Weekend flying options : Highland Sun17Jun ?

[markc]

I'm seeing light S and SSE in the mtns and NE switching to E at Highland over the weekend. Is anyone feeling motivated by what the forecasts are showing?

MarkC

[Matthew]

Ridgely Sunday--
It's gonna be a fun day,
Maybe get higher the Bun day,
Then back to work on Monday!

Matthew

[markc]

Yeah, guess I'm leaning towards Sunday too.... A bit lighter aloft than Sat, and they're now saying a bit sunnier than earlier forecasts.... Will probably give it a go then, and try to get some work done on Sat.

MarkC

[markc]

The sky sure looked good today, hopefully there will be some more of that tomorrow at Highland! Still thinking it will be ok.... There's an area on the 3k map showing 15-20mph winds impinging on the DelMarVa, but it looks like it's supposed to relax by early afternoon. Seems like a better bet than (say) the drive up to Jack's Mtn.

Might be a nice PG day down at Daniel's (SSE).

MarkC

[CraginS]

Friday evening I spoke with Steve Wendt down at Blue Sky. Steve reported Friday as having been blown out (15-20 and ~90 degrees cross), and it looked like Saturday would be, too.
NOAA hourly actuals for Richmond show that it probably was -
http://www.weather.gov/obhistory/KRIC.html
Note the 100% gust factor (10 gusting to 21) on both Friday and Saturday afternoons.

The hourly history for Ocean City
http://www.weather.gov/obhistory/KOXB.html
show similar conditions on the Eastern Shore. I'd be interested in an on-site report from Highland for Saturday.

Good luck for Sunday.

[kcarra]

Great day at Highland on Father's Day. New Daddy Daniel Broxterman was there with wife Charlotte and son Wil. He flew a Falcon twice-- getting up and high on his second flight. Mike Balk, who hasn't flown a HG in a few years, also had a nice flight to 4k on a rental Falcon. It was completely decked over when Karen and I arrived there at noon-ish. No one was set up! A slew of pilots were there for the weekend Ridgley comp-- all hanging out over at the pavilion while setting up a task. Even though it was still decked over at about 1pm, I got bored and launched and found surprisingly nice lift to 3100'-- cloudbase at the time. I flew for about an hour before anyone else launched. The comp pilots were waiting to go in a group. The sun came out and the thermals became a bit punchy and people started to fly-- including Karen who also got up to base at 3100.

The comp group included Matt (Lostgriz), John Dullahan, Charley, John Simon, a woman from Ellenville and a few others. Mark C. was also there flying in his old and uncomfortable blackhawk harness. I landed after 1:35 after being tired of the punchy thermals. Of the comp group, only John made the triangle, with most of the others making it to the first turn point in Wye River. I flew Karen's glider later in the day when the clouds looked fatter and got up to 3700' for a forty minute flight. Heather Simon did a bunch of flights at the end of the day.

It was cool and sunny and wonderful!

Matthew

[hang_pilot]

I busted a part on my LiteSport rigging it at Woodstock back in April and had been foolishly holding on to the idea that I was going to fix it myself. There was some confusion over multiple versions of the part in question and so I finally gave in and brought it to Highland yesterday; now it's their headache. While I was there, I might as well rent a Falcon and get in a few flights, right? Good decision. Took a few trips to cloudbase at around 4000 feet and had a really fun day flying with friends. It had been since 2005 since I last flew a single surface wing. What a blast. So easy to maneuver and land. So little to worry about. Although I ended up on the deck shortly after I lost 2800 feet flying 2.25 miles into the wind (~4:1 glide). So, that part made me miss my LiteSport.

I want to hear more about the Highland Challenge flights. Post up, guys!

Best,
Daniel

[RichH]

Sunday turned out to be a nice day for the Sport class at the highland challenge with several pilots making goal at Wye Mills. Matt and Michelle from what I understand both made goal and had fantastic flights. Alex Tatom flying a Falcon landed just 2 miles short of goal.. Unfortunately, I decided to go on a sit seeing tour missing both waypoints and taking a more northerly trek and landing just North and slightly East of Queenstown on the bay shore..Alot of fun had by all I think just about everyone flew close to cloudbase..which was aprx. 4000ft. It was tough going for me at the start heading out on course in sink but finally catching a bit of lift below 900' couple of miles out and basically hopping down the road to my next landing field option and never really getting above 2500' feet most of the way .. unfortunately this was all taking me off course line which was south of my drift but I was determined to stay in the air..never really got any significant altitude until I hit a well formed thermal near the 401 ..Rt50 intersection where I finally got near cloudbase and had a chance to look around. The view was fantastic and could see the bay bridge with the traffic I'd soon be facing on Rt 50 and the shore line just ahead. I was an easy glide to the bay shore so I went to my best landing field option with easy retrieve access..I was a bit disappointed not flying the course but was satisfied with a fun and challenging flight..I believe several pilots made goal in the open class.unfortunately I didn't get the low down on their flights before I had to beat feet back to Richmond..My hats off to the crew at the Highland and especially to Charlie for putting this competition together its been fun and a first class learning experience. I highly recommend it!! ..Rich Hiegel