Sat19Nov : Daniels? Highland? Somewhere?

[markc]

Hmmm.... Lots of strong stuff in the 3k forecasts. S@5-10 surface forecast for Daniels, and S@10-15 for Highland. The latter seems a bit strong for towing, so I'm thinking that maybe Daniels would be worth a try, esp. given the winds-aloft 'cast. What are people thinking?

MarkC

[rlweber]

My plan is to arrive at Daniels early, no later then 11 am. I think it is worth a try.
Randy

[Matthew]

Leaning towards Highland-- if too strong, then Daniel's... if upper winds too strong-- then gong old school-- Taylor's.

Matthew

[g.sessa]

Going to give Highland a try....

[carweill]

I have the glider on the car. Hard choice.
Probably will hit the road 9:30AM. At that point I will decide where to.

Carlos

[markc]

Hmmmm.... Still waffling.

[guy didier]

I planned to leave for Daniel at 10am. Any observer going? Where is Highland, I cannot find it in the guide? Thanks.

[Matthew]

Highland has posted that winds aloft are 35-40 today. Winds aloft at Daniel's also look strong. Going to Taylor,s.

Matthew

[g.sessa]

Change of plans after seeing Highlands post, going to bail on flying today...

[mingram]

Highland is in the site guide - it's a hang gliding aeropark. It's in Ridgley, MD.

Daniels may be flyable around 1pm, or it might be too strong. Without a hang glider I don't feel like gambling. Taylor Hill looks like a sure bet. Trying to decide if I want to work around the house or fly.

Matt

[markc]

Heading for Daniels. Bit of a gamble.... But it's such a nice day.... And it's Sat, so no long drive back home with work the next day. What the heck!

MarkC

[carweill]

OK its Taylor.
PG time

Carlos

[CraginS]

joining Matthew and Carlos at Taylor

guy d said :

Where is Highland

Guy, if you check my weather page, the location rows for all the flight parks on it (Blue Sky, VA; Highland, MD; Ellenville, NY; Kitty Hawk Kites, NC; Lookout Mountain, GA; Quest, and Wallaby Ranch, FL), have links to the park sites as well as to weather pages for those locations.

[lbunner]

I went to 501 today (800' south launch) with a host of Hyner pilots. I launched a tad too early and had an extendo. All that launched later were able to soar. Shawn M had the flight of the day getting 1000' over and flew to Grimes airport. TR, Jesse, John, Bill and Sean all got up. That makes two extendo's in two days for me. Seem to have lost my mojo. Can't wait for next year!

[markc]

Good day at Daniels. An hour+ of soaring mid-afternoon, topping out at 700' over. Just myself and Randy for HG, later joined by Ellis & co, Jim K, and Lazslo for PG. Randy had a short HG soaring flight, then gave it a go with the PG. The other PG'ers all soared, some more, some less. FANTASTIC sunset! Wish I could have enjoyed it from the air, but I was eventually flushed by the very light conditions. Ellis and Jim had the best seat in the house for that part of the day.

Heading on to Highland tonight, in the hopes that it might be flyable early.

MarkC

[CraginS]

Busy day at Taylor Farm. John M had seven students, several of them first timers. A couple of his more experienced had pretty good flights and look close to graduation. Carlos brought his bag, and spent the day kiting in the field, with a couple of flights late in the day. Peter, who had not flown in two years, came out with Janice and her 1 year old Newfie/Bernad, Bear. Matthew and Karen brought bot plumbing and bags, prepared for any eventuality of wind.

From 11 to mid afternoon, the forecast 8-10 mph winds were more like 10-15 at the top of the hill. It was a bit more mellow down in the field. Matthew, Karen and I were launching from 1/3 down the hill to be in more benign winds. Peter, being more hardy, was launching from the top, albeit with careful timing. By 4:00 it finally mellowed out, and Matthew, Karen, and Carlos all got some bag flights in.

I made three flights, all with reasonable launch runs, the final one with a fully acceptable landing. Also, proved to myself I need to get more exercise.
Karen & Matthew, Janice & Peter, Carlos and I finished the day with dinner at Amy's Cafe down by the river (http://www.amyscafefalmouth.com/). Great little spot. Several of us discovered Fred Red Ale )http://blueandgraybrewingco.com/beerfla ... m#readmore), from a local Fredericksbug brewery - fine tasty beer, in a generous 22 ounce bottle. We all recommend Amy's, and plan to return.

Great day for everyone. Even John's first day students got in a couple of short low flights.

Gliders breaking down

Breakdown at sunset

Sunset across the field was lovely, as we were finishing packing out our gear.

Sunset

[kcarra]

Got in three flights on "Ye Ole' Ultrasport" and one on Karen's Sport 2-- and four flights on the bag. Karen had two on her Sport 2 and two on her PG.

Got knocked around big time on my first flight with a gust punching me off course almost 180 degrees when turning onto final-- steered the glider back into the wind just before flaring-- good thing it's a big field! Other flights were uneventful.

Matthew