Pulpit Saturday January 20th

[XCanytime]

Warm @ 50+. WSW fcst so far. I'm hip. Anybody else? Bacil

[wmelo]

I am looking forward to opening my wings. Actually Friday looks like to be good as well

[XCanytime]

Launch conditions look great from 1P til sunset. I'll be there early to catch the switch. Bacil

[Dunegoon]

Some nice flying later in the day. The Pulpit gave it up. Never went as west as I was hoping, but the velocity cooperated eventually. Nice and warm while flying! Just some nice ridge soaring and modest thermals. Bacil and I landed at the golf course. Ward and Rich helped. Walt and a visiting pilot had nice flights after waiting for suitable conditions. It was great to get out. Thanks to everyone for their help. Quite an interesting day, concluding with a beautiful sunset.

CF

[XCanytime]

As Charley said, quite an interesting day. Met up on I-70 w/ my old flying buddy Shane Morland, who moved to Richmond at the end of last September from Iowa. Shane had to get his glider from Blue Sky at the crack of dawn and drive the 3.5+ hours to the Pulpit from there. We got to launch just before 11A, and it was howling. Ward had just gotten there prior and reported gusts up to +/-30 MPH. So no hurry to set up. We went down to the main LZ to show Shane the field, and there Ward discovered a nail in one of my tires. A visit to the gas station at the Rt. 16/main street junction produced an economical $5.30 fee for a plug. Back at launch Walt, Charley, and Rich showed up as we waited for conditions to abate some. At 1:30P I went up to the pad and noticed some backing down of the conditions, as indicated by the spinner windsocks. Set up and staged near the bottom of the pad. Swirly conditions were present. My launch attempt ended in half a ground loop at the bottom of the pad. Charley, Rich, Ward, and Shane helped me unhook and carry the glider back to the setup area, where it was deemed some scruffing of the sail material at one wingtip was the only damage. Thanks! I collected my thoughts, and was determined to do it right from the newer ramp. Went back up to the newer ramp and did much better. In the air found a strong WSW cross at times, and disorganized lift. Decided to slog against the cross and run the ridge down to The Corner, with a quick trip back expected. Made it close to The Corner, getting max 2600' MSL, before turning around and haulin' butt back. On the trip back was not that high above the ridge. Saw Walt was in the air. Wanted to land at the golf course, but it looked like I wasn't going to make it. Walt landed, and I hollered over the radio that I was coming in to land. He didn't hear me, and I hit a lift line that allowed me to make it to the golf course. Had a nice roll in landing that functioned as a scrubbing of the dirty parachute container by the wet grass . Rich drove my truck down just as Charley artfully worked his way upwind to stage for the glide out to the golf course. I performed wind indicator duties, as Charley burned it in over the tee for the hole next to the driving range. Incoming! Charley had an excellent landing. Shane had a nice first flight at the Pulpit. Big thanks to Ward and Rich, who just came out to help launch and retrieve. http://www.doarama.com/view/1843000 Bacil

[wmelo]

Like it was said: it was an interesting day.

I was the 2nd to take off. The winds were still strong. I spent a few min on the ramp waiting for a good cycle. The wire crew were fantastic! I finally took off on moderate winds and quickly climbed.

Unfortunately, I was mentally and physically exhausted due to the effort spent on holding the glider on the ramp and also due to my lack of exercise. After flying for a very short period I decided to land in the main LZ.

The landing was very good. I had a smoothly WSW breeze that helped.

Concluding, it was a good idea to go to the Pulpit after several weeks without flying. I am glad that my knee did not preclude me to fly. I hope however to have more gentle winds next time I fly

Special thanks to my wire crew: Charles, Ward, Rich, and Shanon.

[FlyingFelix]

I miss this!!!
You guys are awesome: you post flight reports, stay close and friendly, and get out and fly!
I'm now up in cold Canada, escape some in the winters some places to fly, but don't get the airtime I've gotten used to on the East Coast (and then in Utah).
I hope to be visiting over there sometime and see and fly with you all sometime soon!
Until then I'll drop an eye on this forum every now and again, it feels like Home The flight reports on a local forum like this one really helps to keep a community closer.
Blue skies and happy flights!

Felix.