Woodstock Tomorrow? (Wednesday 12/05)

[FlyingFelix]

Thinking of going to Woodstock tomorrow. Anyone interested in joining in?

[andybalkphysics]

I'll go if others are, but I've never been there. Is there paperwork to do?

[FlyingFelix]

No waiver required at Woodstock. Hope a few pilots will chime in, would be nice to leave a car at the LZ as well.

[mikecosner]

I'm going to try to go tomorrow with another pilot.

mike cosner

[hang_pilot]

I'm 50-50, depending on if I finish a project tonight. Probably won't commit until late.

...hopeful,
Daniel 301.275.6584

[Dan T]

I think it looks promising. I'm planning on going with my Paraglider if I can find at least one other PG pilot.

I'm also going to stamp H4 on Cavinaugh's head if he lets me get close enough to him to do it!

Dan
P3/H4 and not as good as Cavinaugh

[andybalkphysics]

I'm in Germantown, and could carpool if anyone is interested. I have space for one more hang glider.

[FlyingFelix]

Unfortunately I'm going to have to back out of tomorrow...
Really pissed about it but I can see no way out, last minute family stuff to take care of - driving to the doctor, waiting...drive back, no time left to go flying
Wish all the pilots great flights!

[hang_pilot]

Ok, I'm in. ETA ~1pm. ~Daniel 301.275.6584

[andybalkphysics]

Thanks for the info Felix...I'll be there early to check out the LZ etc.

Andy 732.207.9701

[FlyingFelix]

OK, I figured out a way to make it all happen. I'm back in.
ETA 11:30 AM - 12 PM.
YEY!
202-640-0719 (call, text to arrange meet up at the LZ and drop a vehicle)

[silverwings]

I am going also. ETA LZ about 12:30. (202)409-2574 c

[Joe Schad]

It was a good day. Andy, Felix and I arrived around noon. I launched first and got right up. It did get a little cold. Quite a bit of west and southwest drift aloft. I did not expect to find that today. I managed 2400 over and landed in the field south of the bridge field. Lots of lift and turbulence on base turn. I did three s turns trying to setup and get down in the bridge field but decided the other field might be less thermally, and it was. Had an evening engagement so landed early. Not sure where everyone else went. I think three others arrived after I launched. Walked back up to get my car.

Joe

[andybalkphysics]

As Joe said, it was pretty good but a bit choppy in the beginning. I launched after him and just before Felix. I found a pretty consistent ridge lift band that easily held me 500-1000 above me all the way to the northern antenna, and then back to the other side of the ridge. Apparently lots of people did that today. I got a few couple thousand foot climbs off the ridge, then boated around for a while. I waited to be last to land (the conditions were bulletproof by the end of the day) and had to dive like crazy to come down. Thanks for the tour, Felix, the wire off and advice.

On the way up the hill I met some bear hunters (oddly they were using an antenna?) and then saw the bear after I launched, crossing the road right where they were! Also I think there were bald eagles, but didn't get close enough to see.

[FlyingFelix]

Got 3 hours, went further than ever before both ways, got to about 3200' MSL. Plenty of ridge of lift, very turbulent at times. I saw 2 bald eagles, got very close to one.
Very nice seeing familiar faces and meeting Andy and a few other pilots today (sorry, I am really bad with names) - at some point I counted 7 wings in the air.
Thank you again John and Dan for seeing me off the mountain.
Great day!

[hang_pilot]

7 pilots flew today, roughly in this order: Joe, Andy, Felix, Daniel B., John M., Michael from Lexington and Mike Cosner from Charlottesville.

My stats: 2 hours, 4659 msl. Made the milk run. Flew back from Signal Knob without turning. ...a little ratty at times, but worth the hookey day for sure.

Not sure what you saw, Andy (nice meeting you, by the way), but I had a chance to formation fly with two bald eagles and a hawk, past the first finger north of launch.

Best,
Daniel

[mikecosner]

got about 80 minute flight. launched about 20 minutes after John M, it started to lighten up on launch quite a bit but the lift was smooth and fairly strong out front. Generally stayed south of launch, staying 800-1000 over and going down to the Edinburg Gap point got me to 3200', which i got to again on the way back to the LZ. Mike from Lexington had a friend/driver with him who had never witnessed hang gliding and really enjoyed the experience. We grabbed some food at the artful dodger in harrisonburg. great winter flight. one pilot said they saw a black bear. a down jacket was a big help today.

[lbunner]

Mike, was that agl, msl, above launch?

[Luis]

Test

[mikecosner]

Bunner,

800-1000 above launch elevation, then got up to 3200' ft agl (of lz)

mike