I'm looking at the possibilities for flying on Friday, because I'll be traveling this weekend.
At the moment, I'm seeing WNW@20 with gusts to 30 on the surface, so it's definitely a "maybe" sort of forecast.
Winds aloft (3k) are forecast to be 20-30, WNW, by the end of the day. That's a borderline 'cast for Woodstock,
but within the realm of possibility depending on what the actual conditions turn out to be....
Is anyone else thinking about giving it a try?
MarkC
Woodstock on Friday Apr 29 ?
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Woodstock on Friday Apr 29 ?
I am in, Off work in Winchester at 1:00 ETA 2:30 ish.
Gary S
Gary S
Gary Smith
Re: Woodstock on Friday Apr 29 ?
Hey Gary! I'm having some difficulties getting away from work.... The odds are about 50-50, and if I'm successful,
I won't be able to hit the road until about 1:30. So you probably shouldn't make your own plans on the assumption
that I'll be able to make it. I'm still hoping to, we will see!
(I'll post when I know for sure, hopefully by noon or so)
MarkC
I won't be able to hit the road until about 1:30. So you probably shouldn't make your own plans on the assumption
that I'll be able to make it. I'm still hoping to, we will see!
(I'll post when I know for sure, hopefully by noon or so)
MarkC
Re: Woodstock on Friday Apr 29 ?
Well, the weather wasn't anything like it was forecast to be : solid overcast, even a few raindrops during the drive, and the shift to WNW didn't happen until after sunset. Winds a bit stronger than forecast. Couldn't get out of work until 2:30, and the Beltway was jammed approaching I-66... So in some ways it was a frustrating/uninspiring day.
But how bad can it really be if you get to fly, right? Gary's patience waiting for me to arrive was rewarded with mellowing cycles by 5:45 or so. He launched a bit after 6:00 and beamed up in west-cross conditions (there were cycles with decent direction coming into the slot, however). I followed at about 6:30. My best was only about 500' over the ridge, in spite of plenty of wind. Didn't thermal more than a few times. And yet there were some high points : flying in very close quarters with a pair of immature bald eagles (like, they had to flap to clear the kingpost!); gorgeous sun beams spilling through a short-lived gap in the clouds; flying in even closer quarters with two red-tail hawks. I flew for a bit over an hour, and then landed so that Gary would have a shot at getting home for a get-together with friends. We both had uneventful landings : some rock-n-roll a few hundred feet over the LZ, but it mellowed out during the DBF.
All-in-all.... It sure beat workin' !
MarkC
But how bad can it really be if you get to fly, right? Gary's patience waiting for me to arrive was rewarded with mellowing cycles by 5:45 or so. He launched a bit after 6:00 and beamed up in west-cross conditions (there were cycles with decent direction coming into the slot, however). I followed at about 6:30. My best was only about 500' over the ridge, in spite of plenty of wind. Didn't thermal more than a few times. And yet there were some high points : flying in very close quarters with a pair of immature bald eagles (like, they had to flap to clear the kingpost!); gorgeous sun beams spilling through a short-lived gap in the clouds; flying in even closer quarters with two red-tail hawks. I flew for a bit over an hour, and then landed so that Gary would have a shot at getting home for a get-together with friends. We both had uneventful landings : some rock-n-roll a few hundred feet over the LZ, but it mellowed out during the DBF.
All-in-all.... It sure beat workin' !
MarkC
Re: Woodstock on Friday Apr 29 ?
Way to go! Sounds like a good day to me.