Daniels Saturday 11/9

[mingram]

A few PGs are interested. Anyone else?

[mcelrah]

Yup. - Hugh

[rlweber]

ETA 1:00 pm if the forecast holds
Randy

[wmelo]

SATURDAY
SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 50S. SOUTHWEST WINDS 10 TO
15 MPH.

is it too light for hang gliders?

walt

[mcelrah]

Not too light, but might consider Dickey's instead...

[Dan T]

Walt,

SSW 10-15 is nearly ideal. Daniels is a 4wd road or a long hike up. Dickey's is a long hike as well but not as long as Daniel's. Dickey's is an H3 site and requires a hang gliding special use permit. It's too late to get one for this year.

Dan T

[wmelo]

Any HG observer this sat @ Daniels ?

[mcelrah]

Yup. Maybe we went through this before? Please message me where you are in your H2-dom - experience in general, at Daniel's, what kind of conditions you have flown in. Should be good for HG tomorrow...
- Hugh (or just call 301 980-6381)

[mingram]

Wind might be too strong for PG. Some are bailing. Me, Jim, Krista, and Petr are going to work on the road if nothing else.

[mingram]

Well it turned out to be a great day. Not too strong. My max climb was 3m/s to 3700 ft msl. Unexpected and really nice day at Daniels. 9 PG and 3 HG.

[Mobius1]

If you didn't go to Daniel's today, I'd say you missed out. It was easily ridge soar-able all day with clear, sunny skies and t-shirt weather in the LZ. The prevailing wind acted as a cushion that would keep me at or just above launch, and lift spots would come through every 7 min or so and consistently take me about 300 imperial feet over the ridge. The trusty Falcon had no trouble penetrating today, but I did feel like there was a smooth, light, and steady sink (faster than normal glide) after leaving the ridge. Once I reached 2-300ft over the LZ, the normal sink rate and usual lifting resumed allowing me to stay up a few more minutes. Thank you to mcelrah for spotting me and also to mingram for helping me carry out of the W LZ before the cows ate me (there was a very curious herd [in which cow 11 sounded sick and was starring mad-cowish]).

Mobius

[mcelrah]

Well the mighty observer man promptly blew his launch, breaking an outer leading edge, down tube and bruising a knee. I am so old and busted up that my launch run was wimpy - I think I was chasing the glider, too slowly to drive it, and fell into the harness prematurely. Back to the training hill... - Hugh

[jyoder111]

Dang, Hugh. Sorry to hear about the mishap. Glad it wasn't on the rocks of Woodstock or the Pulpit. Hope you heal fast and have no lasting battle wounds. I think the Daniel's launch is a bit shallower than Woodstock or the Pulpit and generally requires more pilot physical effort to get the body going. Am I right on this?

Jesse

[Joe Schad]

Sorry to hear about your event. Heal fast you young dude.

Flew Dickey's Saturday but only got a short extendo. Probably launched too early 12:30. Had a nice hike back to get my car. Lost a radio, probably while in flight. Could not find it on launch or in the LZ.

Joe

[mcelrah]

Nah, I've never had difficulty launching at Daniel's before. Maybe I caught a wired cycle where a west cross killed the lift in the slot. Luis wisely waited for a really good straight-in cycle and had a good launch.
-Hugh

[mingram]

New club member Thomas Moosdorf put together this video from Saturday. If you haven't met Thomas yet he's an experienced pilot from Germany and lives in Rockville.