Flying on Friday 10/18

[silverwings]

Looks like the Pulpit might be possible but may be strongish and Woodstock lightish. Any interest out there and comments?

[FlyingFelix]

Yeah, I was looking at options for flying tomorrow since the week-end doesn't look too happy as of now.
I'll keep an eye out for the weather and see what turns out to be best option for tomorrow. I may also hold out if the week-end looks promising; I'd love to be able to have a nice HighRock fly in.
Let the weather-watching game begin...

[sailin]

I will be looking at flying the Pulpit tommorrow. Right now tommorrow and Sunday look fairly decent.

Jon

[andybalkphysics]

I've got my mind on it too.

[brianvh]

I'm thinking the Pulpit might be doable if we use the slope instead of the ramp, but the cross might bollix that as well. Maybe an evening flight when it calms a bit.

I'm thinking saturday is a drinking/partying day, sunday is for doing a couple morning jumps off the Rock for the sake of it, then heading back to the Pulpit.

[FlyingFelix]

Looks a bit strong for the Pulpit tomorrow, remember the "pulpit effect" as well...though Woodstock might be too light, then again plenty of sun should help that a bit. Decisions, decisions...

[brianvh]

Since I'm coming from the North my decision is pretty much made, but in the interest of wire crew and rides, let me suggest that though the wind will be strong at the pulpit, the direction is good. And as evening sets in the winds will die down.

[FlyingFelix]

All right, Pulpit it is for me too.
ETA around 11:30.
Should be good.

[mcelrah]

Me too. - Hugh

[silverwings]

I am going to give Woodstock a try for today hoping to be flying by 1:00. I feel the Pulpit might be blown out till late and winds currently at Winchester are stronger than predicted. (202)409-2574 c

[brianvh]

I'll be curious to see which call turns out best. With apparently no party or flying on saturday, I've decided to bail on the weekend.

[mcelrah]

OK, I'll switch to Woodstock too. - Hugh

[Dan T]

I'm planning on taking a P3 ready P2 to Woodstock. I'm hoping we get a little upslope heating that will help with the launches. The flights could wind up being real nice.

Hugh, call me please. I don't have your number.

Dan
703 772-5180

[silverwings]

Well Woodstock was not the place to be, I was sure wrong in thinking it would be fair because Winchester was getting stronger winds than forecasted. Winds were calmish with rare cycles coming in or cross at a few miles per hour. Wesley Comerer got a sled ride around 3:00 pm in a light cycle. His first high flight in many many years. Congrats.

[andybalkphysics]

Pulpit was good. Felix and I met Jon and Amy at the launch to strong straight in conditions. I set up and carried up to launch but it was too strong so i carried back down. We waited a few hours watching sailplanes buzz launch (I think Karl stridek was one of them) until around 4 when it calmed down. Felix launched, got above, then Jon launched and got above also. I launched but couldn't seem to get over 500 above. Tried over the valley, and got a small climb over the Lz, but it dissipated and I gave up and landed. Probably had a half hour or so.

[andybalkphysics]

Oh and thanks to Jon and Amy for the ride back to launch and Amy for the launch.

[mcelrah]

I showed up at Woodstock but abandoned John and Wesley when it turned out to be light and joined the paragliding crew at Dickey's. Dan was in the air when I arrived, followed by Laszlo and Jim McClave, then me and Tom Ceunen. The thermals were nice fatties. Dan said he got 2800 over, I think I got about 2000 above launch. Laszlo, Jim, and Tom went off to the north and I did not see them again. Didn't think I could keep up and was cold after 45 minutes or so, so I went out and landed in the LZ. My first flight at Dickie's in about 3 years - glad to finally get something for my 50 dollar permit - which, by the way, a friendly ranger did ask to see as Dan and I were about to leave. The LZ owner's son had given us a ride all the way back to our cars on Skyline Drive - it's great having lifetime (geezer) passes to get into the park whenever and for as many times as we want. Dan fixed the "privacy" function I had finger-fumbled into on my radio, so I will now be able to transmit as well as receive. Drank beers on Ellis' deck to celebrate and catch up. What a nice day! - Hugh

[FlyingFelix]

As Andy said, it was STRONG at The Pulpit for a good while.
I launched at 4, found a lucky thermal and got up to 4720 MSL. Got 1:15 airtime, could of been more but it was a great time.
Lots of birds out, also got to fly with a Sailplane (they have been buzzing the launch LOW while we were waiting on nicer conditions)
Thanks for the hangout and help to Jon, Amy and Andy!
Hope it'll work out again on Sunday.
Couple of photos - along the Sailplane and one with the launch and Jon's cool looking new glider

[XCanytime]

Great pictures Felix. It will be just as good Sunday at the Pulpit. Bacil

[FlyingFelix]

I gotta say I wish I knew there were people going to Dickey to fly today! Might of gave that a try. Sounds like there were nice conditions there and I still need to make use of the park permit I got at the beginning of the year. Hopefully it will happen eventually, I really am looking forward to flying one of those cool sites.
So dear fellow pilots (referring to PG pilots) - please post your intentions and plans to fly on this forum for all pilots of chgpa; it'd be nice to work/fly together as a pilot community.

[theflyingdude]

I gotta say I wish I knew there were people going to Dickey to fly today! Might of gave that a try. Sounds like there were nice conditions there and I still need to make use of the park permit I got at the beginning of the year. Hopefully it will happen eventually, I really am looking forward to flying one of those cool sites.
So dear fellow pilots (referring to PG pilots) - please post your intentions and plans to fly on this forum for all pilots of chgpa; it'd be nice to work/fly together as a pilot community.

Sorry Felix, but the PG pilots mostly use a private Yahoo Groups forum that is closed to all except PG pilots. I know because I asked to join their Yahoo group forum last week, but was denied access by the moderator due to the fact that I'm not a PG pilot. Apparently, being PG-curious isn't enough. Here's the reply I received a few days ago:


> On Wednesday, October 16, 2013 11:46 AM, Yahoo! Groups Notification <notify@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
>
> Hello,
>
> Your request to join the dmv_pg group was not approved.
> The moderator of each Yahoo! group chooses whether to restrict
> membership in the group. Moderators who choose to restrict
> membership also choose whom to admit.
>
> Please note that this decision is final and that Yahoo! Groups
> does not control group membership.
>
> You may find other groups to join by searching or browsing the
> Groups directory:
> http://groups.yahoo.com
>
> If you would like to create your own group, please visit:
> http://groups.yahoo.com/start
>
> Thank you for choosing Yahoo! Groups.
>
>
> Regards,
>
> Yahoo! Groups Customer Care
>
> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://info.yahoo.com/legal/us/yahoo/utos/terms/

It reminded me of the old Groucho Marx line, “I don’t want to belong to any group that will accept me as a member.”


JR

[mcelrah]

JR,

It was precisely your trolling on the CHGPA forum that led to the creation of the PG list.

Felix, we'll try to do a better job of cross-posting intentions that might be of interest to hang-pilots. I assume you are up for humping your glider 1/4 mile up the AT to launch?

- Hugh

[Danny Brotto]

We are hosting the Region 4 North Regional Competition at Fairfield this week. It’s been a wet week with only 2 contest days made so far. I am flying as “sniffer” and also crewing for a couple of pilots. I flew for 3 ½ hours yesterday with 1 hour spent in wave getting to 8.5K ft but landing to go on a landout retrieve.

The enhanced sailplane activity on the Tuscarora on Friday was due to the McConnelsburg turnpoint (Actually Rt 30 and ridgetop) being the last mandatory turn point of a 3 ½ hour MAT task. The task took pilots for a circuit on the Tuscarora, then out to Lewistown, and finally to McConnelsburg before adding additional turnpoints or returning home. Total distance for the mandatory portion of the task was ~211 miles.

The competition format is a race with the fastest times getting the most points. The minimum task time was set to 3 ½ hours compelling pilots to stay on course for a minimum of 3 ½ hours. Distance covered is divided by time on course for the speed score. Flying less than 3 ½ hours forces your time to 3 ½ hours so finishing early reduces your scored speed.

To add distance and not be penalized for finishing early, after McConnelsburg, some pilots went to Lockings which is a turn point about 8 miles to the south of the McConnelsburg TP. The sailplanes that were “low” and “buzzing” launch were in in fact cruising to Lockings or some other turnpoint to add distance to the mandatory minimum time. If the ridge is working, you cruise at a high speed to cover ground. “Floating” adversely affects your score unless you need to gain altitude to cross a gap or to work a strong thermal.

Karl Striedieck (KS) is flying the only 2 place glider in the meet, a Duo-Discus. For a donation to the Juniors World Team, Karl will take you along as a passenger on a contest day flight. I spoke with Karl about his flight and he was one of the pilots that went to Lockings after McConnelsburg. He crossed the Hagerstown valley to add High Rock (which is also a turn point) but got there well below ridge height. He ground around below the HG launch for 20 minutes until finally climbing out for a glide back to Fairfield. Karl won the day in the Sports Class yesterday.

Based on the forum, chatter, I announced at the morning pilots meeting to be aware of HG or PG activity at McConnelsburg and High Rock. During the flying, pilots announced on the radio about the HG activity at McConnelsburg.

Today, Saturday is the last day of the meet and although it does not look good the Contest Director will make us grid and at least throw up the sniffer… gotta go rig .

More information about the week is here: http://www.ssa.org/Contests?cid=2238&display=results

Danny Brotto

[sailin]

Fun and pretty Fall day at the Pulpit. Strong earlier on but things settled down nicely. It was super cool watching the sailplanes hug the ridge and do multiple fly bys. Man I have to try and get a flight in one of those! Danny thank for the intel on the comp, sounds very interesting. How many "local" comps like that are there a year. I have never seen as many sailplanes at once...... Normally just one or two.
Managed to get up to a little over 4200'msl....... Schweeet views! Big thanks to Amy for helping with launch and pick ups.

Felix, sweet pics! I especially like the one of my new wing Really loving it!

Finished the day with some s'mores and beer around the campfire ...... 'twas gooood!!

Hoping for some more of the same Sunday

Jon

[theflyingdude]

JR,

It was precisely your trolling on the CHGPA forum that led to the creation of the PG list.

- Hugh

I'm more than a bit skeptical of this explanation, but assuming for a moment that it's true, why exclude all other non-PG flying pilots? I think it's more likely just a case of wanting your cake and eating it, too.

JR