So the gust-30 in the forecast tomorrow is a bit on the high side.... But I've had about 50-50 success with that at WS, so thinking of heading that way tomorrow for a look. Anyone else considering it?
MarkC
Woodstock Sun26Oct?
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
The surface hourly forecast at Woodstock is not showing winds all that strong. It might be a good bet fairly late in the afternoon for HG.
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
Would be a three hour drive there from Highland.... Presumably for a lateish day flight.... Anyone definite?
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
Gary Smith, Jon Brantley, Walt Melo, Dave Bodner?, Bacil Dickert.
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
Awesome, appreciate the update Bacil!
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
I'll let the pilots tell their own stories, but in a nutshell beautiful flights for 5 pilots after the winds subsided at 5P. Mark Cavanaugh, Gary Smith, Jon Brantley, Walt Melo, and Johan (first flight at Woodstock) were the parties that were treated to peak fall colors and a beautiful sunset from high altitudes (4300' MSL was one height). Bacil
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
It was a beautiful day. I thought I will not fly since the winds were very strong until 4:40pm.
Finally, my fellow colleagues decided to fly and I followed the flock
I took off by 5:30 on very good conditions. I did not have problems to find good lift, but my observer forbid me to go over 1000feet above the ridge
So I have a excuse for not flying very high
Gary and I landed at the Primary LZ a little bit before dark. Fortunately, I found a place in the LZ with no cows...they were everywhere! Other pilots landed close to the bridge field when it was already dark.
It seems that all of them had great flights!
Once again I would like to thank my observer (Bacil) for all his hints: they were very useful - fortunately, next time he will allow me to go a little bit higher - and Gary for the lift to the launch area.
I am looking forward to flying again with such a great group!
Cheers
Walt
Finally, my fellow colleagues decided to fly and I followed the flock
I took off by 5:30 on very good conditions. I did not have problems to find good lift, but my observer forbid me to go over 1000feet above the ridge
So I have a excuse for not flying very high Gary and I landed at the Primary LZ a little bit before dark. Fortunately, I found a place in the LZ with no cows...they were everywhere! Other pilots landed close to the bridge field when it was already dark.
It seems that all of them had great flights!
Once again I would like to thank my observer (Bacil) for all his hints: they were very useful - fortunately, next time he will allow me to go a little bit higher - and Gary for the lift to the launch area.
I am looking forward to flying again with such a great group!
Cheers
Walt
Walt Melo
walt.melo [at] gmail [dot] com
+1.804.walt.743
walt.melo [at] gmail [dot] com
+1.804.walt.743
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
Yup, it was one of those days when the gamble paid off. We were all slow-rolling our setups until about 3:30 . A bit here, a bit there. Gusts up to 23, and they were mean/swirly, with short cycle times.
Probably would have been OK to launch by 4:30 or so, but we were initially skeptical of the lulls. I launched first at 5:00, mostly by happenstance (late arrival, setup location, timing). Many thanks to Gary, Walt, and Bacil for their help into the slot!
Once in the air it was SWEET. Some ripping thermals, even that late. Some hints of wave. Flying out in the valley at/past the LZ. Fantastic sunlight and shadow. Topped out at maybe 2200' over launch and flew for an hour.
The hero of the day was Bacil, who helped us all launch, and chased the cows in the LZ for Walt and Gary, and provided body rides to me and Jon and Johan from our sans-cow LZ back up to launch. No plans to fly, just there to help, thank you!!
We hit the Strasburg Inn for dinner, and Joe S stopped by to join in on the post-flight tales/laughs/brews. Three hours of road time there, and two hours back... Two hours of hang-waiting... One hour for teardown and vehicles... Airtime? Priceless!
MarkC
Probably would have been OK to launch by 4:30 or so, but we were initially skeptical of the lulls. I launched first at 5:00, mostly by happenstance (late arrival, setup location, timing). Many thanks to Gary, Walt, and Bacil for their help into the slot!
Once in the air it was SWEET. Some ripping thermals, even that late. Some hints of wave. Flying out in the valley at/past the LZ. Fantastic sunlight and shadow. Topped out at maybe 2200' over launch and flew for an hour.
The hero of the day was Bacil, who helped us all launch, and chased the cows in the LZ for Walt and Gary, and provided body rides to me and Jon and Johan from our sans-cow LZ back up to launch. No plans to fly, just there to help, thank you!!
We hit the Strasburg Inn for dinner, and Joe S stopped by to join in on the post-flight tales/laughs/brews. Three hours of road time there, and two hours back... Two hours of hang-waiting... One hour for teardown and vehicles... Airtime? Priceless!
MarkC
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
Walt - as a former H2 who ended up landing over the back at Woodstock, I can tell you my focus on gaining altitude was directly responsible for my lack of focus on staying in front of the ridge! Nothing magic about the number 1000 ft, though when I achieved my goal I finally looked around and realized I was in trouble.
In summary, giving you a magic number (to avoid) is really just a simple way to get you to pay attention to your positioning. The upper level winds don't slacken with the sun going down, so once you get high on a strong day a minute's loss of focus is enough to get you in trouble. Once the worry is ingrained you can go high, but you may have to get scared a few times before proper positioning stays in the forefront of your mind.
In summary, giving you a magic number (to avoid) is really just a simple way to get you to pay attention to your positioning. The upper level winds don't slacken with the sun going down, so once you get high on a strong day a minute's loss of focus is enough to get you in trouble. Once the worry is ingrained you can go high, but you may have to get scared a few times before proper positioning stays in the forefront of your mind.
Brian Vant-Hull
Re: Woodstock Sun26Oct?
The 1K' over lid was a direct result of getting a condition report continuously from Jon Brantley aloft over the radio. Jon reported a 10 to 15 MPH headwind at 3000' MSL. Therefore I told Walt to NOT go above 2900' MSL. And for Jon to keep an eye on him. Wave often sets in late in the day, with winds increasing with altitude. The higher you go, the greater the headwind. Brian thanks for the input. Bacil