We've got a frontal passage on Wednesday, followed by NW flow on Thursday. Although
the Thurs surface 'cast is a bit light, one of the 3k forecasts looks strongish outta
the NW as the day progresses.... So I'm thinking that it might be worth taking some
vacation time for a mid-week flight; anyone else considering it?
Tomorrow would be a bit of a stretch for me, but I could perhaps make it happen
if (say) HRock wasn't looking blown out. But Thurs would be better in terms of the
work schedule.
Come on, it's fall, let's fly!
MarkC
Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
Gary Smith, Joe Schad, and I plan to be at Woodstock tomorrow around 1P. Bacil
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
The surface forecast has been backed down a bit, not the typical braindead
soarable 15-20 @ Woodstock. But the 3000' forecast has been bumped up a bit,
so I'm feeling optimistic, will hit the road tomorrow unless there's some drastic
change overnight.
Bacil, are you all planning to meet in the LZ @ 1 ?
MarkC
soarable 15-20 @ Woodstock. But the 3000' forecast has been bumped up a bit,
so I'm feeling optimistic, will hit the road tomorrow unless there's some drastic
change overnight.
Bacil, are you all planning to meet in the LZ @ 1 ?
MarkC
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
I could be interested
post on what you decide
Carlos
post on what you decide
Carlos
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
We are going straight to launch. We're planning an XC to Brett and Sonja Haynes airstrip next to I-66 4 miles NE of Signal Knob. Bacil
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
Interested? It couldn't be more bulletproof than tomorrow will be. Take the vacation time. Bacil
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
No last minute changes to the 'casts, so I'm planning to hit the road around 11:00.
Carlos, if you go, do you want to drop a vehicle in the LZ, so that we also have that option?
MarkC
Carlos, if you go, do you want to drop a vehicle in the LZ, so that we also have that option?
MarkC
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
Mark,
I'll try to head early, but I'd like to drop on in the LZ.
I'll give a call once I'm there (don't forget your cell phone!)
(Will I be there before Bacil? uhhh!)
Carlos
I'll try to head early, but I'd like to drop on in the LZ.
I'll give a call once I'm there (don't forget your cell phone!)
(Will I be there before Bacil? uhhh!)
Carlos
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
Ok Carlos! What time are you planning to get there?
(FYI, problems with the phone book on my cell, so I can't look up numbers.
So give me a call and we'll arrange the LZ meet!)
MarkC
(FYI, problems with the phone book on my cell, so I can't look up numbers.
So give me a call and we'll arrange the LZ meet!)
MarkC
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
Truly friggin' booming fantastic day at Woodstock!
Cast of seven: Bacil, Gary, Joe, Carlos, Pete, Steve, and myself. I got to launch with Carlos
around 1:00, after a meet-up/drop-off in the LZ. Bacil was already in the air, and conditions
looked promising. An occasional "don't go now" lull, and I'd have to say that the slot was a
bit swirly/inconsistent.... But overall pretty good, everyone got into the air just fine.
Helped Joe/Gary/Carlos, then it was my turn, probably around 2:30. Launch felt good, with
a strong elevator exiting the slot; pulled in and sliced through, climbing immediately above.
Got wire-slapped after turning right, which was a sign of the strong thermals ahead.
Un! Real! 3000' above launch within a few minutes, and for the day I broke 3k a bunch of
times, 4k a few times, and 5k over launch once. The thermals were rippin', with my averager
pushing 900 fpm in the best climbs. I was spit out of thermals more times than I can count,
and you'd just have to pull in, put it on a tip, and get right back in there. I found it to be
a very physical day, but the rewards were worth it....
Bacil reported a fun flight followed by a dive OTB to Front Royal Airport. I saw Gary following
a lift line out into the valley, not losing a thing (and without a vario!). Watched Carlos
spiraling up, off to my left, as I was plummeting in sink after topping out above the second
ridge. There were immature and fully-mature bald eagles flying the ridge, easy to spot,
though I had no close encounters this day.
My bad decision of the day was to head south, where I hoped that I might luck into gap-jumping
conditions. Started at 4k over, out into the valley a ways so that I would be in front of
the gap when I arrived. That all worked well, but there was really nothing going on down there.
I hung around trying to make something work, probably for way too long. Finally gave in and
headed back north, and found conditions near launch to still be booming (5:00-ish).
After a climb that took me to 4k over and above the second ridge, I headed out into the
valley following a line that was bringing thermals in pretty consistently. Got way out past
I-81, straight upwind, and was about as close to crossing the valley as I've ever been.
Unfortunately, the lift shut down with a couple miles to go.... Wising that I had given up
on the gap earlier in the day, rats!
After bailing on my task, I lazily zigged and zagged back toward the LZ, enjoying the view
out front, and crossing back and forth over the Shenandoah. The water was really clear,
and very low. In fact, the area was about as dry as I've ever seen it.
Landed after 4 hours of airtime. Can't remember my last mtn flight with major altitude....
It's been a LONG time.
We all headed to the Strasburg Inn for dinner, where we toasted our day of adventure.
MarkC
Cast of seven: Bacil, Gary, Joe, Carlos, Pete, Steve, and myself. I got to launch with Carlos
around 1:00, after a meet-up/drop-off in the LZ. Bacil was already in the air, and conditions
looked promising. An occasional "don't go now" lull, and I'd have to say that the slot was a
bit swirly/inconsistent.... But overall pretty good, everyone got into the air just fine.
Helped Joe/Gary/Carlos, then it was my turn, probably around 2:30. Launch felt good, with
a strong elevator exiting the slot; pulled in and sliced through, climbing immediately above.
Got wire-slapped after turning right, which was a sign of the strong thermals ahead.
Un! Real! 3000' above launch within a few minutes, and for the day I broke 3k a bunch of
times, 4k a few times, and 5k over launch once. The thermals were rippin', with my averager
pushing 900 fpm in the best climbs. I was spit out of thermals more times than I can count,
and you'd just have to pull in, put it on a tip, and get right back in there. I found it to be
a very physical day, but the rewards were worth it....
Bacil reported a fun flight followed by a dive OTB to Front Royal Airport. I saw Gary following
a lift line out into the valley, not losing a thing (and without a vario!). Watched Carlos
spiraling up, off to my left, as I was plummeting in sink after topping out above the second
ridge. There were immature and fully-mature bald eagles flying the ridge, easy to spot,
though I had no close encounters this day.
My bad decision of the day was to head south, where I hoped that I might luck into gap-jumping
conditions. Started at 4k over, out into the valley a ways so that I would be in front of
the gap when I arrived. That all worked well, but there was really nothing going on down there.
I hung around trying to make something work, probably for way too long. Finally gave in and
headed back north, and found conditions near launch to still be booming (5:00-ish).
After a climb that took me to 4k over and above the second ridge, I headed out into the
valley following a line that was bringing thermals in pretty consistently. Got way out past
I-81, straight upwind, and was about as close to crossing the valley as I've ever been.
Unfortunately, the lift shut down with a couple miles to go.... Wising that I had given up
on the gap earlier in the day, rats!
After bailing on my task, I lazily zigged and zagged back toward the LZ, enjoying the view
out front, and crossing back and forth over the Shenandoah. The water was really clear,
and very low. In fact, the area was about as dry as I've ever seen it.
Landed after 4 hours of airtime. Can't remember my last mtn flight with major altitude....
It's been a LONG time.
We all headed to the Strasburg Inn for dinner, where we toasted our day of adventure.
MarkC
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
Awesome day at Woodstock. I got there at 11:15A to moderate conditions in the slot and drying conditions in the sky around launch. Carlos arrived a bit before 12 noon and was able to help me launch around 12:15P. I turned left out of the slot and should have turned right. No lift to the left of launch. Went back by the slot just below it before I hit some lift over the parking lot that enabled me to get up over the ridge. Found a climb one finger up quickly to 2K' over. Pretty good 20 knot NW headwind at 2K' over. Decided to head NE to the better looking clouds. Lost some altitude and lo and behold, looked behind me and an immature bald eagle was shadowing me just above my keel and 10' back. This bird flew with me on and off for at least a half an hour. It would shadow me for a while, then thermal OTB over Little Fort Valley. It would then come back to shadow me as I slowly made my way NE along the ridge. I wish I had a rear-facing camera. 
The air was getting downright nastier as I made my way up the ridge. Finally just SW of the reservoir I found a climb that didn't spit me out. Ended up getting to 6200' MSL drifting ESE OTB. Cloudbase was still at least 1K' higher. Couldn't resist another trip to the Front Royal Airport, so I burned off 3K' to land there on the taxiway. Said hello to Reggie the airport manager, who was busy tidying up the parking lot in preparation for the airshow on Saturday. A nice fellow by the name of Jim McWhorter offered me a ride back to launch, which I graciously accepted. Back at launch saw multiple gliders in the air. Pete Schumann, Carlos, Gary Smith, Joe Schad, Mark Cavanaugh, and Steve Kinsley were high above the ridge as I headed out to retrieve the glider from the airport. Got the glider and went to the LZ to check how others' flights were. Happy faces abounded as pilots complained they had to fight to get down to land. Climbs up to 5K' over and times of 4+ hours were had. We all stopped and had dinner at the Strasburg Inn to cap off the day. Pics tomorrow.
Bacil
The air was getting downright nastier as I made my way up the ridge. Finally just SW of the reservoir I found a climb that didn't spit me out. Ended up getting to 6200' MSL drifting ESE OTB. Cloudbase was still at least 1K' higher. Couldn't resist another trip to the Front Royal Airport, so I burned off 3K' to land there on the taxiway. Said hello to Reggie the airport manager, who was busy tidying up the parking lot in preparation for the airshow on Saturday. A nice fellow by the name of Jim McWhorter offered me a ride back to launch, which I graciously accepted. Back at launch saw multiple gliders in the air. Pete Schumann, Carlos, Gary Smith, Joe Schad, Mark Cavanaugh, and Steve Kinsley were high above the ridge as I headed out to retrieve the glider from the airport. Got the glider and went to the LZ to check how others' flights were. Happy faces abounded as pilots complained they had to fight to get down to land. Climbs up to 5K' over and times of 4+ hours were had. We all stopped and had dinner at the Strasburg Inn to cap off the day. Pics tomorrow.Bacil
Re: Play some hookie, Wed or Thurs?
- Getting high up by the reservoir.
- The Front Royal Airport at the very bottom of the picture.
- View of Front Royal with Manassas Gap in the distance.
- Over the airport, staging north of the runway.
- V-tail Beech Bonanza on the flight line.