The Pulpit Fly-In May 11-12, 2013

[jyoder111]

Richard,
Pulpit LZ was cut short a few weeks ago. It should be fine, even with some rain-fed growth.

Jesse

[Matthew]

XC Skies forcaste - doesn't get much better 500 - 700 ft per minute with 15K winds

Woodstock is only 2 -3 kts less.


****************

I guess you are unaware that a forecast of 15 at the Pulpit means that it will be blowing 30 at launch.

Matthew

[sailin]

While I would of loved to have a true rain or shine Pulpit Fly In (trying to recapture some of that party spirit of old) it doesn't look like we were able to get the up front momentum and commitments needed. Still a lot of weather watching, and "iffy", "maybe", "could", "might" stuff going on I get it. We all have finite time and commitments, and can only put so much time and energy into our free flight passion. Sunday is looking nice.



"Maybe" next year the weather will cooperate and/or we will get a big turnout regardless. "If" the weather looks nice on Saturday , I "might" be up for heading to the Pulpit to fly and hang out. Got to head out Saturday night after whatever festivities "might" be had as I "have" to work Sunday....didn't seem like much of a party happening to make it worth trying to find coverage for work. "Maybe" we will get lucky with the weather and I'll see some of you Saturday........if not it looks like there will be great flights on Sunday........from somewhere

Standby for a new thread on flying Monday....looking nice

Jon

[markc]

The latest hourly NWS 'cast is calling for W@9 and a 50% chance of rain at 6pm on Saturday (down from 80% at 5pm). If we are super-lucky, maybe the front will push through sooner than forecast.

In that best-case scenario, I'm still a little pessimistic that there would be more than a handful camping out (in hopes of a flight fairly early on Sunday), or more than a handful who would make a trip solely for a Sat night party.

But...... Maybe I'm wrong?

IS there enough interest in the Fly-In this year for a decent turn-out on Sat night, in spite of the fact that the afternoon looks shot?

The reason I ask is that there are people who are trying to plan food purchases, trying to plan the timings of certain aerial effects, etc. So if you're thinking "what the heck!", and want to do something on Saturday night (assuming no huge blobs of rain to the west), then please POST SOMETHING in this thread. No posts == No interest .

Regarding Sunday: Interestingly, the NWS hourly for High Rock has a 25+ gust factor from noon until 7pm. But at the Pulpit, there's only a single G20 dot at 2pm, and conditions are supposed to be NW@10 at 5pm. Sure, we all know that conditions at the Pulpit are usually stronger than forecast, but even so, it seems to imply that conditions at the Pulpit might moderate sooner than High Rock.

And if that happens, then the question becomes: Do we try for a party/fun/bonfire on Sunday, even though the Monday workday looms?

We've got a hard call this weekend, no doubt. But it still seems worth asking what the interest in THIS WEEKEND really is, in spite of the uncertainties. Did you set this weekend aside? Are you willing to give things a try even with an iffy forecast? Do you have any interest in the social/hang-out/have-fun aspects of the Fly-In, regardless of the flying itself?

If so: Make Yourself Known!

MarkC

[PTerry]

The weekend looks like intermittent showers for sure. Probably no flying at the Fly-In. Maybe a small window on Sunday.
Just some good old fashion socializing and sharing of food & drink for those who want to come out.

[Dunegoon]

Still interested for very early Sunday morning and possible Brunch? I will need to prearrange for an observer or instructor (Bacil won't be available). By the way, it is Mother's Day Sunday, so forgoing the usual matriarchal rituals does not build credits towards future HG debauchery.

Charley

[krryerson]

I did set this weekend aside and will come on Saturday afternoon for old fashion socializing. Can't get my wife and daughter to join us; but will bring my 8 year old son with me. Hope it is okay that he brings his bicycle so he can bike around on the field... .? We will have to leave around 8PM.
Sunday is mothers day and will probably have to be home that day.
Knut

[dbodner]

I've cleared my weekend. Barring any major announcement, I'm at the Pulpit through Sunday.

[deveil]

Make Yourself Known!

oooh, Mr. Tuff-Guy (I knew he was hiding in there somewhere:)

I was keeping my options open but I'll commit to coleslaw ('seems pedestrian, but it seemed to get gobbled up the last time I brought it)…but only if you don't yell and embarrass me if you don't like it.

[jyoder111]

I think we should give Saturday evening at the Pulpit a chance. It might just clear up enough for an evening flight before sunset. Camp out, and be there bright and early for the AM on Sunday. Worst case, we get a good fire going, wear some plastic, and have a good time.

Liz and I are in, barring a club stampede elsewhere. Planning to camp out Saturday night.

Jesse

[mingram]

Some family stuff just came up for me today so I gotta bail on this weekend, but I was looking forward to grilling out, talking flying around a camp fire, and camping.

If it's too windy Sunday afternoon maybe people want to burn off some energy and weed whack Bills Hill or Fisher Road. (Fisher Road is still flyable as long as the ridge lift is strong enough to guarantee you'll stay up and run the ridge and not end up in the restricted LZ).

I'm free the next 3 weekends and will be looking for more opportunities to camp-n-fly again.

[brianvh]

looking at the radar animation: http://www.ametsoc.org/amsedu/dstreme/i ... m_loop.gif

The big wall'o'wet I was worried about picked up speed and already passed to the north. but a new blob developed to the south and is headed for a direct hit around noon tomorrow. If I was local I'd watch the radar and consider an evening party. But since I have a roughly 5 hour drive (plus picking up and loading the car) I think I'll give it a pass.

[brianvh]

Actually I think the direct hit will be tomorrow morning. may be clear and nice most of saturday.

[sailin]

Sounds like we will at least have some bodies there regardless, sweet. I'll see ya up there Saturday. The evening we might even be able to sneak a flight in. I won't be able to overnight but it will be good hanging with you all. See ya there!

My take on the food and grilling is, I am skeptical. If you all want to do it then by all means go for it, and like Carlos said , the club will reimburse. But there stills seems to be a lot of stuff up in the air about who is coming, how many, when they are arriving and when they are leaving Plus, based on the current forecast..........dinner time coincides just about perfectly with flying time

Look forward to seeing you there,

Jon

[Lostgriz]

I have kids sports obligations on Saturday, but there is an outside chance I will be there for Saturday evening.

Matt

[markc]

Here's another good link for watching the progress of the storm.

Based on the current track, I'm hoping that the worst of it will skirt a bit north, and that south-central PA will see lighter/sporadic rain as the day progresses. We've got 30 hours until 6pm Sat night... Maybe that will be enough time to move it through.

My plan is to check the radar mid-afternoon on Sat, and if it looks like no more than 50/50 chance of rain, then head on up. Maybe for flying if we're really luck. Maybe just for a bonfire/etc if we're not. Hopefully dry/mostly-dry in either case!

Cross your fingers!

MarkC

[deveil]

so, what I'm understanding is that the food part is not to be(?)

[dbodner]

so, what I'm understanding is that the food part is not to be(?)

Unless I hear something definitive, I'm bringing my own protein. I'll bring extra to share. Depending on if I get my ass in gear, I might even have a side.

[jyoder111]

Guess it's going to be a last-minute-decision kind of day tomorrow. If people are bailing on the Fly-in and heading to Woodstock on Sunday instead, then maybe we should just postpone the camping festivities to another weekend. Pulpit forecast is looking pretty strong, even in the early AM Sunday.

Jesse

[Lostgriz]

I will be at The Pulpit on Saturday night to support Jon's efforts for the fly-in if my kids activities will permit, as we have a fast pitch tournament on Saturday.

Probably be at Woodstock on Sunday though if conditions hold.

Matt

[deveil]

uhmm, putting up tents might would be a fast pitch tournament, depending on weather quirkiness.

I'm intending to camp over sat night just because it's an opportunity to be on a mtn top at a campfire with other people to gather wood ;}

[markc]

I noticed that the ADDS 3k shows the strongest winds pushing through at the Pulpit by late PM (and prior to the NW blast behind it). So maybe if we're lucky there won't be a lot of trailing precip, andwe can have fun on Sat night and then hit the road for WS on Sunday. I'll be loading up a few 'sparklers' for Sat night in the hopes that this will happen. *smile*

[markc]

Pretty encouraged by how fast the system is moving, we might have dry conditions tonight after all! And still crossing fingers for the possibility of an end-of-day flight....

[deveil]

okay then, when is the earliest anyone is planning on being there?

[sailin]

i'll try to arrive around 3pmish. Unfortunately will not be able to overnight it or join you guys at Woodstock on Sunday.

Jon