1st time to Pulpit for Fly-In - hoping to fly tomorrow

[Brit_in_SoMD]

Howdy folks,

Tomorrow, I'm gonna be heading to the Pulpit for the fly-in this weekend - my first time there. Really looking forward to it.

I've got the whole day off and am hoping to get there sometime early to mid-afternoon - wanna beat the Beltway traffic (coming from southern MD) and also get a good camping spot!

And if I can get there early enough to fly too, that will be even better - but i know that i've not been before and need to get site briefing, sign waivers, walk the LZ, etc. before flying.

Is anyone else gonna be out there tomorrow afternoon if it's flyable? Or any of the other sites nearby?

Am biwingual and will be bringing both. I started flying HG a long time ago ('93) but am still only H3, about 65hrs, currently on a WW Sport2. Started PG a bit later ('98) but continued to focus on HG so still only P2 (just need the exam and observed spot landings to get P3, though), about 25 hrs, currently on a Firebird Ignition (DHV-1/2). Have some limited XC experience, about 60 miles cumulative total on PG and 120 cumulative on HG, furthest on both about 20 miles. Also have a private pilot’s licence (but again, very low hours, about 100).

You’ll be able to identify me easily when I speak – I’m English! – or when I get my HG out – the undersurface looks like the Texas Lone Star flag!

See ya out there

Richard

PS I met some of y'all at the HG film evening at the Smithsonian last spring but haven’t been flying at any club sites yet.

[jyoder111]

Hi Richard,
I'm also interested in starting the Fly-in early-- heading up tomorrow afternoon. I'm an H2 and need an observer to fly, but even if I can't find one, I can still show you around. Tomorrow is actually looking pretty good in the afternoon as long as the rain and T-storms holds off. Anyone else interested?

My ETA is probably 1:30-2:30pm.

Jesse

[Brit_in_SoMD]

See you there!

Hoping to be there by 3pm.

[brianvh]

Jesse;
There'll be a couple folks from Ellenville as well: Lindsey Chew will be camping at launch, Jim Donovan will be at Johnnie's motel down below. They'll be there thursday afternoon. Though I think they are both observers I'm not sure it's a good idea to have observers at a site they have never flown before throwing off a H2 they have never seen fly before. But they would deeply appreciate being shown around, and maybe some local observer will show up friday. I'm an observer who knows the site, and maybe if I get an accurate evaluation of your skills/experience and see what the LZs are looking like I could toss you off friday evening...hope to arrive around 6.

A couple more from Ellenville will show up I think Friday early afternoon, but I'm not as familiar with them.

[mingram]

Welcome Richard! I plan to arrive tomorrow evening as well.

For any pilots new to the Pulpit, please print out the Pulpit waiver and bring it with you. http://chgpa.org/Waivers/waivers.html If you're not a club member or don't wish to be a member and haven't paid the Pulpit fee please bring a check (we can accept cash too). This pays for site insurance. Myself or one of the other club officers will get you squared away.

Matt Ingram - VP

[dbodner]

The Pulpit waiver isn't technically required anymore. However, it's nice for us to have your name, address, e-mail, USHPA number, etc.

The best thing to do is to join either CHGPA (as Matt was describing) or MHGA, if you haven't already. A second-best is to give me your information with $15. That's the Pulpit-only annual fee, which doesn't give you privileges at any other site. (For example, if we drive 30 minutes down the road to fly High Rock instead, you won't be covered). While hang-waiting I can explain the complicated bureaucratic organization of our local HG/PG community.

I should be getting there Saturday by noon.

David Bodner
Pulpit Treasurer

[John Dullahan]

Richard,
Welcome to the DC area hang gliding scene! I hope to arrive at the Pulpit sometime in the afternoon and can observe for you and Jessie. What's your cell phone number? Jessie, can you send me yours as well?

John D.

[SheilaGardner]

Not positive - but looks like we're going to be at the Pulpit fly-in. Look forward to seeing everyone!
Sheila, Mark, Bridget and Charlotte

[Dan T]

Richard and all others new to the Pulpit. I strongly encourage you to find someone who can show you where the primary and secondary LZs are. You should walk them both. I will be there late this afternoon and will show them to you if you haven't already had a chance to see them.

The last time I was there the grass was high, if it's higher still now landing is going to be challenging. You will need a plan and a back up plan or two. The primary field is huge but it slopes significantly down hill. A double surface glider will travel much further than you might think. Most locals land cross field most of the time.

Dan T

[Brit_in_SoMD]

Thanks to everyone involved for organising a fun fly-in - i had a great time.

It was great to meet so many folks and get off the ground a bit too - shame the conditions weren't better, but you can't always have it all, I guess!

In particular, thank you to John Dullihan for taking time out to give me (and others) guided tours of the LZs - invaluable.

Hope to be flying with y'all again soon.

Richard