Check this flight out from last weekend!
Yes, yesterday was nice and cold day.
When I was driving to Enjoy yesterday morning I was little disappointed because clouds were growing little bit too fast. I was not expect conditions for more than 40 miles XC because the overdeveloping signs. We were slow. The wind was N – NNE about 10 mph with about 15 mph gusts.
Gary left us first. His tow looks like nice foxtrot dance. He released very soon in nice lift going straight up to large Cu dark cloud base. It was obvious that we taking off too late. The sky was covered 6/8 by Cu. On the ground was little chilly temp.
Couple minutes later I took off next, it was 12.50 pm. (Thank you Mike V. for help during taking off) My tow was smooth (bad sign) without any beep. When we pass 2K Bogdan waved me out – I think he was already cold. I find some 50 up but I can not find Gary – he already gone. When I reach 2500 ft I went down the wind about 2 miles under better looking Cu. Now was easy ; 700 fpm. The cloud base was about 3500 and lift was strongest over there, so I need to escape to not be in the cloud.
After 20 miles I spotted Gary fighting over ground, he was very low but he come back soon to the game. When I flew over him I did not find anything so I went 1.5 mile down to the wind finding 300 fpm. Couple minutes later Gary has nice strong core and I saw him back but about 500 ft higher. Finally I find stronger spot which took me back to the cloud base (4000 ft AGL). I can’t find Gary. Now I need make long jump to next perpendicular cloud street. The cloud were little strange yesterday. Some clouds forming cloud streets parallel to the wind but most (80%) were forming perpendicular to the wind. After long jump and loosing couple minutes for finding lift I spotted Gary about 2 miles north of me coming approaching to landing. It was about 30 miles from Enjoy Field.
The cloud base was constantly moving up. In some point I was able to go 5400 ft AGL. Maybe 2 or 3 times I was able use nice cloud street without making any turn but most time this flight was jumping from cloud to cloud where distance was 2-4 miles. Only three times my harness was unzipped during this flight. Last time I open it over Mulberry Grove, IL just over highway I-70. I landed 5.20 pm little over 160 miles from Enjoy. This flight was my 2010 year longest flight and my longest flight made in any October.
When I call Tom Klecha with GPS positions he told me that they are 100 miles from Enjoy. It was great – 1 hour later Gary, Rhanor and Tom came to me. With short stop for dinner we come back to Enjoy about 11.00 pm.
Thank you Gary, Rhanor and Tom for retrieving!Kris
Long One In Illinois
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