Daniels Sunday 10/16

[XCanytime]

Or maybe Daniels if there isn't some west left over in the flow. Nice and warm and maybe a bit breezy. Have been thinking about a short XC to Sweeley Estates Winery over on 230 near 29. Bacil

[markc]

I sense a new RTW competition format: Race To Wine. Last one to land picks up the tab!

Current 'casts are calling for SW early/mid afternoon, going SSW by late afternoon. That's an encouraging trend.... But the 3k forecast is strong-getting-stronger SW as the day goes on. I'll at least keep my flying options open, will check conditions again tomorrow AM.

MarkC

[carweill]

Still interest in Daniels?

Carlos

[XCanytime]

Out the door for Daniels. ETA 11:30ish. Might be the last 70+ day for flying this year. Bacil

[guy didier]

where is Daniels? Directions?

[markc]

Winds at 3k are forecast to be pretty West cross much of the day, swinging more SW later, but also increasing to 30-35 kts. The point surface cast for Stanardsville looks pretty benign, but the Green county NWS text forecast is :

SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 70S. WEST WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH...
INCREASING TO SOUTHWEST 15 TO 20 MPH WITH GUSTS UP TO 30 MPH THIS
AFTERNOON.

Hmmm, decisions, decisions....

[XCanytime]

Got to the "west" LZ around 12 noon and planted a windsock next to the streamer. It showed a SW wind. Headed up to launch and found Petr hiking up the mountain with his PG backpack. Gave him a lift to the top and he decided it was too strong for his PG. So I set up and got ready to go around 1:30P with Petr's help. There were some strong cycles and there were some nice lulls in between. Got on launch during a lull, cleared Petr, and commenced to launch. From the get go it didn't feel right. As I ran it felt like something was pushing down on the top of the glider and keeping it from lifting off. When it did lift off I was mushing and veering left towards the tree line. I pulled in slightly and the wing started flying (probably more from an airflow gradient). I got the glider turned away from the tree line but now I'm flying towards the other side of the slot and not very high. The small trees at the bottom of the slot figured in my field of view so I turned back left and exited the slot with plenty of clearance (finally). After that near disastrous start, I got down to the business of soaring. Petr drove my car down to the LZ and hiked back to get his vehicle. Even though I got up easily, I couldn't get more than 600' over in strong, chopped up air. After an hour I went in to land expecting strong conditions. They were there when I came in; the spinner windsock was a spinnin' quite fast. Made sure I did not stray too far downwind as the headwind was strong at a few hundred feet above the LZ. Had a nice uphill landing just beyond the gulley. Petr had tried to kite in the LZ but it was just too strong. Bacil

[jyoder111]

Glad you got off ok. Sounds like a scary launch. What do you think happened?

Hugh has told us H-2s at Woodstock one time not to launch if we feel like the glider is heavy, being pushed down from above, as it could be air dumping over the trees in a cross wind you don't realize is there when you're in the slot.

[XCanytime]

Here's what definitely happened. I remember having the grapevine grip as I picked up the glider. I nudged the glider forward and switched to the pistol grip. I also pulled the nose down enough (too much in fact) to have the control frame touch the ground. I remember my feet hitting the basetube at least twice (once with each foot) as I walked ready to jog and then run. If the control frame is on the ground, then there ain't gonna be any lift generated by the few steps forward. The nose may have stayed still a bit low as I jogged and then ran. I remember that the glider was not gaining airspeed like it should have. I think that finally the glider got enough airspeed to lift me off of the ground, but it was barely flying and terrain following/wallowing to the left. Bottom line: I just didn't get airborne with enough airspeed for adequate control. What could have been done differently? Not pulling the nose down radically (as it turned out) and choosing a better cycle with more steady airflow up the slot. I don't believe air was dumping down on top of the glider. I just think that the feeling I felt was due to too low a nose angle through the jog and part of the run phase of the launch. Bacil

[carweill]

I have witnessed many of your launches and they are always being solid.

Thanks for sharing and happy things worked out.

See you have to launch before noon!

Carlos