Beautiful day at Daniels with gentle cycles slowly building as the day went on. Matt and Noah observed me at my first East coast launch. Also, Tom, Lazlo, Syrus, Krista and others whom I did not see were there. My first ride was a 5 minute sledder, but the second got me 500 meters over launch, to a max altitude of 1005. I was super excited, as this is the first time I had thermaled! Several hawks were around and one even flew right under me, crossing only scant feet from my wingtip. Many thanks to Noah and Matt for observing. Syrus and I had to leave a bit early and the others continued to fly, so the observers' thank you beers will have to wait for another day. A very fine day, indeed!
John
Daniels Sunday 10/23
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Daniels Sunday 10/23
John Hopkinson
John at Hopkinson .org
John at Hopkinson .org
Re: Daniels Sunday 10/23
There were smiles all around on Sunday. The weather was fantastic. We had a lot of pilots wanting to fly (10 total) and everyone did a great job setting up and launching without issue. Some of the new pilots did better than the regulars! John just got his P2 last week and caught his first thermal and rode it to 3000 ft! I think he was inspired by Krista who was hooking thermals in front of everyone! Syrus, a PPG pilot studying for his P2, was amazed and instantly hooked when he saw Noah get lifted into a thermal right in front of launch.
I only managed 20 minutes. I was equal height with Tom and Vuk over the ridge, but I wasn't thermalling as efficiently as I could have been. Tom showed it was definitely possible to maximize what was there as he was patient and got to cloudbase and then flew to Standardsville. I think I get a mindset that there's not enough lift and sort of make that a reality rather than focusing on flying efficiently. Thermalling is a unique challenge.
After flying, Vuk, his wife, and their genius baby girl (she can work an iphone) treated me to pizza and beer at Sals. Thanks again guys!
We need more Fall flying days like that!
Matt
I only managed 20 minutes. I was equal height with Tom and Vuk over the ridge, but I wasn't thermalling as efficiently as I could have been. Tom showed it was definitely possible to maximize what was there as he was patient and got to cloudbase and then flew to Standardsville. I think I get a mindset that there's not enough lift and sort of make that a reality rather than focusing on flying efficiently. Thermalling is a unique challenge.
After flying, Vuk, his wife, and their genius baby girl (she can work an iphone) treated me to pizza and beer at Sals. Thanks again guys!
We need more Fall flying days like that!
Matt