Flytec Race and Rally

[lbunner]

Finally, a good year for pushing north toward Chattanooga! We started the comp at Quest and the first task was to fly north to Keystone (93 miles) into a quartering headwind with no cloud markers. We had one turnpoint at Greystone to keep us away from airspace to the east. Most pilots didn't believe this was achievable but I took the attitude that it was going to be a very long day and the key to going far was to get high and stay high. Unfortunately for us the top of the lift was between 4000 and 5000' which doesn't bode well for flying very fast. At times I flew well with the big dogs, Jonny, Carl, Felippo, Dustin, at other times I fell behind. However every time I fell behind I would find a good climb which would catch me up to the lead gaggle. Toward the end we were only 12 miles out but the thermal strength had waned and we all made a final glide out over the trees as far as we dared and then turned tail back to the only LZ. I ended up 5th for the day and 5 1/2 hours in the air. Woohoo, I am sore!

[lbunner]

What a great comp. On the second day we flew from Live Oak, FL to Moultrie, GA. Day 3 Moultrie to Americus, GA further than we've gotten in the past. Day 4 there was an incident where one of the pilots had trouble getting out of the cart and then piled in. She is OK but the day was cancelled. Free flying was allowed and it was reported that pilots climbed to well over 7000'. Day 5 we flew a dog leg of ~125 miles from Americus to Vidalia, GA. Each of the airports have rolled out the red carpet for us and have had news teams waiting to get the good word out. It has been a real treat to experience. Today, I was interviewed for the local paper. It was really cool. As of this morning I was in 6th place behind Jonny Durand, Curt Warren, Dustin Martin, Carl Wallbank and Paris Williams, good company for sure. I had my worst flight today and ended up 15 miles short. Bummer but hard to be disappointed when the flying has been so awesome. One more day tomorrow, but looks like rain. Five days of flying, over 20 hours in the air and almost 500 miles and that's just for the Flytec Race and Rally.

[Flying Lobster]

I've heard nothing but glowing reports from pilots there--so cool to see this coming together as a premier rally event. Next year you guys will make it for sure : )

marc

[mcelrah]

Ya, this sounds like such a blast. I want to participate somehow next time, whether flying, driving, crewing... - Hugh