Bill's Saturday???

[Matthew]

Hmmmm... forecast is shifting around to look like a Bill's day on Saturday.

Matthew

[eggzkitz]

Yep, so far, looks like a good call. I'm planning on it.

[mingram]

Jeff and I discussed camping Saturday night. We'll discuss Friday evening and pack the car to roll early on Saturday.

Matt

[mingram]

Holy crap has the forecast deteriorated! Considering Spruce Knob to bag a new site, but even WVA looks cloudy on Saturday. But since it's so high even a sledder would be fun.

Matt

[eggzkitz]

3+ hour drive for a sledder...? I really hope the forecast is better when we awake.

[Dunegoon]

Looks like Bill's will be flyable possibly, but with overcast? I would like go if anyone is remotely interested.

Charley

York Pa.
717- eight two nine, four nine four three

[mingram]

Bills doesnt look too bad. A few PGs are going. ETA noon.

Matt

[cthornberger]

ETA 2PM
618-974-3486

[mingram]

What an expected day! Tons of PG and HG flying all day long. New P2 got signed off and was soaring at 9:30am!

Ben, Tom, Jeff, and I flew XC and gaggled up in several thermals and into the wispies at 5500 msl and flew about 20 miles east! High clouds shut things down. Got about 2 hours! I love the new wing. It felt solid. Ellis was at 4k last I heard. We all flew again for another 2 1/2 hours in magic air. At least 4 hours airtime with lots of gliders! Sweet

Matt

[cthornberger]

Got 2 1hr flights. Not sure how high - no vario. About 5k, judging by the other gliders.
Great first soaring flights. Wonderful day! Thanks guys.

[Dunegoon]

"Bills doesnt look too bad. A few PGs are going" LOL you guys made a great call on the WX.

Wow, what a fantastic day. Thanks everyone for the help. Flew until my arms burned and couldn't 360 any more. Hope others share their stories!

[mingram]

Sure was! Nice meeting you today Charley!

Matt

[SHORTCUT]

HMMMM.. I must learn more of this Bills Hill !
Glad you all got some of that.

[kcarra]

Yep. Awesome. Karen and I got there around 3 and were cursing ourselves for a while for not bringing our hang gliders. Winds were averaging about 13-15 at launch with gusts to 19. I helped launch Chris H. and then we waited. It started to smooth out around 4 and Tom C. returned from his group XC adventure and relaunched his PG. The cycles got a little better and then I launched my PG, followed by a gazillion other PGers. Everyone flew, everyone soared. I got 2K over and 2.5 hours and flew down to the turnpike.

There are a few other stories for the day-- hope to hear the rest of them.

Matthew

[laszlo]

Re-posting from the DMV-PG list (because of potential educational value):

I had three flight, almost five hours in total. Best elevation 2500 over launch.

First flight was the most exciting -- I launched my new glider (Artik3) with a 360 degree riser twist (on the right side). My set up sequence was interrupted (my fault) and had only one side hooked in when I gathered the glider and moved back. Should have restarted from scratch. Instead, turned (obviously the wrong way) and hooked in the other side, never checking it again. Noticed during the first two launch attempts that the glider behaves a bit weird. This was a sign to stop and check. Instead blamed it on the wind and took off. Noticed it right away, but to my surprise the glider was flying great. Went up more than 2000 over, and was ready to go after the gaggle (Tom, Matt, Jeff, Ben) that took off over the back. But the speedbar was stuck because of the riser twist. So decided to stay put. After a while started to think what else could go wrong. What happens if I get a collapse on the right side, how will it recover? Came to the conclusion that I was flying a non-tested, out of certification glider configuration. Reluctantly went out to land after about 40 minutes in the air. Uneventful landing.

Two more flights later in the day, less exciting but great fun, especially the last one with so many pilots in the air (and never too crowded -- moving along the ridge and up high). Each time landed voluntarily. One could have stayed up for 10 hours that day.

Laszlo

[Matthew]

PS -- the HG contingent-- including Chris, Charlie and Andy-- also included old timey pilots Dennis Scheely and Keith Ford who aren't on the internet. Egad -- they are from the days when pilots bought varios before they bought GoPro cameras and didn't stand around in the launch area taking pictures of themselves in front of their gliders.

Matthew

[andybalkphysics]

Nice to meet and see everyone yesterday!! I had a great flight, also, although I'm pretty sore today. It's nice to know we have a more east site. I guess he's not on the internet, but thanks Dennis and Keith for calling me. Also, thanks Judy for the ride after the flight! Hope to see everyone at Hyner this weekend...