Pulpit Fly-In September 24-25 2016

[eggzkitz]

Please see the Fly-In thread just posted on the club meetings page:

http://www.chgpa.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=7064

[eggzkitz]

Anybody been out to Bill's lately. I'm wondering what condition launch is in (how overgrown) and what it will require to get it launchable/parkable in time for the fly-in. Any insight would be appreciated! Thanks...

[eggzkitz]

Please see the updated Fly-In thread on the meetings page!

[krista]

I will be there for camping for sure. Hope to be able to fly as well. Thanks for putting it together!

[markc]

Just a heads-up for the Fly-In : Sometimes there are a few 'sparklers to add to the evening entertainment.... But things have been really dry for quite some time, so might not be possible this year. Keeping an eye on it....

[eggzkitz]

Thanks, Mark. It really has been dry last few weeks.

And please remind folks to RSVP and let me know if you're planning on coming out to the Fly-in, just one week away now. I'd like to get an idea of how many people are coming out so we can make some logistical plans. Also, still looking for volunteers who are bringing coolers and BBQ equipment.

BTW -- Bacil promised good weather this year, so start digging out your fair weather camping gear.

[eggzkitz]

Fire it up for the Fly-in this weekend!

We'll post details for the (tentative) plan for Saturday based on the weather forecast on THURSDAY NIGHT. Keep your fingers crossed for NW conditions.

And please RSVP by any old means and let me know who to expect. As of now we have a total of 11 RSVPs, 9 PGs and 2 HGs.

Thanks!
Jeff

[mingram]

Pulpit Secondary LZ is OPEN

REMINDER: Drive extremely slowly when accessing the LZ. 15 mph is ok. 25 mph is too fast and landowners get very angry.

[eggzkitz]

There will be a portable toilet in the Pulpit parking area for the Fly-in. It should be dropped off by Thursday night. To keep others out of it, it will have a lock on it and the key will be in a plastic bag under the lip of the right side roof, for whoever gets there first and needs it...

[markc]

Checked the drought maps, and have been watching the recent rains.

Things *might* be ok for some evening entertainment. Would likely have to be scaled back... And would be very dependent on the wind velocity.... But that said, things seem ok-ish at this point. Let's hope it stays that way!

And if not? Fine beer and wine choices can make up for a lot!

MarkC

[mingram]

Nice Mark!

Joe Sherman and P2 from Norfolk, VA is driving up on Friday afternoon and should arrive around 3pm. Any other early fliers want to take advantage of the good forecast on Friday?

Saturday is northish, but might be doable since it's so light. High of 75! Low of 52! Sweet camping weather! Bring a fleece!

[mingram]

Another new P2 from Baltimore Grayson Brown is arriving on Friday after sundown.

Hugh is aiming to arrive Friday at noon with "with pipes and bag - and a lot of stuff for sale, and a small grill and some firewood" and is willing to observe P2/H2s.

[eggzkitz]

The fly-in is a GO for this weekend!

Conditions looks great for the Pulpit tomorrow, Friday. Forecast for Saturday is more N at Pulpit, so perhaps SAC or Cumberland if it ends up NW there. Sunday could be East and Bills.

Camping Saturday night should be clear and cool, so bring warm gear!

Stay tuned Friday night for plans for Saturday. Good luck to those heading to the Pulpit tomorrow (I'm jealous).

[Dave Gills]

Any Friday afternoon flying going on?
I could get there by 4

[eggzkitz]

Hugh is at Pulpit now observing some P2s. Reports light straight conditions.

[eggzkitz]

The fly-in has started, with good conditions today! Hugh flew OTB to Greencastle and others flew as well. Hope to see everyone for a fun night of camping tomorrow night.

Flying wise, will make a call and head out at 9 am in the morning. Looks north, so perhaps SAC. Looks east Sunday, so perhaps Bills.

[Danny Brotto]

SAC tends to require higher winds. High Rock works well in a North and it won't be a hella drive from McConnellsburg.

Good luck tomorrow.

Danny Brotto

[Dunegoon]

Headed to the Sac in the am with Bacil. If you haven't flown there before please check with Joe and Karen about waivers and site protocol.

CF

[eggzkitz]

Great day, bunch of us went up to SAC -- launch is not optimized for PG, but it works. 2:45, 4600', 35km, very nice soaring.

About 12 of us now on pulpit launch grilling and camping. Awesome sunset. Shimmy did a PPG flyby at sunset. And Mark just lit off an AMAZING fireworks display.

Fired up for day THREE...

[XCanytime]

Congratulations to Jeff and Matt for their XC flights from the SAC. Jeff landed by the Susquehanna River below Halifax and Matt made it to Elizabethville. I tried to get to the SAC as early as I could and catch the fresher breezes during the frontal passage. Charley and I got delayed by running into 3 Harley drivers from South Carolina at the Subway shop off of Lebanon Pike. They were heading to Watkins Glen, NY to watch the eldest driver's son race. Turns out they were from Blythewood where my grandmother was born and raised many moons ago. By the time we got to the SAC just before 10A it was blowing smooth and moderate in the slot and definitely soarable. As we set up it died down to a trickle and an occasional weak cycle here and there. Charley's Zagi found plenty of lift so I got up on the knob but backed down to wait for a cloud street to make its way over launch. When it got near I returned and launched in a weak cycle (not much else going on) and made a few passes in front of launch but got lower on each pass. You are toast at the SAC if you don't get up after the first few passes (600' to LZ). As I flew towards the main LZ I spotted a red tail hawk flying just a few feet off of the brush in the field across the street from the main LZ. He kept cruising back and forth and then dove into the brush to snatch a field mouse for brunch. Cool sight! Joe had mentioned that we could land in the field just west of the main field since it was larger due to the corn being cut. An added benefit is that it is a good place to land with a NE to E cross on the ground (which it was). The gradient on the uphill field was large and I lost airspeed quick during the flare. Tried to keep my legs under me but tripped and bellied in gently. Another gracious retrieve from Charley. Back at launch Dave Black was set up and the PG contingent had shown up from the Pulpit. I hit the road at 1:30P, leaving behind potential better conditions (and I did!). Looking forward to reading a more detailed report on Jeff and Matt's XC flights and Charley's kick butt flight after 5P in glassoff conditions. Bacil

[markc]

Great to hear that both PG and HG flights were had at the Sac on Saturday, sorry to have missed that.

I arrived at the Pulpit at about 6:00pm on Sat, and several PG pilots gave it a go.... But with the north cross conditions no one made it into the air, bummer!

The post-flight party and such were fun, warm campfire, grill, beer and wine.... But a bit odd that the HG contigent was so sparse, where the heck was everybody?????????

[markc]

Yeah, I'll say that one more time: Where the heck was everyone?

[Dunegoon]

Some great flying at the SAC. Challenging launch for PGs. Good judgment prevailed and some lessons were learned. Bacil had a nice flight earlier in the day. Dave had an extendo. Joe followed later with a soaring flight and eventually got flushed. Karen had an extendo. I had a sketchy launch but timed a good cycle and got up. Did a little exploring and thermaled up into better conditions and flew cautiously over the back at 3,500+msl. Very boyant air and light winds allowed some unique soaring behind the ridge. Could have kept on climbing but was making sure I could always easily make it back.

Lots of landing areas OTB but eventually just flew back upwind to launch. Watched Chris and Doug pinned low on the ridge until they started to figure out conditions. Got cold and tired and eventually found a great line upwind out the valley to the "church." It is a right of passage to fly out and circle around the steeple and make it back to the LZ. Doug followed me out and then we cruised back to the LZ. I was worried we were going to end up in the pattern at the same time, but I got another late thermal and climed back over launch in a sweet magic carpet ride. Ended a great flight with a good approach to the RLF uphill landing only to slightly beak over instead of fly on the wall perfection. When you hit one of those it is very satisfying. A lot of smiles in the LZ and a beautiful day in the mountains for all who cared to venture to the SAC.

So my excuse is that I flew too damn long and late to make it to the Pulpit. Sorry Mark, Yvonne and I were planing to make it. Had to get up early Sunday for another adventure. : )

[krryerson]

Would have love to be there, flying my hangglider at the Fly-In, but had to go on a Boyscout trip with my son, on the Potomac River, canoeing and cleaning the river for tire's between Paw Paw and Bonds landing. Two days camping and 40+ tires.
Glad it worked out for you guys and you got to fly.
Hopefully I'll make it to the next Fly -In.
Knut

[eggzkitz]

Day three was really fun. Buncha PGs at Bills. The overgrown slot was a bit of a challenge but most PGs launched OK and several got up and away. Four of us gaggled up and took a slow (L&V!) XC route first south along the ridge then west past Breezewood. About 30 km and just under 4 hours. TOL ~6k'. Beautiful L&V soaring conditions with moderate and abundant thermals.

Heading South across the I-76 gap behind Tom and Shimmy. Matt was just behind.

Thermaling with Tom south of launch