For those who observe federal holidays, this is a 3 day weekend and I hope to fly sometime, but as an H2 am dependent on the day / location that an Observer is able to be there. I realize it is early, but if some know days they hope to fly or know they will not fly due to other committments, it would help!
Right now Friday afternoon looks most promising - weather.com is calling for WNW at 9mph, but I realize things may change. Right now it looks like the winds will be pretty light all weekend.
I'd love to bag a new site if this seems reasonable for High Rock, but would go to any site, and a different day, if it would be superior.
I wouldn't be able to leave DC before 2pm on Friday.
Valerie
This Weekend
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
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rasmussenv
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:37 pm
- Location: Valerie in Northern Virginia
Re: This Weekend
I'm free to fly Friday.
Re: This Weekend
Alas, I will be flying heavy aluminum (Delta - probably middle seat to boot!) for work Monday. Friday/Saturday Seagull Century (bike ride - "metric" century for us, so 62 miles). Sunday is a possibility...- Hugh
Re: This Weekend
I'm planning on flying the Pulpit on Friday. Bacil
Re: This Weekend
Looks like Pulpit on Sunday too....
What's the Bacil-cast???
Matthew
What's the Bacil-cast???
Matthew
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Danny Brotto
- Posts: 709
- Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:29 pm
Re: This Weekend
Any interest on High Rock Friday afternoon?
Danny Brotto
Danny Brotto
Re: This Weekend
Interest! Wire crew? Tandem passenger? (Rated pilot)
- Hugh
- Hugh
Re: This Weekend
OK, Ann-Marie has volunteered to be my co-pilot/passenger - again! Gary Devan has volunteered to crew and provide sage advice. Valerie and Jesse, yes, I can observe and do tandems both. I will try to arrive as early as possible, given that I am loading the car for the weekend, bike ride and all - perhaps 1030. Gotta walk the LZ with the H2s (and so I know the current state of crop growth). Ann, let's keep trying - or maybe others are flying Saturday. There is also the possibility of a training hill day this weekend at Kirchner's if NW, Taylor's if south and a newly discovered site if north (talk to Ellis and Dan Tomlinson). Let the games begin! - Hugh
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rasmussenv
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:37 pm
- Location: Valerie in Northern Virginia
Re: This Weekend
Hugh - I just want me (and others) to be clear on this since the thread has mentioned different days / different sites.
I *THINK* you are saying that (assuming conditions remain as they currently look) on Friday afternoon you'll be at High Rock and able to walk Jesse and I through the LZ and observe our flights. If I have that wrong, please weigh in - set me on the right course.
If I did have it straight, I will be there, but will be leaving DC at about 1:30, so won't be there to walk the LZ before 3:30. Again, if that means it won't work, let me know.
AND THANKS for fitting so much in - this plus the bike ride on the Eastern Shore on Saturday!
Valerie
I *THINK* you are saying that (assuming conditions remain as they currently look) on Friday afternoon you'll be at High Rock and able to walk Jesse and I through the LZ and observe our flights. If I have that wrong, please weigh in - set me on the right course.
If I did have it straight, I will be there, but will be leaving DC at about 1:30, so won't be there to walk the LZ before 3:30. Again, if that means it won't work, let me know.
AND THANKS for fitting so much in - this plus the bike ride on the Eastern Shore on Saturday!
Valerie
Re: This Weekend
I'm planning on the Pulpit for Friday, unless the Bacil-cast advises otherwise.
Jesse
Jesse
Re: This Weekend
"Gary Devan has volunteered to ... provide sage advice - Hugh"
the only thing I'll cop to is being opinionated.
garyD
the only thing I'll cop to is being opinionated.
garyD
garyDevan
Re: This Weekend
OK, sorry for imprecision in my posts: Friday, High Rock. - Hugh
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Danny Brotto
- Posts: 709
- Joined: Mon Feb 14, 2005 9:29 pm
Re: This Weekend
I will be at HR mid-afternoon on Friday. Should be okay.
Danny Brotto
Danny Brotto
Re: This Weekend
so i guess i'll be good if i'm at launch by 11.
gary
'checked the spice rack - no sage but 'could bring some oregano, alum
, or myrr(t)h 
( 
)
gary
'checked the spice rack - no sage but 'could bring some oregano, alum
, or myrr(t)h ( )garyDevan
Re: This Weekend
It's s'posed ta be gold, frankincense and myrrh - but I'll settle for whatcha got. - Hugh
Re: This Weekend
See you at the Pulpit Jesse. I should be there by 11A. Baciljyoder111 wrote:I'm planning on the Pulpit for Friday, unless the Bacil-cast advises otherwise.
Jesse
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cthornberger
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- Location: Baltimore-ish, Md
- Contact:
Re: This Weekend
I'll be up at Kirchner's all weekend. If its not good there, I'll definitely go over to Pulpit/ HR ... wire crew / retrieval / tandem anyone? (Six-One/8-974-Three four eight six).mcelrah wrote: ... There is also the possibility of a training hill day this weekend at Kirchner's if NW, Taylor's if south and a newly discovered site if north (talk to Ellis and Dan Tomlinson). Let the games begin! - Hugh
Gotta get that H-2, ya know
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Chris __-_-->
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Chris __-_-->
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John Dullahan
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:43 pm
Re: This Weekend
Amy and I were originally planning to go to Hyner this weekend, but I think we might save that adventure for another time when we have a few more flights under our belts. It seems to that this is a great weekend to stay "local" and enjoy some of the flying/socializing with our club members here.
With that said.........Would you be able to observe me at the Pulpit tomorrow, John Dullahan?
Thank you,
Jon
seven zero three 405 seven 5 05
With that said.........Would you be able to observe me at the Pulpit tomorrow, John Dullahan?
Thank you,
Jon
seven zero three 405 seven 5 05
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John Dullahan
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:43 pm
Re: This Weekend
Jon,
Be glad to; see you, Dan, and possibly Mark C and others.
John D.
Be glad to; see you, Dan, and possibly Mark C and others.
John D.
John Dullahan
Re: This Weekend
Sounds great!!! Heading to the Pulpit......will arrive around 11:00
Jon
Jon
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rasmussenv
- Posts: 167
- Joined: Tue Oct 09, 2007 8:37 pm
- Location: Valerie in Northern Virginia
Re: This Weekend
Wanted to give some feedback on the results of Friday afternoon at High Rock. What a great day! I have, in the past month, flown off Pulpit, Woodstock and now High Rock. Thanks again to Hugh who came out to both observe and get some more tandem practice.
I arrived at High Rock about 2:30, and Hugh had just landed following a sled tandem with Ann Marie, who had graciously agreed to come out to be cargo for Hugh and needed wire crew for others. Ann Marie is an H1 who has been mostly training at Highland and is imminently going to solo there when the conditions are right for that hallmark flight. Meanwhile she’s gotten a taste of the mountains as Hugh’s passenger.
Danny Brotto was set up and waiting for wire crew as I headed to the LZ and Hugh oriented me to the landing strip in the field. However, winds were cross and the soybeans were pretty lame – the drought must have hit them hard this summer. He advised me to land as the wind dictated – at the time it was blowing cross indicating a diagonal might be wiser. I moved my gear to Hugh’s car, leaving mine at the LZ.
Back at the top, Kurt, who lives locally and flies High Rock almost exclusively, had arrived and started setting up, and Danny decided to wait and launch with him. I was mostly set up by the time by the time Danny launched, with me, Hugh and Gary as crew in westerly winds of 5-10 – somewhat cross. We all waited to see if he could stick. It was slow going but he was 100+ feet above launch within 5 or 10 minutes when the same crew launched Kurt, who also stuck. It was now about 4:30, and I was up next, with Hugh, Gary and Ann Marie as crew. The launch went fine – looked good based on Hugh and Gary’s later report and Ann-Marie’s video. I was 20-30 feet below launch for the first couple of passes – getting light lift. I was well away from the launch, and unclipped / got into my cocoon. Saw Hugh and others on launch signaling that I should be flying closer, and that helped. I came in closer and got better lift, and finally got up above the ridge, flying with Danny and Kurt. At one point I saw 3-4 hawks / birds circling a bit away from the ridge on the north end and I headed out to them thinking I might thermal higher. Big mistake. I lost altitude on my way to them, did not feel significant lift (compared to the ridge and headed back). Now back below launch level I struggled to regain altitude, thinking I might be forced to land. But no! With patience I fought my way back up and again joined Kurt and Danny – spending a good bit of time at the 200-400 above launch level – never higher for me, and maybe a bit higher for Danny. The ridge could not have accommodated many more than the three of us – maybe one or two. We kept passing each other (safely!) as we soared at slightly varying altitudes a few hundred feet over launch.
We knew Hugh was set up and hoping for another tandem with Ann Marie, but needed crew. After 55 minutes, it was now around 5:30, and I’d had a nice soaring flight, I headed to the LZ with good altitude, calling to Danny that I was headed in. I had time to circle the field. The wind sock reflected variable conditions – was flapping in a few directions – so I decided to go with the prevailing westerly indications and land on the uphill, slightly diagonal approach as Hugh had previously suggested. Pretty much made my mark – crossing the fallow strip on a slight diagonal and ended at the crest – and on my feet – followed by the nose falling fully forward. Danny landed a couple minutes later demonstrating the same graceful landing and berated himself for following my approach having seen my landing he’d suspected that the winds had a south component – slight tail – and his landing had confirmed it. They were light and variable winds and I think, with the slight uphill characteristic of the field in that area, I’m happy with the approach I followed. Kurt and Hugh later used the same direction for landing, but I did not see their landings nor hear comment from them.
Rather than break down, I called up to Hugh to see if he’d like Danny and I to come straight up to launch him – before it got too late and he was happy to agree to the suggestion. With the very light winds on the field, we left out gliders on the edge and headed up, and by about 6pm Ann Marie and Hugh were locked in and walked up from the set up area onto High Rock in that fashion – quite impressive as it is challenging as a solo when locked in! Gary, Danny and I crewed them and they were off, but were not able to do much more than a few turns before heading in to land. They were on the field before Danny and I returned to break down our wings and load up. Gary headed home from the launch after helping several grateful pilots through the afternoon. It was fully dark by the time Hugh had gotten a ride to the top with Danny and returned with his car to finish breaking it down and load it – with the help of a small flashlight and some headlights. Kurt, Ann Marie, Hugh and I headed to Emma Jane’s to complete the transaction / paperwork. It was around 8 pm, maybe later when we all headed off to our respective destinations, Kurt taking Ann Marie back to the top and her car, and Hugh now heading on out to the Eastern Shore to meet Sally at a hotel and then participate in a big bike ride on Saturday. He packs a LOT in! Again, Hugh, thanks so much for helping me to get this flight in, as well as Gary and Ann Marie who crewed me – Gary offering several welcome pieces of advice as well.
I'm sure you all will have fun today, whether Pulpit or High Rock. I'm going to be in my kayak running Mather's Gorge on the Potomac below Great Falls. I look forward to hearing how the day works for fliers.
Valerie
I arrived at High Rock about 2:30, and Hugh had just landed following a sled tandem with Ann Marie, who had graciously agreed to come out to be cargo for Hugh and needed wire crew for others. Ann Marie is an H1 who has been mostly training at Highland and is imminently going to solo there when the conditions are right for that hallmark flight. Meanwhile she’s gotten a taste of the mountains as Hugh’s passenger.
Danny Brotto was set up and waiting for wire crew as I headed to the LZ and Hugh oriented me to the landing strip in the field. However, winds were cross and the soybeans were pretty lame – the drought must have hit them hard this summer. He advised me to land as the wind dictated – at the time it was blowing cross indicating a diagonal might be wiser. I moved my gear to Hugh’s car, leaving mine at the LZ.
Back at the top, Kurt, who lives locally and flies High Rock almost exclusively, had arrived and started setting up, and Danny decided to wait and launch with him. I was mostly set up by the time by the time Danny launched, with me, Hugh and Gary as crew in westerly winds of 5-10 – somewhat cross. We all waited to see if he could stick. It was slow going but he was 100+ feet above launch within 5 or 10 minutes when the same crew launched Kurt, who also stuck. It was now about 4:30, and I was up next, with Hugh, Gary and Ann Marie as crew. The launch went fine – looked good based on Hugh and Gary’s later report and Ann-Marie’s video. I was 20-30 feet below launch for the first couple of passes – getting light lift. I was well away from the launch, and unclipped / got into my cocoon. Saw Hugh and others on launch signaling that I should be flying closer, and that helped. I came in closer and got better lift, and finally got up above the ridge, flying with Danny and Kurt. At one point I saw 3-4 hawks / birds circling a bit away from the ridge on the north end and I headed out to them thinking I might thermal higher. Big mistake. I lost altitude on my way to them, did not feel significant lift (compared to the ridge and headed back). Now back below launch level I struggled to regain altitude, thinking I might be forced to land. But no! With patience I fought my way back up and again joined Kurt and Danny – spending a good bit of time at the 200-400 above launch level – never higher for me, and maybe a bit higher for Danny. The ridge could not have accommodated many more than the three of us – maybe one or two. We kept passing each other (safely!) as we soared at slightly varying altitudes a few hundred feet over launch.
We knew Hugh was set up and hoping for another tandem with Ann Marie, but needed crew. After 55 minutes, it was now around 5:30, and I’d had a nice soaring flight, I headed to the LZ with good altitude, calling to Danny that I was headed in. I had time to circle the field. The wind sock reflected variable conditions – was flapping in a few directions – so I decided to go with the prevailing westerly indications and land on the uphill, slightly diagonal approach as Hugh had previously suggested. Pretty much made my mark – crossing the fallow strip on a slight diagonal and ended at the crest – and on my feet – followed by the nose falling fully forward. Danny landed a couple minutes later demonstrating the same graceful landing and berated himself for following my approach having seen my landing he’d suspected that the winds had a south component – slight tail – and his landing had confirmed it. They were light and variable winds and I think, with the slight uphill characteristic of the field in that area, I’m happy with the approach I followed. Kurt and Hugh later used the same direction for landing, but I did not see their landings nor hear comment from them.
Rather than break down, I called up to Hugh to see if he’d like Danny and I to come straight up to launch him – before it got too late and he was happy to agree to the suggestion. With the very light winds on the field, we left out gliders on the edge and headed up, and by about 6pm Ann Marie and Hugh were locked in and walked up from the set up area onto High Rock in that fashion – quite impressive as it is challenging as a solo when locked in! Gary, Danny and I crewed them and they were off, but were not able to do much more than a few turns before heading in to land. They were on the field before Danny and I returned to break down our wings and load up. Gary headed home from the launch after helping several grateful pilots through the afternoon. It was fully dark by the time Hugh had gotten a ride to the top with Danny and returned with his car to finish breaking it down and load it – with the help of a small flashlight and some headlights. Kurt, Ann Marie, Hugh and I headed to Emma Jane’s to complete the transaction / paperwork. It was around 8 pm, maybe later when we all headed off to our respective destinations, Kurt taking Ann Marie back to the top and her car, and Hugh now heading on out to the Eastern Shore to meet Sally at a hotel and then participate in a big bike ride on Saturday. He packs a LOT in! Again, Hugh, thanks so much for helping me to get this flight in, as well as Gary and Ann Marie who crewed me – Gary offering several welcome pieces of advice as well.
I'm sure you all will have fun today, whether Pulpit or High Rock. I'm going to be in my kayak running Mather's Gorge on the Potomac below Great Falls. I look forward to hearing how the day works for fliers.
Valerie