Woodstock this Tuesday, June 11

[garys]

This coming Tuesday (June 11) looks like another great day for Woodstock. Any interest?

[markc]

Starting to look at the forecasts.... Would have to take leave, so hoping that things at work will allow, and that conditions will continue to look good.

[Roger]

Looks a little north and “light” for WS. But I only have a handful of flights there, so what do the locals have to say?

[garys]

I am seeing a forcast for good velocity and direction for HG until 3:00 pm then good for PG afterwards with a drop in velocity and a slight swing to the north. I would like to be on launch at 11:00 am.

[markc]

The NWS hourly sfc forecast is 'classic WS' in terms of velocity.
But a tad N, esp. after 2pm. Haven't yet looked at 3k and above forecasts. Still on the fence whether to take a vacation day or not....

[Roger]

Thanks all, we will wait for a better forecast. Hopefully, it will happen soon, before my buddy moves to Colorado.

[garys]

Joe Schad and I will be at launch at 11:00 ish. We are not planning to drop a vehicle as we are planning to hike up.

[markc]

I would need to see better direction *after* the G20-ish subsides to burn a day of leave......
Don't get me wrong, I think the odds of flying are good, wouldn't give it a second thought if it was the weekend, or I had the day off.
But I will save that vacation day for a super-solid forecast, hopefully there will be a few of those ahead.

[krryerson]

Transport up to the launch?

Consider that it might take up to 2-3 years before the road is fixed, we might consider other options for Woodstock and transport.

Though, hiking up to the launch is great, my friend Kurt's son Ryan, an upcoming 10th grader, moved from my neighborhood in Norther Virginia, to the house on the left of the launch with a pool.

(Kurt also made my HG rack and never charged me anything. I bought the parts.)

In any event, if needed, PG and HG pilots can now call Kurt to get his son to transport you back up to launch. Ryan has a summer break now.

If interested, my suggestion will be to tip Ryan about $15-$20 for the transport. But don't burn the harness on the muffler. I was warned... .

More, Kurt is a fantastic mechanics and they are now working up a 16 foot trailer that Ryan will Tow behind the mini bike.
It will gently cradle a hang glider as it is... .

He is also looking at a small quad. This would be able to carry a pilot and a hang glider up to the launch site with ease and safety.

If interested, save Kurt's phone number 5 four zero-33 five-834five.

Kurt is also considering starting to fly HG himself. He also did retrieve me and Ward, not wanting anything for the retrieve.
I insisted and tipped him $60 for picking us up south of Massanutten last week.

Knut

[silverwings]

Per my talks with Joe and Felix: Joe & Gary flew HG early afternoon for 1/2 hour or so with quite a lot of northerly cross in the air though launch was ok but was very turbulent landing. The PG pilots flew late day after 6:30 and it was fairly good. Note that the slot may effect Holfuy indicating a better wind direction than actually what is happening for flying. I remember that XCSkies was forecasting fairly good direction early but going more Northerly as the day went on.

[garys]

The wind direction showing on the tower showed WNW and occasionally NW all day. When Joe and I launched we had to deal with very north conditions. The LZ was very turbulent because of the north winds rotoring over the trees next to the river. I think the finger just south of launch changes the wind direction from North to west over the ridge and tower. The gap in the ridge (behind the ridge where we launch) also effects velocity and direction at the tower with a venturi effect, hence the discrepancy between what conditions are from Holfuy and actual conditions when airborne at altitude and in the LZ.