H3 Signoff!

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:14 pm

I did it! Got my H3 signoff from Steve Wendt today. Man---long day. I had to work for that signoff. 6 spot landings (not 3), 3 in one place, then Steve moved the cone to a tough location near the hangars (requiring a difficult approach over the hangars) and I had to do 3 more. All in 90+ degree heat---ugh. I was motivated though! Also had a couple of short soaring flights off the truck, doubling my altitude on one.

I celebrated my new rating with a late afternoon aerotow to 3k. It had clouded over by then, but there was still plenty of lift. I later found out there had been a bit of a gust front on the ground while I was high...some cold air dumped across the area, forcing the warmer air up...which I found! (When folks on the ground saw what was going on, they got worried about me, but I was above it all, happily floating along.) It got so dark (from cloud cover combined with my dark shades) I decided to come down after 30 minutes, had to stuff the bar to get down in the buoyant air.

Tim Eggers got back in the air again (good to see you flying again Tim!), and Rance Rupp had a nice 45-minute flight to 4k. Then Holly, Tim, Rance, Tex and I all went to Vinny's for beers and dinner.

Definitely a worthwhile day!

Scott

Post by **theflyingdude** » Fri Sep 23, 2005 10:22 pm

Congrats Scott!!!

You've made a lot of progress from that wimp that had to be shamed into flying off Zirks for his first mountain flight. I promise we won't call you a pussy next time you show up to fly the Cumberland sites.

JR

Post by **mcelrah** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 12:31 am

Congratulations, Scott! - Hugh

On 23 Sep 2005, at 22:14, Scott wrote:

>
> I did it! Got my H3 signoff from Steve Wendt today. Man---long day.
> I had to work for that signoff. 6 spot landings (not 3), 3 in one
> place, then Steve moved the cone to a tough location near the
> hangars (requiring a difficult approach over the hangars) and I had
> to do 3 more. All in 90+ degree heat---ugh. I was motivated though!
> Also had a couple of short soaring flights off the truck, doubling
> my altitude on one.
>
> I celebrated my new rating with a late afternoon aerotow to 3k. It
> had clouded over by then, but there was still plenty of lift. I
> later found out there had been a bit of a gust front on the ground
> while I was high...some cold air dumped across the area, forcing
> the warmer air up...which I found! (When folks on the ground saw
> what was going on, they got worried about me, but I was above it
> all, happily floating along.) It got so dark (from cloud cover
> combined with my dark shades) I decided to come down after 30
> minutes, had to stuff the bar to get down in the buoyant air.
>
> Tim Eggers got back in the air again (good to see you flying again
> Tim!), and Rance Rupp had a nice 45-minute flight to 4k. Then
> Holly, Tim, Rance, Tex and I all went to Vinny's for beers and dinner.
>
> Definitely a worthwhile day!

>
> Scott
>

Scott · Post by **Scott** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:02 am

theflyingdude wrote:Congrats Scott!!!

You've made a lot of progress from that wimp that had to be shamed into flying off Zirks for his first mountain flight. I promise we won't call you a pussy next time you show up to fly the Cumberland sites.

JR

LOL---too funny JR, and true! It's hard to believe I was peeing my pants so much over that first launch at Zirk's!

To everyone: though I'm a 3 now, I definitely don't have "H3 Syndrome." I still feel like a complete beginner in this sport with tons to learn. So I'll continue relying on the collective knowledge of more experienced pilots as I build my own "database" of experience.

Scott

Post by **hepcat1989** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 8:10 am

Good Job Scott! Way to go man, Shawn.

drice21037 · Post by **drice21037** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 10:14 am

Congratulations Scott! Good luck in the Team Challenge.

Dave

-----Original Message-----

I did it! Got my H3 signoff from Steve Wendt today.

Scott

rancerupp · Post by **rancerupp** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 1:20 pm

Scott,

Again, a Big Congratulations is in order. You worked very hard for it and earned every bit of it. And to be signed off by 'Instructor of the Year' to boot. It was good flying with you yesterday.

Rance

Post by **deveil** » Sat Sep 24, 2005 5:15 pm

>theflyingdude wrote:
>Congrats Scott!!!
>
>You've made a lot of progress from that wimp that had to be shamed
>into flying off Zirks for his first mountain flight. I promise we
>won't call you a pussy next time you show up to fly the Cumberland
>sites.
>
>JR
>(end of quote)
>
>
>

LOL---too funny JR, and true! It's hard to believe I was peeing
>my pants so much over that first launch at Zirk's!
>
>To everyone: though I'm a 3 now, I definitely don't have "H3
>Syndrome." I still feel like a complete beginner in this sport with
>tons to learn. So I'll continue relying on the collective knowledge
>of more experienced pilots as I build my own "database" of
>experience.
>
>Scott

an outsiders take: that attitude will serve you well. (hey, it's a
habit, gotta post somewhere during my recovery).
but don't be surprised if it sneaks up on you, that's part of it's
insidious nature-it's a blind spot that, by definition, one can't see
except in hindsight!
again though-you will be well served by such a perspective.