STSRTW = Scooter Tow System Retrieve Trip West
So we left my place just before noon on Thursday and arrived at about 12:30pm at a site called 'Blue Spring' just south of Albuquerque, NM . I-40 was the choice, and reqarded us with mostly dry pavement and wide-open roads (albeit during the wee hours). I really love that 75mph speed limit in NM.
Thanks to some info provided by Daniel, we were able to connect with some locals for some Friday evening ridge lift. Temps were tolerable and winds were 15 or so, providing all with soaring flights. I flew the Tandem HG. Bruce flew his F225 and had the FTOD and top landed. I wasn't quite as bold, and chose to hike up after landing in an interesting little bailout LZ.
Afterward, we drove to Flagstaff AZ where we meet Ed Bennett on Saturday morning for some scooter tow lessons at the craters. We plan to head to Vegas with the system on Sunday, then to San Diego for a few days.
I've posted some pix of Blue Spring in a new album at the Wesbhots site (link below)
I'll post some crater and scooter tow pix tomorrow on the drive to Vegas.
S T S R T W
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
S T S R T W
'Spark
Scooter towing at the craters
We got into Flagstaff on Friday about midnight and actually got some decent sleep before heading to the craters with Ed Bennett.
The craters are actually 1000'+ high volcanic cinder cones. No trees, not even large bushes.
In a large flat area between the craters, we layed out about 2500 feet of line with a turnaround pulley anchored to one vehicle ...' and began towing. First Ed towed Bruce, then I towed Bruce a bunch of times ... low (Student tow) and ~ 300' high ("pilot tow"). Then Bruce towed me a few times, and then I towed Ed.
The system works well and I feel pretty good about towing HG. I'm looking forward to gaining some experience with PG and refining the PG operating procedures.
Afterward, we flew Sheba. Bruce in the F225 and I flew PG. Winds were almost nil, and switchy. After two aborted forward launch attempts, I was able to launch on the S side and flew around the cinder cone, skimming 25 feet over the treeless terrain until I reached the N side, then flew out to the highway and landed in the N LZ.
We are currently enroute to Vegas with the system and plan to fly there tomorrow.
I am uploading the photos from today. Pretty spectacular scenery. 50 degree temps
More later.
The craters are actually 1000'+ high volcanic cinder cones. No trees, not even large bushes.
In a large flat area between the craters, we layed out about 2500 feet of line with a turnaround pulley anchored to one vehicle ...' and began towing. First Ed towed Bruce, then I towed Bruce a bunch of times ... low (Student tow) and ~ 300' high ("pilot tow"). Then Bruce towed me a few times, and then I towed Ed.
The system works well and I feel pretty good about towing HG. I'm looking forward to gaining some experience with PG and refining the PG operating procedures.
Afterward, we flew Sheba. Bruce in the F225 and I flew PG. Winds were almost nil, and switchy. After two aborted forward launch attempts, I was able to launch on the S side and flew around the cinder cone, skimming 25 feet over the treeless terrain until I reached the N side, then flew out to the highway and landed in the N LZ.
We are currently enroute to Vegas with the system and plan to fly there tomorrow.
I am uploading the photos from today. Pretty spectacular scenery. 50 degree temps
More later.
'Spark
Goodsprings, NV
We decided to fly the mountains today, and headed for Goodsprings, about 25 miles S of Vegas. Winds were STFI at 10-15 when we arrived. By the time Bruce was ready to go, they had backed down a bit. He was able to hang out on the ridge for half an hour or so before landing out front.
I retrieved Bruce and we headed back to the mountain and joined Jim Macklow and Roger Morse (PG pilots from the Desert Skywalkers club - http://www.desertskywalkers.com ). Although the base wind had backed off, thermals were working, although a bit small and ratty. I was able to maintain briefly in front of launch before working my way down the ridgeline toward the S LZ. Ironically, I hit my best lift at about 500' above the LZ.
Afterward, we went up once more to watch Roger take an afternoon sledder.
We are now enroute to San Diego and I'm uploading today's photos ... good bandwidth along I-15.
Temps were in the 50s here today
More Later
I retrieved Bruce and we headed back to the mountain and joined Jim Macklow and Roger Morse (PG pilots from the Desert Skywalkers club - http://www.desertskywalkers.com ). Although the base wind had backed off, thermals were working, although a bit small and ratty. I was able to maintain briefly in front of launch before working my way down the ridgeline toward the S LZ. Ironically, I hit my best lift at about 500' above the LZ.
Afterward, we went up once more to watch Roger take an afternoon sledder.
We are now enroute to San Diego and I'm uploading today's photos ... good bandwidth along I-15.
Temps were in the 50s here today
More Later
'Spark
-
hepcat1989
- Posts: 684
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:15 pm
Scooter Towing PG
On Wednesday we drove from San Diego to Las Vegas to pick up the scooter tow system and stayed the night at my parents house. Thursday morning we headed to the Jean dry lakebed to try some more scooter towing.
The dry lake is several miles in diameter and virtually flat, allowing for towing in any direction. As usual, the wind switched after we layed out the line, but it wasn't too cross. Bruce operated the scooter and I flew PG. Winds varied from 5 to 12 all day.
I started by running with the PG while Bruce learned how to take up the slack. Next we tried some low towing, staying about 10 feet AGL. We spent about four hours, and eventually were able to get some pretty high tows. It was an ideal location for practicing.
Billy Floyd arrived around noon and took some photos of my last two flights. I've appended them to the album at
http://community.webshots.com/album/520262605ucpgsq
Afterward, we hit the road and have been driving east ever since. We are currently in Arkansas near Little Rock enroute home.
That is all.
The dry lake is several miles in diameter and virtually flat, allowing for towing in any direction. As usual, the wind switched after we layed out the line, but it wasn't too cross. Bruce operated the scooter and I flew PG. Winds varied from 5 to 12 all day.
I started by running with the PG while Bruce learned how to take up the slack. Next we tried some low towing, staying about 10 feet AGL. We spent about four hours, and eventually were able to get some pretty high tows. It was an ideal location for practicing.
Billy Floyd arrived around noon and took some photos of my last two flights. I've appended them to the album at
http://community.webshots.com/album/520262605ucpgsq
Afterward, we hit the road and have been driving east ever since. We are currently in Arkansas near Little Rock enroute home.
That is all.
'Spark