Woodstock Monday 5/13

[sailin]

I'm sure everybody will have their full tanks after Sunday.....but anybody around for flying Monday?

Jon

[mcgowantk]

I hope to fly on Monday. It looks promising to me. I would like to get some miles over the back.

Tom McGowan

[mcelrah]

Got my Falcon... - Hugh

[bahamianflyer]

will be there early

Bruce

[Joe Schad]

I will be there late. Can't get there before 1:30.

joe

[Lostgriz]

Unfortunately there couldn't be a worse day for me to miss work......damn working for a living!

Matt

[stevek]

Yes, Monday is looking good. I think today is blown out

[markc]

I think Gary S is also planning to fly Monday, though perhaps in the afternoon? Wish I could get away for what looks like a great day but work won't allow...

[mcelrah]

"WORK is the curse of the drinking class." - H.L. Mencken

[mcgowantk]

Given the increased chance of rain, I must drop out for today. I need a better forecast to take the day off work right now.

I hope those that go have a good day. The winds look fine to me - its the OD that caused me to cancel.

Take care

Tom

[jyoder111]

I might try to get off around noon and head to Woodstock, eta 2-3pm.

Jesse

[dbodner]

I might try to get off around noon and head to Woodstock, eta 2-3pm.

Jesse

I was thinking the same thing. Text me if you're in a carpooling mode.

[mcelrah]

I'll be at the LZ about 11. - Hugh

[mcelrah]

6-12 on the ground at Front Royal. I'm whoring off with the sailplane club, will join you guys later. - Hugh

[jyoder111]

Looks like some gust factor till 4pm or so. Should be really nice toward end of the day. Hope to see you up there later on, Hugh.

David B and I are carpooling, eta 2-3pm.

Jesse

[mcelrah]

I left the glider on the car after the Pulpit party (4-5 gliders set up, nobody flew, but it was great to see folks). I drove out to Front Royal airport yesterday (Monday) and noted sailplane pilots cautiously evaluating conditions, which included closely spaced 1000 fpm ups and downs and 26 knot winds at 3700 feet. Decided to leave the Falcon on the car and flew a (heavy, two-seat) sailplane instead (2-hours, climbs to 9000 - lots of 1000 fpm up). All the sailplane drivers had had enough by about 2 PM (conditions did NOT seem to be abating). Helped put all the toys away, helped a guy break down his single-seat ship, then headed up to Woodstock. Found Steve, Joe, Jesse, Jon, Gary bundled up hang-waiting, three gliders set up, more still in their bags. I left at a quarter to 5; suspect they broke down on top.
- Hugh

[Lostgriz]

Sounds like some patient pilots were rewarded for waiting out the days conditions. Flight reports?

Matt

[stevek]

We flew but it was strong. Probably 30 mph at 3k over.

[mcelrah]

Congratulations! You guys are ballsie/crazie. - Hugh

[dbodner]

Congratulations! You guys are ballsie/crazie. - Hugh

Not too crazy, and patience has its rewards.

There was a lot of hang-waiting involved. Lots of sitting through sucker lulls. The lulls kept getting longer and longer. Joe was first to get to launch with active wire crewing required. While waiting for his launch window, we spotted a big cloud with virga coming our way. Joe backed off, and we waited for the cloud (and a few drops) to pass by. That left lots of happier-looking clouds and considerably less wind. Joe was then able to launch and went up fairly easily. Steve, then Gary, quickly followed. The winds died so quickly that they were pretty much unassisted launches.

Jon decided to call it quits, but Jesse and I then proceeded to set up. By the time we were done, the winds were honking again. By 6:30 Jesse was ready to bag it, but I was eyeing another mean-looking cloud in front. I was hoping that once it passed, the winds would abate again. And they did!

After a bit of potatoing, I launched, then Jesse quickly thereafter. It was late. Lift was smooth and plentiful. I went up steadily while following the left finger. In fact, the glider kinda didn't want to come down. I was concerned about that as the sun was going down and well as with penetration. Neither turned out to be a real problem. We both landed around 8 o'clock. It was a good, though short, flight. I was pleased. Even my landing was good. Thanks to Steve and Gary for coming back to wire us off.

Everyone landed in the bridge field. It appears to have been seeded. As sprouts appear, I suppose we ought to go back to landing in the primary.

[mcelrah]

OK, I withdraw ballsie/crazie and call you patient and perspicacious, OK? - Hugh

[jyoder111]

Dave summed it up. Thanks to Gary and Steve for coming up to help us launch, and to Dave for pushing me to wait just a little longer before breaking down up top. It paid off.

I found some turbulence exiting the slot and was glad for extra speed and ground clearance. Otherwise I had a nice relaxing flight doing a couple passes and then beating out in the strong headwind to the LZ. It wasn't very turbulent out front, and was the first flight in a while where I could really relax and enjoy the view. Got some air-to-air video of Dave and played around with VG to catch up and match speed with him.

Looking forward to warm summer flying days and another reprieve from unstable spring air.



Jesse

[dbodner]

OK, I withdraw ballsie/crazie and call you [...] perspicacious, OK? - Hugh

Was it that bad? I was wearing deodorant.


Thanks for the video, Jesse. I think that's the first in-flight movie I've got.