Sunday Flying
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Saturday and Sunday both were good for the front range. Traction kited on Saturday ... flew PG twice at Lookout on Sunday. On the second try I hooked one for a nice ride ... top landed just before the flush cycle. The air was wee bit spicy with some tart edges ... first spring flying this season for me. Temps are in the 70s in Denver tofay. Spring is a-comin' : ) Yeee-haaaaw
Might be in DC 2nd week in April. more later.
Might be in DC 2nd week in April. more later.
'Spark
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hepcat1989
- Posts: 684
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:15 pm
Sunday in Pa.
Man what a long winter! Reading others exploits and playing the Flight Club hg simulator don't quite come close to the real thing. I was pleasantly surprised to see the conditions shaping up for Sunday. Clubs from Chattanooga up through Virginia and Maryland were all reporting good conditions. A quick check of the blipmaps indicated that it would be good in Pennsylvania too. I checked the Capital HG and Hyner sites and elected to fly RH based on the fact that it is not a cliff launch and that it is only 1 1/2 hours from me. Soon I was headed down the road visualizing what the day was going to be like. My right leg began to twitch with adrenaline and I just had to smile realizing that after 30+ years of hang gliding I could still get so excited about flying. Keith helped me with directions and we met up in the LZ before heading to the top. It was already soarable at 11:00 however we had some major maintenance to do just busting up the ice on launch and blazing a trail back to the setup area. It just dawned on me why my back is sore today, I must have chucked that rock down onto the ice crust a hundred times before the area was suitable for maneuvering gliders around. The icy trail got better as we shuttled our equipment to the setup area. It took me too long to set up but I did manage to have it all together just before Keith took off. By this time there were ten pilots setting up.
My vario had lost its' charge so I had no instruments, my radio was dead too. I left my water bladder in the truck and elected to fly with no coat as I had on five layers of bunting, cotton, two windbreakers and two cycle jerseys (it wasn't quite enough). My preps for this first flight left alot to be desired.
Conditions looked pretty good with cu's cycling through at up to 15 or 20 mph and lulls below 10 long enough for me to launch. This was still intimidating as I hadn't foot launched in about ten years and the VR doesn't have front flying wires to hold onto. Even so, I was committed and three kind people helped me slice the beast through the trees and other gliders to the ramp. Even though it was tough to control the wings, the keel person got me into good position and as soon as the next lull came through I was off. Thanks guys. Keith and I climbed out and headed NW into the valley. We reached cloud base and continued upwind into wave lift. It was quite remarkable climbing in baby butt smooth lift above the tops of the clouds in the distance. Although I never got to cloudbase again, there was abundant lift everywhere and it was a hoot boating around the valley and along the ridge. I worked hard on recognizing lift and thermaling without my vario.
I flew for three hours freezing my fingers and toes before fighting to come down. It took me 20 minutes to find and core sink down to the deck. Nice uphill landing area too! This place is better than Lookout Mountain! Is this place for real? As soon as I got home I mapped out the route from RH to my home in East Prospect probably about 50 miles. Can't wait to test it out!
I met alot of cool pilots today, Keith, Bob, Dave, TR, Jesse, Randy, Mark, sorry guys too many for this old brain to recite. You guys are great and I can't wait to fly with you all again. Bun
My vario had lost its' charge so I had no instruments, my radio was dead too. I left my water bladder in the truck and elected to fly with no coat as I had on five layers of bunting, cotton, two windbreakers and two cycle jerseys (it wasn't quite enough). My preps for this first flight left alot to be desired.
Conditions looked pretty good with cu's cycling through at up to 15 or 20 mph and lulls below 10 long enough for me to launch. This was still intimidating as I hadn't foot launched in about ten years and the VR doesn't have front flying wires to hold onto. Even so, I was committed and three kind people helped me slice the beast through the trees and other gliders to the ramp. Even though it was tough to control the wings, the keel person got me into good position and as soon as the next lull came through I was off. Thanks guys. Keith and I climbed out and headed NW into the valley. We reached cloud base and continued upwind into wave lift. It was quite remarkable climbing in baby butt smooth lift above the tops of the clouds in the distance. Although I never got to cloudbase again, there was abundant lift everywhere and it was a hoot boating around the valley and along the ridge. I worked hard on recognizing lift and thermaling without my vario.
I flew for three hours freezing my fingers and toes before fighting to come down. It took me 20 minutes to find and core sink down to the deck. Nice uphill landing area too! This place is better than Lookout Mountain! Is this place for real? As soon as I got home I mapped out the route from RH to my home in East Prospect probably about 50 miles. Can't wait to test it out!
I met alot of cool pilots today, Keith, Bob, Dave, TR, Jesse, Randy, Mark, sorry guys too many for this old brain to recite. You guys are great and I can't wait to fly with you all again. Bun
Bun