flying this weekend?

[Dan T]

I keep hoping I'll read a post on the Woodstock thread that says "is anyone interested in flying Woodstock this weekend," but to no avail. So in the interest of moving on, is anyone interested in flying on this obscenely hot weekend?"

By the way is anyone mentoring our new H2? She is certainly trying to do things right and she's cute too.

Dan

[Flying Lobster]

You're right Dan--I get the feeling she's freaked out by the wild spin off her original innocent message spawned. I'd help out if I could.

marc

[XCanytime]

I could go for a late evening Pulpit flight. It's honking at Hagerstown right now with west winds 17 MPH gusting to 23. Definitely soarable . Bacil

[uplandann]

Yeah, I was wondering if anyone had noticed that too. Actually I have been reading the posts and find them both entertaining and informative. I especially liked
Tom M's quote after talking about pilot safety:

"I am the first to admit I am not perfect but I hope that other pilots will keep this discussion in mind when flying. And sorry for the misspellings. I am travelling and typing this on my iPhone".
Good one!!

Just waiting for the weather to cool down a bit during the week. I was actually thinking of Long Hill over near Luray to practice launches and landings. I know there is a fence that could be a problem, but thought it could be fun to go check it out. As much as I'm champing at the bit to fly, I should get some practice with turns and set ups. Not that I would get that at a hill, but that's where my comfort level is til I can get higher at Blue Sky.

And for the record, I can't wait to launch off of High Rock, It sounds like fun to jump off a cliff! (in a hang glider that is)

Ann

[Dan T]

If Long's hill still looks like it did when I flew it, if flown from the top, it's among the most technical LZs we have. If you can land there comfortably and have high flight experience from truck towing, and your foot launch skills are sharp, you should have no trouble launching and getting into our LZs in gentle conditions. Bills Hill and High Rock are good first choices.

It's as easy to get hurt on Long's hill as high flying, don't fly it alone.

Dan

[uplandann]

Thanks Dan.

I was planning to just take a look before actually flying there.
Should I have another pilot/observer with me? Or could I just bring someone else along in case I need them to (God forbid) dial 911?

Ann

[brianvh]

If it's technical, don't fly alone. Even if it's not its a good idea not to fly alone, but cell phones have helped out a lot. At the very least check to make sure you have cell phone service on an easy hill. But technical hill: bring someone.

[dbodner]

Ann,

Our site guide shows that Long Hill is a H2 site, so you (H2 w/FL) are technically allowed to fly it without an observer. I've never been to there, so I'd follow others' advice about it, though. I see that the site guide says there's a "new" fence that makes it more difficult to fly, so that jibes with Dan T's statement that the LZ is quite technical. So, perhaps it's not the best idea to fly there now. I haven't heard of anyone flying there, so maybe there's a reason.

But, you don't need a 150 or 250 foot hill to practice foot launching. If you can launch from, say, 20 feet up the hill you can practice your foot launching skills with much less risk (assuming that's possible at Long Hill). Hell, you can even practice running with the glider in your backyard with no slope at all. You won't fly, but you'll be developing the proper muscle memory. In neither case can you practice setting up your landing, but you can do that at Blue Sky.

[uplandann]

Thanks Dave.

Yes, that was what I was thinking too, that if it did look too difficult to land from higher on the hill I would just launch lower on the hill.

Unfortunately my back yard is not much bigger than the glider. However there is a public park just down the street with a small nw hill... hmm.... I wonder...

Ann

[bustedwing2]

Blue sky's training hill is in Harrisonburg,look under lessons on their main page. RichB

[mcelrah]

Ann, looks like some PGers are looking at Woodstock early (11 AM launch) Friday. If so, conditions might also be good for a H2. Now all you need is an HG observer... Dunno if this would fit your schedule. Alas, I burned up all my time off getting the sailplane license... - Hugh

[uplandann]

Yep, not today, as I had work to do at my late Mother's place before the personal property auction tomorrow.
The Harrisonburg hill is only available if Steve has people scheduled to fly there. If no one schedules, he doesn't come; which is what happened this month. Will keep it in mind if is works out for him next month. Thanks for the encouragement!

He says no one wants to climb hills anymore. I guess no one remembers when they were kids and how worth it all was to pull your sled up a snowy hill and be rewarded will the thrilling ride down. I love hill flying for that reason. Guess I'm crazy.

I need some wheels for my glider first anyway before I fly anywhere.

Ann