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Hangola May 15 & 16, 1999

There was a crowd of over a dozen pilots at Bills yesterday including Bacil Dickert, John Middleton, Mike (his student), John Dullahan, Richard Donahue, Cragin Shelton, Joe Gregor, Steve Kinsley, Keith Ford, Marlin, Dave Proctor, Dave Johnson and others.

Early in the day there were mostly sled rides and the wind was cross from the south. Bacil and John D flew down the ridge and landed near rt 30. I made a short sled after my worst launch (left wing high) in many years.

During my hike back to the top, I encountered a young deer with a tag (#183) in his right ear. I was amazed when the deer approached me and allowed me to scratch his head and feed him dried cranberries. When I arrived at the top, I saw that he had followed me! I called to him and he ran right up the launch slot to my side. Soon a dog noticed the deer and chased it away. The deer 'lost' the dog and came back to me! I provided more cranberries. Finally, the dog came back and chased the deer down the road.

Later in the evening, Bill's went magic. I flew for 40 minutes and got about 900 over in smooth ridge lift and light thermals. Many pilots (7 or 8) flew until near sunset. John student Mike had his first mountain flight (a sled) and soared in magic air on his second flight!

Anyway, that's my limited memory of the day. Perhaps others will fill in the gaps with stories of their flights.

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Allen R. Sparks

Pretty fine day at Bill's Hill no Saturday, May 15. Forecast was SE 5-10, but we found it SE 10-20 for a good part of the afternoon. Early in the afternoon Bacil flew down the ridge to land out, then had his driver pick him up and head for Jack's. Dave Proctor took a sled, then drove to Fisher's to report on conditions; he reported cross and gnarly, so never set up. John Dullahan flew. Marlen was the only early launcher to really work the air, knocking around at 500' over for a while, but then catching some good stuff to the south and getting 2k over for a 4 1/2 hour flight.

L.E. and Ben showed up, but the winds were so high they never even unpacked their flying bags.

Mid to late afternoon we saw more launches, including by Rich Donahue, Steve Kinsley, Joe Gregor, and Ken Harrison.

Once it finally began to smooth out, John Middleton decided his new H2 was ready for first high launch. I went off right in front of him as a wind dummy, and sledded right out. Mike launched and worked the ridge a little bit for an extended sled on his first high launch, getting a minute or two longer than I. John was off after that, and he joined Marlin in skying out for the rest of the afternoon.

Allen Sparks and I headed back to the top, where he launched a little before 7, and I got off shortly after 7. We both self-launched in 5-10, smoother than earlier. Allen got 40 minutes. I reached 750' over, but was frustrated that Ed Reno remained 150' over me all the time. I just could not catch that last little altitude. I watched Mike launch again, with Dave Johnson as last pilot to launch after Mike. They both soared. Mike got 30 minutes, landing only because John wanted to work with him on some exercises at altitude over the LZ. Super big congrats to Mike on soaring the same day as his 1st high flight!. Dave was ecstatic about soaring Bill's, remembering how often we have seen the whole crowd accept sleds there. I grabbed just over an hour, being the last pilot to land. John, of course, pointed out that EVERYONE would be watching my landing. I had a very good, fast approach, with nice set up. Flared just a tiny bit late, resulting in a perfect no-step flare to my knees instead of my feet.

'Twas a fine day indeeed, even if the dining establishment of choice, Taco Bell, had reverted to drive-up window service only by the time we arrived there. That was OK... at the Bob Evan's, alternate spot for Ed, Allen, & me, the manager was kind enough to buy my dinner after the kitchen screwed up the order twice.

Cragin

Looks like my first e-mail got trashed, so here goes again.

Jack's mtn provided bountiful soaring opportunities this weekend, both Saturday and Sunday had the sky filled with wonderful cums and thermals everywhere! For some reason, virtually no local pilots except for Sheila bothered coming out.

The sailplane nationals are being held there until next Thursday, it is was quite interesting sharing the ridge in close proximity with a billion superships zipping this way and that at obscenely higher speeds than we could accomplish. At one point yesterday while I was heading north along the ridge at maybe 200 over 6 sailplanes flying directly behind one another zipped by underneath me heading south. One of the coolest things I've ever witnessed flying hang gliders, if only I had had a camera!

As for who did what I really don't know since I was in the air most of the time both Sat and Sunday and haven't heard back yet from everyone. I scored 46.3 miles on Sat and 44.4 on Sunday; Dennis and Claire Pagen, Will Jenkins and others scored similarly long flights.

A great weekend, especially for all the gracious hospitality the Pagens extended to me.

Marc

Very enjoyable weekend. After agonizing between going to Bill’s Hill given the forecast or Jack’s since the Pittsburgh guys were going there - Mark and I headed to Jack’s. Very few of our local pilots present - Marc Fink, Bacil Dickert, Mark Gardner and myself. Marc launched first and was never heard from again - congratulations on your flights Marc! Mark had a great flight over the back for 20 miles landing just short of where it starts to become "no man’s land". I drove retrieve and we got back shortly before dark - it’s gorgeous (and very winding) country back there! I had a very enjoyable flight where I got 3311’ over and went over the back for 5.48 miles landing in "buggy valley" where there are a ton of Amish and Mennonite. Really cool! Couldn’t try to hitch a ride on a buggy (bummer!) since a gentleman stopped about 5 minutes after I landed and offered a ride - back to launch within ½ hour of landing! It’d be nice if they were all that easy! I launched into about 13 mph and caught a thermal to the right of launch that I followed over the back (went over the back with 2,000 over). Conditions definitely picked up later in the day as John McAllister had to wait to launch his brand new Fusion until the 10-20+mph gusty winds became more reasonable. It was great to meet his friend Julie who will hopefully be heading to the training hill soon! Don’t know all the stats so hopefully they’ll start coming in soon. I think Pete went over the back in his Falcon for 29 miles and Will Jenkins went down the ridge for 43.

Sunday we decided to follow the Pittsburgh crew again to Fisher Road where it was crossing and rotor-ey most of the day. I was planning on launching earlier but given the reports from people in the air (trashy and hard) and all the folks in the primary and one in the tertiary - decided to wait it out. Was hoping for magic but by 5:30 it didn’t materialize. Took my extended flight for 22’ over and 10 minutes. I would have worked it longer and harder but I was flying close in with another pilot and didn’t feel all that comfortable and conditions weren’t what I’d call fun. Mark Gardner had a nice save and worked up to 2700’ over. Christy also really worked it up and was up awhile and Tom had a very nice flight for his friend Tracey. Other pilots there were Doug, Mike Balk, Mike Chevalier, Pete Lehmann, Larry and Brenda Huffman, James and Lynn Meadows, Jeff S. (from Pittsburgh), Lucas (Ohio pilot!), Steve Padgett, Ralph Sickinger and others I'm sure I’ve forgotten. I know for sure Pete went XC and one or two other Pittsburgh pilots but don’t know the details. One of the tougher days at Fisher Road.

Sheila

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This page last updated May 17, 1999