Friday 11/11

Post by **mcgowantk** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:34 am

It looks more like High Rock to me than Woodstock.? What do the others think?? Any info on the TFR?
?
Tom McGowan

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Spark · Post by **Spark** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 7:59 am

No NOTAM posted yet. No anticipated TFRs at aopa.org

Upper level (3k, 6k) winds in the N MD/PA area are higher than VA.

I'll follow the masses wherever.

Post by **markc** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:10 am

The ADDS 3k forecasts have increased a bit since
last night.... All of northern VA is in the 15-20 range
through 4pm . And the morning balloon from Dulles
showed NW@26kts at 2800 feet.

That makes me think Wstock may be worth a try...
but it would be a bit of a gamble compared to HRock.

The 3k forecast also shows 20-30 pretty close to
Hrock....

Hmmm, might be a difficult call.

Mark C.

Post by **mcgowantk** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:30 am

I believe this is a tough call.? The text forecast for Woodstock is west at 5-10.? The isobars certainly show light winds, at least for Woodstock.? I also think the ADDS forecasts are not very?reliable.? Surface winds are reported as light around the area at 8:00 am.
?
However, the balloon data is probably the best data in my opinion.? The intellicast forecast also points to Woodstock.? I am going to pack up and look again at 9:00.? Maybe we will see some evidence of wind by then.
?
Tom?

markc <markc@chgpa.org> wrote:

The ADDS 3k forecasts have increased a bit since
last night.... All of northern VA is in the 15-20 range
through 4pm . And the morning balloon from Dulles
showed NW@26kts at 2800 feet.

That makes me think Wstock may be worth a try...
but it would be a bit of a gamble compared to HRock.

The 3k forecast also shows 20-30 pretty close to
Hrock....

Hmmm, might be a difficult call.

Mark C.

Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click.

Post by **silverwings** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:09 am

I am up for flying. Will get to my Arlington house around 10:00. Woodstock ? High Rock ? Pulpit ? Some H2's interested.
(202) 409-2574 cell.

Spark · Post by **Spark** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:13 am

One thing to consider is that the forecast shows winds dropping off and going lighter and SW by morning.

I believe it is very likely that winds aloft will abate by 3-4pm.

I believe it is equally likely that winds at Woodstock might switch more westward and die off rapidly.

Doug Rogers is interested in joining us at High Rock, as is Tim Hurrlinger and Shawn Ray.

What say ye? Anyone wanna Rock?

Post by **Gene** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:20 am

When are you meeting at HR? I have a few things to do around the house. Gene

Post by **mcelrah** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:22 am

I'm in for the rock. Training hill first? - Hugh

Marcel Dettling · Post by **Marcel Dettling** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:27 am

markc wrote:And the morning balloon from Dulles showed NW@26kts at 2800 feet.

Sorry for the off-topic question, but where can I find the balloon data on the web?

I hope you'll have good flights today!

Cheers,

Marcel

Spark · Post by **Spark** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:30 am

mcelrah wrote:I'm in for the rock. Training hill first? - Hugh

OK, I've decided. I'm going to spend some time at Smithsburg, then to either the Rock or Pulpit for an evening flight. I'll be at Smithsburg by 10:30am with my cellphone.

Post by **mcgowantk** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:43 am

I still think it is unclear where to go, but I am heading to the Rock.
?
Tom
703/ 501-9532

Tom McGowan <mcgowantk@yahoo.com> wrote:

I believe this is a tough call.? The text forecast for Woodstock is west at 5-10.? The isobars certainly show light winds, at least for Woodstock.? I also think the ADDS forecasts are not very?reliable.? Surface winds are reported as light around the area at 8:00 am.
?
However, the balloon data is probably the best data in my opinion.? The intellicast forecast also points to Woodstock.? I am going to pack up and look again at 9:00.? Maybe we will see some evidence of wind by then.
?
Tom?

markc wrote:

Quote:

The ADDS 3k forecasts have increased a bit since
last night.... All of northern VA is in the 15-20 range
through 4pm . And the morning balloon from Dulles
showed NW@26kts at 2800 feet.

That makes me think Wstock may be worth a try...
but it would be a bit of a gamble compared to HRock.

The 3k forecast also shows 20-30 pretty close to
Hrock....

Hmmm, might be a difficult call.

Mark C.

(end of quote)

Yahoo! FareChase - Search multiple travel sites in one click. (http://us.lrd.yahoo.com/_ylc=x3odmtfqod ... yahoo.com/)

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Post by **markc** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 9:50 am

The satellite is showing wave in PA and MD.
Hints in VA too (I suspect there'd be more,
but it's just dryer to the south, so the wave
doesn't show as much).

I'm thinking of heading to Wstock, and diverting
to HRock if need be.

Mark C.

Post by **markc** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 10:03 am

Both Dan T and I are headed to I-66 and I-81,
where we will make the Wstock/Hrock call.
Leaving now.

Mark C.

mobile: 301-807-5414

Post by **carweill** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 11:03 am

Tough call

I'll gamble for High Rock

Carlos

Spark · Post by **Spark** » Fri Nov 11, 2005 8:17 pm

It was a good day for me. I started at Smithsburg and made a bunch of flights in the PG before the winds ramped up. I cleared a 100' x 30' area of corn stalks until about noon. Hugh and Jens arrived a bit later. We flew PGs from low on the hill and practiced kiting. About 2pm, Hugh and I headed to HR.

By the time we arrived in the LZ, Tom had just finished his flight and was pretty much ready for a ride up. I went up top to observe Shawn Ray and Tim Hurrlinger. Gene, Carlos and Doug Rogers were all airborne.

We launched Shawn, then Tom and Andrew shuttled a car and retrieveed the first wave, while Hugh and I set up. We launched Tim, and about the time we had assembled our wings, the crew arrived.

Hugh was off next, then Andrew and I flew Tandem. We didn't have much time left since the gate locks at 5pm, so after about 15 minutes and 250' over, we headed to the LZ for a smooth wheels-only landing, leaving with just enough daylight to jet for the top and retrieve our vehicles.

Thanks to Tom, Doug and Carlos for shuttling my truck below the gate and for Gene and Tim for helping me break down in the dark.

Congrats to Shawn and Tim - great launches and flying!

There

Post by **markc** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:14 am

Woodstock Was Workin', Woo-Hoo!!!

Some of the pilots there seemed to think it was a pretty
sure bet that 'Stock would be good today. For myself,
I thought it would be a gamble, and was prepared to book
back up I-81 to HRock until the last minute.

It was the satellite photos that made me think it would be
worth a try : widespread wave was visible at 10:00am.
But for how long? And when would it go southwest?

For nearly all of the drive out there, I didn't see even one
tree branch moving. At some of the crests on the way out,
there was a little bit of wind on the truck... But what direction?
Hard to tell.

I wound up at Tom's Brook, gassed up, and hung around
for a bit. Started to feel a few bonafide NW breezes... Heard
that Hank H. was already at launch, and there was 5-8 mph
coming in.... So I finally decided to give it a go, after Dan T
had showed up.

There were 7 of us: me and Dan, Bruce, Hank, John M,
Chris D, and Dave B. And wow, the 'Stocker was good
to us today!!!

No-one went anywhere (fairly significant west cross, I got
within a river bend of the gap but didn't even really seriously
think about jumping).... But even so, there was some really
fun flying! I topped out around 3k over, with 500+ fpm on
my averager at times. That was fairly early in my flight, and
conditions gradually lightened during the afternoon. But even
so, I ran north, then south, then back north, then boated
around in 1300' over magic. Landed right at sunset after
close to 3 hours of airtime. Chased down Dan in a field
south of Woodstock, then Christina's for dinner, and many
cold beers to celebrate the day.

Nearly everyone had great flights, though unfortunately Dave
found he was missing a safety ring, and then lost his
replacement when trying to fix the problem, and did not fly.
Major bummer

Flew with an immature bald eagle for a while... Enjoyed the
contrast of the evergreens vs the few trees still showing fall
color... Half-moon rising as the sun was setting... Every fold
and contour of the main ridge, the hills in the valley, and
Skyline Drive were visible in that sunset light... Couldn't be
better!!!

Maybe a flight to the beach from Highland tomorrow if it's
more SW than S?

Mark C.

Post by **hepcat1989** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:08 am

My first high flight after surgery. It was a memorable one!I met Spark at Smithsburg so we could go up to High Rock and he could throw me off.Spark was still instructing, so Andrew and I went up to the rock to help launch Carlos,and Doug Rogers. Gene and Tim showed up ,and we started setting up. Gene was ready so Andrew, Tim and I helped launched Gene.Sparky arrived With Tom Magowan to help me launch. I think Tim was on the keel.I instructed the wire crew, and rolled out closer to the edge.The wing started flying off my shoulders!. I instructed to back up.I got off launch no problem then, and it felt righteous!Nice smooth air Stayed around 450 over but got to 600 over for 1hr.10mins.!I got see the back side of that ridge! First time. Gene, and I flew together for a while. The leaves looked fantastic.I didn't think I would see them this year from above.My approach was fine, my landing was fine.
Thanks to everyone who helped push start my car.( It dropped a battery cell that day!) I am thankful.
I had fun.
Shawn.

Post by **hepcat1989** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 10:21 am

Hugh was at High Rock as well after flying Pg at Smithsburg with Spark.I hope I didn't forget anyone else.

Post by **mcelrah** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:31 pm

Well the good news is that Sparky signed me off for P2 yesterday.
(Thanks, Allen!) I also had my first mountain HG flight in almost
three months at High Rock in *perfect* conditions, got about 750 over
launch and enjoyed the beautiful evening, went out to land after 25
minutes due to approaching sunset. The bad news is that I came in
high and fast (trying to correct previous error) ran out of LZ and
ended up in the bushes at the end of the field, taking out an
outboard leading edge. Guess I need to work on landings at a tow
park, huh? Thanks to Gene for agreeing to ferry my poor abused
glider to Manquin for evaluation and possible repair. Since I'm
heading down to Quest after Thanksgiving, one option may be to have
WW ship the LE there and rendezvous with it... - Hugh

Post by **mcelrah** » Sat Nov 12, 2005 12:31 pm

Well the good news is that Sparky signed me off for P2 yesterday.
(Thanks, Allen!) I also had my first mountain HG flight in almost
three months at High Rock in *perfect* conditions, got about 750 over
launch and enjoyed the beautiful evening, went out to land after 25
minutes due to approaching sunset. The bad news is that I came in
high and fast (trying to correct previous error) ran out of LZ and
ended up in the bushes at the end of the field, taking out an
outboard leading edge. Guess I need to work on landings at a tow
park, huh? Thanks to Gene for agreeing to ferry my poor abused
glider to Manquin for evaluation and possible repair. Since I'm
heading down to Quest after Thanksgiving, one option may be to have
WW ship the LE there and rendezvous with it... - Hugh