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Hangola September 12 - 16, 2003

Flight Reports

Woooo Hoooo! What an exceptional day. I tried to talk out of not going when the weather started to change, but Howard and Kevin said that Bill's was going to be the place for today. Rained (sprinkles)all the way to Smithsburg, then cleared up as we got into 70. Walked the LZ and we did the car shuffle. I took a sled ride and did a one stepper. Howard followed me, but Kevin was soaring!! We packed up and did the car shuffle, waited on Kevin and then headed back up. Kevin was awesome, again. Second flight was nothing but lift, 600' over launch and just played around for 1 hour and 8 minutes. Came in and did another one stepper right next to the streamer. Thanks for waiting around Kevin, hope you win the race. Gene

Bill's Hill was great Friday. Kevin, Gene and I got there at about 3:30. It was raining during the whole ride there - until we hit Breezewood - then it stopped. There was no rain on the ground the rest of the day. It was overcast and starting to clear some. Gene and I launched at about 4:30 and had sleds. We had a few hopeful passes, but no luck. It was marginal (5 - 10 E/NE and sporadic). Then Kevin (AKA The Wunder Pilot) launched and (of course) soared. Kevin flew for about an hour with Sparky's topless and only landed because he wanted to help us get off for another flight. Conditions had improved by then (10 - 15 E/NE and consistent). Gene launched at about 6:15 and got up. I then launched and did the same. I flew for about 30 minutes and got 450 feet over, landing when there was some rain at altitude. Gene continued to fly (the rain was only over one portion of the ridge and eventually passed) and got about an hour. The lift was abundant and extended out far in front of the ridge. All in all it was a great day. The views of the sun setting over the back of the mountain were fantastic. Howard

Third account of Bills....for those who like all the details. All the predicted mosture seemed to move north faster then Mr Weatherman had predicted. I was chewing my nails the whole trip north.

Conditions on launch were light but consistant and SFI (straight ____ in). I was split betweeen being frist one up to try and mark lift or staying back for launch help. Third off I hooked the thermal just north of launch. On more then one occasion I got to thermal tip to tip with nature's best. I started a new game for myself (true to my racing herritage) to see how quickly I can run a lap from one end of the ridge to the other and back. Next time I will start the watch. As the sun got lower the lift band got wider and stronger. Howard and Gene just retrieved the truck so I bolted out to land and run them up for round two.

On launch things still seemed on the light side but Howard and Gene both kept it tight and got right up. It was sweet watching them crank above the ridge on second try. I think I took 3 or 4 dozen pics of the event. From the LZ Howard and I got to watch and photo Gene soaring with the beauttiful orange/yellow/red clouds of the sunset as a backdrop.

It was a great time.

Kev C

PS.....there will be no more questioning of my status as a "gentleman"......OR ELSE!

2 flights on my US166 for a total of 47 minutes, thermals were very small and hard to find. First flight on my XC155 was a weak link break...fun stuff for first flight. Second attempt, 16 minutes ... nothing workable. Good sun though, caught a great farmers tan. Battening down the hatches for Isabels arrival!

Went towing today in Greeley CO and got one flight behind a turbo Dragonfly. Right after landing I heard a boom and looked up to see the tug coming down under a parachute. It deployed at about 1000 ft and landed in a cornfield. The tug was badly damaged but the pilot was unhurt, hard to believe seeing the damage. Fire and rescue responded and checked out the pilot. I've posted pictures at http://community.webshots.com/user/mchevalier77 in the folder Dragonfly. The accident was caused by a weld failure of a aileron activator crank near the engine. A picture of the failed part is included. I was told that this was not the first time the part had failed. Dragonfly owners should check their planes for cracks or damage to this part.

The owner of the airpark and cornfield quickly brought in a combine and cut a swath through the corn, drove a flatbed truck in and retrieved the plane. MC

I wish I had had my camera. I love when the sky opens up like that on days where you swear you're not going to fly. It wasn't a booming day or anything, very weak lift at best, but we actually got to fly. Considering the passing hurricane and the dismal forecasts, things were looking pretty bleek. Then, someone found the starter for the Ridgely force field generator. It puffed and sputtered for a while, breaking the clouds open for a bit before they closed back in. We went from blue skies to 100% overcast back to blue skies for a couple hours. The deck was 2,600 so we flew. Rob Kells showed up with an assortment of gliders for people to try out. He answered a bunch of question, showed us all some tricks (like how to get those tip wands on easily), and was just an all around friendly guy. As seems normal, the U2s were a big hit.

I finally got to take one (U2) for a spin. It's a whole lot lighter in weight and handling than my Talon. Easy to tow, easy to fly, easy to land. It felt like a Discus with a "lightstream" frame (that cool faired basetube). The VG was pretty short. I'll have to check my discus for comparison. I may have just gotten used to the Talon's monsterous vg. It was easy to pull on and pop off. 1/2 the time I just ignored it. Full on or off, whatever. I had no trouble flying at any setting. I think I'd stick it on 2/3s and leave it alone most of the time. Flew nice and straight full vg, bar stuffed and was still pretty responsive (didn't stiffen up too much). Rob wanted me to go easy on it (since it's not as beefy as the Talon), so I didn't loop it. It does wang nicely though ;) Had about the same adverse yaw as the discus, nothing to write home about. Stall breaks were very mild, esp with the vg off. All in all just a mighty fun wing.

The rest of the weekend was fun too. I'd have to write a book to cover all the goings on though. Good people, good fun, good flying. See ya next week :)

Jim

Forecast was coudy all day, but nice winds (SE 4-8). In reality the sun came out early afternoon for a lot of blue peppered with nice cluds. However, there was never enough ground heating to make it the boomer day reported a week earlier. No great adventure flights, but a lot of fun flyiing.

I took a couple of extended sleds in my UltraSport, for 20 and 16 minutes, feeling good about the tows and the landings. On that first one I finally caught a tiny thermal at 750 that I tweaked back up to 850, but that was as good as I could get.

I also kept telling Rob Kells that I had to avoid trying the U2, because I have had the US less than a year and cannot afford to want another glider so soon. But John Middleton flew the U2 160 and had one of the better flights of the day, playing at EXACTLY 500 (I swear, ossifer!) feet below a cloud for quite some time, and came down raving about the handling. Then on a seond flight on it he was all grins about how much time he got just sledding around and how niec it was.

SO.. About 5 I gave the U2 160 a try. Damn! I knew I shouldn't have flown it! On tow (no fin) like on rails. Easiest bar pressure and control I've seen. Fast was neat, slow was easy. Had to REALLY puush out to stall it. Brainless stall recovery both straight and in turns.

One surprise was on landing approach. My turn from downwind through base to final was more a big 180 than separate legs. That turn became a slipping turn (not planned) so I quickly lost more altitude and gained more airspeed than planned. Coming out of the turn put me in PIOs that entertained the crowd and made Rob worry for his glider. However, I smoothed it out, went upright, and the glider gave me the most beautiful flare signal and timing I've ever had. What a hoot!

Good crowd, good flying day, good visits and advice from Rob.

Cragin

Having lemming-like flown the U2, I have to lemming-like throw out my observations.

Cragin said one of his turns turned into a slipping turn. I also found the turns to be rather skaty while doing approach work. Figure 8's could have you making like a dog on a waxed floor. I'm not sure this is the best glider for scratching near the ridge.

Marc had noted that the tail-heaviness made the glider impossible to beak. I found it also made it easy to pop the nose while transitioning out of prone. But then it just mushed all the way down to the ground for a perfect flare. Even a falcon won't behave that nicely.

The only lift I hit was right below a cloud, so didn't get to find out how nice it thermalled. No clear core anyway. But it did seem to turn okay.

So it's a nice glider, but not my dream glider.

Brian Vant-Hull

Copied from the RMHGA list serv:

Here's the straight scoop on the Dragonfly crash. Yes it was Jim Yocum's airplane and yes I was flying it. I had Tim Denton on tow, one of several tows Joe and I had already performed that day at the Farm, and we had gotten to about 1100 AGL. After circiling in some elusive lift I had leveled the wings and headed up wind. Suddenly, I heard a loud crack and the engine began to vibrate violently. At the same time, the aircraft began an uncontrollable diving spin to the left. I did not know what happened but recognized it as a catastrophic failure of some sort and immediately fired the BRS. Tim had already pinned off and was heading to a safe landing. Unfortunately, I did not think well enough to get the engine throttled back and shut down first, but the chute fired correctly and did not tangle with the prop. Throughout the rest of the descent, I tried unsuccessfully to stop the engine. The descent did not last more than 10 -15 seconds and the plane was spinning violently under the canopy. I knew I was going to hit hard, but nothing I did changed anything. I was propelled into the cornfield as though fired out of a sling shot. The cockpit and left wing tip seemed to hit simutaneously. No bounce or anything, just a big lawn dart with the tail sticking vertically up out of the 6 foot high corn.

When I realized that I had survived the impact, I became aware of the engine still running and gasoline pouring all over me. At that point I became afraid for my life all over again. Quickly, I realized the control panel, although detached and smashed, lay in arm's reach. I reached out and messed with the switch and the engine stopped. Again, a sigh of relief. Then, I kind of evaluated my physical condition and realized I was not hurt too badly. It took a little maneuvering, but I was able to get out of my helmet, gloves and seat belt. When I stood up and started walking away, I realized I was OK. It took some talking and a few waivers to keep from getting a ride into North Colorado Medical Center. Some ibuprofen and Tim Evan's beer fixed me up. Thanks to everyone there who showed concern, compassion and help. Thanks to Dave Niemeyer for driving me home.

What happened? Apparently a broken aileron control tube that then went through the prop.

Thanks to BRS for saving my life.

Alan

I dunno how many of you folks are Daniel Mtn afficionados. Maybe three or four. Not a lot. I think it is a cool site. Anyway, you are hereby warned that the road up totally sucks. Again. It was ok for a while -- 2wd even. But all the rain and now it is back to 4wd. 2wd only if it's a rental. Or my busted up Mazda.

Flying was ok until it started to rain.

Slot needs work too. I cut down some stuff so I could get out but it really needs a full work party. Either that or visit from our environmentally incorrect elf, Joe Schad. (Question: What is the greatest danger if you blow a launch in a slot cleared by Joe? Answer: Cancer. Heh Heh. Joke.)

Stocker looks good tomorrow

Sunday's forecast wasn't the best so Shawn and I decided to do some mountain biking first and then stop by 501 and take a look. But on the way to Shawn's house I kept seeing due south 10+ on the ground and the 50percent chance of rain they called for didn't look like it was gonna happen for awhile. So we bagged bikin and headed right for 501. Arrived at launch around 1pm to STFI 10 to 15 with dark cloud streets and little sun. It looked like it had a chance to rain but nothing serious. By the time we set up some local hikers stopped by and agreed to help us launch. Conditions improved as we walked Shawn down to launch. Now there was large area's of sun out front and the cycles were perfect. Shawn took off and went right up to 500' over. I followed within minutes and was treated to the same gain. We flew around launch for awhile then thermalled up to about 675' over and with that I started my glide over to Baldy. Arrived out in front of Baldy with 400' to spare and immediately hit a beauty that took me to 1075'. We were able to fly way out in the valley under what was now partly cloudy skies with long streets that lined up for miles. After cruisin for awhile I decided to head out to Grimes airport. I arrived at the airport and watched the red Biplane taxi out to pick up some passengers. Not wanting to interfere I thermaled back up to 2k agl over the airport and watched the Biplane depart. Flying out past rt.78 to burn off some altitude I watched the double winger climb up into the blue. Now it was clear and time to get on the ground so I cored some sink and set down next to the office. Shawn's persistance paid off as well as he climbed high and made the jump past bald mountain as well and flew till he was tired. What an awesome day, the rain never came and I even got a ride to my truck on the back of a Harley!!

Doug.

Shawn and I did Ellenville today. Yup, it's still there and still soarable. Nice air, plentiful lite thermals, 3200 above (4500 MSL) a couple of hours, and a couple of sore butts. (from the ride not the locals)..... Bob.

The original plan was to meet at Woodstock at 12:15. I went up early and found it was totally dead. Called Steve K. on the cell and we decided to head to the Rock instead. A great time was had by all. Some were sleds, some extendo's, and some were to 1400 over depending on the cycle launched in. Several even went for multiply flights. Those in attendance were Steve K., Rance R., Howard W., Gene, Eddie, Ralph, Pete S. Karma, and myself. I hope I didn't miss anyone. Also talked to the individual who pioneered the site and was the first to launch from the rock 20 some years ago but unfortunatly I forgot his name. He was up from Florida visiting. Thanks to Ralph for visually documenting the day with his camera.

Hank

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This page last updated October 4, 2003