Holly and I decided to head down to Blue Sky for our first flying day of the new season. It was great to see the whole gang there---regulars Bill Priday and Daniel Shapiro (both with new Sport 2s), Mike Wimmer and Megan Chapman (Megan with her new Eagle 145), Sandy & Nick, Bill McCorkle from NC, Ray, and CHGPA pilots Joe Schad, Craigin, and Dan Tomlinson.
Holly opted to fly her Moyes Sonic, being her first flight in 4 months (the LiteSport stayed in the shed). Clear blue sky, light winds. Bill McCorckle and Holly aerotowed up and had great flights---both over 4k, Holly with an hour and Bill with 2 hours. But Joe Schad (typically) had "meritorious" flight of the day with 2 hours+ and more than 4k...off the truck! (We attributed his success to the Nomex flight suit.) Mike Wimmer got 45 minutes, 3k plus, and Craigin had a nice 45-minute flight (can't remember your stats Craigin?).
Me? Not much news...my goal for the day was to dust off the cobwebs. 3 truck tows on my Falcon, all tows and flights fine (tho' sleds), mediocre landings, skidding in on my knees due to not being prepared for a BIG gradient (like the bottom dropping out even with the Falcon's bar stuffed). It felt good to fly again (and find out I can still do it!)
My next 3 flights were on a new Eagle 180 that I'm buying from Steve. (Yes! A new glider---my first double-surface wing!) I found the Eagle to be exactly as advertised: not dramatically different from the Falcon, but generally smoother, better glide, nice! I had a nice (for me) 15-minute extendo by working some light lift on my first Eagle flight. Landing was fine too. I'm psyched to be flying an Eagle---hopefully deserved after a year on my Falcon.
Overall a beautiful day with friends, and success at getting back in the air. I'm happy for Holly that her first flight of the year was such a great one. Now I'm looking forward to my first mountain flight of the season!
Scott
Sunday at Blue Sky Flight Park
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
re: Sunday at Blue Sky
I had two launches yesterday. Original plan had been to put in a few truck tows and then move to aerotow. However, there was sink all over the field, and Steve was having trouble dragging even light pilots above 700 feet. I went out to the AT option.
BTW. Joe Schad's flight of the day was off a truck tow to 800'! He got multiple hours and pleny of sky. Damn fine pilot.
Anyway, on my first tow, Tex entered a thermal at just over 1100 AGL, and I failed to track properly behind him. I got turned away from him (not badly) and as I was about to get back into position the weak link broke at 1200 AGL.
I set up for a 2d tow, which was after 4:30. Tex took me back to exactly the same thernal, dropping me there at 2300'. I spent the next 30+ minutes playing in the thermal between 2300 and 3000. I expected to have to track a lot of drift. Surprisingly, it remained pretty stable over the ground the engtire time. I was surprised no one jiumped up to join me, but they told me later they did not expect good lift that late in the afternoon.
As I was working back down, I found a surprise thermal at 800 above the gold course paved parking lot. Played in it briefly before heading in to land. Gonna keep that trigger in mind.
Flight time just under 40 minutes (includgin tow), max alt 3050. Sweet flight. Landing not pretty, but safe (nose popped on transition, then flared early and dropped down)
Really great to see the Blue Sky crowd agian. The season has begun!
Cragin
BTW. Joe Schad's flight of the day was off a truck tow to 800'! He got multiple hours and pleny of sky. Damn fine pilot.
Anyway, on my first tow, Tex entered a thermal at just over 1100 AGL, and I failed to track properly behind him. I got turned away from him (not badly) and as I was about to get back into position the weak link broke at 1200 AGL.
I set up for a 2d tow, which was after 4:30. Tex took me back to exactly the same thernal, dropping me there at 2300'. I spent the next 30+ minutes playing in the thermal between 2300 and 3000. I expected to have to track a lot of drift. Surprisingly, it remained pretty stable over the ground the engtire time. I was surprised no one jiumped up to join me, but they told me later they did not expect good lift that late in the afternoon.
As I was working back down, I found a surprise thermal at 800 above the gold course paved parking lot. Played in it briefly before heading in to land. Gonna keep that trigger in mind.
Flight time just under 40 minutes (includgin tow), max alt 3050. Sweet flight. Landing not pretty, but safe (nose popped on transition, then flared early and dropped down)
Really great to see the Blue Sky crowd agian. The season has begun!
Cragin
First Mountain Flights of the Season
I advise anyone who hasn't foot launched in the last couple of months, especially hang 2s and new hang 3s, to spend at least part of the day at the training hill before attempting a first mountain flight of the season. There's plenty of daylight to get in a few early morning flights at the hill and still get to the mountains for a decent end of the day flight.
I won't Observe any hang 2s off the mountain unless their foot launch skills are current and solid. It's just not safe otherwise.
Matthew
I won't Observe any hang 2s off the mountain unless their foot launch skills are current and solid. It's just not safe otherwise.
Matthew
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SheilaGardner
- Posts: 38
- Joined: Tue Feb 08, 2005 6:14 pm
Bills Hill
Bridget (3 1/2), Charlotte(1 1/2) and I managed to make it to Bills Hill on Sunday to catch up with good friends and watch Mark fly.? We had an awesome time and the girls were great (I was a little worried).? It was wonderful seeing everyone!?
?
Since Mark doesn't post - I want to post about his flight since its a learning experience for all of us.? The last time Mark had flown was in December at High Point so it was a good day to brush off the cobwebs.? I didn't see his launch (I had turned away for 1/2 second) but I was told that he took two small steps then sort of dove into his launch.? I did see the next part which was him way down in the slot headed for the trees (the slot is HUGE thanks to all those who worked on it!).? He managed to pooosh out at the end, cleared the trees and proceeded to have an awesome flight after a low save over the LZ.?
?
I know of three pilots who decided not to fly because they didn't care for conditions, or they didn't feel conditions were ideal since they hadn't been flying or footlaunched for awhile.? This is a very difficult decision to make when you drive all the way out there and everyone else is flying.? Of course everyone knows their own skill and comfort level.? I have to say that I was tempted to fly myself even though its been ages since I've footlaunched but fortunately or unfortunately - we forgot my harness.? Probably a blessing in disguise.?
?
I felt really bad for any new pilots that might have tried to come out and then there was the construction.? It would have been difficult to impossible to find it if you weren't there before.? The only thing I can suggest is to always have phone number of someone you know is going (lots of people have them at the end of their posts).? I thought I heard that a few pilots were cell-phoned in.? How many of you tried to get there but couldn't find it?
?
Congratulations to everyone on their flights - - or their decisions not to fly!!? I hope to see you all again SOON!
?
Sheila
?
Since Mark doesn't post - I want to post about his flight since its a learning experience for all of us.? The last time Mark had flown was in December at High Point so it was a good day to brush off the cobwebs.? I didn't see his launch (I had turned away for 1/2 second) but I was told that he took two small steps then sort of dove into his launch.? I did see the next part which was him way down in the slot headed for the trees (the slot is HUGE thanks to all those who worked on it!).? He managed to pooosh out at the end, cleared the trees and proceeded to have an awesome flight after a low save over the LZ.?
?
I know of three pilots who decided not to fly because they didn't care for conditions, or they didn't feel conditions were ideal since they hadn't been flying or footlaunched for awhile.? This is a very difficult decision to make when you drive all the way out there and everyone else is flying.? Of course everyone knows their own skill and comfort level.? I have to say that I was tempted to fly myself even though its been ages since I've footlaunched but fortunately or unfortunately - we forgot my harness.? Probably a blessing in disguise.?
?
I felt really bad for any new pilots that might have tried to come out and then there was the construction.? It would have been difficult to impossible to find it if you weren't there before.? The only thing I can suggest is to always have phone number of someone you know is going (lots of people have them at the end of their posts).? I thought I heard that a few pilots were cell-phoned in.? How many of you tried to get there but couldn't find it?
?
Congratulations to everyone on their flights - - or their decisions not to fly!!? I hope to see you all again SOON!
?
Sheila
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