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Hangola June 26 & 27, 1999

It was a good day at Highland AT Park yesterday (Saturday). I had a sled a 7.1 miler (1 hour, 3500 AGL). Mike C went 26.2 miles; Steve Turner got around 20-- Fred and Raean flew to Delaware and Brian VH got about 3 miles. Brian is this your first XC??? Dale Robinson from Delaware also went 7.1 miles earlier in the day and had landed in the same field in which I landed. Judy-Judy also joined us from Philly and soared Karen's Pulse. Karen (who hasn't solo towed in over a year) did a check out tandem and then a sunset solo on her Pulse. Janet had two flights on her new Falcon and George Tutor got his first solo tow at the end of the day. Lynn Barnes (sp?) did some training tandem. Marc Fink, John Middleton, Geoff, Sheila, and Craig Williamson all had nice flights. There were some other folks there who I didn't know.

As Geoff had said before, ya'll should get on out there and fly. It's a really great set up and a great XC site. Hell, if Brain and I can go XC, anyone can go XC. Great landing fields everywhere!!!!

Matthew (once again, IT'S TOO DAMN HOT!!!! of Karen and Matthew)

The forecast for Saturday of 5-10 SE held true, and there were lots of lovely cumulus clouds around Richmond. However, the sky right over Manquin was a pretty blue hole for most of the afternoon. I took 5 flights, catching about 300' of thermal action on only one flight for an extended sled and the rest sleds. All launches were from over 1000', and clean landings, 0 -3 steps. That was typical for most of us launching from the truck. Ray Mitchell did get into some nice air for some soaring on one of his several flights. Terry Spencer and Rick (?) both took several sleds, too.

Interesting lesson flight tale: on one of my tows, at about 800' I got turned too far away from the truck, probably because I was cross-controlling. My push-technique on the tow release wasn't working, and I performed a 360 turn still on tow. Once I finished the 360 I grabbed the line again and released safely. Definitely a different experience. Post-flight discussions separately with Steve and Greg gave me some insight. Once he saw me turned out, Steve released pressure on me, so the weak link was not going to break - a release depended on me. Since I was high enough, the tow line was not near a wing. However, such a turn lower down offers the danger of catching the line on the wing - a really not good thing. One: when turned out on tow, it is easy to inadvertently cross-control because a proper turn control may put your head below your hips - an unnatural feeling position. Two: when on a potential lock-out turn, don't stop trying to release. My turn was safe - this time, and not the first such that Steve has seen. Still, I don't plan on doing another.

Roland has been getting more practice on the tug. He took Lyman Hart to about 2K in a nice thermal, then came back to yank Tex Forrest back up to the same area. Doug (?) popped off the truck at just the right time, finding a boomer so he could join the two AT-launched pilots. The three of them headed off under a cloud street to the north. Tex got 6 miles, Lyman about 11, and Doug 12. Roland is working to complete his tow pilot certification soon.

Late in the afternoon, Tex took the last flight of the day, flying the Double Vision solo for a slow descent, boaty sled. Once he gets the castering wheels and tail wheel mounted on the Double Vision, Tex will be doing tandem instruction at Manquin.

Steve Wendt has added scooter tow instruction for pre-H1 students at Manquin. He had a couple of students in this mode on Friday. This will let him do more early training at the park, instead of just on his training hill at Harrisonburg. Two oh his students at that level, Steve and Shane (who passed his H1 Saturday!) were hangwatching at the park for the afternoon. Steve will still have his beginning students do some training hill work, but adding the scooter tows should speed their learning. (plus, all carry-backs are on flat ground!)

Greg DeWolf was on hand in observer status. He is in good spirits, and has hopes of flying again by the end of the summer, although he would prefer sooner. He is out of the hard cast, and wearing a strap-on cast and ace bandages, suitable for removal when needed. This means he can actually shower now - he is ecstatic about that part.

Traffic Management Announcement:
The speed limit on the section of 604 near the flight park is 55 (because there is no posted speed limit there, and all VA roads not posted are 55). However, the limit on the portion of 604 from 30 down to the 604/605 turn-off is 40 mph. According to the very pleasant State Trooper I met along there, who had been given 2 hours of rolling radar duty along that one 5 mile stretch, they have more local resident complaints about speeding there than on any other stretch of road in his jurisdiction. Also, 59 in a 40, being only 19 over, is speeding. If a driver had been going 60 in a 40, that would be 20 over, and automatically reckless driving. Hmmmm.

More flying next week!

Cragin S.

I actually had a 4.2 mile XC at ridgely, not 3 miles. Yeah, i know, compared to all the 50 mile XC's we've had this year 1.2 miles more is piddling, but they're MY piddling 1.2 miles.

BrianVH.

Ridgely on sunday was a bit o.d. but i had one good flight in the morning,rea,got two extended flights trying out a stealth,and fred went xc but not sure of the outcome!
And just to say thank you for everyone coming down to see my first solo areotow on saturday,that was nice!

george

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This page last updated June 28, 1999