Woodstock PM 4/11

[XCanytime]

Looking like a NNWish breezy afternoon at Woodstock Saturday. Gary Smith and I am looking to fly. Any others before the big Shawn Ray sendoff?

Bacil

[hepcat1989]

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[brianvh]

I hope to make it by mid afternoon.

[hepcat1989]

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[DanTuck]

I'm there. See y'all tomorrow.

[tdilisio]

Damn!!! Stuck in the Pitt of Massachusetts this weekend...

Have fun. Soar Safe!

[markc]

Count me in! Looks a bit north, but with the farewell party for
Shawn and Malina, Woodstock seems like the best bet.

There are some signs of a more NNW direction later in the day.
If there's enough sun for a glass-off, it might actually be quite nice!

MarkC

[brianvh]

I just wanted to point out: if you look at the radar, the rain stops before you get to woodstock. Don't roll over and go back to sleep on account of the rain pounding on your roof!

[hepcat1989]

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[silverwings]

It's sure hard to get motivated when it raining outside but I am hopeful it will pass in the next couple of hours and the forecast sure looks good for flying later this afternoon. Probably shoot for getting to the LZ 2:30 ish. (202)409-2574 c.

[silverwings]

Turned out reasonably good for flying though turbulent at times. Bacil launched around 2:45 when we were leaving the LZ, followed by Gary Smith. A bit later after I got to launch, David Bodner, Dan Tuckwiler, me, then later Mark Cavanaugh, Brian and Shawn were the last few. The highest I got was 1500 above though mostly 500 - 1000, and flew for 1:25. Lift was good at times and turbulent at other times and sometimes the wind velocity seemed strong for a while. Mostly cloudy but periods where the sun got through.

[XCanytime]

I got to launch around 1:45P. Soarable conditions as indicated by the TVs soaring back and forth in smooth lift under the overcast skies. Gary Smith and Dave Bodner joined me and we set up quickly. I took off around 2:45P in a nice cycle, turned right, and got up easily in the smooth air. Definite north cross above the ridge. Dolphin flew at 500' over up to just SW of the reservoir as the sky started opening up. Then conditions went to crap and I found myself in a huge sinkhole that put me 50 to 100' below the ridge. I turned back and the strong quartering tailwind made for a high groundspeed. I did not want to land out, so I kept my nose pointed almost straight out and kept up good airspeed for control in the rotory conditions. Finally climbed above the ridge one river bend up from the launch. Saw Gary a couple hundred over SW of launch. Gained back up to 500' over, but the sky looked ugly with wave clouds and such. Plus, it got downright turbulent. It wasn't my idea of fun, especially after that 4 mile trek from the north below the ridge, so I landed in a NE wind in the main LZ. Thanks to John Middleton for putting the big windsock in the main. Some pics of the sky follow.

Bacil

[XCanytime]

The sky's opening up.

Looking north towards the reservoir.

Huge wave cloud over Skyline Drive.

[XCanytime]

Dan Tuckwiller nails his landing.

We're going to miss you Shawn and Melina.

[DanTuck]

I arrived in the LZ around 2:15 to weird switchy, sometimes NE in the field. With the solid overcast, it didn't look too promising but then it began to break up and I saw Bacil launch and get up which was encouraging. On the way up top Gary launched and got up also. Once on launch it was coming in pretty nice, mostly cross from the right but still way better than Thursday. I launched after David Bodner and got up right away. I too encountered very smooth air at times but then quite turbulent stuff at other times. There were lots of birds out, I saw one bald eagle way down low. It was a nice flight until finally a turbulent and very strong sink cycle came through and flushed me from 700' over. My little vario was giving me some very strange tones. There had been nothing like that all day so I scooted on out to the LZ. Brian VH and I, both on Falcons, got the hammer and met right over the LZ. He was a little lower so he stuffed it got down while I cruised and turned a circle in some very light lift. I set up my approach right after him and came in for a nice landing (thanks for the pic Bacil). I got 1:25 in the log book, the highest I got was 1,300' over and like John I spent most of the time between 500-1000' over. After that it was on over to Mike and Rhonda's for the party. Thanks Mike for hosting, it was a great time. I have video of the flight to follow.

[DanTuck]

Here's the video - http://www.vimeo.com/4125732

[hepcat1989]

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[markc]

A few late photos to add to this thread... Shawn, if you want any of 'em
at high rez, let me know and I'll get them to you.

MarkC