Smithsburg Sunday 12/10

[XCanytime]

The rain today should have softened up the cornstalks enough to enable training hill flights this Sunday. Looks cold and WNW. Good opportunity for exercise, ground handling tuning, self launching, and landing. Charley and Shane Morland have signed up. The brothers Lloyd are interested. Any others? Bacil

[bustedwing2]

I'm in,going to try Kirschners if things dry enough before Sunday, Have a New F4-145 to dial in,fits me like a glove.Parachute is in transit,chomping at the bit.

[XCanytime]

We are planning on going to Smithsburg. Join us there Rich. Should be a good size group coming. Bacil

[markc]

No interest in WStock on Sunday, or perhaps Pulpit after Smithsburg?

[XCanytime]

Too cold for me. Pulpit will be blown out til ? I'm just looking to get some exercise, and stay warm from the exercise. Maybe 4 hops in an hour and a half. Bacil

[bustedwing2]

Went to Kirschners this a.m.,now have a sore hamstring,Sunday is iffy for me,will have to see how the leg feels.

[Ward Odenwald]

JuanS and RichB (L->R) waiting for a better launch window at Kirshners on a sub 30 degree morning. Rich’s first day with his crispy new Falcon.

Welcome Back!!

Ward

[Eric]

I will likely bow out for tomorrow due to the snow on the ground. Carrying the glider in slippery conditions doesn’t sound like fun. Potentially frozen cornstalks also don’t sound enjoyable.

[Danny Brotto]

Frozen cornstalks not withstanding... don’t know how it is in the Hagerstown valley but in Fairfield which is about 15 miles to the east, there is only a dusting of snow on the ground. Coming though Westminster was bad but things seriously seemes to be moderated further west.

Danny Brotto

[Dunegoon]

Some nice flying despite a west cross. Comfortable temps. Bacil, Anthony, Danny and a helper. Nice velocity (12-15 up to 20 mph) very launchable cycles. I had a nice first flight getting 20+' over and making a long pass down the ridge. Didn't turn back soon enough and my next pass was lower on the hill and out to land. Really cool to almost soar the hill with smooth air! The corn was not much of an issue despite our concerns. My next flight was lame compared to the first. Not as good a cycle with a slightly nose high launch and nice flight, but floaty landing. Hopefully Anthony will give a brief description of his flights. Looked like he had some great landings.

Wanted to get home early. Overall, a great day. More pilots should have come out. Thanks for the help. Bacil DNF and was chief windsock engineer/ground crew. Great fun for a chilly weekend!

CF

[A.Lloyd]

It was suprizing to see no snow in Smithsburg since nearby Catoctin got a couple inches. The ground isn't frozen yet so it made parking and putting up windsocks easy.

On my first launch Danny said my nose was a inch or 2 too low but that I corrected for it once I got running. Taking Ward's advice, I started on the slant of the hill instead of up on the flat. Both of my flights were basic with ok take-offs, fast flying thru the gradient and decent landings. I usually get a few turns w/some crabbing along the ridge but decided not to try that today.

Thanks to the wire crew and organizer. It felt good to be outside getting fresh air.