Pulpit Saturday March 10th

[XCanytime]

Let's try again . May be enough leftovers from the nor'easter to make it worthwhile. Bacil

[wmelo]

Keeping my fingers crossed

[XCanytime]

Looks like plenty of leftovers, maybe too much (Woodstock the viable option if so). Keeping a close eye on it. But FINALLY a weekend day w/ promise! And the first day of the weekend to boot .
Bacil

[Ward Odenwald]

All three forecast models are currently aligned, suggesting that the Pulpit on Saturday will be good for both single and double surfaced glider soaring under clear skies (for most of the day). It’s going to be cold but not insanely frigid.

Ward

[A.Lloyd]

I'm interested.

[XCanytime]

Looks great. Could be close to 7+ pilots coming. I plan on arriving 9A+. Bacil

[mcgowantk]

I am likely to come out too but will check the weather in the morning.

Tom McGowan

[Ward Odenwald]

ETA 10:00 - 10:30.

[markc]

Cautiously optimistic, will check again early tomorrow AM!

[Dunegoon]

Who needs some airtime? Looking good this am. Have to work and business related stuff until this afternoon. Maybe make it later in the day. : (


CF

[XCanytime]

At the Sheets in Greencastle. Wind 290 at 8 knots at the airport. Sky to the west full of cumies. Bacil

[A.Lloyd]

ETA 11:30

[markc]

Was kinda/sorta hoping for just a fun-fly day on the Falcon. Usual add-10 for the Pulpit (unless the summer doldrums), and supposed to back off later in the day.... Seemed like a decent gamble.

Walt and Bacil flew before 11:00, conditions still mellow-ish. Tom McG flew a bit later, with sporty conditions on the ramp, and a twanger launch. Then the rest of us hung around as the gusts started hitting the low 20's. Sharp and nasty gusts

Bottom line: That was it for the day, no one else flew. Very minimal back-off by as 5:00 approached, and I decided to pull the plug because of the extended time in the cold and wind. Hopefully we'll hear some flight details from those who soared!

Nice sunset over my shoulder and in the rearview mirror as I headed home, with the sun sticking at the very top of the ridge, matching my eastward progress all the way to GreenCastle.

[mcgowantk]

I had a nice flight today, thanks to all that helped wire me off the new ramp. It was definitely spring air today with sharp edges to the thermals. It felt better once I tried banking more steeply. It was pretty soarable but I had my share of time just on top of the ridge. It seemed I would lose the thermals after about 1000 feet or so. After an hour, I was ready to land but blundered into a smooth strong thermal. My 20 second averager had me at 700 up for quite a while and it topped out briefly at over 800 up. From 5500 msl from that thermal, I decided to land over the back rather than out in front. I did experience some more spooky lift just over the back but eventually things settled down and I decided to land near the farm in the bend in the road for something like 6-7 miles (but I didn't measure the distance). Landing was challenging because there were so many great fields to choose from. I would pick a field that was huge and gently sloping uphill, then decide the field next to it was even better. Finally, I realized I had to quit looking for the best field and took the one right below me - which also was huge, gently uphill and next to a nice road. Thanks to Bacil for picking me up.

Tom McGowan

[XCanytime]

http://www.doarama.com/view/1940782 A recon flight to the north cut short by a severe cross on the WNW facing part of the ridge up by Cowans Gap Lake. Big thanks to Jon Brantley for the retrieve. Bacil

[wmelo]

I am not an earlier bird, but I scarified my sleep and I was able to arrive earlier at Pulpit. It was way colder that I expected.
Ward arrived a few minutes later, than Rich, Bacil, and Mark. Without their help I would not able to fly!

I think I ended up taking off from the rump by 11:00AM. Conditions were good. I let the nose pop up a little bit I have to fix that!
i flew from 1 hour. Surprising the ridge lift was week, but a lot of good thermals. I did not have the courage to go to the back and finally landed in the main LZ. Landing was good: I had to run when landing... I have to fix that!

When I landed Ward was there. He kindly put a few streams in the LZ that were very useful. He gave me a body riding to the the taking off area where I could see how many pilots arrived. the weather improved (warmer!), but it looks like the winds got worse.

Fixed my glider, went home, and flew to Mexico (I am writing this email from Valle de Bravo).

Once again, wish to thank my wire crew: Rick, Ward, and Marc - you guys were terrific!

I will keep you updated about my Mexico trip: so far it has been great. Good food, flying conditions are excellent, I flew today by the end of the day using a Falcon 3 195. Tomorrow I am planning to fly in the morning and in the afternoon with a S2: let us see how it goes