Pulpit weekend 7/13 - 7/14

[XCanytime]

Let's try again. After being shut out both days last weekend, this coming weekend is actually showing a bit of promise for both days. Warm temps and moderate winds from good directions are forecast. Looking at both days (again). Bacil

[wmelo]

I am in

[krryerson]

Torn between going to Pulpit on Sunday or heading down to Bluesky on Sunday.
For now it seems like Pulpit will be the best.
Will keep watching forecast and make a final decision on Saturday.
Knut

[XCanytime]

Heading to the Pulpit Sunday. An additional few MPH on Sunday can make enough of a difference in the ridge soarability, especially at this time of year. Bacil

[krryerson]

Just hope does Doldrums stayes away.
Knut

[markc]

Still on the fence, Sat vs Sun. Will prob watch the weather station for a while tomorrow AM, and if I see solid 12-15.....

(one can hope!)

[krryerson]

Will be flying at Pulpit tomorrow, Sunday and ETA 10:30 am.
If ridge lift, will fly as fare as I can on the ridge.
If a thermal day with good cloud lift and cloud streets, will jump over and head down winds.
Anyone wants to UBER? One of does days I guess , LZ or XC?
Knut

[markc]

Darn, the winds look pretty good based on the weather station as of noon Sat. Maybe we should have given it a go after all?
Anyway..... Planning for Sunday!

[silverwings]

Lots of PG flights at the Pulpit today with soaring & sleds & XC. Approximately 10 pilots. A little breezy at launch for PG at times so it might have been fine for HG there today. Be aware that the grass in the setup area is knee height. A couple of PG pilots are camping there tonight with hope of a morning flight on Sunday.

[bustedwing2]

Crops are off at Kirschners,does anybody know if the landowner is still allowing use for flights? I'm a maybe for Pulpit,can wire.

[Dunegoon]

ETA 10:30

CF

[silverwings]

As far as Kirshners flying, if no crops it is OK to fly there.

[XCanytime]

https://ayvri.com/scene/z15y60z0jx/cjy3 ... 0ef13a3507

[XCanytime]

What a day! 3.5 hours in the air. The longest flight since I flew for 4.5 hours at the SAC many many moons ago . Got to launch just after 9A finding light to moderate straight in winds and TVs soaring back and forth in smooth conditions. Eric Kriner arrived at 10:30A followed by Rich Bloomfield, Charley, Mark C., and Walt. A line of cumies was coming our way and raggedy wispies were blooming over launch. Gave it a go just after 11:30A into moderate winds. Had a good launch and got up easily. Eric launched about 15 minutes into my flight and went south. I found good lift by launch and climbed multiple times to 4K'+ MSL. Base was around 5K' MSL. Eric came back north and climbed out and flew out into the valley. I got low, then climbed up to 4K' MSL (again) and found/followed the lift line he was in. Squawked at him on the radio that it was time to head north. We made it up to Cowans Gap Lake just above the ridge. Nuthin' much going on for a looooong time. After an hour some lift and clouds drifted thru the area and Eric was able to climb up to 3600'+ MSL and go OTB to Kittatinny Mountain for achieving the goal of making it to Shippensburg Airport. I got to 3200' MSL but could not get higher. And lost it quickly. I persevered for another frustrating half hour before I threw in the towel and landed in a nice field surrounded by an electric fence. Some Mennonite teens walked by and chatted w/ me as I was breaking down in the sweltering sun. As I was breaking down, Knut appeared on the ridge just opposite my field, and then he disappeared under a cloud street downwind. I downed my one bottle of water quickly, and still needed more hydration. They provided me with much needed water as I crawled under the fence and found a nice shady spot on Elmer Lane. Close to heat exhaustion, the water was a much needed input. Spotty cell service provided a text message from Eric, who landed 9 miles from the goal in Letterkenny Township, and a connection w/ Rich to ask for a body ride. Thanks a bunch Rich! I stored the glider in the front yard of the Mennonite teens across from 522 a quarter mile from my shady spot. Knut contacted me during a brief cell connection and let me know he made it all the way up to Dry Run, PA! He ended up running the Kittatinny ridge for 13 miles up to Knob Mountain. So I got my glider and drove up to a huge farm and found Knut and gave him a much needed ride back to his car at launch. Charley and the Gardinator's vehicles were still at launch with their gliders on top, but were nowhere to be found. I knew where they were. Drinking suds at the bar . Spent an hour debriefing the flights of a good day at the Pulpit in July with the setting sun shining thru the open door to the deck. Hit the road at sunset, a fitting end to a fun day. Bacil

[mcgowantk]

Glad to hear you had a good day at the Pulpit. I decided to aero tow at Blue Sky to prepare for Big Spring next month. We had a good day there. I flew for about 1 1/2 hours and landed to get home for dinner. Dave Proctor also had a nice flight. Base was around 5400 msl.

Tom McGowan

[Dunegoon]

Interesting day. 3:10 with climbs to 4750+ MSL. Two trips to Cowans Gap and back. Explored more of the valley upwind of the Gap and launch. My radio was not working properly, so it made it difficult to coordinate with the other XC pilots. Near cloud base, and some tree top ridge running all in one flight. Flew with Gardinator at the end of the day. Wow...that was some awesome flying.

Thanks for the launch help from Rich, Mark C, and others. Mark C. also removed a major bramble patch on the trail next to the fireplace. Make sure Mark and Rich get some airtime the next time they are out.

[krryerson]

Great day at Pulpit on Sunday.

XC flight from Pulpit up to Cowans Gap Lake. Crossing over to Kittatinny ridge, riding the ridge up to PA turn pike. Crossing up wind to Knob mountain, running that ridge till not finding more lift.

Thanks to Mark, Rich and Charley for help at the launch and special thanks to Bacil for much needed ride back to my car.

If interested, Ayvri flight track and YouTube video from my XC flight @
https://youtu.be/-Bd9eyfQ4hw




https://ayvri.com/scene/gdkz603ojz/cjy4 ... 21b1c27fc8

[XCanytime]

Eric Kriner's XC flight to east of Upper Strasburg. Bacil

https://ayvri.com/scene/z15y60z0jx/cjy6 ... 6b1t1ueq9i

[Dave Proctor]

Glad you guys had a good day at the Pulpit. I would have loved to join you but I hadn’t flown or aerotowed since August and really needed a tow to get dialed back in. Also had a new Woody Valley harness that I hadn’t flown yet. So I went to Blue Sky. Had a nice flight of about 45 minutes. Harness needs some adjustments. Was hanging too low and too head down to thermal comfortably. Wanted to land before I got worn out wrestling with it. Best part of the flight was when I got to thermal with a golden eagle.