Got there about 2:15 and met up with Spark in the LZ to walk the field while Joe S. considerately transferred the gear to the Sparkmobile. The LZ didn?t seem too strong (as if they ever do) but the top was blowing at about 21, averaging 12, on Joe?s meter, and it felt strong. We hightailed it to the Sparkmobile to stay warm for ? hour while the pro?s waited for the wind to die down a bit. By 3:30 we hauled the gear up and Joe and Spark set up. It was even stronger than it had been by a wee bit, topped at 22 and averaged 15, but the wind was cooperative and slowly died back to a reasonable level. Fellow pilots Adam and Hubble showed up. Hubble flies an Eagle, is a new H2 from Kitty Hawk (though he lives right by the Massanutten site) and had not yet flown a mountain.
Joe launched about 4:15 once the wind had backed down ? he got off a nice clean launch of course. Then Spark launched well and they both disappeared into the stratosphere.
I madly began setting up in the hopes that the winds would taper off just a bit more before dark.
Hubble launched about 5:15, had a nice launch, then proceeded to soar like mad! (Gotta get me a higher performing glider so I can go off a little sooner and with better penetration capabilities!) Adam didn?t fly (probably too dispirited having just returned from the pleasure and warmth of Costa Rican flying!)
The winds scaled back a bit more even than when Hubble had launched, so I crossed my fingers that Spark would land before dark so that I could launch, and HOORAY! Spark and Joe both landed after about an hour, raced back up to assist me, and I had the extreme pleasure of a good strong running launch off a new site! Whoowhoo! Launched in about 12-15 winds, nice and steady, fairly smooth once out of the slot. Only bounced around once when I was out over the LZ. Boated around for a couple minutes, well in front of the ridge, then headed for the LZ, did my DBF just inside the tree line, and had a perfect flare landing with only a 2-stepper (hey, gotta avoid the cow pies!). Broke down with the stars twinkling above me in a clear, deep blue sky. Does it get any better than this? We?ll just overlook Linda?s little boofoo about who was supposed to retrieve whom, when?.and call it a good, good day!
Spark and Joe: Thank you both very very much for making it happen for me today! ?Linda B.
Saturday at Massanutten
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Oops - make that FRIDAY 2/18 at Massanutten
Gad Zooks! I take one day off and lose track of the week - sheesh! - Linda B.
-
Paul Tjaden
- Posts: 398
- Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:28 pm
Saturday at Massanutten
Hey Linda,
?
Congrats on conquering another mountain.With your great attitude,?you're gonna be on top of the stack in no time.
?
Paul
?
p.s. If you need a bit more performance...Lauren's Eagle is for sale!!!??
?
Congrats on conquering another mountain.With your great attitude,?you're gonna be on top of the stack in no time.
?
Paul
?
p.s. If you need a bit more performance...Lauren's Eagle is for sale!!!??
Saturday at Massanutten
Congratulations, Linda! Your determination and aggressive attitude, showing up and hanging in there even if it's not a sure thing, is paying off. It's going to be a great season of flying, and you are ready! - Hugh
>
> From: "breezyk1d" <lbaskerville@wba-arch.com>
> Date: 2005/02/19 Sat AM 04:41:28 GMT
> To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
> Subject: Saturday at Massanutten
>
> Got there about 2:15 and met up with Spark in the LZ to walk the field while Joe S. considerately transferred the gear to the Sparkmobile. The LZ didn?t seem too strong (as if they ever do) but the top was blowing at about 21, averaging 12, on Joe?s meter, and it felt strong. We hightailed it to the Sparkmobile to stay warm for ? hour while the pro?s waited for the wind to die down a bit. By 3:30 we hauled the gear up and Joe and Spark set up. It was even stronger than it had been by a wee bit, topped at 22 and averaged 15, but the wind was cooperative and slowly died back to a reasonable level. Fellow pilots Adam and Hubble showed up. Hubble flies an Eagle, is a new H2 from Kitty Hawk (though he lives right by the Massanutten site) and had not yet flown a mountain.
>
> Joe launched about 4:15 once the wind had backed down ? he got off a nice clean launch of course. Then Spark launched well and they both disappeared into the stratosphere.
>
> I madly began setting up in the hopes that the winds would taper off just a bit more before dark.
>
> Hubble launched about 5:15, had a nice launch, then proceeded to soar like mad! (Gotta get me a higher performing glider so I can go off a little sooner and with better penetration capabilities!) Adam didn?t fly (probably too dispirited having just returned from the pleasure and warmth of Costa Rican flying!)
>
> The winds scaled back a bit more even than when Hubble had launched, so I crossed my fingers that Spark would land before dark so that I could launch, and HOORAY! Spark and Joe both landed after about an hour, raced back up to assist me, and I had the extreme pleasure of a good strong running launch off a new site! Whoowhoo! Launched in about 12-15 winds, nice and steady, fairly smooth once out of the slot. Only bounced around once when I was out over the LZ. Boated around for a couple minutes, well in front of the ridge, then headed for the LZ, did my DBF just inside the tree line, and had a perfect flare landing with only a 2-stepper (hey, gotta avoid the cow pies!). Broke down with the stars twinkling above me in a clear, deep blue sky. Does it get any better than this? We?ll just overlook Linda?s little boofoo about who was supposed to retrieve whom, when?.and call it a good, good day!
>
> Spark and Joe: Thank you both very very much for making it happen for me today! ?Linda B.
>
>
>
> From: "breezyk1d" <lbaskerville@wba-arch.com>
> Date: 2005/02/19 Sat AM 04:41:28 GMT
> To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
> Subject: Saturday at Massanutten
>
> Got there about 2:15 and met up with Spark in the LZ to walk the field while Joe S. considerately transferred the gear to the Sparkmobile. The LZ didn?t seem too strong (as if they ever do) but the top was blowing at about 21, averaging 12, on Joe?s meter, and it felt strong. We hightailed it to the Sparkmobile to stay warm for ? hour while the pro?s waited for the wind to die down a bit. By 3:30 we hauled the gear up and Joe and Spark set up. It was even stronger than it had been by a wee bit, topped at 22 and averaged 15, but the wind was cooperative and slowly died back to a reasonable level. Fellow pilots Adam and Hubble showed up. Hubble flies an Eagle, is a new H2 from Kitty Hawk (though he lives right by the Massanutten site) and had not yet flown a mountain.
>
> Joe launched about 4:15 once the wind had backed down ? he got off a nice clean launch of course. Then Spark launched well and they both disappeared into the stratosphere.
>
> I madly began setting up in the hopes that the winds would taper off just a bit more before dark.
>
> Hubble launched about 5:15, had a nice launch, then proceeded to soar like mad! (Gotta get me a higher performing glider so I can go off a little sooner and with better penetration capabilities!) Adam didn?t fly (probably too dispirited having just returned from the pleasure and warmth of Costa Rican flying!)
>
> The winds scaled back a bit more even than when Hubble had launched, so I crossed my fingers that Spark would land before dark so that I could launch, and HOORAY! Spark and Joe both landed after about an hour, raced back up to assist me, and I had the extreme pleasure of a good strong running launch off a new site! Whoowhoo! Launched in about 12-15 winds, nice and steady, fairly smooth once out of the slot. Only bounced around once when I was out over the LZ. Boated around for a couple minutes, well in front of the ridge, then headed for the LZ, did my DBF just inside the tree line, and had a perfect flare landing with only a 2-stepper (hey, gotta avoid the cow pies!). Broke down with the stars twinkling above me in a clear, deep blue sky. Does it get any better than this? We?ll just overlook Linda?s little boofoo about who was supposed to retrieve whom, when?.and call it a good, good day!
>
> Spark and Joe: Thank you both very very much for making it happen for me today! ?Linda B.
>
>