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Hangola April 28 - May 3, 2004

Flight Reports

Mark C, Alex B and me plus crew/drivers of Alex's brother Drew and friend Jeremy. Also Rich Bloomberg showed up and helped. So the usual Pulpit logistics hassel was covered. But it was a tough day. Mark spent an hour on the ridge trying to get more than a few hundred over before Alex and I joined him. It was strong and reasonably straight in but you could still sink out -- almost did. Hard to stay in the lift. Mark and I eventually made 2500 - 2800 over and dove over the back. Nothing. Lawn dart. Oh well.. Alex did the main LZ.

I suck at good flight reports these days. We are down near Miami for the South Florida Comp. So far all the great weather the Flytec meet wrangled hasn't held through. We have only gotten to fly one day so far. The task was tough with serious crossing and direct headwind tasks. Luckily the long leg over the swamp was with a crossing tail. I had a real eye opener on the 2nd leg (upwind). In the struggle to make progress and stay up I was pretty low considering a charge forward to a region that looked good. A set of birds came into view...rocketing up with fire coming out of their butts. With between 1500 and 1900 feet I pushed forward through broken lift towards the beaming birds. Airspeed was in the low 30's. The line was lifty and turb so there was no need to fly overly fast. When I reached the lift i was getting close to 1000 feet. The sharpness of the transition literally took my breath away. The glider pitch up so quickly and violently it was IMMEDIATELY clear that something bad was going to happen. I went straight to the right corner of the control frame and fought to initiate a turn. Luckly the turn input was early enough that the glider was banking as the AOA passed straight vertical. There wasn't enough energy to go straight over the top. I just finished the loop over the top pushing out and mushing to one side. Main went soft and the feet might have tickled the keel. To add insult to injury the recovery sent me right back into the shear and we went up and over again. The second one was less dramatic. Talk about a hot bubble.

I don't think anyone would have believed me if Bo hadn't witnessed the entire incident from cloudbase a half mile away. He said it was about 20 degrees from straight over the top. Awesome Bob lane reported a scary trip over the falls while wrestling with some lift down low.

If you get popped hard, grab a corner. If its a good core you will be wanting to turn anyway. At least you wont have missed your chance to get it turning.

Today looks like it might be called off again. Hopefully we will be able to fly a good task tomorrow.

Kev C

90 minute interlude on the journey home: 30+ miinutes of airtime, a dozen PG flights, 9 top and side-hill landings/relaunches, 30+ minutes of kiting, my second hang glider flight in three months, ... and some Zagi flying. Liife is good.

'Spark

http://community.webshots.com/user/sparkozoid

Anyone thinking 501 again today?

Last night John Hope and I had one of those late day magic flights. It was truely magical..!!! 850-900 over. All pushed out and parked over the mountain. Not a lump in the air. Flew for about an hour just before sunset. Looks like a repeat for today. I am still contemplating whether or not I can push the things I need to get done around the house off another day so I can fly.

Thanks to Lloyd and Doreen for showing up to walk their dogs and helping us launch.

Any takers for this evening?

Dave

Bethel was doing it's goose impersonation yesterday; honking. Dave and I set up anyway, hoping for da magic.

At around 6:15 the cycles mellowed a little, Blowing straight in at 15-20. Dave and I prepared to launch, but alas no wire people for the last man. Ahhh the magic gods were smiling, for Lloyd and his lovely wife Dorrine showed at this critical departure time.

Dave launched and made a beautiful mellow climb out, hastily followed by me. Yes, Otis, the elevator was working, as we topped out about 900 above. It was a bit stronger at this altitude, but smooth as a baby's..... How strong was it? Well, at times I'd have full VG on, pushed out, and parked or going slightly backwards, in my litespeed4. The lift extended a couple of hundred yard out front and that's where Dave played most of the time.

We both landed next to 501. Making the field was no problem, as we both left with 800-900'. It did take a while though. I spent at least 20 minutes with mostly half but sometimes full VG on, in a straight line quest for the field. Lloyd drove my truck down. Life is palatable.

john h

Could have made some major miles from Daniel Mtn today if you were so inclined. And had a driver. Streets stretching as far as you could see. Strong lift and strong(er) winds. I got to 3300 over several times. I think base was another 500 plus. Had to bail each time because I was already over 33 and drifting fast. Fun day. I exclude the landing. Not fun. By the time I turned base, my "10 ft from the windsock" focus was replaced by "anywhere on the field please and thank you". Turned out fine but thas be some serius turbs.

Paraglider crew was there. Fred and Jim and Carl and two others whose names I forget. Jim got a flight about 2 during a lull but otherwise they parawaited. Still parawaiting when I left at 6. But hey, I told em suck it up. I have more than once sat in the LZ and watched the bags core nonexistant lift.

Driving up for evening magic, I was hoping it would be a carbon copy of the evening before, but knew there was (like the Phillies winning the World Series) no chance. It wasn't.

It was hazier, stronger with longer higher velocity cycles. All the ponds were pretty much full of ripples and wind lines. It WAS straight in though.

Dave again launched first, but a little later than the night before, at about 6:35. It looked rowdy which he later affirmed. Glen barreled off next with me bringing up the rear (no jokes please) at approx. 6:55.

The air was fairly textured till above 500'. We all topped out at 1,300'-1,400' in smoooooth air and flew till sunset (7:55). Upper air velocity not quite as bad as the night before, with all pilots making it to the 501 landing field with 1,000'-1,500' to spare. Beautiful landings made by all. Uh-huh.

Thanks to Clint for launch assist and retrieve.

john h

didn't feel like driving

http://community.webshots.com/album/139147482hKPwyM

'Spark

In my previous post, forgot to mention that 'High Rock' Bob and Jeanne Gillisse stopped by on their way to Chattanooga TN. Bob practiced kiting PG before winds picked up. He took the photos at the link below. Mid day winds were strong - 250-30, so we hung out at the house. Just before dark, we returned to the hill and found that winds had abated to 15. I got a few more short soaring flights, but gave it up when I couldn't see.

'Spark

Steve asked how Ridgely was. In one word: Blown out. I set up and let Ginny get battered by the wind for most of the day, hoping for a lull. Adam took the tug up for me once to check out how bad it was, but conditions were, uh... challenging. Bob Buchanan was the only other optimist to drive to Highland. He bailed before I did; evidence he is smarter.

I really needed a break from the work camp here, though. Partied with Cindy and Geo and Craig and Jim and Kristen and Adam and Sunny and Melissa. Will have to try to accomplish more flights in the near future, but it wasn't the day on Friday. Too bad, the sky looked great.

I feel like I am at the very beginning of my journey learning about flying. Cannot wait to learn how to find lift better, how to thermal better, how to fly more advanced gliders, how to fly the mountains with proficiency. Oh, I hope the weather gets good!

Lauren

Showed up around noon with Matt & Karen, Mark C, Carlos, Alek, Daniel, and Pete Lehman soon after _+ a couple of PG pilots. Wind was straight in, probably 15 gusting to 20ish. Cummies were popping everywhere and we thought lift was going to be extravagent. Goal was decided amongst us to try and get up and head down the ridge to Richies Knob. Mark C launched first and lift wasn't as awesome as we thought it would be. Thermals were everywhere, but you had to work them hard ... it wasn't a brain-dead lift day that we were expecting. Matthew launched next and I followed for the Tri-fecta. I launched and hooked a thermal right in front of launch and started working it ... very turbulent. Once I got to about 1000 over, I started to progress down the ridge. Air was VERY trashy, strong thermals, and even stronger sink. I was wings level at one moment in time and then suddenly in a 90 degree bank. Went highside immediately, and then fell out and was pointing at the ground. Nothing like a little adrenalin to make the heart beat faster. Kept progressing down the ridge but about halfway down hit major sink. Didn't have altitude to make it back so started picking fields to land. Set my sights on one and realized it had power lines down the middle so chose my only other option which was a gentle downslope field. Started pre-staging, but hooked a thermal and started to climb out. Unfortunately thermals were very slanted with the strong winds and I was able to climb back to the ridge, but was also drifting way from my only field. Finally gave up and committed myself to land because I didn't want to risk not making the field as the headwinds were strong all day. Set up a good approach and decided to add on some speed while crossine the treeline ... suddenly without warning, my nose was violently pitched up about 50-60 degrees. Stuffed the bar to my knees and still was pitching up...did my best imitation of a paper airplane as groundspeed/airspeed came to zero and the nose pitched back over in a stall. Once again, I'm diving at the ground so I pulled in to get airspeed and was able to get the nose level. Flared hard since I was going downhill and popped up a bit and parachuted it down. Unfortunately when I hit paydirt on a downhill slope, nose beaked over and I basically went thru my left downtube. Oh well, I was happy to be on terra firma. Probably the most turbulent day I've ever flown in. Only the 3 of us, Carlos and Pete L got up as conditions were WAY too strong for H2s. Karen chose not to fly after hearing the LZ stories, and Pete said he wasn't having a great time up there, but he was the only one that made it to the Knob. We had gliders spread out in fields all the way down the ridge. Good learning experiences all in all. Pete was thankful he got to land in the big field without any adrenilin inspiring turbulence!

BATMAN

Funky, switchy turbulent air pummled the hillside all day at Long Green Hill. Actually, probably THE most turbulent day there EVER. Jim Hodges took his flight and pounded in, which led to me taking at least three flights afterwards to "test the air" after Jim' s impressive "wump" into the soft dirt. Thank god for the soft dirt. Jims' lawn dart impersination left me kinda speechless. I had no reasonalble explanation as to actually what happended on his landing. Fortunately he rebounded and was A-ok but.... the wack was so impressive that it left us kinda gun-shy for hours. I took me three flights to 'test the waters' and was humbled by the "roudy". So...we waited and waited and waited for hours for it to calm which...it never did. So....we ended up breaking down it defeat.

So it goes.........( slaughter house five quote )...LOL. Welcome to the Spring of 04'. I'm sure Paul can appreciate that. Hey Bud....we were thinking of your situation today, as the squirrelly winds played with us all day long. Hooo- Raaaaaaah. !!! Heres' to Paul Voights wack tapes! Long live lawn darts! South air is funky!

Rich Hays

Hey Rich,

All I can think is, if I had "immediately" flared with great intensity at the moment of sink, maybe things would have at least been better. It all happened very quickly.

It is no surprise that I am somewhat stiff and sore. Glad I tucked. The neck would be a larger issue. The impact was very significant from my prospective.

Jim

Northern air was equally tempermental.

Forecast for Waldo was 8 -13 for most of the day with peak of 16 around 2:00. I took my paraglider and Target up, thinking it would be lite, especially with proximity of high.

Launched Target at around 2:00 in 15 -20 and immediately got blasted by strong gusts. Waldo is a very tight ridge, which if ya don't get up right away you're toast. Pushing out I climbed well, except went backwards towards the cellular towers. So whenever I pulled in it was down elevator. Gee, this was just like a paraglider!! After maybe 10 minutes of this I concluded there was no way this was going to be fun, went out and landed (lower bench directly below launch). Pinned down by very high winds, unclipped and tried wire-walking the glider off--at one point actually got gusted 5 feet into the air holding onto the basetube. Compeo showed steady state 27 mph with gusts of 30 to 42 mph.

m

tjaden writes:
Hey, does anyone know where I can get some of these (smoke bombs for landing), and if they work well? Thanks in advance.

REI or any boat store has them, just make sure to drop them in a GREEN field. I saw a brush fire get started by one, the farmer was pissed. I've used a couple and they work well.

Finally a flight after 6 months of winter, an hour and ten at Willow Creek. Top landing.        MC

Had a pretty good class last Saturday at Taylor and everyone got a number of flights. We did get rained on for about 1/2 hour around 3:00 and then it pretty much went calm. Not quite like the forecast! Several students getting close to their Hang 1's, Wesley got to practice with his new Eagle and Linda is working her way higher up the hill and avoided the cow pies. Sounds like the conditions really varied depending on where you were.

- john middleton

Fisher Road Saturday May 1.

I should have known better than to fly on May Day.

Karen and I arrived early at Fisher Road. Carlos, Mark Cavanaugh, Chris McKee and hang 2s, Daniel and Alek in attendance. Two PG pilots, Tom and his friend David also showed up. It was blowin' way too strong for PGs. Winds were 15-20. Cavanaugh went first as wind dummy at noon. If he reported reasonable conditions, then I'd throw off the hang 2s. But Mark reported very turbulent air and plenty of wire slaps. Too much for the twos. I thought I'd give it a shot and then launch Daniel and Alek if it backed off later. Besides, Mark is always having wire-slaps and I've never had one yet.

I launched at 12:15 and started climbing in gnarly thermals in front of launch. The thermals were choppy and I went over the falls several times, but nothing I hadn't dealt with before. Mark and I worked our way down the ridge and out in the valley. I topped out at 2500 over a couple of times but left the lift because of fears of cloudsuck. The vario was pegged at 1100 up. The usual giant sink monster at Fisher knocked me back down to only a couple of hundred over and I watched Chris launch and try to make his way down to Ritchie Knob. He didn't make it and landed a couple of miles from the LZ. Carlos launched right into the sink monster and sledded to the LZ.

Right in front of launch the turbulence wasn't too bad. But the winds were crossing from the SW and the halfway down the ridge I got my ass kicked. I had my left wing lifted so violently that I thought I might tumble. I threw my body completely to the left (perpendicular to the keel) just to keep the glider from turning. And I had my very first wire slap--KACHANG!!!! I thought the glider was going to break apart.

With the winds being so strong, no way did I want to land in the primary with the tall trees and tons of rotor. I climbed back up to 2 k over and noticed a big field down the ridge before the sea of trees at the end. I figured I could land there if I didn't make it to the knob. I arrived at the field 500 over the ridge and hunted around for some lift to make the last mile down the ridge. If it's a glass off or straight ridge lift, it's easy to finish the ridge run at 500 over. But I didn't want to risk it with all of the sink holes. Of course I found nothing but sink over the trees and bailed to the field. The uphill slope that I aimed at on final had a slight downhill dip before going back up again-- AKA a whack-dip. I was headed right for the whack-dip. I started to flare at the crest but shot up as a gust hit me. The glider climbed up about ten feet and held an open hand flare to parachute down to land on my feet. (Though I buckled down onto my one knee.) Not bad considering that I usually land on my belly.

Cavanaugh returned to the primary and landed there and said that it was extremely turbulent.

Pete Lehmann launched about the time I was landing and made it to the knob in his Talon. Pete was trying to give directions from the air on radio to Alek to take Pete's car to Ritchie Knob. It was really funny. Pete would be calmly saying to just follow the road along the ridge and then he'd blurt out "Whoah!" And then start talking again and go "Whoah!!!"

Total flight time for me was one hour and one minute and it was the most turbulent flight of my life!!!

We all helped Anna replace a telephone pole in her yard and then returned to launch. It was still blowing hard but we figured that there should be less thermic turbulence. I tried to convince Karen to launch as a wind dummy so that I could get a condition report for Alek. Daniel had to go home for a dinner party. But we couldn't convince Karen to fly. She offered me her glider. But if I flew it then I couldn't observe Alek. Plus, knowing my luck I'd take out a downtube on her glider. Or worse yet I'd find the air fun and then be flying her glider while she was stuck on the ground. A no-win situation. As it turned out, the winds picked up more as the day went on. So we all left.

On the way home, Karen and I, Tom and David met up with Sparky for some late day paraglider fun at a small hill near his house. I actually managed to get above the hill a couple of times. It was more fun than the flight at Fisher.

Matthew

Pretty sweet day at the Rock. Hank and Karma and I. Bruce E showed up to help out and do dinner with us. He still has at least a month on the shoulder before he can fly. Blowing north at 10 - 15 ; maybe a tad of east every now and then just to make us pay attention. And there was sun. Karma went out too far and ended up sinking out but managed a respectable amount of airtime even so. Hank and I went up. 14 - 1500 over. Respectable. High clouds blowing out of the southwest. Lower clouds out of the north. Weird.

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This page last updated May 3, 2004