I had little real expectation of flying the sailplane last Sunday as it looked too breezy (but I brought the gear along anyway LOL.) The topography at Fairfield compels take-off to the SE. With a stiff NW blowing, the strong tailwind does not make for a pleasant launch. I was rather surprised as I arrived at the airport to see a glider launching and a group of pilots assembling. The NW on the grough was rather moderate. I assembled my LS-8 and towed just as the TFR expired.
I took a high tow right into the wave on the upwind side of a cloud just below CB releasing at 4.5K AGL (5.1K MSL). Shortly after release, numerous clouds began forming ahead of me and I needed to snake my way through to keep in the open. Being able to go 150 MPH sure is welcome at moments like these! There were 3 others from my gliderport flying and we established ourselves at between 12K and 14L MSL.
This was my first real opportunity to use the O2 system I installed last year. It?s an EDS system that provides a pulse of O2 at each inhalation instead of the more typical constant flow system. It worked great and I was quite comfortable at altitude.
More so than on other wave flight, we had to keep an eye on the rapidly cycling clouds below lest becoming trapped over-the-top. It was pretty thick down there! Wave was solid and smooth; it was going up everywhere! After 2.5 hours, I suspended the mission finding a hole and circling down below CB. I got rained on briefly and it was quite dark and turbulent from CB down to ~ 3K MSL. It smoothed out below that and the landing was uneventful. The ground wind had definitely picked up from just a few hours previous. Quite a memorable day!
Here are some photos shot during our fun day. They are rather large files of 1M each; you dial-up users are warned!
Here?s a pic of me taken by Fred Mueller
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/P6wave1.jpg
Here?s another one taken by Fred. Notice the Dulles-inbound jet (apx 10K MSL) below and the glider above!
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/jetbelow.jpg
A view out my nose at 14K MSL still climbing at 200 ft/minute. I topped out in this wave at 15.5K MSL, my max for the day. I registered the winds at altitude to be 56 MPH and the temps to be ?5C.
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/P614K.jpg
Danny Brotto
Local Sailplane Wave Report w/ Pix...
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
-
John Simon
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:33 pm
Local Sailplane Wave Report w/ Pix...
Nice Danny,
I'm green. Sweet photos as well. Congrats
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Danny Brotto [mailto:dbrotto@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 12:16 PM
To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
Subject: Local Sailplane Wave Report w/ Pix...
I had little real expectation of flying the sailplane last Sunday as it
looked too breezy (but I brought the gear along anyway LOL.) The topography
at Fairfield compels take-off to the SE. With a stiff NW blowing, the strong
tailwind does not make for a pleasant launch. I was rather surprised as I
arrived at the airport to see a glider launching and a group of pilots
assembling. The NW on the grough was rather moderate. I assembled my LS-8
and towed just as the TFR expired.
I took a high tow right into the wave on the upwind side of a cloud just
below CB releasing at 4.5K AGL (5.1K MSL). Shortly after release, numerous
clouds began forming ahead of me and I needed to snake my way through to
keep in the open. Being able to go 150 MPH sure is welcome at moments like
these! There were 3 others from my gliderport flying and we established
ourselves at between 12K and 14L MSL.
This was my first real opportunity to use the O2 system I installed last
year. It's an EDS system that provides a pulse of O2 at each inhalation
instead of the more typical constant flow system. It worked great and I was
quite comfortable at altitude.
More so than on other wave flight, we had to keep an eye on the rapidly
cycling clouds below lest becoming trapped over-the-top. It was pretty thick
down there! Wave was solid and smooth; it was going up everywhere! After 2.5
hours, I suspended the mission finding a hole and circling down below CB. I
got rained on briefly and it was quite dark and turbulent from CB down to ~
3K MSL. It smoothed out below that and the landing was uneventful. The
ground wind had definitely picked up from just a few hours previous. Quite a
memorable day!
Here are some photos shot during our fun day. They are rather large files of
1M each; you dial-up users are warned!
Here's a pic of me taken by Fred Mueller
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/P6wave1.jpg
Here's another one taken by Fred. Notice the Dulles-inbound jet (apx 10K
MSL) below and the glider above!
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/jetbelow.jpg
A view out my nose at 14K MSL still climbing at 200 ft/minute. I topped out
in this wave at 15.5K MSL, my max for the day. I registered the winds at
altitude to be 56 MPH and the temps to be -5C.
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/P614K.jpg
Danny Brotto
I'm green. Sweet photos as well. Congrats
John
-----Original Message-----
From: Danny Brotto [mailto:dbrotto@comcast.net]
Sent: Saturday, October 22, 2005 12:16 PM
To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
Subject: Local Sailplane Wave Report w/ Pix...
I had little real expectation of flying the sailplane last Sunday as it
looked too breezy (but I brought the gear along anyway LOL.) The topography
at Fairfield compels take-off to the SE. With a stiff NW blowing, the strong
tailwind does not make for a pleasant launch. I was rather surprised as I
arrived at the airport to see a glider launching and a group of pilots
assembling. The NW on the grough was rather moderate. I assembled my LS-8
and towed just as the TFR expired.
I took a high tow right into the wave on the upwind side of a cloud just
below CB releasing at 4.5K AGL (5.1K MSL). Shortly after release, numerous
clouds began forming ahead of me and I needed to snake my way through to
keep in the open. Being able to go 150 MPH sure is welcome at moments like
these! There were 3 others from my gliderport flying and we established
ourselves at between 12K and 14L MSL.
This was my first real opportunity to use the O2 system I installed last
year. It's an EDS system that provides a pulse of O2 at each inhalation
instead of the more typical constant flow system. It worked great and I was
quite comfortable at altitude.
More so than on other wave flight, we had to keep an eye on the rapidly
cycling clouds below lest becoming trapped over-the-top. It was pretty thick
down there! Wave was solid and smooth; it was going up everywhere! After 2.5
hours, I suspended the mission finding a hole and circling down below CB. I
got rained on briefly and it was quite dark and turbulent from CB down to ~
3K MSL. It smoothed out below that and the landing was uneventful. The
ground wind had definitely picked up from just a few hours previous. Quite a
memorable day!
Here are some photos shot during our fun day. They are rather large files of
1M each; you dial-up users are warned!
Here's a pic of me taken by Fred Mueller
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/P6wave1.jpg
Here's another one taken by Fred. Notice the Dulles-inbound jet (apx 10K
MSL) below and the glider above!
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/jetbelow.jpg
A view out my nose at 14K MSL still climbing at 200 ft/minute. I topped out
in this wave at 15.5K MSL, my max for the day. I registered the winds at
altitude to be 56 MPH and the temps to be -5C.
http://members.aol.com/dbrotto/P614K.jpg
Danny Brotto