Pulpit Sunday and High Rock mishap and site guide info

[huddlec]

Is this information on the Pulpit PG launch?the sort of thing that should be in the site guide?? I update the site guide as soon as I get new information.?(Still waiting to turn it over to the next site guide volunteer.)?
?
I know the site guide?currently has information?on the High Rock launch that might have been of use to prevent Linda going in the trees.
?
I'm disappointed to hear that the?wire crew at High Rock was not?roped in.?There have been deaths in the hang gliding community from launch crew being pulled off. When launch crew is not?roped off,?they can get a little antsy about being at the very edge - which is where they have to be in higher wind launches at the Rock. I?almost pulled Mitch Shipley off in such conditions and swore I'd never launch without roped in wire crew again.?
Christy


Matthew <adventuretales@yahoo.com> wrote:

I've discovered that 13mph is the top wind speed for me launching at the Pulpit for my wing loading. In winds above 8, I've found that it's best to start lower in the slot and then have the glider pull you up the slot as you kite it up or deliberately kite it back a few steps after you pull it up, and then turn around and launch. I've done enough of the assisted launches with an anchor person to know that I never want to do one of those again. If it's so strong that I need an anchor, then it's too strong. Also, from lower in the slot you don't have to pull it up as fast and there's less of a chance that it will surge overhead and get ahead of you. This has also happened to me too many times and I've had to run like hell and over the rock to catch up with the glider even when applying hard brakes to stop the surge.

Matthew

Yahoo! for Good - Make a difference this year.

[Matthew]

Hi Christy,

The CHGPA BOD is currently gathering opinions from the more experienced local PG pilots who have flown the Pulpit a well as local instructors for determining ratings and recommended conditions and limits for launching a PG at the Pulpit. Should have info to you by end of month.

Matthew

[brianvh]

It is pretty amazing that nobody had tie-in ropes for a windy day. Dang, I'd be afraid to go near the edge too.

I'd add spare gloves and a spare set of warm clothes to Matthew's list of things to carry. Easy to get caught by surprise.

[mcelrah]

I guess the wind varied over the course of the day. (High Rock
Friday) When I launched, the base wind speed was 10 mph although
there were gusts ( to 15 I'm guessing). I wouldn't describe them as
sudden - we could hear them coming. I was comfortable wirecrewing
without a rope on me. (Yanni may have been less so with leather
soles...) I would be interested in the perceptions of others who were
there about wind speed/suddenness of gusts, etc.... - Hugh
P.S. Does the wind make more noise at Woodstock for the same windspeed?

[dbodner]

Yes, we had no ropes. And maybe we should have. But, I can safely
say that wasn't a contributory factor. I was feeling pretty
comfortable, and I think my wire-mates were, too. It seemed that
wire crew was more comfortable with the edge than a lot of pilots.

Now, if a wing had knocked me off the edge...

On Jan 3, 2006, at 6:41 PM, brianvh wrote:

>
> It is pretty amazing that nobody had tie-in ropes for a windy day.
> Dang, I'd be afraid to go near the edge too.
>
> I'd add spare gloves and a spare set of warm clothes to Matthew's
> list of things to carry. Easy to get caught by surprise.Brian Vant-
> Hull
> 301-646-1149

[Paul Tjaden]

You guys need Lauren to move back to Virginia. She always made certain we had long, strong ropes when we headed to HR. She would not wire crew without them and would not launch if her wire crew didn't use them. Never know when an EXTRA strong gust could come through. I think she was right.
?
How much extra hassle is it?
?
Paul T.

[mcgowantk]

Regarding the windy day descriptions, I helped on the first launch and?was third off overall.? Conditions seemed fine to?me?without roping in wire crew, and I did consider whether it?would have been appropriate to do so.? At least when I launched, we had long cycles of 10?mph or less with nothing over 15.??As a side note, generally, since I don't fly High Rock 20-30 times a year anymore, I have told myself that I will not launch in winds over 10 mph there?unless I become more current on cliff launches.?
?
Regarding rolling out to the edge on wheels:? I have done it a number of times.? It feels a little awkward, but has worked well for me.
?
For me, launching from the edge everytime seems to work, whether it is a windy or calm day.? I believe there is pretty of room for even light wind days to launch from the edge.? Launching from the edge takes away the decision of whether winds will be X mph or less at the time you reach the edge if a pilot decided to run it off.? I believe it does require some practice to become comfortable getting out there, especially in any kind of wind, but also?that pilots should demonstrate an ability to launch from the edge before getting CL or AWCL sign offs.? My question is whether anyone would?like or benefit from more instruction for cliff launches.? Because we don't fly High Rock as often as we did 10 years ago, maybe we should hold a clinic next time we have a good High Rock day.
?
Tom McGowan

David Bodner <d.bodner@verizon.net> wrote:

Yes, we had no ropes. And maybe we should have. But, I can safely
say that wasn't a contributory factor. I was feeling pretty
comfortable, and I think my wire-mates were, too. It seemed that
wire crew was more comfortable with the edge than a lot of pilots.

Now, if a wing had knocked me off the edge...

On Jan 3, 2006, at 6:41 PM, brianvh wrote:

>
> It is pretty amazing that nobody had tie-in ropes for a windy day.
> Dang, I'd be afraid to go near the edge too.
>
> I'd add spare gloves and a spare set of warm clothes to Matthew's
> list of things to carry. Easy to get caught by surprise.Brian Vant-
> Hull
> 301-646-1149

Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less

[Flying Lobster]

Regarding the windy day descriptions, I helped on the first launch and?was third off overall.? Conditions seemed fine to?me?without roping in wire crew, and I did consider whether it?would have been appropriate to do so.? At least when I launched, we had long cycles of 10?mph or less with nothing over 15.??As a side note, generally, since I don't fly High Rock 20-30 times a year anymore, I have told myself that I will not launch in winds over 10 mph there?unless I become more current on cliff launches.?
?
Regarding rolling out to the edge on wheels:? I have done it a number of times.? It feels a little awkward, but has worked well for me.
?
For me, launching from the edge everytime seems to work, whether it is a windy or calm day.? I believe there is pretty of room for even light wind days to launch from the edge.? Launching from the edge takes away the decision of whether winds will be X mph or less at the time you reach the edge if a pilot decided to run it off.? I believe it does require some practice to become comfortable getting out there, especially in any kind of wind, but also?that pilots should demonstrate an ability to launch from the edge before getting CL or AWCL sign offs.? My question is whether anyone would?like or benefit from more instruction for cliff launches.? Because we don't fly High Rock as often as we did 10 years ago, maybe we should hold a clinic next time we have a good High Rock day.
?
Tom McGowan

David Bodner <d.bodner@verizon.net> wrote:

Yes, we had no ropes. And maybe we should have. But, I can safely
say that wasn't a contributory factor. I was feeling pretty
comfortable, and I think my wire-mates were, too. It seemed that
wire crew was more comfortable with the edge than a lot of pilots.

Now, if a wing had knocked me off the edge...

On Jan 3, 2006, at 6:41 PM, brianvh wrote:

>
> It is pretty amazing that nobody had tie-in ropes for a windy day.
> Dang, I'd be afraid to go near the edge too.
>
> I'd add spare gloves and a spare set of warm clothes to Matthew's
> list of things to carry. Easy to get caught by surprise.Brian Vant-
> Hull
> 301-646-1149

Yahoo! DSL Something to write home about. Just $16.99/mo. or less

Exactly!

I like to also advise the wire crew that at any time if they feel the slightest bit uncomfortable or feel they are losing control to let me know and I will not hesitate to back off.

marc

marc