Highland Saturday 31th

[krryerson]

Looks like it might be a good day at Highland this Saturday too. Assume this is the last weekend they are open for this season and will definitely be there on Saturday, if forecast holds. Knut

[Rich E]

Apparently Nov 15th is the offical closing date but if it gets really cold Sunny said they may close early.

Hopefully see you there Knut on Sat.

[Ward Odenwald]

I agree Knut, predictions look good, also this weekend may not be the end of the 2015 season. Last Saturday Adam said that their target closing date was Nov 15 provided that the mild conditions that we are currently enjoying don't transform into winter (yikes, I said the dreaded W word).

Hoping for the best!

Ward

[Dunegoon]

Interested. Looking favorable.

CF

[silverwings]

Count me in for Saturday.

[krryerson]

Saturday still looks good and are definitely going to Highland tomorrow. Hope to be there ~ 10AM. Will also bring a homemade hot crock pot stew soup for you all to enjoy for dinner and should be done by 5PM. Since it is halloween, might drop some eye bowls in it too. Knut

[Blaine]

I'll be there too.

[Ward Odenwald]

Good but demanding. Mitch towed me to a thermal that Doug Rogers (PA pilot) and Knut were climbing in and waved me off maybe 200 ft above Doug (first photo). It was great being in the mix with these guys but it wasn’t long before I was looking up at both of them. They kept me in the air by highlighting lift as I would have most likely had an extendo without their help.

Many pilots flew (at least a dozen) plus Highland was busy with tandems. Here are some photos from the first thermal that Doug and Knut helped me stay in with the first image just after releasing from Mitch’s tow.

Ward

[XCanytime]

Another nice place to be yesterday. Spellcheck . Bazel

[silverwings]

On my first tow the weak link broke at 1000 and I tried to survive but only extended for a couple of minutes before landing. The second tow seemed much faster and I was stuffing the bar for most of it but Mitch dropped me off above two other pilots in lift and I was able to work that area up to 3200+ for a while and then I found gradual decline in altitude and some minimal lift. After a while I was over the landing area and unzipped but found some mild lift at 700. I slowly rose 20 feet, then another and so on and so on. I crossed over the runway at 1100 in this lift and zipped my harness backup and continued climbing which got better reaching 3200 again but drifting to the NE. I headed back to the LZ and after an hour, chose to land with cold finger tips in my gloves but very happy with 1:08 flight. It was a day of hard work to try and maximize the lift and stay in the strongest part. I am happy that most pilots had decent flights and thanks Knut for providing some chow. Good turnout of pilots to fly.

[krryerson]

Yes. nice day at Highland on Saturday. Arrived for once early, 10 a.m. and was towed up at 1:09 PM and flew for 52 minutes. Reached 3269 feet and bounced around there in broken up lift. Got cold and bored and branched out SW to find more lift. Fiinally was forced to land, though was cold. Never felt good on the tow, but must have done something right during the flight it self, because I were able to stay up. Did not have a strong landing too and bent a down tube.
Was surprised to see that John from PA and John M. was able to stay up so long later. Great job! Seems like the condition was more in my favor earlier.
Conclusion; great day and always good to get together flying on day's like this.
Knut

[Rich E]

Good day indeed! Took Erika there early to get her first flights on John D.'s Mk IV after Sunny had given it a full annual - really good condition and only needed side wires replaced. She did really well 'only' 7 flights as opposed to her 10 last week and had no issues with PIO etc and had good landings as well. Took her AT test and was signed off!

I had a good first flight, lots of fun working tight, ratty thermals low down and then got off tow early on second flight due to a side wire 'twang' which didn't feel good but turned out to be fine on later inspection.

Great to see so many folks out enjoying a good day - fingers crossed for a repeat next Sat!

Big thanks to Knut for his fish eye and reindeer testicle stew - delicious!!

Rich