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Hangola September 2-5, 1999

OK. Abandoning Grouch Mode.

Bills hill was pretty nice today. But I didn't get up.. Almost though. I came thiiiiis close. It was way too north.* Still a very enjoyable day. I think I may try it again tomorrow and camp overnight.

*Here is the problem: Dennis. My forecast for the Mtns: Dead. .

Finally got a flight in today at a site called Ceret. John Pendry, multi-world champ in hangies and panties, lives here, so it can't be that bad.

Very low cloudbase with light and variable winds. As usual at all the sites I've visited this time around, none of the locals ever showed up. Not a good sign, I'm beginning to learn. Got the panties clear on the second pullup and enjoyed a very scenic 15 minute sled. 20 minutes after landing a huge storm brewed up and it has been pouring ever since. sheesh.

In case anyone is interested, I will organize a hangie trip to Laragne for next summer.

Back to Paris tomorrow and then stateside Monday.

A bientot,
Marc

Nice day at Bills believe it or not. Mostly cloudy but some sun every now and then. Chris Dabrowski and I led off and got up despite a pretty severe north cross. Then there was a succession of sleds-- Mark C, Carlos, Pete S., Bruce somebody (sorry) After that, Tom McG potatoed for awhile waiting for something better. He found it and got up. John M timed it all perfectly. It started blowing straight in at about 3pm. I think all the earlier sleddees ended up flying again and soaring -- or at least Mark and Pete. The highest I got was 1000 over. Tom McG and John looked like they were higher

I made the trek to West Virginia Friday evening thinking it would be furthest from the effects of Dennis (with its then projected path.) Went up to Spruce knob Saturday am to find it intermittently clouded over but _too breezy_ to fly. We hung around for an hour or so and bailed. Lunch that day was particularly lavish since everyone wanted to use up three days worth of food, we celebrated Mike Balk's birthday, and then most folks bailed for home. I for one was not ready to turn around and do the 300 mile return trip so soon; the Dullahan's and their friends felt the same way. Mike Balk, Allison, the Gardinator, Fred and I had a nice day hiking the trail up Seneca Rocks, seeing Seneca caverns, and roller skating. The steady rain started in the late afternoon and let up only briefly. I heard a report that there was 7 inches by Sunday morning. We all packed up in the rain.

Those who arrived early got to fly Thursday (Larry Ball and Gardner) and Friday (Larry, Mark, Christy, Doug, others) in NE winds off of Spruce Knob. Sleds and extended sleds. Ben and L.E. were there, I presume they flew.

Others include Bacil, Dan, Stretch, Zac (sp) (pg pilot and ex instructor just moved to the DC area, met Ben and L.E. on an Austria trip), others I don't know.

Judy

HOT!!!! Too HOT!!!
However, I did go out Sunday to Austin Air Sports aerotow operations in Hearne, TX and got a couple of flights. (Last week a pilot x/c'd over 130 miles from Hearne).

My first was a high tow up to over 3500' while the tug pilot searched for a suitable thermal. I released in the middle of a nice one and climbed to about 4200' before losing it. Boated around a bit finding some small thermals before heading for the LZ -- total airtime 47 minutes.

The second flight was to 2500' but I didn't find a thermal until I'd descended to about 500'. I circled back up to 1600' and hung there for awhile til that thermal played out -- total airtime 21 minutes.

Did I say it was HOT!!
Chuck

Sled??? Me???? Wrong-o Steve-o-rino! :)

I had a 30-minute flight early in the afternoon, though it was something of a struggle to stay up in the north cross. Eventually made a mistake, dropped 30 or 40 feet, and that was all she wrote!

Followed that one with a 2-hour flight, once the direction became more easterly. Topped out at 1200' over. Two soaring flights at Bill's in one day, woo-hoo!

'99 is definitely the-year-of-bills-hill, at least as far as I know. Anyone know of a year that was as good or better?

--mark

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This page last updated September 9, 1999