Originally posted: Mon, 7 Aug 2006 12:19:58 -0400
Got here Saturday and setup my glider with JD from it's 8' pack down
length. It's hot. Had a big party with 120 other pilots and a bunch of
locals and friends, probably 300 folks. Sunday we carry our gliders
down to the staging area in the heat, a long way and we're drenched by
the time we get there. Right before the launch, they change sport class
goal to OPEN distance, ouch.
The sport class has to launch after the Flexies and we all
go up around 3pm. The sky looks perfect and I'm excited but I get
little done in the first hour or so... Can't get above 6500MSL and I see a
couple of topless gliders go down. I work my way through some blue...
Slowly, getting only 3-400 fpm and topping out 3000' below base. Not so
great.
I am out in front and I see 3 guys about 5 miles behind but would not see
another glider for the rest of the day. I make it across the blue after a
couple of pseudo low (1000') saves. There are dust devils everywhere but
nowhere near me. I finally cross and work the street, still mediocre. I
decide to go a mile or two west towards the sun side and wham! I find
what I've been promised in Big Spring. Climbs are 700-950 fpm on the
averager and I'm above 9000 and would see 10k eventually...
I'm alone and clicking off the miles now, no problem, but it's getting late.
Another blue hole and some weak stuff and then it's 1830 and I get one
last good one. I cruise up to the north in smooth air looking for bars to land
at. It's been nearly 4 hours. I get 90 miles and land behind a potential
watering hole.
Alas...
It's a dry county. OUCH.
JD does not go downwind but crosswind in protest of the changed task
and gets 45 hard miles. He should have joined me and we'd have had 100.
Awesome and tiring day. Brief starts for day 2 now.
Take care,
John Simon
REPOST : 2006 Big Spring Reports : Sport Class
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
REPOST : 2006 Big Spring Reports : Sport Class
Last edited by chgpa on Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:34 pm, edited 3 times in total.
Originally posted: Tue, 8 Aug 2006 23:55:40 -0400
Day 2 OD'd and we got pinned in by some storms. Never got off the ground,
only the rigids flew a task.
Day 3 was excellent with a 44 mile downwind sport task. I could not find
the strong climbs but saw mostly 300-500 fpm and did get to cloud base at
9000'. JD and I worked weak stuff in the start circle and he headed out
before me. The open flexies are out in front of us and we can see many of
them, finally a chance to pimp after 90 lonely miles Sunday. Things started
off weak again, 300 fpm but I fully expected it to get better later as it
had done on Sunday, and was looking for 700-900 fpm. I would never find it.
Worked many clouds with 3 topless gliders and a couple of sport class guys.
I was able to get on top on almost every one of them. They just stick
together and work the 300 fpm while I go out and look for better. I find
400-500 and they all come running... They hurt me on glide and I arrive low
to do the same again. JD comes back in from his more westerly routing and
he's high. I climb almost to him and we meet a while later and I have 700'
on him.
We are racing pretty hard now with only one or two more climbs needed
and me with a solid advantage. I glide out from cloudbase and JD stays
to climb up to base. I take a slight left and head for a good looking
closer cloud that mostly on course and JD leaves the cloud 2 minutes later
and heads to a more distant one that is more on course. My cloud dissolves
enroute and I hit massive sink on the way to the cloud on course which is
now my last shot. I'm showing goal at 100 feet and by the time I hit the
cloud it shows -400. I'm only 6 or 7 miles out and JD arrives now 300'
higher than me. He really spanked me on that last leg...I made a really
bad choice. We race into goal 200' from each other and I arrive at 300'. JD
passes me with his initial higher altitude giving him more speed, he is
stoked.
On the ground I tell him I went back to the 3mile start circle and
restarted so it turns out that when we get scored my task time is 2 minutes
faster than his!!! I likely have first place, but later, the meet directors
change the start circle to 5 miles and all the scores are recalculated. I'm
now in 4th for the day!!! Yikes... I don't like it but one guy correctly
noted the morning brief not being clear on start time (I asked and got 3
miles as did almost everyone else) and he flew a 5mile start circle. Oh
well, I'm still in overall lead by 300 or so and I'll just have to bring it
up a notch tomorrow. Wooohoo! TOO MUCH FUN.
John Simon
Day 2 OD'd and we got pinned in by some storms. Never got off the ground,
only the rigids flew a task.
Day 3 was excellent with a 44 mile downwind sport task. I could not find
the strong climbs but saw mostly 300-500 fpm and did get to cloud base at
9000'. JD and I worked weak stuff in the start circle and he headed out
before me. The open flexies are out in front of us and we can see many of
them, finally a chance to pimp after 90 lonely miles Sunday. Things started
off weak again, 300 fpm but I fully expected it to get better later as it
had done on Sunday, and was looking for 700-900 fpm. I would never find it.
Worked many clouds with 3 topless gliders and a couple of sport class guys.
I was able to get on top on almost every one of them. They just stick
together and work the 300 fpm while I go out and look for better. I find
400-500 and they all come running... They hurt me on glide and I arrive low
to do the same again. JD comes back in from his more westerly routing and
he's high. I climb almost to him and we meet a while later and I have 700'
on him.
We are racing pretty hard now with only one or two more climbs needed
and me with a solid advantage. I glide out from cloudbase and JD stays
to climb up to base. I take a slight left and head for a good looking
closer cloud that mostly on course and JD leaves the cloud 2 minutes later
and heads to a more distant one that is more on course. My cloud dissolves
enroute and I hit massive sink on the way to the cloud on course which is
now my last shot. I'm showing goal at 100 feet and by the time I hit the
cloud it shows -400. I'm only 6 or 7 miles out and JD arrives now 300'
higher than me. He really spanked me on that last leg...I made a really
bad choice. We race into goal 200' from each other and I arrive at 300'. JD
passes me with his initial higher altitude giving him more speed, he is
stoked.
On the ground I tell him I went back to the 3mile start circle and
restarted so it turns out that when we get scored my task time is 2 minutes
faster than his!!! I likely have first place, but later, the meet directors
change the start circle to 5 miles and all the scores are recalculated. I'm
now in 4th for the day!!! Yikes... I don't like it but one guy correctly
noted the morning brief not being clear on start time (I asked and got 3
miles as did almost everyone else) and he flew a 5mile start circle. Oh
well, I'm still in overall lead by 300 or so and I'll just have to bring it
up a notch tomorrow. Wooohoo! TOO MUCH FUN.
John Simon
Last edited by chgpa on Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Originally posted: Thu, 10 Aug 2006 10:16:25 -0400
3rd task. First a bit about the Sport Class
I think we have 12 entrants but only 10 are flying, I was hoping for 12-15
but 10 is the largest turnout we've had and makes for good competition. We
have a fun group, 4 Guatamalans flying U2's (Guat Air Force). They tie
their gliders down on the flight line perfectly and have team meetings and
party quite a bit... Pretty nice guys. A local Dallas pilot of 15 years who
has retired his Talon and has flown this comp (Flex) many times. Adrian, a
South African guy who has flown his Discus off Sandia for 180 miles. Super
nice folks all and a fun group and very good fliers. 4 fliers in the Single
Surface group, most from San Bernadino... Super nice folks there as well.
Day 4 is blowing a bit and we setup for an 88 mile downwind run. We need to
launch last basically and that's about 2pm, so our starts are generally 2:30
to 3pm. Lift is good until at least 6 so this is tight, but I did fly until
almost 7pm the other day (PK would fly until 8pm today!). Still, I feel I
must get in the air and get going to arrive before the lift starts to
weaken. I launch and immmediatly bomb out... Losing 1200 feet and
struggling at 1000' agl. Everyone else is skying out! I struggle a while,
drifting away from a relight and finally catch a good one (600fpm) and climb
out to maybe 7800' (about 5300'). I head out and nearly catch JD. He goes
on glider across a very big blue hole and I'm nervous but follow. He has a
MUCH better line than me and 3/4 across I see a wispy little haze area and
head that way. JD hits the other side and struggles at 1500 AGL and 2 miles
ahead of me. I find good lift and climb out and cruise past JD. The lift
seems weaker each day for the first 25 miles or so and today is similar.
The sky is full of Big Cummies but it is taking me time to find the best
lift. 300-400 is everywhere under these babies but 700-1000 is nearby and I
know it. I take too long and JD catches me. The next one however, I find it
and climb at 900 fpm to 10k. I fly the last 40-50miles out in front and
getting good climbs and fast glides. I go on final at about 18 miles and
find a good lift line in and burn it up at 75 mph ground speed. I arrive
with 1000' and turn to point into the wind and relax.... I am parked. 20
mph here.
Three of us make goal including JD. Cold beers and a driver just
minutes after we land...a perfect retrieve (almost). On the way back, we
top of the tank but 25 miles later the car is empty and we are stuck on the
side of the road. A gas line has backed off and won't stay on so I hitch a
ride to the next town and get a gas can and some hose clamps. I'm back in a
jiffy and we fix the car and head back home for pizza and beers. A great
day again. Today looks similar and I think they may set 100 miles.
Take Care
John Simon
3rd task. First a bit about the Sport Class
I think we have 12 entrants but only 10 are flying, I was hoping for 12-15
but 10 is the largest turnout we've had and makes for good competition. We
have a fun group, 4 Guatamalans flying U2's (Guat Air Force). They tie
their gliders down on the flight line perfectly and have team meetings and
party quite a bit... Pretty nice guys. A local Dallas pilot of 15 years who
has retired his Talon and has flown this comp (Flex) many times. Adrian, a
South African guy who has flown his Discus off Sandia for 180 miles. Super
nice folks all and a fun group and very good fliers. 4 fliers in the Single
Surface group, most from San Bernadino... Super nice folks there as well.
Day 4 is blowing a bit and we setup for an 88 mile downwind run. We need to
launch last basically and that's about 2pm, so our starts are generally 2:30
to 3pm. Lift is good until at least 6 so this is tight, but I did fly until
almost 7pm the other day (PK would fly until 8pm today!). Still, I feel I
must get in the air and get going to arrive before the lift starts to
weaken. I launch and immmediatly bomb out... Losing 1200 feet and
struggling at 1000' agl. Everyone else is skying out! I struggle a while,
drifting away from a relight and finally catch a good one (600fpm) and climb
out to maybe 7800' (about 5300'). I head out and nearly catch JD. He goes
on glider across a very big blue hole and I'm nervous but follow. He has a
MUCH better line than me and 3/4 across I see a wispy little haze area and
head that way. JD hits the other side and struggles at 1500 AGL and 2 miles
ahead of me. I find good lift and climb out and cruise past JD. The lift
seems weaker each day for the first 25 miles or so and today is similar.
The sky is full of Big Cummies but it is taking me time to find the best
lift. 300-400 is everywhere under these babies but 700-1000 is nearby and I
know it. I take too long and JD catches me. The next one however, I find it
and climb at 900 fpm to 10k. I fly the last 40-50miles out in front and
getting good climbs and fast glides. I go on final at about 18 miles and
find a good lift line in and burn it up at 75 mph ground speed. I arrive
with 1000' and turn to point into the wind and relax.... I am parked. 20
mph here.
Three of us make goal including JD. Cold beers and a driver just
minutes after we land...a perfect retrieve (almost). On the way back, we
top of the tank but 25 miles later the car is empty and we are stuck on the
side of the road. A gas line has backed off and won't stay on so I hitch a
ride to the next town and get a gas can and some hose clamps. I'm back in a
jiffy and we fix the car and head back home for pizza and beers. A great
day again. Today looks similar and I think they may set 100 miles.
Take Care
John Simon
Last edited by chgpa on Tue Aug 22, 2006 11:35 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Originally posted: Sat, 12 Aug 2006 12:52:24 -0400
Day 5: After the 90 mile task and 3 guys completing in the sport class they set up
a 100 miler so we could get the check in the box. We wanted a triangle but
the wind although a touch lighter would not co-operate. We set up for a NE
run but the wind changed and we re-tasked to the north, only 98.9 miles!
Lighter winds and a completely blue day with less lift was forecast so I was
not too hopeful. The poor bastards.
Two hours into it... I was sure it was not possible... I had covered
only 30 miles or so and it was getting late. I flew with a few gaggles
including Tom McGowan for the first couple hours and then it was just
JD and I. We got low at 40 miles or so and struggled, JD was lower
than me and it chewed up 20-30 minutes before he finally found
a bullet and started climbing very fast. I left my weak bubble and joined
him and we beamed up at 700 fpm to 11000' plus. We ignore small gaggles
slightly off our course along the way as time is now against us. Two guys
with decent altitude we drill ahead and clip off another 10 or 15 miles and
then JD is stuck very low while I beam out. As I top out he is struggling
and I push downwind to fight the clock and maybe mark the next one for him.
I get a great lift line across some very rugged canyon rocks and lose very
little as I finally start making good time. JD is behind climbing slow and
I am on my own 50-55 miles out and it's around 5:45 or so.
I pass over a couple of gliders which I am surprised to see 3 1/2 hours
into it. I keep pushing across a plateau and then out into a very rugged
and imposing looking canyon which is about 15 or 20 miles across. I see a
couple guys struggling low and one or two landing. Another sport glider
joins under me at 75 miles out and it's Kent who launched before me ... He
is 2-3000' lower. I press on and pass very low over another topless glider
working the north edge of the scary looking canyon. He has been there for
10-20 minutes and when I reach him I don't stop. It's Tom McGowan again. I
am 15 or so miles out and showing -800 on arrival...
It's now nearly 7pm and the air is very smooth. I decide to turn 90 degrees
right and work the top (north) side of the canyon rocks just above the
plateau. It runs generally NW - SE and the south winds are hitting
it along with some late afternoon sun. I go a long way and see -2000
for my arrival alt. I am below 2000' and it's very smooth. I can't
believe I am going to land 8 miles short. I look back and don't see
Tom... He would be too far anyway. (He has caught his last thermal...
A good one and beamed up and out). I finally catch 100 fpm and work
hard to center it to 200 fpm. As I finally get high enough for
goal, I see Kent coming in again low, very low. He just misses my little
weak ride and decks it just 5 miles short. I know it's been extremely slow
and take the time to climb so my arrival will be +800'. I go on final
glide at about 8 miles out and smoothly arrive at exactly 800'. No one is
there and I squeak past the airport for as far as I dare and turn back and
land at the center of the little airport for just over 99 miles .... I've
decided to call it 100, my own little lie. Wow, 5 hours (OK ... Another lie
4:59:40) and 100 miles... We get back home at 1am and crash hard. What a
day.
Friday is cancelled for wx, bummer. Saturday is a spot landing contest and
hopefully a reasonable task so we can get back for the party.
From AWESOME Big Spring TX,
John Simon
Day 5: After the 90 mile task and 3 guys completing in the sport class they set up
a 100 miler so we could get the check in the box. We wanted a triangle but
the wind although a touch lighter would not co-operate. We set up for a NE
run but the wind changed and we re-tasked to the north, only 98.9 miles!
Lighter winds and a completely blue day with less lift was forecast so I was
not too hopeful. The poor bastards.
Two hours into it... I was sure it was not possible... I had covered
only 30 miles or so and it was getting late. I flew with a few gaggles
including Tom McGowan for the first couple hours and then it was just
JD and I. We got low at 40 miles or so and struggled, JD was lower
than me and it chewed up 20-30 minutes before he finally found
a bullet and started climbing very fast. I left my weak bubble and joined
him and we beamed up at 700 fpm to 11000' plus. We ignore small gaggles
slightly off our course along the way as time is now against us. Two guys
with decent altitude we drill ahead and clip off another 10 or 15 miles and
then JD is stuck very low while I beam out. As I top out he is struggling
and I push downwind to fight the clock and maybe mark the next one for him.
I get a great lift line across some very rugged canyon rocks and lose very
little as I finally start making good time. JD is behind climbing slow and
I am on my own 50-55 miles out and it's around 5:45 or so.
I pass over a couple of gliders which I am surprised to see 3 1/2 hours
into it. I keep pushing across a plateau and then out into a very rugged
and imposing looking canyon which is about 15 or 20 miles across. I see a
couple guys struggling low and one or two landing. Another sport glider
joins under me at 75 miles out and it's Kent who launched before me ... He
is 2-3000' lower. I press on and pass very low over another topless glider
working the north edge of the scary looking canyon. He has been there for
10-20 minutes and when I reach him I don't stop. It's Tom McGowan again. I
am 15 or so miles out and showing -800 on arrival...
It's now nearly 7pm and the air is very smooth. I decide to turn 90 degrees
right and work the top (north) side of the canyon rocks just above the
plateau. It runs generally NW - SE and the south winds are hitting
it along with some late afternoon sun. I go a long way and see -2000
for my arrival alt. I am below 2000' and it's very smooth. I can't
believe I am going to land 8 miles short. I look back and don't see
Tom... He would be too far anyway. (He has caught his last thermal...
A good one and beamed up and out). I finally catch 100 fpm and work
hard to center it to 200 fpm. As I finally get high enough for
goal, I see Kent coming in again low, very low. He just misses my little
weak ride and decks it just 5 miles short. I know it's been extremely slow
and take the time to climb so my arrival will be +800'. I go on final
glide at about 8 miles out and smoothly arrive at exactly 800'. No one is
there and I squeak past the airport for as far as I dare and turn back and
land at the center of the little airport for just over 99 miles .... I've
decided to call it 100, my own little lie. Wow, 5 hours (OK ... Another lie
4:59:40) and 100 miles... We get back home at 1am and crash hard. What a
day.
Friday is cancelled for wx, bummer. Saturday is a spot landing contest and
hopefully a reasonable task so we can get back for the party.
From AWESOME Big Spring TX,
John Simon