I have the day off... likely heading to Highland, let me know if any interest in flying tomorrow! Back to back is good.
John
Monday
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
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John Simon
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:33 pm
Re: Monday
So here it is...
Ric N., Larry and is other buddy Larry showed up at Highland on Monday. The forecast was very good and I figured 5000' or maybe a touch more. Cloud streets at noon fully developed. Windy, gustier than forecast but it's just the strong thermals coming through. The 3 XC dogs launch around 12:30 and I'm about 20 minutes behind. I am in the cart as the 3 wheel up to 5000 grand over the field. It's looking perfect. All set to go and catch up but a thermal or non-dust devil comes through and takes me off the cart, flips me and throws me down turtle style! Whoaa, tail into the wind and on the cart I was launched out of it, that's a first. I was slow to get me full weight down and then it was too late. After 15 minutes of inspection and setup, I'm off but the guys are now GONE.
The radio freq we picked is whacked full time with some locals who refuse to allow us any chance. Further, the turtle move has made it such that I can transmit but not hear too well. I climb out to 5000' at 500-600 fpm and roar off to the east to catch up, planing a turn S as we get to the east side of the peninsula and the wind switches from WNW to NNW (hopefully). I click off 30 miles downind in no time and turn south. Still can't see the guys, but they see me. They can't tell me though.
I have Dewey on glide and Ocean city looks like it's 5 miles away... (It's more like 25). After 5 or 10 miles south, I can't find them and hear Larry call heading North? This confuses me more than my normal state and I decide to turn back and make a triangle out of it. I'm 30 miles out and heading into 10-14 mph. The lift is great, but it's not looking good back towards Ridgely, blue holes and weak looking sky. I top out at 6300 feet at 700 fpm and head into the wind. Sure enough, it's quite weak out ahead and for the next 2 hours I slog it out. 200, maybe 300 fpm and I'm working for my miles. I make 23 miles and deck it about 7 or 8 short of Ridgely after 3:40, uhhgg... the proverbial "one more climb" story. Great day, incredible lift, great visibility, Eagles and lots of lift. Staying south looked good but I didn't want to be a problem for my driver as I was a guest.
The guys all went down about Ocean City/Assateague for 50-65 miles and more than that if you include the dogleg, everyone getting 3 hours or so in epic conditions. I covered most of the triangle but came up short. Great conditions, great day. Thanks to Sunny, Steve, Jim, Adam and Kristen!!
John
Ric N., Larry and is other buddy Larry showed up at Highland on Monday. The forecast was very good and I figured 5000' or maybe a touch more. Cloud streets at noon fully developed. Windy, gustier than forecast but it's just the strong thermals coming through. The 3 XC dogs launch around 12:30 and I'm about 20 minutes behind. I am in the cart as the 3 wheel up to 5000 grand over the field. It's looking perfect. All set to go and catch up but a thermal or non-dust devil comes through and takes me off the cart, flips me and throws me down turtle style! Whoaa, tail into the wind and on the cart I was launched out of it, that's a first. I was slow to get me full weight down and then it was too late. After 15 minutes of inspection and setup, I'm off but the guys are now GONE.
The radio freq we picked is whacked full time with some locals who refuse to allow us any chance. Further, the turtle move has made it such that I can transmit but not hear too well. I climb out to 5000' at 500-600 fpm and roar off to the east to catch up, planing a turn S as we get to the east side of the peninsula and the wind switches from WNW to NNW (hopefully). I click off 30 miles downind in no time and turn south. Still can't see the guys, but they see me. They can't tell me though.
I have Dewey on glide and Ocean city looks like it's 5 miles away... (It's more like 25). After 5 or 10 miles south, I can't find them and hear Larry call heading North? This confuses me more than my normal state and I decide to turn back and make a triangle out of it. I'm 30 miles out and heading into 10-14 mph. The lift is great, but it's not looking good back towards Ridgely, blue holes and weak looking sky. I top out at 6300 feet at 700 fpm and head into the wind. Sure enough, it's quite weak out ahead and for the next 2 hours I slog it out. 200, maybe 300 fpm and I'm working for my miles. I make 23 miles and deck it about 7 or 8 short of Ridgely after 3:40, uhhgg... the proverbial "one more climb" story. Great day, incredible lift, great visibility, Eagles and lots of lift. Staying south looked good but I didn't want to be a problem for my driver as I was a guest.
The guys all went down about Ocean City/Assateague for 50-65 miles and more than that if you include the dogleg, everyone getting 3 hours or so in epic conditions. I covered most of the triangle but came up short. Great conditions, great day. Thanks to Sunny, Steve, Jim, Adam and Kristen!!
John
Re: Monday
Great flights all.
I'm getting a hankering to climb back between the aluminum bars after having flown the bag wing almost exclusively for the last two years. When does the air park close?
Dan
I'm getting a hankering to climb back between the aluminum bars after having flown the bag wing almost exclusively for the last two years. When does the air park close?
Dan
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John Simon
- Posts: 300
- Joined: Fri Feb 11, 2005 12:33 pm
Re: Monday
Usually closes mid November... Oct can be nice.