thinking of flying woodstock tomorrow
anybody else?
-- ellis
10 Jan - sunday
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
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pink_albatross
- Posts: 599
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:20 pm
- Location: Ellis from Arlington
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pink_albatross
- Posts: 599
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:20 pm
- Location: Ellis from Arlington
Re: 10 Jan - sunday
anybody know if the road is open?
not that a closed road would deter me (lots of holiday reserves to be worked off)
not that a closed road would deter me (lots of holiday reserves to be worked off)
Re: 10 Jan - sunday
I'm in. Although I'm undecided on the location at the moment. The Pulpit might work too.
Dan To
Dan To
Re: 10 Jan - sunday
I'm willing to consider.
I'll try an early start this time.
Pulpit right now looks strong (30knots at 2000ft, 1PM)
It might be Woodstock again
Carlos
I'll try an early start this time.
Pulpit right now looks strong (30knots at 2000ft, 1PM)
It might be Woodstock again
Carlos
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pink_albatross
- Posts: 599
- Joined: Fri Jan 07, 2005 12:20 pm
- Location: Ellis from Arlington
Re: 10 Jan - sunday
Got to Woodstock (after spending times shuttling cars and hiking gear up the back) launch around 1:30. Wind was light with occasional puffs to make reverse launching possible.
Dan was to go first (after 2:00 pm?). He pulled up and after doing a little dance number below his rock steady wing aloft, took off into the freezing winter air. Not wanting to scrape the ice off the trees with his boots, he ended up with a sled, but managed to hit lift here and there to extend his flight time considerably. I think he got 20 minutes.
I was not so shy about saying hello to the trees and after some initial scraping for any shred of lift climbed out. Went out to land at the bridge field three times and kept hitting lift on the way out (sun shining on the finger to the left provided pretty reliable winter thermals!) which I couldn't resist, despite being cooooooooold. Climbed to over 3000 feet several times, once to 3200 MSL (altimeter had launch at 1700). Eventually did land. A little over an hour of airtime.
Hugh had had a late start, but showed up in plenty of time to get ready. PGs set up so fast. He launched next and enjoyed the air, but wisely staid below 2500 most of the time - there was a marked temperature gradient around there. I think he got over half an hour.
Carlos on his HG was last, despite getting to launch first. Even so, there was quite a lag between Hugh's and Carlos's launch. Carlos had to leave lift to leave himself enough day light to pack up again. I think he got about half an hour.
Oh, I also got to follow two immature bald eagles for a while. That was fun.
I didn't know they staid around in the winter. Beautiful winter scenery with golden afternoon light. Tried to take pix, but my camera didn't cooperate. <sigh>
-- ellis
Dan was to go first (after 2:00 pm?). He pulled up and after doing a little dance number below his rock steady wing aloft, took off into the freezing winter air. Not wanting to scrape the ice off the trees with his boots, he ended up with a sled, but managed to hit lift here and there to extend his flight time considerably. I think he got 20 minutes.
I was not so shy about saying hello to the trees and after some initial scraping for any shred of lift climbed out. Went out to land at the bridge field three times and kept hitting lift on the way out (sun shining on the finger to the left provided pretty reliable winter thermals!) which I couldn't resist, despite being cooooooooold. Climbed to over 3000 feet several times, once to 3200 MSL (altimeter had launch at 1700). Eventually did land. A little over an hour of airtime.
Hugh had had a late start, but showed up in plenty of time to get ready. PGs set up so fast. He launched next and enjoyed the air, but wisely staid below 2500 most of the time - there was a marked temperature gradient around there. I think he got over half an hour.
Carlos on his HG was last, despite getting to launch first. Even so, there was quite a lag between Hugh's and Carlos's launch. Carlos had to leave lift to leave himself enough day light to pack up again. I think he got about half an hour.
Oh, I also got to follow two immature bald eagles for a while. That was fun.
I didn't know they staid around in the winter. Beautiful winter scenery with golden afternoon light. Tried to take pix, but my camera didn't cooperate. <sigh> -- ellis
Re: 10 Jan - sunday
This beat the heck out of sitting around watching a bunch of guys we don't know playing football.
My flight could have been a bit longer than the 20 minutes or so that I got below launch in light winds without a vario. In the same conditions in the summer that flight would have been 5 minutes long tops!
Dinner and Margaritas in Front Royal with Hugh, Carlos, and Ellis capped a very nice day. Maybe a warm up this weekend will give us all a chance to get out and do it again.
Dan T
My flight could have been a bit longer than the 20 minutes or so that I got below launch in light winds without a vario. In the same conditions in the summer that flight would have been 5 minutes long tops!
Dinner and Margaritas in Front Royal with Hugh, Carlos, and Ellis capped a very nice day. Maybe a warm up this weekend will give us all a chance to get out and do it again.
Dan T
Re: 10 Jan - sunday
Definitely a PG day
I chose to have the glider there first, before verifying conditions. Once at launch it was very light. Probably, if the road was open and checked conditions would have waited before committing. Regardless the glider was there and Dan kindly brought the harness half way.
After getting ready and at launch, I had to wait a while for a cycle. I was not going to launch without wind. Finally a puff with good direction and consistent, I launched. Beepless all the way to the river, I thought at least I don’t have to hike the glider down. As I was planning to enter approach, a beep here a beep there, I started to climb slowly. Very gratifying.
Plus everyone flew
Carlos
I chose to have the glider there first, before verifying conditions. Once at launch it was very light. Probably, if the road was open and checked conditions would have waited before committing. Regardless the glider was there and Dan kindly brought the harness half way.
After getting ready and at launch, I had to wait a while for a cycle. I was not going to launch without wind. Finally a puff with good direction and consistent, I launched. Beepless all the way to the river, I thought at least I don’t have to hike the glider down. As I was planning to enter approach, a beep here a beep there, I started to climb slowly. Very gratifying.
Plus everyone flew
Carlos