Team Challenge 2013 ops reports

[mcelrah]

Day 1 Sunday September 1: it rained early and the task committee cancelled the day, but then it turned on later in the afternoon and everyone flew for fun. This was good for a lot of us to tune up - my first launch from the radial ramp in 6-8 years and first nice long soaring flight at Hinson's Gap ever. Before the weather changed, there was an excellent seminar on thermalling - not the fine points for competition flyers, but helping the rest of us not lose thermals once we stumble into them. I'm classified as a "B" pilot - less than three 20-mile thermalling-only cross-country flights - and established in a pick-up team with three "A" (experienced XC) pilots and one newby "C" pilot. More later - Hugh

[mcelrah]

Day 2/Monday 1 Sep: task cancelled for weak cross unsoarable conditions. We were all set up on top, with possible t-storms overnight, so the choice was to breakdown on top or in the LZ. A few of us chose the LZ. (I found a crack in a tip wand and replaced it.) frontal passage early tomorrow - hoping for better soaring.
- Hugh

[Rich E]

Awesome day today - fly my first ever XC, made goal, surfed up the side of a cloud to 4800'. Comedy moment when a team member radios "cloud base is at 3500'" - eh, I'm at 48... Launched again to act as wind dummy for one of our A pilots who made goal - just fantastic!

[mcelrah]

Day 3: light post-frontal day -just the too light for pure ridge soaring. My team resolved to jump in the launch line early and use thermal assistance. Big cloud about a mile left of launch was working. I got about 2000 over and easily tagged the 3.6 mile goal and turned back along the ridge to the main KZ ( mandatory landing to complete the task - "A" pilots had to run the circuit twice). Launched again but too early for the wonder wind. Gorgeous day...

[Lostgriz]

Congratulations on making goal and getting some nice flights in. That is such an awesome place to fly and a great group of people.

Matt

[Rich E]

Another couple of firsts yesterday, found and flewy first lift line which was pretty cool.

And then a team mate let me fly his Sport 2 - wow, great launch, played with speed control, turns, 360s etc. Set up to avoid low turns, a little PIO on final quickly corrected and watched the LZ slip past... Flared 10 feet or so into the weeds and had a good landing. Did I say wow!