Erin, our adventurous 15 year old, had been bugging me about taking HG lessons for some time. So, during a family vacation at Kitty Hawk she was able to take a lesson, I flew one of the HG school’s Eaglets, and when conditions improved, my old Pacific Airwave MK IV 17.
Before going to the Outer Banks, I rousted the MKIV from its seven-year slumber in the attic, checked the batten profile and glider, and after more rummaging, dug out an old knee hanger harness.
Things sure have changed at the Kitty Hawk Kites HG School since I took lessons there in 1985 and 87. The HG school is now co-located with Jockey Ridge park headquarters, the dunes themselves have moved/changed, and you no longer cross the road at Kitty Hawk kites to fly the east-facing dune closest to route 158 (Too many accidents by drivers watching flight operations). Students have to walk about 700 to 900 yards from the HG school to get to the dunes, which now include gentle, south, west, and NW slopes. The east-facing dune, now behind a smaller dune and not visible from route 158, is the largest and offers the best possibility for soaring.
It's best to visit during east winds, but our rental cottage had been booked for some time. During our stay, the wind blew from every direction but east, and on some strong west days, the gust differential was too great for my liking – a stunt kite would vary from strong pull on the arms to slack lines.
It looked like I would not be able to take the MKIV of the car, but on Saturday, 11 April, a nice 7 to 9 mph west breeze and temps in the 70’s temped me to the gentle west dune (I avoided the approx. 800 yd walk from the HG school and hiked it in about 400 yards across route 158) It wasn’t strong enough for soaring, but I took 8 or 9 flights and just treated it as a training hill day, with the MKIV floating much further in ground effect than the Eaglets, giving me a nice workout carrying it back up the slope.
Andy, the senior instructor, said he helped teach the Highland Aerosport crew, and gave me tips on locations to soar at the beach during east winds. Bruce Weaver and the rest of the instructors are also very helpful and friendly to visiting pilots. I recommend checking the weather forecast and timing your visit during east wind conditions.
john dullahan
Kitty Hawk Flights
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
-
John Dullahan
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:43 pm
Kitty Hawk Flights
- Attachments
-
- John on the "high performance" wing
-
- Erin flying with Andy's guidance
-
- Erin listening to Andy's pre-flight briefing
John Dullahan
-
John Dullahan
- Posts: 152
- Joined: Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:43 pm
Re: Kitty Hawk Flights
Brian,
Erin had hoped to take more than one lesson, but due to the weather, only took one with the standard five flights. She volunteered to take the first flight in her group, and had two really good ones. After that she got a little cocky (the "two good flights syndrome") and on her next one went a little high, resulting in a mild whack. She ended the session with two good flights, and said she would like to take lessons in the DC area. However, she is in Randolph Macon Academy, a boarding school in Front Royal, and doesn't have every weekend free, so we will have to play it by ear.
John
Erin had hoped to take more than one lesson, but due to the weather, only took one with the standard five flights. She volunteered to take the first flight in her group, and had two really good ones. After that she got a little cocky (the "two good flights syndrome") and on her next one went a little high, resulting in a mild whack. She ended the session with two good flights, and said she would like to take lessons in the DC area. However, she is in Randolph Macon Academy, a boarding school in Front Royal, and doesn't have every weekend free, so we will have to play it by ear.
John
John Dullahan