Pulpit Wind Station

[George]

John Middleton and I got the new wind station up at Pulpit today. https://holfuy.com/en/weather/540

George

[Ward Odenwald]

George and John,

Many, many thanks for installing the weather station. As with the Woodstock station, the real time Pulpit data will enhance our safety concerning the all-important decision to fly. One suggested small tweak to the web page readout would be to consider tightening the wind direction “soarable sweet zone” (the green highlighted compass area that currently covers ~250 to 325). Given that our LZs are south of takeoff and the Tuscarora ridge is not as well defined as WS, most HG pilots consider a wind direction of 250 or 320 at takeoff to-cross to ensure sufficient ridge lift to make it to the primary LZ when wind speeds are between 10 and 15 mph. The takeoff pad faces 280 and the flanking ramps face within 5 to 10 degrees of this direction. I would suggest that the soarable green compass zone should cover 260 to 300 and the yellow highlighted flanking boundaries be set at 250 and 320.

Thanks again for your efforts!

Ward

[krryerson]

Thanks so much!
This is Great!
Knut

[markc]

Great job, kudos to you guys!!!

Can someone also post the link for the WS station?

[Ward Odenwald]

WS link: https://holfuy.com/en/data/106

[George]

Ward,

I *think* I got the wind directions for the yellow zone right from the old site guide but I may have made a mistake. I'll review and make changes soon, very easily done.

We started down this path some years ago with a station that Patric Terry brought back from Europe and handed to me at a club meeting knowing that I like to tinker. That station took weeks to get to work right (sort of) and then died within a week of being deployed. The upgrade replacement came in about the time I went on winter break the following spring we discovered that the 2G radio in it was soon to be obsolete with US carriers so we traded it in on a 3G unit. Meanwhile (sorry for the really long story) I talked Alistair of Blufly vario fame in Australia to build me a 3g station with a radio that would use US frequencies. He did and mailed it to me but I"ve yet to build that station. I do plan to build that one, finally, in August. We also have $350 left over toward a third station. This is all done out of member donations and whatever I can chip in myself. The OZ station I completely paid for myself in case it doesn't work. I have been paying the airtime which is really cheap so I don't mind. Eventually the club will pick up that tab.

George

[silverwings]

If you look closely you can see the small solar panel which is a little lower and opposite the weather station.

[wmelo]

Thank you very much
You guys rock !

[silverwings]

Also, Rich Bloomfeld was involved when he and I mounted in cement the lower 7' support pole that the weather station aluminum tube support mounted over.

[Ward Odenwald]

Rich, thanks for helping George and John! This station is going to help evaluate real-time conditions and that is Huge! Standing on the pad or on one of the Pulpit ramps to “sniff-out” the conditions before making the decision to fly is important but it’s only a snapshot. The Holfuy temporal readouts will help solidify or raise doubts about what one experiences before making that decision. The data will also help other pilots make decisions about helping those that decide to launch during dangerous/less than ideal conditions.

Thanks again,

Ward

[bustedwing2]

Thanks Ward and John,it's nice to know a little bit of labor is appreciated. John and George are the brains and driving force behind it. It looks pretty good, a nice professional job.Was out of town and didn't get to see them erect it.

[krryerson]

Thanks for doing this.
This is Great!
How can I PayPal and contribute?
Knut