Pulpit Sunday 8/30

[XCanytime]

Looks like a nice PM flight at the Pulpit. Any interest? Bacil

[Dan T]

I am, if it's not too strong

[DanTuck]

Looks very nice...I'm in.

[CraginS]

I could certainly go for a return engagement. Maybe I'll just make myself wait to launch immediately after Karen.

[Matthew]

YUP.


Matthew

[RedBaron]

I'd like to go, too. I'll help you guys off and play retrieve driver if somebody gives me a ride?

301-661-3081

[bustedwing2]

Yup,sounds good,still need a observer,any other twobies? RichB

[bustedwing2]

Hey Janni,you can use my falcon 190 or sting 154 if you can borrow a harness. RichB

[John Dullahan]

I will join the group - estimated arrival time 11:30.

John D.

[POLISH EAGLE]

Gregory The Greek I will be there. ETA 12:00 Noon.

[tdilisio]

I'm in. ETA high noon..ish.

[pnadams]

I've got a harness that will fit Janni. I'll throw it in the truck.

[RedBaron]

OMAGAWD , you guys are incredible. I also need a helmet, I guess.
And someone to pick me up, nobody has stepped up yet and I'm right on 270
Come on folks,pleeeeeeeease

9903 Inglemere Drive
Bethesda, MD 20817
301-661-3081

[RedBaron]

Before I forget. I'll take the 190 if you don't mind.
Thank you so much

[bustedwing2]

190 it is,if nobody has anything better I can scrounge up a motorcycle helmet,might be a little strong( wind)so I'll use the illusion RichB

[carweill]

Janni,
If things hold up I'll give you a call in the morning.
I'll have to get back early though.

Carlos

[Dan T]

Janni,

I'm leaving Dale City at about 8:15. I will probably be staying late at the pulpit so I can give you a ride home if you need one. I hope to fly the paraglider late in the day. I will also give you a ride up if Carlos hasn't already arranged it.

Call me at 703 seven 7 two 5 one 8 Oh. Call between 8:30 and 9:00 if you can.

Dan T

PS From what I can see it looks like it could be a very good day!

[RedBaron]

Thanks Dan. Carlos took mercy on me and is picking me up.

[DanTuck]

Great day today. I'm sure I'll miss someone but I'll try - Bacil, Carlos, Dan Tomlinson, John Dullahan, Kristof, Gregory, Glen, Tony, David Bodner, Cragin, Peter, Rich B, Matthew, Karen, and myself. As far as I know everyone that flew soared. Other pilots that were there but didn't fly - Janni, Dawson, and Judy. I waited for awhile for conditions to mellow when we started getting steady 20 with 25mph gusts on the new pad. Once I got up there it was a lot more like 15 gusting to 20. I waited for a lull and got off clean. Most of the flight was around 500' over the ridge but I got to 1,000' a couple times and once to 1,100'. I got close to an eagle at one point so I turned to get a little closer. He apparently didn't appreciate me very much because he dove at me showed me his talons. Then he flew down the ridge to where David was flying and dove at him with feet forward, pulling up only when he was about 10' above him. That guy was pissed at something! I flew until I was tired and after watching a couple landings from the air, I had a real nice crosswind landing for 1:45. Tony got us back up top the back way (thanks Tony) and the cops were very cool about us getting through. 30 was shut down for an accident for those of you not there. Overall a real nice day, shoulda been there.
Janni, if that's the last time we'll see you, have a safe trip my friend!

[bustedwing2]

Hung around a while.Launched later,good launch,nice flight,about an hour,got to 1700 over at one point,above a thousand for a while before lift almost everywhere drifted me to 1700,not there too long and flushed to 800 over and slowly dribbled to 200 over,got to lz at 100 over and worked to lose altitude,approach was turbulent,downhill landing(into the wind),not pretty but safe.Most excellent day. RichB

[dbodner]

I barely broke 500 over, but I stayed up for 2:26. My last landing kinda sucked, so I wasn't feeling so confident. Watching a couple of not-so-great landings in the primary had me thinking of other fields very seriously. I found a field I liked about a mile west of the primary. Had a great landing, so I'm feeling good.

[lbunner]

Nice job all. I'm finally back in Pa after 5 weeks on the road. Hope to fly with you all soon.

[Dan T]

I had a most excellent flight for me at least. I flew back and forth along the ridge for about an hour before finally getting a thermal strong enough to drift with over the back. Prior to that point the thermals were pretty good up to about 1100 to 1300 over launch. My guess is the strong winds aloft were breaking them up above that.

The thermal was stable if not real strong across the two ridge lines. About midway across I was joined by a red tail hawk that was riding the same band of air below me. I swear that bird was showing me what the air looked like. He circled me from below for a couple minutes, the came up to my altitude and circled me some more before finally darting away without ever flapping his wings.

Once I cleared the ridges the lift was much lighter and harder to stay with. There was usually a narrow line just outside the north edge of the clouds. I managed to work that and one other light thermal to within a mile of I 81. I could have drifted over it but didn't see a landing field nearly as good as the one I was leaving, so I turned back and landed in a field with a very friendly and attractive female landowner.

Total time about 2 hours. Gotta love this sport.

Dan T

[Dan T]

PS

Yanni and Carlos picked me up. Thanks folks. Good luck Yanni!

[Matthew]

Nothing epic for us. We got there late due to unforeseen circumstances. Still, I launched at 5:30 and ended up with a two hour flight -- 1400 over. Karen joined me later after some friends from Somerset, PA showed up (also late) to see us fly. They got stuck in the giant detour due to the accident on Route 30.

Matthew