Bill's Hill Tues and/or Wedns ?

[Flying Lobster]

Next couple of days look decent for Bill's Hill--especially for paragliding. I'm up for it but can't afford to go solo--if anyone is interested gimme a holler.

marc

[Flying Lobster]

Still lookin good for tomorrow--should be able to fly either hangies or Pg's--any takers?

marc

[uplandann]

I will consider making the trip if I can get an observer... I could be there around 10am, will have to leave by 1pm.

~Ann
H-2

[Flying Lobster]

Hi Anne:

I've been informed that Bill's hasn't been flown in the past year or so--thus it probably needs some clearing prior to flying--at least by hang gliders. Flying in general is hard to do by timetables. : )

marc

[uplandann]

What would need clearing? I've got loppers, and a grass scythe I can bring. Not much can grow from November to May accept maybe grass/weeds, I guess. It only takes five minutes (or less) to do a sled ride. A timetable is all I got, so you get what you get and make the best of it. : )

[sailin]

Cant say for sure how it is now but i flew it last fall (hang glider) and then did some weed whacking afterward...... So it might be okay. Wish i could join you guts but i am getting the boat hauled tomorrow

Hope you guys have a great flight if you make it out there!

Jon

[Flying Lobster]

What would need clearing? I've got loppers, and a grass scythe I can bring. Not much can grow from November to May accept maybe grass/weeds, I guess. It only takes five minutes (or less) to do a sled ride. A timetable is all I got, so you get what you get and make the best of it. : )

Understood. I'd be happy to fly with you and observe you--except I was hoping to go up with somebody to split gas expenses and was looking at getting there around noon. Might still find a pg pilot who might go, though.

marc

[John Anderson]

Marc--

On the PG line, looked like Peter Hume and Laszlo Lovei were both headed up to Bill's tomorrow. Not sure what timing for them. If I could clear an item or two, I would go, but not sure I'm a good bet... intent would be to do 2--3 hang flights. I tried calling Ann on this, too, but she wasn't in.

Where in the Beltway world do you hang out, by the way? John -- 703/938-0735

[uplandann]

Okay. Let me know what you decide to do, soon. Otherwise, I'll be leaving at 7a to make it there by 10a. If there is not going to be anyone there until noon, then I'll just bag it and stay home.
Got your message John, Thanks.

~Ann
540-414-4550

PS Forecast has increased winds to 6-8 mph

[Matthew]

Bring a weed whacker or a machete for some slot maintenance. I'm betting that Bill's is an overgrown mess and launching a HG will be difficult in anything less than perfect conditions.

Matthew

[John Anderson]

Weds propsects? Looks to me like I have managed to shirk other duties, and am cleared to head for Bill's, hopefully early. Unless all others fizzle out. Marc, if you do see this and advise me where we reconnoiter, you are welcome to throw a PG in and hop aboard. Not set up for multi HGs. Other interessee who can get away early?

Ann-- Advise with a message or a call tomorrow afdter 7:00 (to mob 703/226-9066) if you are on/ off. I would probably drop off wing on top, head to LZ to wait for company.

[uplandann]

First time at Bills. Had a Nice sledder. Plenty of good cycles 8-10mph up top when I got there at 10:30. Air was relatively smooth. A few sticker bushes below launch. Grass a bit tall in the LZ but I came in nice and fast and let the grass slow me down to a good landing.
John A. and Marc carpooled. John also had a sled in his HG (hope you got some more flying). I had to leave around 1:30. Marc in his PG, was about 600'+ over launch when I Ieft. Hope the cloud streets that I saw driving home made it up your way. I have to think it just got better and better as the day wore on. Just a beautiful day to fly, just gotta figure out how to stay longer.

Thank you Marc for tackling those stickers (sooo sorry I didn't have my tools, I thought the lopper was already in the car .)
You did a great job of observing us H2s!
Thank you John and Marc for coming early.
Looking forward to others' posts.

~Ann

[Flying Lobster]

Strongest thermals I've ever flown in at Bill's--6030 had peak of 900+fpm and I stopped thousands of feet short of the clouds, making it to 2800 over but coulda/shoulda gone much higher. It was actually a bit nerve-wracking at times and required very active flying to stay on top of things. I wimped on going over the back for various reasons--instead flew into a bit of a headwind up to the turnpike--tried and failed to cross it--and landed next to it. It was a booming day and a better pilot I'm sure could have gone a very long way xc. I took out most of the taller saplings out front--but the entire launch slot is over-run with a thick forest of briers. If you go in you'll be torn to shreds!

marc

[John Anderson]

Yep, Marc got stinking high from our vantage point in the Bill's LZ. And it only got rowdier when I finally got back to the top, so waited it out a bit and then switched back to the paraglider. Laszlo, Jim Kaplan and another PG pilot from Elizabethtown, Dan, had arrived and we all got off, some got up!

But most important to me was getting my hang glider back in the air after too long a lapse. Started late, and air getting a bit bumpy after mid-day, but no big issues... Felt good to be at altitude, doing the prone dangle for a change! Warning all Hang Observers: you will be pestered periodically.

Marc: thanks for doing the driving, and thanks for the mentoring.

Ann: Superb to have you join us; gotta start earlier next time! I have all your little wind streamers; we'll figure out the hand-off.

[uplandann]

Thanks, John. No biggie, I was just planning to leave all the streamers in place there, at launch anyway... ~Ann

[theflyingdude]

Ann, be careful about letting the grass "slow you down". If you allow your basetube to touch the top of the grass when you come in to land, there's a very good chance that it will catch and your glider will nose-in suddenly, violently, and without warning. My good friend (and excellent pilot), Larry Huffman pounded a landing at Bill's Hill in tall grass and took out his shoulder inthe process. Always treat the top of the grass as if it were solid ground and never allow your basetube to touch it when landing. If you do, you'll find that the faster you're flying on final = the harder you'll pound!

JR

[deveil]

yeah! i noticed that also. what the man said.

[uplandann]

Thanks, I appreciate it. Yes that was what I was one thing I made a mental note of when I walked the LZ. The grass was about a foot or so high, and I remebered reading about tall grass and corn.... so that's just what I did. I counted the grass tops as the ground a and only let the grass brush against my feet; and rounded out accordingly. By the time the glider had lowered enough that my shins were in the grass, I was begining to flare and had a perfect touch down. My basetube didnot even touch the grass until my feet were on solid ground. ~Ann