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Hangola June 13 & 14

Saturday, June 13, 1998

Sunday June 14, 1998

Upon arrival at the Pulpit today, conditions looked al little strong but the direction was suprisingly NW. No one wanted to be first off, so we hung out and watched the conditions for a while until Tom McGowan decided to launch around 1:15PM. He had a good one and reported that the air was fine. The flurry of people moving to launch began. Mike Balk, Christy, then me. It was great fun for me today. I enjoyed some great thermals (although none took me really high) and had to work to stay above launch at times. I bailed on a great thermal under a big cloud at around 1800' over and looked back a few minutes later to see lots of gliders under it as they drifted over the back. I don't know what happened to them. I stayed out front all day. Conditions lightened up a bit and Chuck launched and had his first soaring flight. Also flying were Christy, Doug, Marc, Matthew, Karen, Sheila, Mark G., Tom McAllister, Joe Gregor, Mike Chevalier, Judy and Mike Balk. Did I miss anyone?
How did the XC'ers do?
Mike Buckley
3 hours 20 minutes
1800' over

Mike Buckley wrote:

> Upon arrival at the Pulpit today........
> How did the XC'ers do?
> Mike Buckley
> 3 hours 20 minutes
> 1800' over

Sledded over the back landing at Lemar Rd and rte.416. A retarded girl came out and tried to sell me a dog, a mut. MC

I did my first over the back at the Pulpit yesterday! Landed in LeMasters for 5.4 miles on the gps. Joe and Mark G went to like Greencastle. Tom went some distance beyond me, John McA landed at the school.

On the way home I heard Dan on the radio from High Rock looking for some wire assistance. It was on the way home, so I decided to stop by, as did Mike C, Sheila, Mark G, and Joe. It was so sweet we all set up. Joe and Mark (bless their hearts) flipped a coin for driver duty--Joe won, Mark served as assistant extroardinaire. Flights in the 25-35 minute range in the smooth evening glass. Dinner at the Ott House.

There were several other flying firsts and/or notable flights this weekend!! I'll let those pilots tell their own stories!

Judy
High Rock Sat: sled
Pulpit Sun: 1:25, 2K, 5.4 m
High Rock Sun: :25, 400' over

I was spending a rainy, hot, humid, hazy, Saturdat afternoon doing the museums with an old chum. Told him I might leave to go flying LATE in the day and took my cell phone with me. The danger seemed minimal so he agreed.

Around 1400L the cell phone rings. Sheila says it's gonna be good. I hang up and turn to my friend. The incredulous look on his face will be etched into my memory forever.

Persuaded Mark and Shiela to wait until the squall line composed of +TSRW and possible quarter size hail had passed through before leaving. Since the associated tornado warning applied only to Louden County, it was decided to load up the gliders and press on immediately thereafter.

The result was a sled run, although those who had gotten there earlier were rewarded with short soaring flights in light ridge lift.

Sunday turned out to be a Pulpit day. Looked blown out and SW all the way up. Turned out to be straight in NW 10-15 at launch. An inversion below the clouds prevented climbs about 2300' over, or so. Base probably not much above that. Goofed around on the ridge for an hour looking for something worth going over the back with (and so I'd get at least an hour before lawn-darting). Burbled back with one around 2000' over. Saw Gardinator in the distance - obviously in lift - so I pulled on some VG and pointed to join him.

*** It is so nice to be able to arrive at your destination with enough altitude to actually do something with it. ***

Burbled together for a while and I finally peeled off to stay N of Greencastle for what would turn out to be a gratifyingly long final glide. Landed just E. of Greecastle on RT 16 for 16.5 mi.

Went on to HR to help launch Dan T. Looked so sweet we had to set up again. Mark and I were both tired enough to want the other to fly. Flipped a coin and I won (?). 0+20 in smooth ridge lift followed by a resounding helmet-meets-keel stlye whack. Set off seismometers for miles around. I blame it on the short grass, as my wheels worked fine before they cut the darn stuff.

A surprisingly good weekend, given the forecasts.

-- Joe

Well, I became a child of the grass yesterday.

After having a difficult flight due to (stupidly) raising my hang point by a couple of inches, I landed in the main lz. I got a good flare off over the hay, but I ended up dropping over 6 ft through the stuff before hitting the ground and taking out a d'tube. In some spots the hay was up to my head, and I'm 5' 7".

Marc

Saturday at High Rock found 8 of us freshly watered and setting up in the puddles behind the rock. Dan was the first off and decieved everybody by getting some air. Of note; Chuck Pyle and I had our first launches there. The psychology was interesting: All of my instincts were in the full caution mode and my mind had to be in the full GO mode to compenstate. At the same time I had to keep a small corner of my mind open to listen to my observers and able to compleatly STOP should they decide it was not safe. And it was very boarderline when I stepped to the brink. (15-20 and steady). The result was a state of near delierious emotional........ arousal. In other words: I was PUUUUUUMMMMPED!!!!!!! Sort of Master/Blaster on caffine.

ED

Congrats to all of the High Rock & Pulpit pilots on Sat & Sun. I did daddy and home stuff on Saturday, and then headed to Steve Wendt's truck tow operation on Sunday. Was set up, ready to fly by 1030. Winds were too strong and too cross to the runway, so we spent a LOT of time visiting in the sun.
Finally started flying about 5:45. Three of us in rotation on the truck, so I got in 6 flights between then and 8 pm. Altitude at release was from 600 to 1200 AGL on 5 flights, and one 250' intentional early release when I was getting pushed out to the side and didn't like the angle. Landings were nice (primary goal for the day) with good proximity to the spot on all, and under 50' on 2 of the 6.

Cragin Shelton

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This page last updated June 17, 1998