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Hangola June 18, 19 & 20, 1999

Light crowd and miniumal flying in Breezewood on Sunday after the HR party.
Larry Huffman, Brian Vant-Hull, Bruce (?), and I showed up late morning at Bill's. Jim Meadows headed to Fisher Rd and gave us a condition report, then joined us at Bill's. Lots of cross from the south. Lots of solid overcast. Didn't look like we were gonna get much air. Finally it began to straighten out and the sky got some blue patches.

Larry and Jim launched first, and Larry got high and stayed up long. Jim got into some of the trash, and never got super high. Larry was decided not to go XC in the gnarly stuff, so he stayed nearby and eventually landed in the main LZ. Brian, then Bruce, then I all self -launched in a second wave of airmanship. The wind in the launch slot was smooth and easy to use. As soon as we got out over the trees we were getting our tails kicked. There were many small thermals, lots of sink, and a lot of rotor. Bruce and I had short flights, never getting very high. Brian did a great job of working the ridge and joining Larry. Brian will report the details.

The flying was short but challenging. I declared it enough fun for the day, even though we landed at 3:30. One interesting part was turning on to final at the edge of the field, intentionally setting up for a cross-wind landing to ensure level or up-hill LZ, and momentarily going slack in the harness as I hit sink just past the trees. That was exciting!

Bill's was soarable again this weekend, for at least the 4th weekend this season. Talk about an unusual situation.

To MHGA - Great PARTY at HR, even without usable flying. Special honors to Fred for honchoing some excellent food!

More flying to come!

Cragin S

Sunday at Bill's: Brian's details.

Not much to say, except that any day Larry Huffman chooses to land in the designated LZ, I'd be tickled pink to get a half hour. Which I did.

I did learn one important lesson. Larry came over afterwards and kindly complimented me on my flying before asking what I was doing entering a thermal between two pilots and circling against the established direction. My response was "HUH? I don't remember thermalling with anyone else!". Eventually I figured it out.

You see, it was blowing cross, which means that instead of leaning backwards over the ridge the thermals lean sideways (like, DUH!). So when I saw someone circling below and to my side, I wrongly assumed we were in separate thermals and blithely did my own thing.

Maybe I'll make a practice of circling the same direction of anyone who's nearby...or maybe cast off my swaddling clothes and make a note of what prevailing wind direction does to thermals.

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This page last updated June 24, 1999