Sunday (02/26/2017) @ Pulpit

[wmelo]

Well conditions have been changed. It seems that pulpit May be the place to be. It looks strong to me before 2:00pm, but it may be good later.

Thoughts?

[markc]

Yup, might turn out to be a Pulpit day on Sunday! Will be watching conditions tomorrow, that's for sure.... WS or Pulpit, which will it be?

[XCanytime]

STFI. Dialing back after 4P. Warmest part of the day. No LZ issues. Pulpit it is for me and Charley. Bacil

[markc]

Kinda leaning toward the late-day Pulpit scenario vs the early WS scenario.... But some hints that things might be strongish on the ADDS 3k. More waiting and watching, sigh.

[smurfsky101]

Am planning on being at WS by 10

[markc]

The gust factor has been removed from the hourly plot at the Pulpit, and sfc forecast is W@10 and declining as of 4pm. So that's enough to tempt me up there for a late-day flight. The 3k is a bit stronger than I would like... But hey, no such thing as a sure thing when it comes to flying!

[bowen.tim]

Heading to the Pulpit. ETA 2:30. Can't fly if you don't go.

[markc]

I had second thoughts after my post, decided to hit 66 & 81, then make a decision there. Texted some, so hopefully people were aware not to rely on me; sorry for not posting too. Great conditions at WS, flight report later....

[XCanytime]

Arrived at launch just after 1P to strong conditions on launch and a sky full of cloud streets. Was a 100 mile downwind day at that time. Set up after getting a text from Tim Bowen confirming he was coming; prior to that I got a phone call from Ric Caylor, who was on his way and 10 minutes out. Otherwise I would have blown a gasket ! Anyway, after Tim and Ric arrived I had a one step and up launch from the pad at 3:15P onto the straight up escalator. Found a strong headwind from the WSW and lift not wide enough to turn in. The lift was also drifting out of the WSW as well. So been there, done that a few times. But just as I was going to go into boat around mode I found some strong shots of lift along the power line clear cut. Flew upwind thinking it was a lift line but decided to try to turn in it and viola! stayed in lift the whole way around . Locked in and climbed out to 5400' MSL by the time I was over the Mt. Parnell fish ponds. It was 16 degrees at that altitude. Brrr! It was completely blue downwind, so I spied a nice field by Jack Road in St. Thomas and cruised to over a vehicle junkyard just west of the field. It was pumping out some disorganized lift so I fooled around in it for a few minutes before committing to land in the long field facing WNW by Jack Road. Had a nice landing and carried over to the edge of the field opposite a house. Jeff Fisher came out to greet me warmly, having woke up from an afternoon nap to a strange orange colored wing coming toward him from the field across the street. Tim came and retrieved me; thanks a bunch Tim! Back at launch Ric was set up to ready to go. Conditions had backed down nicely, just as forecast. Ric had a nice takeoff from the pad at 5:20P with Tim, Blaine, and me assisting. He went right up w/o much effort. Blaine went to drive Ric's truck down to the main LZ, and I hit the road. Next weekend is looking good for the Pulpit. Both days. Bacil