Pulpit, OTB Sunday 4/11

[Ward Odenwald]

Thermal and wind forecasts are all aligned for an XC day. Let's go!

[DanTuck]

Ward,
Are you still in for flying tomorrow? I'm planning on an 11:00 ETA. Let's fly!!!

[Ward Odenwald]

My goal is to be setup and ready to launch by 10:30. Thermal predictions are looking good!

Ward

[markc]

Trying hard to convince myself that I can blow-off all my other tasks,
and return to the Pulpit for another day of great flying.... Will see...

MarkC

[DanTuck]

Do it!!! It's gonna be great!! Woohoo!!

[Dan T]

Dan Tuck's words are going to be prophecy today!

Blow off the yard work it will still be there tomorrow, but this stellar flying day won't.

Dan T
the other one
still recuperating, next week I think

[markc]

Screw it, life is short, I'm out the door!

[carweill]

Gambling on the Pulpit

Carlos

[Ashley Groves]

Looks like I'll be late, but planning on pulpit.

[DanTuck]

Wild day! Ward got there first around 9:30 or so and reported SW light conditions on launch and due South in the valley. By the time I got there around 10:30, it was NW and crankin. The trees by the set up area and the bushes by the ramp were lit up, and it was gusting in the upper 20's. Mark was already there and they were both mostly set up so I started setting up also in the hopes of a backdown soon. But at that point it was not launchable. As others began to arrive and set up (10 or 12 total, not gonna try to name names), we ran a shuttle down to the LZ and dropped my car and Mark's truck. Right before we left launch the conditions seemed to be calming down a bit and when we got back on launch it was even a little calmer. About 15-20, minimal gusts, good to go. Mark launched first, and I followed into pretty strong lift. I was 700' over within a couple minutes and I went down the ridge towards the towers to search around down there. Didn't find much except a buncha sink so I came back. Like Matthew said about yesterday, it was Spring air for sure. A lot of up and down, good strong lift but also some serious sinkholes. After a half an hour I was low, about ridge height, and looking for anything halfway to the primary. Finally I found a decent little thermal and got back up to 2,000' over. Did that whole thing again later but got further out over the field and 1000' AGL before I hooked a real nice one. From that one, I stair stepped my way from thermal to thermal until Mark and I were in the same one, climbing like mad. We drifted way back and at 3,600' over I had to decide whether to stick with it and go or leave it and head back out front. I should have gone. But I didn't, I pulled VG and bailed to go back out front. Not even a minute later, I ran into another monster. I couldn't help but turn and climbed in that one to 4,200' over, with Mark soon joining me again. Then I bailed again and headed back out front. With 3/4 VG penetration was cake, and I was still at 3,800 over when I passed over the front ridge. By that time I was freezing so I flew out into the valley to explore. I flew out over the primary and then headed North up the valley. I flew over the JLG plant, noticed the flag below was showing due North, and then turned back and stuffed it to see how fast I could get to the field. It didn't take long. Made a North approach into the field and had a nice landing after an hour and a half. By the time I was packed up, there were four pilots left on the ridge with everyone else having gone over the back. Can't wait to hear how their flights were. Shoulda, shoulda, shoulda. The valley is beautiful right now with all the red buds and everything else blooming. I'll post video later.

[tomceunen]

In the shenandoah valley (Dickeys launch) cloudbase was at +3000masl, amazing, I jumped out at +2600masl. The Md-80 Amercan Airlines next to me was also amazed to see me. Next I hit strong turbulance. I don't think it was the vortex but the NW wind hitting two lower S-SW wind, a windshear. This change in direction did not really help me making distance but I still enjoyed the flight a lot.

[DanTuck]

...

[Dave Proctor]

Great day at the pulpit. I topped out at 6400msl and got 20 miles. Shoulder line on harness came untied in middle of flight. Made very uncomfortable to fly, what with the constant push up on the basetube and all. Plus some kind of radio interference making it impossible to hear the vario when I really needed it. I have to put a switch on my helmet to turn off speakers instantly. Tom made it to high rock LZ and Mark almost made it. Lots of pilots.

Dave

[Ashley Groves]

I believe I was last to launch, about 2PM. A slight north cross was developing in some gusts. I feared the winds I felt in the gravel patch may be lying so I think I was the odd ball using the small left ramp.
Eventually I climbed up to 2500 over launch, but all the previous X-Cers were long long gone. I had not made any plans with anyone, plus I did not know the planned routes and did reviewed the OTB countryside so I stayed in the fishbowl. However, landing in the primary LZ at the pulpit was a first for me. I figured what the heck, it has been four years. I enjoyed the irony, being a great X-C day.
2.5 hours, landed intentiaonally as the last pilot had landed and I had no plan to get back to my car. First flight since November, enjoyed it immensly.

[DanTuck]

[lbunner]

Nice you guys. Dan, it's time to break those Pulpit bonds and head east! Dave, better get that harness fixed soon, you'll need the comfort when we go long next month. See you all in 3 more weeks!