Flying this weekend

[jyoder111]

Looks like it'll be a little warmer this weekend. Daniels might be good on Sunday if the forecast holds. Anyone interested?

Jesse

[mingram]

I'm hoping to fly on Sunday. I just bought a new harness so may go to Taylor Hill instead.

Matt

[FlyingFelix]

I'm also hoping to fly on Sunday.
I understand the road up to Daniels launch is very rough and my car will probably not make it (regular sedan) - if anyone is interested in helping me out with a ride to the top I'll gladly for for the gas and the beers afterwards!
Hope for a good day on Sunday.

[dbodner]

I'm seriously looking, too. Felix, just go as far as the LZ. Someone will be by to give you a ride to the top.

[FlyingFelix]

Still hoping for a good flying day tomorrow. It's looking like it's going to be OK for now - though this is a new site for me and won't be able to make a call so if anyone is going (and can help me and my gear with a ride to the top from the LZ) please chime in.
Also, for some reason I do not have access to the "member's only area" and so I cannot get the details for Daniels site - can someone give me an address/directions to the Danville LZ and Launch?
Let's go flying people!

[andybalkphysics]

I'll be there in the morning-ish, also looking for a ride to the top.

[Dan T]

I think Daniel's is going to be good for Hang Gliders. It's liable to be too strong for PG. Unless the forecast eases up some I probably won't make it.

Felix, Daniels is south of Culpepper off of Hwy 29. It's near Stanardsville. There is a big Sheetz gas station at the intersection of Hwy 29 and the road to Stanardsville. My suggestion would be for you to arrange to meet someone at the Sheetz at a prearranged time, then follow them to launch.

The road to the top is very rough. A high clearance vehicle is required and a 4wd high clearance vehicle is beneficial.

[heaviek]

Looking pretty stable. I might make it out to Taylor's.
Kev

[Dan T]

If anyone is heading to Taylor tomorrow. Please post. I might take the PG out there if I know other people are going to be there.

Dan

[John Anderson]

Dan-- Want to do some tuneups on my HG. I was looking to see if anyone going to Taylor tomorrow or Monday (both days SSW?, MOnday a bit warmer).... But not sure which day I can make it and, more important, what company? Last thought, Matt seemed mtn-bound. If you go Sunday, this could cinch it for me (-- but I would go pretty early, since would need to return early). Wonder also if John Middleton trains students tomorrow or even Monday? Advise me your plans? --John (also: 703-nine3eight-zero7three5)

[FlyingFelix]

Are there any HG pilots going tomorrow to Daniels after all? I will probably not go if I don't know for sure I can hitch a ride up to launch with someone since my car will not make it up the rough road. It's quite a bit of drive for me to get there and I don't want to risk not being able to get up to launch after I get there.
I do plan on getting a different vehicle (4X4) for hang gliding in the future!
Hope someone chimes in, I've been wanting to fly Daniels and tomorrow it's looking like a good day.

[John Anderson]

Back on Taylor question. Looks like I WILL go today, early-ish. Make a couple of calls first, but hope for company. Hope to see some of you. --John

[jyoder111]

Planning to head to Daniels with David B. I think Bacil and others are planning on it too. There will definitely be people there, Cantesanu.

Jesse

[XCanytime]

Not gonna make it today. Look forward to flight reports. Bacil

[g.sessa]

Heading to Daniels. ETA 12:00ish

[FlyingFelix]

On my way. ETA 11:30. I'll be looking for a ride up:-) should be a good day

[mingram]

Taylor Hill was on. I took 8 flights. A bunch of students were gettin' it. I flew my new pod harness and tried out my new camera mount on my carabiner/riser. Most of the shots didn't work, but this one did. How was Daniels?



Matt

[jyoder111]

Daniels looked to by a typical good day with lighter winds building throughout the morning into the afternoon. Apparently a bank of clouds didn't get the memo, however, as they moved in around 2pm and shut everything down. Should have launched around noon-1pm, as there were some cycles blowing through (max 9-10mph) and vultures climbing out front. Decided to wait, thinking it would get better. It didn't.

Everyone (David Bodner, Felix, Greg, and I) got psyched up for some nill-wind launches and took our sleds, all landing on the uphill spine across the road from the primary LZ, behind the assorted animal cages. Not just turkeys anymore. Rabbits, hogs, etc..

Stopped for dinner at Sals afterward. Rained on the gliders but they dried by the time we got home. Thanks to David for the ride.

Jesse

[dbodner]

Jesse and I got there first, and we each put in some time with the loppers. The slot is actually looking pretty good. It could be better, but it's appropriate for a U2 no-winder, per below.

As Jesse said, things were looking up when Greg and Felix showed. Winds were approaching the forecasted 9 mph and the sky was mostly blue. But we sat around and conditions only deteriorated. Jesse was first off into 3-4 mph winds. Given how cloudy it had gotten, I was surprised to see some texture in the air during his flight. Felix was next with similar conditions and less activity in the air.

Then Greg and I staged my glider next to launch and we got him on launch with his U2. Greg potatoed for awhile--understandably because conditions had deteriorated to 1-2 mph at best. He screwed up his courage launched into a barely noticeable breeze. Despite a very strong launch, his basetube hit the twig 1/2 down slot that held a streamer--to no negative effect. Seeing that, I almost chose to break down. But a sense of adventure overcame my better judgement, and I launched my S2 into a nil wind. I launched well and was in the LZ shortly thereafter. Jesse was already on his way walking up to launch, and he retrieved my vehicle.

To those who wondered, it was never too strong for PGs. Sorry I didn't call you back, Laszlo. Your message got truncated, probably because I was having serious phone issues. Anyway, with the short period of sunshine, don't feel bad about staying home. By the time I drove Greg back to launch around sunset, it was dead.

[CraginS]

After too long hiatus from flying, I joined John Middleton for his Sunday afternoon class at Taylor Farm. When I arrived around 12:30, John A.was breaking down, having declared his seven morning flights on his new (to him) Pulse 10 sufficient for the day. John had four students, Matt B. and Steve K. both showed up with their bag wings. Even Kevin C. came out to dust off the cobwebs and fly a number of times.

I confirmed how out of shape I am by getting only three flights in the afternoon, but it was nice to be back in the air and playing outdoors all afternoon.

For your entertainment, here is a short video of two of John students flying down the hill, followed by John demonstrating how it's done.

The 720p HD is courtesy of a new little Nikon Coolpix S3300 I picked up on Black Friday.

[FlyingFelix]

CraginS: That video sure was entertaining

It was great getting to fly Daniels, even if just for a sledder. What a pretty site! Hope to get to fly there soon again.
Greg - many thanks for the ride up!

[g.sessa]

Jesse, David and Felix summed up the events at Daniels well. As stated, the conditions looked promising upon arrival, but did not materialize as we all had hoped. And as David mentioned, by the time he and I were ready to launch the winds had completely backed down to nothing. I was hoping conditions would change for the better after getting set up on launch and waiting for a while, but it just did not happen. On a more positive note, temperatures were nice and we all had a chance to fly (even if it was for only 4 minutes and 7 seconds in my case)!

A short video is attached.

[FlyingFelix]

Thank you for the video Greg, that would of taken me forever to put together!
Fun day even if the flights were short (though from the videos you wouldn't know it).

[jyoder111]

Yeah, sweet video! Nice mix of different camera angles. Thanks!

Jesse