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Index to weather maps

Hangola June 17 &18

Wednesday June 17

Thursday June 18

It was my birthday yesterday so I had made arrangements to take the day off to go flying - since it was looking decent for flying. Doug also took off.

We got to Woodstock around 2 pm and it was coming in around 10-15 with a bit of a west cross. There was a slight delay in taking off since we wanted to pick up all the beer cans and other trash left by some party slobs and we also had to rebuild the wind break on the left side of the set up area. It had been dismantled, moved, and rebuilt as a lean to further down the slope. Hope this doesn't happen too often.

I launched first. Easy launch. Wind was very smooth. The highest I got was about 1700 over. Not too many distinct thermals but there were wide areas of lift and you could go forward gaining 1-200 fpm for quite a distance. I flew for 2 hours and 22 minutes. Doug got a little over 2 hours. We landed because it was getting late and we had to go out to dinner to continue the birthday celebration.

John and Betsy Fishburn came by in the LZ. I'd left a note since they weren't there when we stopped by on our way up. They wanted to tell us that they missed having us stop by on the weekends!! They would like to see us (just not all of us). So, in the future, please stop by and visit with the Fishburns, but make sure it's only 2-4 pilots a day or so. I think that's what he was saying he would like.
Someone knocked the post down in the parking area. Mr. Fishburn noticed it down after the big day of flying we had there June 6th. I will be asking John McAllister if he can replace it (Mr. Fishburn is supplying a new post since the old one is destroyed), because the bottom of the old post will have to be dug out and he has the equipment to do that. If you knocked the post down, fess up! YOU should be volunteering to fix it - and soon. If you want to confess in private, please email me for additional instructions from Mr. Fishburn.
Christy

Woodstock, June 18

Arrived in Woodstock to see thermally induced wind blowing from the S to NW. Drove to Fishburn's but couldn't get there due to excavation on the road at the bottom of one of the hills. Turned around, headed for launch, and called him on the cellphone. At launch Bob Ratcliff, hang ?, was setup and waiting for conditions to mellow. Wind was obviously cross from the left evidenced by the leaves churning on the right, and little activity on the left side of the slot. Many times the cycle wouldn't even get to launch, it just blew across the slot. Other times it seemed nice. Decided to wait a while.

Also, I noted that a huge percentage of the trees on the way to launch had their leaves turned over.

Beware. Found a hornets nest (the hard way) on the path to launch. It's still there as I couldn't figure how to ditch the thing. Anyway, it's nearly hanging over the main trail on the left, chest high, 10 feet past the first right turnoff into the setup area; bigger than a softball. If you're walking on the left side of the trail (I was), you'll probably bump into it (I did?). Vicious little suckers; nailed me on the back of the neck at the base of my skull. I guess it got stuck, or was stinging me repeatedly, because I had to knock it(them) off me.

Conditions began to mellow. Other pilots arrived: Ben, LE, Bruce, visiting from South Africa, followed by John McAllister. Everyone soared for as long as they wanted.

LE had her patience tested when the wind picked up and tried to push her over the back. She was seriously parked low and over the power lines for several minutes. Later, in the LZ, she mentioned that her many attempts to move away from the powerline cut-out were resisted by conditions. (Micro-venturi possibly?).

I launched at 4:15, got 3:35, peaked at 2700 over, +520 on 20 sec averager, peak instantaneous lift: 2911fpm. I gained a grand in a thermal around 7:30 before heading out to land. Looked like it would be nice and soarable all night!

-Kevin

High Rock was really nice yesterday. Big fat cumis north of the towers. I love it when you can drive around underneath them all pushed out and go up. Couldn't get major high but 2700 over was pleasantly chilly. Doug W and I flew. Dave Johnson showed up later and we tossed him off. Hung out with Bob Gillessee for awhile -- he is looking for a glider by the way.

Hey Kevin -- how was Woodstock?

** my trim speed on my 142 is 27 mph! Seems awfully fast to me. Is this normal? I am used to a more staid 22 on my K4. I guess this is all wing loading. I am used to and have always flown larger gliders

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This page last updated June 19, 1998