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Hangola January 30-31, 1999

OK, for 1999 I have instituted a new glider inspection program. Once every 30 days I set up my Pulse, fully inspect it in flyable condition, similar to a standard pre-flight inspection, and then let it sit in the open air and sun for several hours to be sure it is nice and dry. After this period I break the glider down, carefully repack it, and am comfortable it will be ready to use on the next flying day. Like any good New Year's resolution, I started this program on New Year's Day, performing the first such inspection on January 1, 1999. To stay on the 30-day schedule, I conducted the second periodic inspection today. Of course, I drove 90 miles to perform both of these inspections at High Rock launch!

Dan T. and I arrived at HR about noon to find a number of gliders set up and pilots ready to launch. We watched and assisted in a number of launches. Marc Fink performed admirably as wind dummy, and showed a soarable sky existed. Christophe launched next. We then helped send off Brian Hardwick, Tom McG, Jose, Christy, and Doug. Last three pilots at launch were Mike Chevalier, Dan, and myself. Dan and I offered to crew Mike off, recruiting a wuffo for keel crew. Short story - the forecast shift to more northerly, combined with notable gustiness, and Mike spent from 3:00 to 3:25 not launching. He backed off, and we waited for the first contingent to walk back up from the LZ. Christophe drove, and Tom was still in the air, but all the rest seemed to enjoy a Saturday stroll through the woods.

After LOTS of waiting, and with the loss of most of the pilots as crew, Dan decided to give it a late afternoon try. Mike and I were now on the wires, with another wuffo on keel. He had been suckered into his harness by a few lull cycles. Just as in Mike's earlier attempt, Dan spent 15 -20 minutes watching it be gusty and cross. Christy made it back with a car and reported that it was BAD cross all the way out and in the LZ. Dan made the smart decision with that news and backed off.

That is my launch report. I will let the flying pilots give today's flying report.

Craig

p.s. I gotta get a new inspection program, and incorporate some flying.

Several pilots flew, and many of them assured me that I didn't miss anything. At about 3:00 I clocked winds on launch at 26 mph, w-nw. It backed off around 4:00 and I actually got on launch, only to find out that Joe Gorrie got flushed after :10 because it was so cross (west) that there wasn't sustaining ridge lift. That was enough reason for me to break down up top. It was dreadfully overcast, cold, windy, and cross all day.

The weather maps explained a great deal. The first one (hopefully) is the midday forecast map, the second one is the actual current conditions when I got home. I was really glad I didn't fly.

Judy

It was cold but dry Sat morning at Manquin Flight Park and warmed up nicely through the day with the winds blowing out of the North at 3-10 on the ground and a pretty steadily north 10-12 in the air. Terry Spencer, Ray Mitchell, Matt Hang 2 and I started flying about noon and Liming arrived around 3:00.

I got the longest flight of 51 minutes, climbing to a max height of 2370 agl in a real circus variety of thermals--some narrow bullets of 700 fps, some large, marshmallows of 3-400 fpm--by following the plethora of birds enjoying the lift.

Second longest flight was Terry's at 15 minutes with a climb to 1500 and Mark got his first thermalling flight ever and had a 500' climb staying in the air something under 15 minutes. Terry also tried launching from the cart for the first time--as I and all topless gliders must do--instead of from the back of the truck and found it very easy and enjoyable as advertised.

It was cold above 1500 but very pleasant below 1000 and longsleeve shirt temperture on the ground. Everyone flew at least three times, my last to practice aerobatics in the smooth late afternoon air. I left the park at 5:00 and made it home for dinner.

I'm going to try to fly locally today, Daniels if it turns south, High Top if not.

Greg DeWolf

I went down to Richmond today, arriving about 1230. Only one other pilot was there, Ray Mitchell from Richmond. It was colder and more overcast than I had expected. The potential thermal activity indicated by the soarcast just didn't happen, primarily due to the 90% cloud cover. Ray and I each took three flights. Mine were straight sleds, releasing at 840', 1050', and 950' AGL. Ray was able to work some VERY light lift areas and stretch his flights out a bit.

This was my first flying since early November. The long dry spell has been broken! I used the Goldilocks approach on my landings: the first landing was too short, the second was too long, and the third was JUST RIGHT!. All were clean. I feel great. I FLEW!

Craig S

Raean, Steve Krichten, Bruce Satatis, George Tutor, and I caravanned to the Sac Saturday. We arrived around 11:00 a.m. to find conditions soarable even though a bit strong with a 10 to 30 degrees cross and some straight in cycles. Tom Gartland had flown early, sinking out and reporting trashy conditions. Doug Rogers launched and eventually worked up to a couple of grand with no apparent problems. Next off was yours truly. Climbing out I pulled half VG and headed west to the gap hitting large pockets of lift. There was no need to thermal, since the lift was extensive and velocity strong enough that thermaling would have taken me behind launch in a couple of turns. Reaching the gap I attempted a crossing, but the venturi affect kicked in causing massive loss of footage. After attempting the classical Dog-Leg, I headed back to the ridge, reached for the remainder of the VG line, and now full on raced back to launch.

Next off was Steve K. During his flight he thermaled back behind the mountain and whited out. Steve had to pull through the front wires to get back out front and lost three grand in process, barely making the front of the ridge.

All in all, about eight of sixteen pilots flew. Even though the conditions were strong (NNW 10 to 20 with occasional higher gusts) the majority of pilots who flew, all very experienced, enjoyed their flights but considered it a bit of a hand-full. Most clocked about 30 minutes with Jeff Harper and Tom Gartland over an hour.

I was glad to see the hang 2s and new hang 3s from the Philly club not fly. They know the implications of strong conditions. They showed good judgement which is a prerequisite for advancing their ratings.

I was glad we went to the Sac, it's always a pleasure to fly with the Yankees of the north country. I really enjoyed my flight and always look forward to heading north of the Mason Dixon line.

Fred Permenter

Mark and Sheila offered me a ride to High Point if I promised to complain loudly about the decision to go flying that day. I complied, but then Mark complained about my complaining (you just can't please some people) and I had to desist. Met Chuck, our new Prez, John (Myers?) and J.R. in the Fairgrounds LZ and loaded up gliders for the trek up top. One stop to clear a fallen tree later we are at one of the most beautiful launches I've seen in quite a while. Maybe it's just cause I've never been there before, but I thought it was pretty.

Received instructions that we had to avoid the HUGE flat Dulles sized field directly under our noses and go land between the power lines in the little (by comparison) Fairgrounds field. Elsewise I could land in the Holiday-Inn field, which I failed to find even though I had it made because it's not really anywhere near a Holiday-Inn, or any other Inn for that matter. It has a billboard on it - presumably with a picture of a Holiday-Inn - so I missed it.

Anyway, we set up while it trickled in at about 5 mph. By the time we were ready it picked up nicely to 5-15, crossing some from the right but striaghtening out often enough. Air was punchy at times at first - bullet thermals, sink (found an area of -1400 fmp, happily short lived), one uncommanded 90 degree turn - but mellowed out after 30 mins or so and turned out to be quite nice; ridge lift to 300-400 over, thermals to 1800 over if you liked the cold. Winds aloft were probably NNW-N at 15 or so.

We were jouned by two sailplanes from an airport just over the back and that was greate fun. One stayed high but the other came down to play on the ridge with us. I really enjoy looking down into the cockpit of one of those things from my glider. Found the slow one could serve as a decent lift indicator, too. Whenever their wings flexed up I knew they hit something and often it was not big enough for them but it worked fine for me. Spent 1+50 enjoying the scenery and ensuring that I was properly cold-soaked before going out to land. Had the most outrageuos approach I've ever executed, oscillating like a maniac on final while trying to get my oversized Merrills out of my friggin boot. Got out just in time to pull off a decent landing, which surprised me (and the audience, too, no doubt). Guess I've really figured out how to land the Fusion consistently. Finally.

-- Joe

What a great weekend! Saturday Mark G., Chuck, Joe and I headed to High Point in Cumberland. Beautiful sunny day with N/NE 5-15. Flew for 2 hours (and 1 minute), 1500' over. Other than staying out of the way of the hg'ing pilots (Jim Rowan, Marvin, John Myers) and sailplane pilots (there were 4 or 5) - the most challenging part of the flight was the fact that I couldn't zip up my harness - bummer.

Sunday was so cold I wasn't sure about going out but Mark, Judy and I (along with many others) decided to head to Bill's Hill. I only flew 15 minutes but was thrilled when I worked some light lift around the edge of the LZ from 2-300 agl up to 87 over launch - yeah! Folks that took a second flight (I was too cold) were rewarded with wonderful soaring flights! Congratulations to Karen on her first flight back, George (?not sure of his last name) on his first two high flights and to Matthew and Brian for finally soaring Bill's Hill! Maybe Bill's Hill is only meant to be soared in a Blue Moon (first one for this year was last night). Great weekend!!!

Sheila

FINALLY!!!!! I finally soared Bill's Hill. After 16 billion flights there, finally!

Dave Johnson played wind dummy at about 1:00 and got an extendo. Pete L, Larry Huffman, Pat Brooks, Tom, and a little later, the Gardinator all impressed us with their thermalling prowess-- getting high and having some great low saves. I think Larry went XC--incredible! Paul from Pgh. got an extendo. I followed and likewise got an extendo, hung out on the ridge too long and hit some massive sink. I thought that I was going to make a low save a couple of times. But I just couldn't cut the mustard. Sheila followed and gave me a well deserved spanking by getting up and staying up for about 15 minutes in the thermals that eluded me. Brian VH and Judy-Judy also had extendos and Karen took an intentional sled for her first solo flight since her heart surgery.

I raced back up to the top hoping that it would go magic since that forecast had called for the winds to pick back up at the end of the day. And for once, the forecast was right. I got an hour and 20 minutes at the end of the day and flew down to the turnpike and back, mostly at about 500 over-- but hitting 700 over for a brief second. Brian VH, Paul and PG pilots Ben, LE and Sieje Okada also enjoyed soaring in the magic air. Ben top landed!

George Tutor had his first two high flights and was on cloud nine. Bruce Satatis also had his first flight at Bills.

Mark Cavanaugh is working on the first annual Craig Shelton set up the glider award. His K5 had a bend in the keel. So he borrowed Mike C.'s K5. While inspecting it, he found a ding in the cross bar. So he stuck around and helped us launch and continued to gain points toward his sainthood. Myself and a few others offered to let him take a flight on our gliders when we returned to launch from our first flights. But he had to leave for a social engagement. As a club, we need to make sure that Mark gets to fly soon. And a lot of us owe him retrievals too. Thanks again Mark.

Still, it was fantastic to finally soar Bill's. Though a day like that only comes around once in a blue moon. Fortunately we have another blue moon on March 31.

Matthew (once again, happy to have never bothered watching the super-bore, of Karen and Matthew)

Seeing a possibility of soaring, I left work early on Friday. I figured HR, the server said everyone headed for Woodstock. Following the crowd, I was wracked with indecision the whole of the drive on 66. At Strausburg I climbed out of the car and failing to feel any wind at all, tried to raise launch on the radio. All I got were broken intelligible responses. I did the math, figured I could still get in a flight at HR, and headed north. SOMEONE would be there, surely... Not so. I was forced to watch the sweet soarable conditions sink into the sunset all by myself.

Slept through Saturday.

Three fun flights at Oregon Ridge on Sunday. Richard had a couple of students. Fred and Rae were walking the dog so Fred coached me through a launch from the far rear of the slot. That was fun. I tried the "wineglass grip" and had to turn on the ground following radar as I skimmed 100 yards about 2 feet off of the deck until I got to the lip. I was rewarded with my highest flight ever at the Ridge.

ed

Brian,

To date, my mountain "skunkless" record is still intact -- thanks entirely to a bunch of good advice from fellow pilots about when and where to go (and a little luck). I have been skunked at Manquin Truck Tow.

For a super flight Saturday at Cumberland, thanks to the Gardinator for selecting THE SITE OF THE WEEKEND! My first time at this site -- I joined fellow CHGA'ers Sheila, Mark G and Joe G. What a beautiful view from launch and from the air. A little "bumpy" at times (okay, a LOT bumpy at times!) but occasionally s-m-o-o-t-h and sweet for a total flight of about 1+40. I was wearing too-thin gloves and had to come down 'cause my hands were COLD!!

It's only a matter of time before I "sit-out" a launch in the mountains, but until then........

Chuck

At 05:49 PM 2/1/99 -0500, you wrote:
>
>Ed;
> the winds of fate are finally extracting revenge for your
>skunkless record. I figure the payback will last another six months.
>
>ps: has Chuck been skunked yet?
> -Brianvh.

Doug and I had the gliders loaded on my truck and were heading for High Point (since it looked like it might stay NW longer out there judging from the map), but we only got about 4 miles when the truck was showing signs of overheating. We turned back, threw the gliders on Doug's car and just went to High Rock since it was closer and we couldn't get to the top of High Point in his car and I knew you all wouldn't want to be waiting longer for us.

And then my vario froze just as I launched as it does once every 50 flights or so and I'm no good on a marginal day with broken up lift with nothing to tell me what's happening other than my own senses, so I had a sled (good launch and landing though).

Sunday we were too busy with the workshop/deck project. Can't win 'em all.

By the way, anyone who wants to re-up (Sheila? Mark?) or join the Mountaineers (Joe? Chuck?), please send me the following info:
name
address
phone number (home/work)
email address
HAM call sign
glider
USHGA #
USHGA rating
and a check made out to Mountaineers for $30 (family membership is $50).

Christy

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This page last updated February 2, 1999