Highland Sat

[breezyk1d]

I made an early morning run to Highland to do some pattern tows on the sport2. Managed to squeak in 2 tows after Charlotte's tandem, then raced back for some afternoon kids stuff at home.

Still flopping my landings (flare timing too late) but my angles and approaches are improving.

Charlotte had a great ride. Adam said she was nailing her headings (apparently also likes to zoom around - like her mom !)

Beautiful day with lots of pilots showing up as the morning progressed.

Can't wait to hear today's reports from Carlos, and Mike Balk (and the new club they are forming!) .

Julia Lukas is back in town. She looks great and was debating the pros and cons of getting some lesson time in at this point in her extremely mobile career. I hope she has more time to get back to her flying now with the change in her position at her company.

I am pleased to report that I managed to get the @#(*&%&@^#% tip wands in and out, all by myself, just fine today; as well as managing to put on the nose wire. The nose wire is more difficult than the tip wands! I don't think Wills Wing realizes that in order for someone of my musculature to get the tang on and past that button at the nosewire - somehow going for the button defeats all my stretching/hauling/attempts at component reconciliation . That alone was significant progress for me! But boy-O-boy the glider takes significantly longer to set up/brake down than the falcon! - Linda

[stevek]

Nose wires: Use your thumbs. Like the wands it is technique not muscle that counts.

[breezyk1d]

OK, but I think I'll have to see this one to figure it out. I cannot get both thumbs on the tang at the same time because one hand has to be pulling the nose down so that I can get the tang up to the stud.

[mcelrah]

Linda,
That's the dirty little secret: we really just enjoy setting up and
breaking down gliders - the flying stuff is incidental... - Hugh

[theflyingdude]

Linda,

When putting on the front nose wires, put both hands on top of the nose plate with the tang between both thumbs. Use your weight and pull down on the nose plate, rather than trying to force the tang upwards and you'll find it a lot easier to attach the nose wires.

JR

[Flying Lobster]

I just test flew and delivered a Sport2 155 to a customer--seemed somewhat different from the smaller 135, though much of that probably had to do with wing loading. The 155 is about the easiest to tow wing I've ever been on. About the only minor gripe I have is that with vg full on and bar stuffed there seems to be quite a bit of bar pressure compared to a U2 or Talon. But for a transition glider from single surface to something that can handle higher winds without dropping like an anvil and easy XC's, I think the Sport 2 is in a class by itself.

marc