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Hangola March 19 & 20, 1999

Yep. Four of us went to Woodstock yesterday. Good air. Around 13-17 mph. Nice thermals later in the afternoon up to 3500 over.

Steve K made it to Harrisonberg.

-Brian H

On Friday, March 19, 1999 2:45 PM, Mike Balk wrote:
> The soarcast looks awesome for today! Did anyone brave the winds?
>

For me - 20 minutes(? never looked at my watch since I didn't expect to get up) and 600' over in surprisingly pleasant air. I was almost ready to break down up top for not wanting to land in the secondary, but when things got better, I went. Apparently a whole crowd went over the back.

Judy

Two nice days. Flew Woodstock Friday and made Harrisonburg. The ridge was rock solid all the way and there were big huge thermals conveniently located to cross gaps. It was actually kind of boring. The highest I got was 2200 over. You could go higher -- Brian, Ed and Terry Spencer were hitting 3500-- but it wasn't necessary to run the ridge.

Saturday. So you've been flying a long time and think you know your way around a thermal. Well sir, a short XC with Pete and Larry will cure you of that conceit. Damn! What a humbling experience. But very educational. I learned a lot watching those guys close up. I went down on the far side of 81 south of Chambersburg --17.4 miles using the calibrated napkin method of measurement. Couldn't believe I even got up. I was assuming a quick sled to the secondary LZ and a downwind pound in to amuse the spectators. So didn't have a radio, or gloves and just wore a sweatshirt. I froze to death. P&L probably went 50 miles.

Steve,

Don't sell yourself short, mate. You did really well in weak, low, crummy (except that last thermal) lift. And Larry and I only got a couple of miles beyond you. The day was done, and the three of us had milked it as best one could hope for.

Spring's here, yeehaa,

Pete (of P&L)

'Course, I only got 10.6 mi. :-( Next time I take off earlier and fly fingertip off of Steve.

And had witnesses upon landing, to boot. You all know what that means.

Beat sitting on the ground, though.

-- Joe

Wonderful day on Saturday at the Pulpit. Waaayy too many people there to count. I launched from the new ramp but should have been on the old one due to the cross at the time. Many thanks to a very patient wire crew. I enjoyed my 17 minute flight - it was rotar-ey along the ridge so I headed out a little bit and got down to about 300 agl when I caught a thermal and worked it back up to 106 over launch - yeah! Not very exciting but I was! I promptly lost it when someone on the radio suggested another pilot join me. Landed in the secondary - I don't know that I've ever seen so many high performance gliders landing in the secondary! Congratulations to the XC'ers!!

Sheila

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This page last updated March 23, 1999