I still preferred some wind, even if all I was gonna get was a sled ride.

Then I heard thunder for the first time. Now or never. My driver said the only part of the flight he found a little scary was the launch because he didn't realize I was gonna run so fast. I guess the contrast between the completely calm surroundings and me suddenly picking up and sprinting down the slope like a souped up goony bird was rather unnerving. Had a no stepper in the calm LZ.

Stopped at woodstock for appetizers and drinks. Came out 20 minutes later to find the trees thrashing and spats of rain- this was around 6 pm. Wished I had been outside to see the transformation happen. Was treated to a nice lightning display on the drive home.

Brian Vant-Hull

My name is Alek Beynenson. I've been taking hang gliding lessons with John Middleton since May of last year (and you thought it took you a long time) and I'm finally getting my H2 now. I'm waiting eagerly for my first mountain flight, for which John is willing to take a day off work when the weather looks promising!

Over the last several weeks I've made a number of trips to Ridgely, where Adam has been patiently getting me ready for a solo. I usually got there at 7 or 8 am, often the first on their schedule, and often the reason all three of them, Adam, Sunny and Kristen had to wake up in time to see the sunrise. As I drove there this morning I was ready for more tandems. In my head I went over the things I need to pay attention to. I went over things to do and not to do. And, almost imperceptibly to myself I was hoping that I just might get to solo. Too afraid to jinx it and be disappointed about it later I tried not to dwell on this solo thing too much. So, it almost seemed out the blue, when after my second tandem this morning Adam said, "Ok, let's go get the Target!"

From that moment to the moment I landed everything seems blurry now, with some details more vivid than others. Conditions looked good with a slight northerly cross. Adam explained how to use the cart (since the tandem glider doesn't need one) and I was ready to go. The cart started rolling, the tail came up, I let go of the cart and I was FLYING!!! Now as I was climbing higher and higher, one thought kept bothering me. I kept feeling the cart didn't stay on the ground and I was flying through the air still in the cart. All logical reasoning told me that this just wasn't so, but since I dared not take my eyes of the tug I couldn't glance down to verify. I must have been at 1500 feet before I darted a glance straight down and saw that indeed the cart did not come with me. From them on concentrating on staying behind Sunny became much easier. At about 2500 Sunny waved for me to release, which I did and quickly made my way to the staging area. I had plenty of altitude and actually managed to take in the scenery. Everything seems so still from up there. I circled around, then started the approach. Turned on base over the sailplanes, then on final. Came in and did a two step landing close to the spot. Wow!! Unfortunately, I'm not articulate enough to describe my feelings adequately.

Once again, I huge thanks to my instructors for their incredible dedication. John, who is out there driving hundreds of miles almost every weekend to teach, knowing that the grass might not be cut. Adam, whom I woke up at 5:30 am on several occasions to check if the weather is cooperating before I drove all the way out. Thanks to Sunny and Kristen for keeping me company while I waited for the fog to clear. Thanks to all of you for your contagious desire to fly.

Alek

The morning haze, coupled with the rain the night before managed to kill most of the lift for the day, though Paul found a few bubbles downwind of the field. Too far to get there and back on Ginny Eagle. Helps to have a topless sometimes.

Decided I should fly a bunch of patterns, work on approaches and landings, since thermalling was out of the question. Actually had a blast.

Approaches were fine. I have been wanting to learn to land really well, though. I almost always land on my feet, but I usually run a few steps, particularly if it's light or no wind. I rarely have those crisp, clean landings like Kevin does -- where the glider makes a noise when it turns into an airbrake and drops you right there. I love that sound (not that Ginny ever makes it).

Adam watched me land and noticed I was throwing my hands out, not up. And I think I have a mental block against flaring HARD. But it was easy to work on because the conditions were easy and I could concentrate on each step of the landing. Adam has a great eye, and I think he REALLY helped my technique. I nearly fell over when Ginny screeched to a halt. Not quite a Kevin or Sunny landing, but give me another few months and I'll get it (or maybe not).

Lauren Tjaden

You all have heard of this term relative to sporting activities; the sweet spot of the bat or the sweet spot of the golf club. I feel like I am in the sweet spot of Hang Gliding.

Why? Well I go back in time to the 70's when I first learned to tow a standard ragollo behind a boat. It was 1974 on the Savannah River, I was in the Marine Corps stationed in South Carolina. I remember the phases I went through from first having to learn how to water ski with trick skis. They are trick because they are flat bottomed to easier facilitate 360's. You didn't want to ski with a glider attached to you without them. The glider would want to go one way and your skis would want to go another, you don't want that. Trick skis allow you to go where the glider wanted to go until you were airbourne. Other phases were learning to keep the glider centered behind the boat. Another, that first time you eased the bar out to take you a foot or two above the water and then quickly pulled in lest you got too high and freaked out. Until finally, you mastered the skill and self confidence that got you to the highest point the tow rope would allow, you could turn easily with the boat, and you could release the line and fly the glider down to a perfect landing just a few feet from the beach. The summer I did that I felt like I was in the sweet spot. Shortly thereafter I was discharged from the Marines and came back to Maryland to return to civilian life.

A few years later in the late 70's I learned how to mountain fly starting from the training hill on up, the whole process all over again and boy was it fun! I was in the sweet spot! But one devious thing started to creep in to my experience, I learned the term "sled ride". After your first soaring flight on a mountain you get spoiled and forever after forget about the training hill or the prospect of launching from a mountain and having to take a "sled ride" back down. Not long after I got to this stage I went thru a divorce and remarraige and found myself with a whole lot of kids under my roof and realized that if I didn't want to give up wife number two I had to give up Hang Gliding.

Fast forward to 2003. I'm taking aerotow lessons from Sunny Venesky at Highland Aerosports. The kids are older and more independent and I have more time to spend on me. It's an hour drive away from my home in Glen Burnie, Md. I don't need my own glider and weather is not as much a factor. Very convenient. I go thru the now familiar phases of learning and progressing in knowledge and skill, and loving it. I'm back in the sweet spot again! But one thing I keep in back of my mind is this: I don't want to let myself get spoiled as I progress, I don't want to one day complain that it's not "soarable". I don't ever want to lose the excitement and pleasure I experienced along the way of my training. I don't want to say I wouldn't enjoy just a tow and "sled ride". I don't want to get out of the sweet spot.

You know the one thing that has allowed me to stay in the sweet spot? Lack of opportunity. Lack of always having perfect flying weather and having all the time I need at my disposal to fly. Lack of opportunity to become spoiled and take my sport for granted. Sometimes I go thru periods of time being able to gets alot of flying in, to the point that I start believing I may have a chance at being the next world champion 8-). Then I have a lay off from flying to the point that when I get on the launch cart it feels like the day I first soloed. And you know what? I love that feeling. It's being in the sweet spot! One day I had the fortune to go 17 miles on my second ever cross country flight (my first one was 2 miles). After the euphoria wore off, 2 weeks later, I swore that I would not let this spoil me (gee I won't be happy now unless my next XC is more then 17 miles). It was a year before I bested that one, which was a very sweet 23 miler, but I had many 4-12 milers that I thoroughly enjoyed in between.

So the sweet spot for me is simply this: "the attitude of appreciation", that at 53 years of age I have the priviledge of being involved in a sport so special that only a tiny fraction of the population of the world has experienced it. Appreciating how it feels to fly upon such a fragile craft as a Hang Glider in a realm not originally gifted to humans. So when I see someone hold back because there is no lift and complain of what a sorry day it is, I will suit up, make the best tow cart take off I can, make the best formation flight with the tow plane I can, thoroughly enjoy the 10 minute sled ride by enjoying the view or learning something new about the relationship between me and my glider and make the best damn approach and landing that I can. And having enjoyed every second of being in the "Sweet Spot".

This comentary brought to you by 6 weeks of non flight and dedicated to and inspired by all of the newcomers in the sport who write and express their experiences and remind us all of what this sport is all about.

The Lurker who came forward (again).
Paul A.

correction: The year I took lessons from Sunny was 2000 not 2003. The profffreader has been let go.

Went out to Highland under less than perfect conditions but it ended up being absolutely beautiful. Not an abundance of lift but the Cummies were popping and there was some to be found if you looked hard enough. Took 3 Tandems with Adam including a great aerobatics lesson on how to properly WANG a glider on the third tow and ended up with a check in the box that I'm cleared to solo. Did a pattern tow and then a solo to 2500' which ended up being spent doing Wang after Wang (try to say that with a straight face). Worked out my angles and learned how to put the Target on her wingtip. Came screaming down towards the windsock and banged out a perfect wingover rolling out precisely on final (Scared the crap out of BVH with my primal scream as I came over top of him) and landed in a perfect no stepper next to the windsock. I realized that its a hell of a lot of work to gain 2500 AGL in the mountains when you can just hold on and enjoy the ride to cloudbase! I couldnt remove the shit-eating-grin for at least an hour. Stayed for the Deep Fried Food Extravaganza, which was basically "Lets see what hot oil and batter will do to it". We experienced Deep Fried Chicken Cordon Bleu, Deep Fried Jalapeno Poppers, Deep Fried Chicken Tenders, Deep Fried Twinkies, Deep Fried Reeses Peanut Butter Cups and the HIGHLIGHT....Deep Fried Oreos. Chased it down with a few Guiness and I think I heard the sounds of my arteries hardening on the drive home. I hope the Irish beer balances that out!!! It was an awesome flying day, and I have to admit that although I went kicking and screaming, I have been converted to the dark side!!!

Chris (Mountains who?)

Christopher McKee

As usual, a great time was had at Hyner.

The forecast for Friday night looked grim, so I delayed departure until early Saturday. Caravan'd northward with Ellis. The weekend was rain-free, providing opportunity for many sleds, a few soaring flights, and plenty of camaraderie with many gracious flyin' folk.

We focused exclusively on para-flight, 'bagging' several flights per day. Sunday morning, we launched shortly after the clouds broke from the mountain top - not quite the classic cloud dive, but very scenic. About noon on Sunday I managed to core a fat one and get up - a very pleasant experience :^)

Hearing of the rain forecast for Monday, we headed homeward, stopping briefly at Jacks Mtn where it was blowing in smoothly from the SE ... and Ellis 'bagged' another flight.

http://community.webshots.com/album/88308781pqKMFD

If you haven't, y'oughta try Hyner sometime. The last get-together this year is the 'Ox Roast' in mid-October.

'Spark

...

But Ridgely is worth talking about. Saturday had scattered thermals for those lucky enough to find one. Sunday had abundant light lift under all the clouds. Winsor was spiralling me up in a nice thermal, but I kept hanging on until I saw we were about at cloud base. After I pinned off early at 2000 feet I realized she was trying to take me up through a blue hole and I had missed the magical experience of being pulled up above the clouds. I'm still kicking myself. I let myself float downwind with the lift, but hit nothing but sink on the way back and ended up landing next to the tents. Gotta love the falcon.

The small stealth kept popping in and out of the bag. Matt and Karen would come up so Karen to try it, then they had to call Sunny over to tension it. On sunday I pulled it out to set it up, but found tensioning it is like yanking on a brick wall. Sunny sent a message saying it was getting a little rowdy and maybe I shouldn't try a demo glider, but I was still sore at the haul-back and wanted to at least get it tensioned. McKee came up and he couldn't do it either. I swallowed my manly pride and packed it up. Matt and Karen came back up and we pulled it out again. After years of working out 3 times a week, Matt couldn't tension it either. Sunny was called over with a "you guys!" grin on his face and nonchalantly popped it into place. Karen flew. Then we found we couldn't detension it. After some sheepish shuffling of feet we had to call Sunny over again. He popped it off again like he was cracking his knuckles. I'm not sure I'm gonna try to fly that glider again. I can't bear the humiliation. Sure flys sweet, though.

And just to clear up any misapprehensions, Chris was not exaggerating one bit when he described the fry-a-thon. Anything edible that couldn't scurry out of reach was dipped and fried. One of the funniest damn things I've ever seen.

Brian Vant-Hull

Good fortune smiled on us and those "Isolated Thunderstorms" came through after sunset. Friday through Monday was not only flyable, but soarable. Every night we looked at the weather and expected rain the next day. But come morning, the haze would burn off and the cummies would pop. Even Monday. Bruce and Barb again spoiled us rotten with food and smiles. The collective forces known as Eish, Scott, Jason, Erica and Sheri combined their evil genius and whipped up a deep fried extravaganza topped with deep fried oreos and penutbutter cups (mmmmmmmm). Adam decided to demonstrate that yes, you can loop an Ultrasport (if you really _REALLY_ know what you're doing) and you couldn't drag Windsor out of the tug if you tried. Less was back in good health and once again training people to fly ultralights. Pilots soared, the beer flowed and the music played (in that order of course :)

What a weekend.

Jim

Winds were a little stronger than expected but still a nice 5-10 SW, a little switchy S to WSW. By 3 p.m Fredericksburg was reporting 91 deg, Heat Index of 100, Quantico was saying 86 deg, H.I. 96. It was hot! No sign of the threatened rain all afternoon.

John had 3 students, Alek, Eric, and Wesley; all seemed to be doing quite well.

Jim from the Blue Sky crowd (sans Rance this trip) came with his big Falcon 225. He had several good flights.

John and I each got in 4 flights, he on a Falcon, I on my Ultrasport. That extra 15-20 pounds of glider I carried compared to John really made me slow down between flights. All my flights were fun. The field was working, so got some bumps of lift flying out each time. Mild beak on the 1st one, but then increasingly better 2-3 step clean landings for the remainder.

It was a fun day, a good hard workout, and I always feel so virtuous going back to the training hill.

cragin

Arrived Saturday noonish at Hyner, following Sparky out. It was a PG day. Never did get the plumbing out. Sparky had 2 flights, I had 3.

Sunday morning. Got up a tad too late to do a cloud dive. Still beautiful morning sled. Landed to Sparky and Bob's jamming on their guitars.

Second flight Sparky and I launched almost simultaneously - a real crowd pleaser.

4 flights on PG (it was that kind of day again). Sparky managed to get the only thermal of the day and rode it up to about 1000 over. Woohoo!

Winds were trickling over the back. Forecast was for rain. Broke camp and headed home. Stopped at Jack's. Got my first flight at Jack's. Thank you Sparky for the retrieval.

Great weekend. Nice folks. Great camping. Never did get into the river. Too many things to do up there. Highly recommendable.

-- ellis

Cragin,

Jim from the Blue Sky crowd? If you're speaking of Jim Carrigan, he was in fact out at Blue Sky. Maybe you meant Tim? Heard you guys had a good time. (A hot time on the ol hill that day)

I went on down to Blue Sky and found Holly, Hank/Karma, and Jim there. Steve and Tex were there to graciously give us lifts aloft. Saw some hopeful clouds here and there but I don't think anyone found much in the way of lift. We all had fun testing the switchy air close to the ground. Up higher it was a little smoother. With the wind almost straight down the tow road I reached a new PB on tow of 1450'. Holly and Karma seemed to just float high over the hangars doing S turns waiting to come down.

I believe a fun time was had by all. Nice to finally meet you Karma.

Rance (And don't mess around with Slim, I mean Jim, I mean Tim :o)

I'll add to the list of "me too's" here. A fantastic weekend at Highland Aerosports. The rain all weekend forecast turned into fly all weekend. Cloudbase was generally pretty low (3k or less), but each day proved to be soarable. Like the others that showed up, I was treated to some of the most magical flying I've done. At one point, while getting low, I found a hawk marking a thermal (which saved my butt). While climbing back up with this spectacular bird, I noticed it was flapping. I was totally confused (why would such a master of the air need to flap in a thermal?) until I saw it rear up and pluck some large insect (or small bird?) out of the air with its talons! It was just waiting downstream for dinner to come zipping by and effortlessly snatched it up. I felt like such a lumbering clod!

Life on the ground was good too. Everyone's just so freindly and mellow. There's nothing like spending the lazy days of summer hanging around with good people. Bruce and Barb treated us once again to some wonderful food (they are just too good to us) and Scott and Eish brewed up a deepfried cookoff blowout for dinner (mmmmmm... oreos!). What a great way to spend the waning days of summer.

Life is so good :)
Jim

Got stampeded by Ellis into thoughts of flying. Did some honey-do's (washed cars, cleaned gutters, swept decks) and headed out around 1:30. No bridge problems. Light south wind. Low cumulus - really low - Adam and Sunny were towing to the TOP of the scattered-to-broken layer. That was about 3200 feet (thanks for the extra altitude, guys!) and made for a lot of fun flying around the clouds - always according to the VFR limits for clearance from clouds, of course. 8-] Actually, I was nervous about losing sight of the ground/airport/town of Ridgely, so was careful to maintain ground reference. No lift to speak of, but I did manage to climb about 300 feet between two clouds - Yahoo Jim did better than that. Two tows; two "fair" landings - still not really on the spot with the Eagle. Saw Joe G. taking a lesson with Les in her ultralite - er, prospective "Light Sport Aircraft". Broke down my glider and took an intro lesson myself. Neat. And cheaper - ahem - "more economical" than general aviation! Adam demonstrated that you CAN loop an Ultrasport. Going out to southern California this weekend to visit my son at 29 Palms. Hope to fly at Crestline with Rob McKenzie... - Hugh

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This page last updated October 4, 2003