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Hangola November 6 & 7, 1998

Friday. Just to bring everybody up to speed, Dan, Tom, Allan, Homer, Ed, and umm...Homer's friend, new Hang 2, the name escapes me, and I flew Woodstock Friday. It was good but cold as hell. Homer made it to 2300 over. Most of us putzed around in the 1000 to 1400 over range.

Sat. Light west. That's what everybody said. So I opted for the sailplane but when I got to the airport at FDK it was blowing 25 on the ground. Who's doing the weather around here? I have a good mind to call WE 61212 myself if you guys can't do any better. Nice lennies but no wave that we could find despite multiple and expensive 5k tows. Hope somebody did woodstock. Betcha it was a Harrisonburg day.

Steve K

>It's Saturday, 9:00am. Myself and some others are heading to the Pulpit
>to fly >today. If it's too strong there we will bail to High Rock.
>
>Judy

OK, I left the house at 10, with assurances of a crowd at the Pulpit. Got on the radio at Smithsburg. No pilots on the air. Talked briefly to Fred at HR as I crossed the ridge on 16... he was talking to Doug, landing at HR. Drove straight to the LZ to plant a wind sock. Reached launch at 1230. One glider set up, but no pilots around, only two birders. It was blowing way harder than the forecast 10. I set up, was ready by 1:00. Dennis Sheely showed up to claim his glider.. he had checked in at Johnnie's. We chatted for an hour. At about 1:30, learned that the early arrivers had gone to Woodstock . By then, seemed too late to follow them. Broke down at 2, reclaimed my wind sock, and headed to HR. At 3:15 found HR launch totally abandoned, not even motorcycles. Was home with all gear unloaded by 5:00.

Cragin

This morning's scenario was a good example of why I don't like to post a weekend day's destination on the list server! It was coincidence that I was still online when a decision was made, so I posted it before I disconnected.

Well, the Pulpit was indeed the plan. Shortly after I hit the road, cell phone conversations began about the honking winds in DC and maybe the Pulpit wasn't the best choice. Winchester resident John McAllister reported strong winds but some sunshine there. Woodstock at that point seemed a much more reasonable place to fly given this information. To the north it appeared completely clouded over.

At Woodstock it was cross from the west to varying degrees during the day and quite cloudy. Steve Kinsley, how did you know? Homer, Tom, and Mike Balk made it to Harrisonburg; Mike C to Mount Jackson. Hopefully we will hear their stories firsthand. Kevin was headed that direction but I don't know how far he got.

I flew for 1:30, mostly between 100' and 400' over in the rotored thermally ridge lift. The occasional climbs to 700' were a welcome change of pace!

Many others flew, but they will have to report in for themselves.

Judy

Fellow pilots,

I picked up Billy Vaughn and arrived at Manquin Sat morn around 0830. A cold wind was blowing from the West and Steve Wendt did some minor maintenance on Billy's almost 20 year old Comet 185. At 1000 Billy brought out his RC sailplane and used a high start to climb to 150 agl in the 10 mph west wind and had no problem thermalling up, with several birds, in small thermals. By 1100 the temperature on the ground got comfortable and Terry, Doug, Steve and Ray Mitchell arrived, set up and started towing. Some flights were extended sled rides of 10 minutes after 1000' tows. The cross wind produced a thin layer of turbulence at ~150' but everyone corrected well for the turn it threw them into except Ray, who came off line twice and landed without incident.

I set up my Fusion in the warm sun stripped down to my T-shirt. Meanwhile Billy towed around 1200 to about 1000' and got to 4300' for an hour. Then he lost most of the altitude as a blue hole came through and beat his way back two miles up wind to the flight park, where he executed a few low saves at ~600 back to 1000' or so before landing. During that time, I towed and attempted to work some very ratty thermals before landing 10 minutes later.

After another round of truck tows, I winched to 1100' at 1433 encountering three strong thermals on line, the last right at the end of the tow. I turned back and entered a nice 3-400 fpm thermal, riding it to 4400--had to beat Billy--while drifting due east a couple of miles down wind. There was blue sky between me and the flight park, but there were clouds to the southwest, so there I headed. As I approached a cloud a mile to the south of the runway, I encountered another large, smooth thermal and rode that to 5800' agl, near cloud base, (tying the altitude record for Manquin Flight Park) where the lift just got lighter and lighter.

There was a cloud street lined up due east, that disappeared some 10 miles away in the light haze, but It was now 1530 and I was cold, so I headed the three miles up wind back to the park, arriving at 2700'. Warmer at this altitude, I boated around in bubbles and general lift watching some glider soar a 1000' below me. After 15 minutes and not losing any altitude, I flew a mile up wind playing with speed and glide control, getting down to 1500'. There I found a 1-200 fpm thermal and lazily circled in it, drifting back to the field at 3000' where a number of wingovers brought me down to setup altitude and I landed next to the breakdown area.

Everyone broke down while watching Ellis (hang 1) twice tow in the light winds and perform two elusive near perfect landings.

Greg

You wrote:
>
>Judy said
>>This morning's scenario was a good example of why I don't
>>like to post a weekend day's destination on the list
>>server!
>
>Oops, it was not from the net, or from Judy, that I was expecting folks at
>the Pulpit
>It was from phone calls with other folks
>
>Craig
>
>
>
Craig,

You weren't the only one to go to the Pulpit. Karen and I were still getting our act together when we received phone calls from a couple of pilots on the road-- each informing us that they had decided to go to Woodstock instead of the Pulpit because of the strong winds. I called and left messages for Brian hoping that he might not have left yet. Sheila called and left a message on your machine telling you of the change in plans. Both Brian and Bacil had gone to the Pulpit and then made their way to Woodstock. They both flew and had soaring flights-- Bacil went XC.

Many Kudos to Tom (feels no bumps) McGowan, John (Homer) McAllister and Mike (The Incredible) Balk for their flight to Harrisonburg. It was quite an amazing feat considering the conditions we had around launch-- can't wait to hear their story. It was crossing out of the West all day with lots of ups and downs. It was a struggle just to get to 1500-- lots of 3 beeps from the vario, nothing, 3 beeps, sink, etc. Luckily I had my eyes open and I saw Ed (loves the turbulence) Reno stinkin' high over the second finger to the North. So I cruised on over and joined him in lift city, climbing to 2400 over, where it was quite cold and foggy. After about fifteen minutes, the thermals dissipated so I made a beeline back to launch while Ed stuck around a little longer than he would have preferred. Still, Ed said it was his most fun flight ever-- he really liked going negative and getting thrashed around--just like body surfing! The turbulence wasn't too bad for the most part. But about every 20 minutes, it went from bumpy, but managable, to WHAM, BAM, THANK YOU MAAM for a few minutes. I landed after 2 hours to get down before sunset.

Joe, Sheila, Gardinator, Jose, Judy-Judy, Karen and a several CVHGA guys all flew. Kevin went XC and landed near the gap. Mike C. went to Mt. Jackson. Marlin Savell had a nice multi-hour flight after being out of the sport for a while. Adam (?), hang 2 from Winchester, had a soaring flight and had his hands full coming into land. David Solomon (Hang 3 from Arlington and non-member of any club) was first off and got 4 hours. PG Pilots Wayne, LE and Mike (?) all soared. LE had a very rough launch with her wing brushing the trees in the slot and then momentarily getting snagged by the branches. She fortunately was able to fly out of it and have a good flight. Mike was not so lucky and ended up behind the ridge and landed in a tree. Both he and the wing survived intact. A group of hunters on dirt buggies were on the scene and came to his rescue and he was down safely by the time pilots from launch arrived. Ralph from Reston came out for the day and learned the meaning of the term 'skunked'. Thanks Ralph for wire crewing and retrievals. Your day will come.

Matthew (Veteren's Day anyone?, of Karen and Matthew)

Mathew wrote

> Luckily I had my eys open and I saw Ed (loves the
>turbulence) Reno stinkin' high over the second finger to the North. So
>I cruised on over and joined him in lift city, climbing to 2400 over,
>where it was quite cold and foggy. After about fifteen minutes, the
>thermals dissipated so I made a beeline back to launch while Ed stuck
>around a little longer than he would have preferred. Still, Ed said
>it was his most fun flight ever--

Hey! mann..... I didn't say I liked it. I am just too young and ignorant to be scared when my vario pegs and screams at 1000' down for a full minute. (I think the needle bent) I blithely figure that what goes down must come up. The trick is finding the spot where it does.

I learned the meaning of poor penetration on that one. I have gotten behind the ridge before and worked my way back without trouble. So at 2400' over and a mere 400' behind the ridge I wasn't concerned. I pulled in and started down: straight down. I probably got a 1 in 20 ratio. Remember the screen saver with the flying toasters? That was me. Finally at about 500 over and directly over the ridge line I started to make forward progress. I meekly stayed well out in front for the rest of the day.

Not much later the lesson was punctuated as, with churning stomach, I watched the PG get blown over the back. Not a pretty sight, although he was fine.

So: Los Falconyeros, mis compadres. Believe those poor penetration parables. Stay out in front!

(and btw) The turbulence wasn't what made the flight fun. What made it exceptional was thrashing around at less than 500' over and chancing upon a nice warm thermal. Then being wafted upward like the redeemed from purgotory. Upon topping out witnessing the incredable beauty of the day. Occasionally the sun would blast through the wave clouds in thick yellow beams and light up a fall landscape in full foliage. Behind the ridge was all rusty red, in front beige, with the tops of the fingers streaked with gold. Out in the valley the trees contrasted with the still green fields in large fluffy multi-colored patchwork. The low sun and long shadows enhanceing the borders of the feilds and orderly orchards.

Absolutly unmatchable..... I become emotional..... I can type no more..

Ed

Judy McCarty wrote:

> At Woodstock it was cross from the west to varying degrees
> during the day and quite cloudy. Steve Kinsley, how did you
> know? Homer, Tom, and Mike Balk made it to Harrisonburg;
> Mike C to Mount Jackson. Hopefully we will hear their
> stories firsthand. Kevin was headed that direction but I
> don't know how far he got.

I launched at 2:45, turned right and after getting enough altitude started the trip south. Tom and Mike were working over the rock pile near the gap when I got there low on the ridge. A few minutes later I was about even with them trying to get higher for the jump. Mike B. went first losing lots of altitude reaching short mountain below the ridge. Tom and I went for it a few minutes later not being all that high over but gaining most of the way across. Tom made it comfortably across but I having started a couple hundred below Tom got to the ridge well below the top. Can't wait for that new glider, it should make such trips a bit easier.

So for a few minutes it was pucker factor for me until I got a couple hundred over. We found light ridge lift on Short Mtn. with thermals to about 2000 over, launch that is, Short Mtn. stands about a thousand feet higher than Woodstock launch. Reaching the end of Short, my fingers were getting cold, I wasn't getting high enough to make the jump back comfortably and we still weren't able to get hold of Adam the driver leaving the retrieve situation a bit sketchy. I decided to glide out and land near route 11. It looked like an easy glide at first but I hit massive sink and had to land in a field close to the ridge where I'd picked up John Dullahan once.

I packed up, stashed the glider and hike out a jeep trail about a third of a mile to the road. Only two cars passed in the next mile and a half walk out to route 11 and neither picked me up. By this time I'm cursing my luck as it's getting dark, Adam hasn't been heard from and I'm gonna have to hitchhike.

Lucky me, the first vehicle to come along was a 1965 Ford, Left Wing Communist Hippie Van, driven by locals from Fort Valley. They're on their way home and give me a beer and a ride all the way to launch. Ed, the driver, says he watches us from home behind launch. By this time it's 6:30 and dark, Adam is just leaving launch so I tell him where Homer, Mike and Tom are and take off to get my glider. A shooting star catches my attention as I'm driving south. It seams to veer and split in two.

Reaching the jeep trail I dig out my flashlight only to find that the batteries are feeble. So much for the Energizer bunny, I'll have to walk in in the dark and save the batteries for the return trip when I'll be carrying the glider. After a few minutes my eyes are well adjusted to the dark. Suddenly a bright object appears in the sky, headed towards me. Moments later I find a strange craft hovering overhead making a low humming noise. A blinding shaft of light envelopes me, I feel a strange weightlessness and suddenly I'm on board the craft. I'm surrounded by short gray beings with gray skin, large heads and large black eyes. A few unknown medical tests are administered and in minutes I see Earth recede in the distance.

I'm whisked away at warp speed to a distant planet called Tralfamador. Several other terrified humans are on the ship. We communicate with the aliens by thought as they do with each other. No speech is needed. I'm put on display in some kind of zoo. My quarters are tastelessly but adequately furnished with merchandise stolen from Sears & Roebuck. The food served me was green or brown tasteless mush. For entertainment I was provided I Love Lucy and The Price is Right reruns on tape and a stack of tabloids to read. They explained to me that their studies indicated that this was Americans preferred form of entertainment.

I'm required to mate with Tralfamadorian women. No romance involved, just industrial grade bonking. They are trying to create a hybrid race. So far it hasn't worked out well.I get a chance to check out some of their technology: impervious metal films you couldn't put a knife through, music CDs the size of a dime, an anti-gravity skateboard.

Eventually I was put on board another ship and warped back to earth and returned to the same spot where they had taken me from. It was a dark night, I found my glider where I'd left it. I reached the truck, checked the time and date and found that although I had been on Tralfamador for several months I had only been gone from Earth for an hour. I stopped at Burger King in Edinburg and had some tasty food for the first time in months. I checked my flashlight on the walk out...they had charged the batteries. MC

Congrats on the multiple XC's. Guess I'm a weinie but it never seemed to be that good to me. Couldn't seem to get above 1200' over or so (and given the temps and my lack of thermits, that was fine with me), with reliable ridge lift a mere 300-400 over. Bet the pucker factors were high at times. If I coulda got into what looked to be wave way up there somewhere, though.....

Dropped my keys on the ground while launching. Pissed off everybody tring to get in contact with people using my intermittently functioning transmit button (sorry). Finally had to go up there with a flashlight and retrive them myself after breaking down (successful). 1+30 and yet another good landing for the Fusion (thats three in a row, I'm on a roll, or perhaps its just winter). Dinner at Spring House.

My apologies to Ralph, whom I finally told it was OK set up after it was too late (due to offical sunet). We'll get it right next time.

-- Joe

It was my first time to run the ridge. Another of my 'goals' has been accomplished! I would like to try it again on an easier day, but anyway, if you would like to hear my story, read on (it's a full page long).

Disclaimer: Hang gliding can be dangerous, conditions can change. Just because it has been done before does not mean that you will make it.

Don't worry, nothing bad happened, I just wanted to emphasize what everyone should know.

Woodstock. WNW @ 10 - 15 mph. Cold, low 40s. Tom launched about an hour ahead of me, and I launched soon after John McAllister. With the west cross we decided it was not worth the extra time and risk (risk of sinking out) heading north, so we immediately went towards the gap. Tom had been working unsuccessfully to cross the gap. We all tried a few times unsuccessfully to cross the gap, but then John went out and made it. Tom & I were following, but had to turn back. Tom & I kept trying. I had been trying to go out, and then over, but I got high closer to the gap so I tried it from there. I was climbing slowly most of the way there, and about the time I was committed I was also starting to sink. Sink big. I got to Short Mt. below the ridge. I kept going hoping that as I got around the corner the ridge lift would kick in. After what seemed like forever, but was probably only a couple hundred yards, I stopped sinking, then slowly started to climb.

Whew! There was definitely some pucker factor there, but I knew I had the bail out field available to me. As I headed south, slowing climbing in ridge lift, I saw a bald eagle about a hundred feet below me. Way cool. I heard that Tom and then Mike C. had also crossed the gap behind me. At the end of Short Mountain (Mount Jackson), we boated around waiting to get enough altitude to make it back to the ridge behind us, and the three or four miles down the ridge to the first landable fields. Mike C. was cold, and went out to land (see his story about what happened to him after he landed.) Talk about trees. If you have never been down there, there are a lot of trees. Up and down the main part of the ridge by launch, there are lots of places to land. Not so down south. Up north, there are many fields bigger and better than the primary field - easy to land out. If you don't think your landing skills are up to par, and you can't place it into a small, restricted, textured field, think twice about jumping the gap.

So eventually we got to +2400' (over launch) which is only a thousand over the ridge or so, we jumped back. Stopped once or twice to milk out some meager lift and jumped the New Market Gap. Tom was consistently in front of me (I wanted him there so I could see how he did it), and a few hundred feet above me (I didn't want to be lower than him, and I was praying that the altitude difference wasn't enough to cause me to sink out). Gradually gaining altitude (+20fpm on the averager) we headed to the next gap. I was +1300', maybe 700' over the ridge, and on the other side of the gap, the mountain gained about 1000' in elevation. So when I crossed that gap, I was once again below ridge level, again hoping that the ridge lift was still working. Remember all of the trees I mentioned? Well there were even more down here!

The sun was setting, the winds getting lighter (ridge lift working but barely), a long way out to the fields in the valley, and still 10 miles to go to the end of the ridge. With the deadline of darkness coming, there was no time to work what little thermal lift was left. So onward to the last gap before the South Peak. Once again climbing slowly I reached the last gap.

This last gap was incredible. It was huge and horrible, or a piece of cake, depending upon wind direction. Most of the ridge down south faces slightly more W. The last part of the ridge faces NW again. So if there is too much W in the wind, there won't be much ridge lift, and you would be flying through the venturi for the last mile or so. If you had a few thousand feet, no big deal, but at less than 1000 feet over the ridge it could be a big deal. Luckily Tom was above and in front of me. He was doing fine, so I followed. John told us where he had landed, and he recommended making a wide turn around the Peak to avoid the rotor. Watching Tom play in the rotor, I swung even wider. Ever played in rotor? It can be exciting. We just touched the edge of the rotor, and it stopped about 300' above the ground. I can tell you I would not want to be blown over the back and feel the full brunt of the rotor. The field John was waiting for us in was nice and big, sloping uphill into the wind - what could be better! Landed on my feet (I have witnesses) for a perfect end to a great flight.

Statistics:
Launched 1:44 p.m.
landed 3:30 later.
Great circle distance: 38 miles great circle (my longest flight to date).
Average speed: 10.97mph
Max speed 54mph.
2D trip distance: 72.80 miles
2D ave speed 21mph

Max altitude 2,457 over launch.
Max lift: +429fpm;
max sink: -615.

Hope you enjoyed the narrative.

-Mike Balk

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This page last updated November 10, 1998