Thanksgiving weekend flying

[XCanytime]

Let's try again . Friday thru Sunday are looking pretty good so far. X your fingers. Looking at Pulpit Friday and Saturday and Woodstock Sunday. Bacil

[wmelo]

If it flying conditions are Walt-able, I will follow the flock

[XCanytime]

Saturday is looking flyable at the Pulpit. And Sunday is looking great at Woodstock and not too too cold (mid 40's). Looking to fly both days. Bacil

[mcgowantk]

I am looking to fly Sunday.

Tom McGowan

[XCanytime]

Walt, Charley, and I are going to the Pulpit tomorrow. Plan to arrive by noon. Bacil

[XCanytime]

Good tutorial on a SW cross at the Pulpit . Walt flew. Much thanks to Ward who came out just to help launch and retrieve pilots. Check out the altitude curve . Bacil http://www.doarama.com/view/1757416

[silverwings]

Some PG pilots going to Woodstock on Sunday.

[Joe Schad]

I plan on flying. Get there 12-12;30

Joe

[silverwings]

I will be there with both wings, eta 1 pm ish. Could be fine for HG also.

[mcgowantk]

I think I will give Woodstock a try too.

Tom McGowan

[XCanytime]

Charley, Walt, Anthony, and I are going back to the Pulpit, looking for a late day flight. Too light for a iffy hang glider LZ situation for me. Bacil

[wmelo]

Interesting weekend at Pulpit.

Yesterday, only Bacil and I flew. Both of us had short flights. Although, I got 30% higher than Bacil, both of us did not go very high
It was however a good practice after 2 months without flying: good take off and landing.

I took off from the Rump with the help of Anthony, Charley, and Ward. The wind was WSW and weak. The take off was good and landing was ok. I only flew for 30 min

Today, things were different. Wind was stronger and WNW . I arrived by 2:30hs. Bacil and his friend John arrived a little bit later. Other pilots did not show up Fortunately, Robert (a pilot who lives close by), stopped by to help: big thanks to all of you. Since Bacil did not bring his glider: He kindly showed up just to help!

Since the wind was strong, Bacil advised me to take off from the pad. I had Bacil, Robert, and John as wire crew. I am not proud of my take off. As soon as I took off the glider turned slightly to the right (maybe due to the NW wind): Fortunately, I corrected quickly.

I flew for 40min +-, got 500ft above the ridge, and safely landing in the main LZ. John and Bacil were in the main LZ observing my approach and landing. Bacil was very concerned since his friend was in the LZ "observing" my landing

In my landing approach, I poorly calculated my altitude: the U2 did not want to go down! Fortunately, Bacil told me via radio that was too high for landing and I quickly addressed the situation by doing a S before my final: thank you ! It is so nice when more experiment pilots bring their radios and help out!

Concluding, it was a very good practice. I am still learning to handle my U2. It flies longer and faster then my previous gliders specially in days like today when there is almost no wind in the LZ. More landing practices are required!

Once again special thanks to Ward, Bacil, John (Bacil's friend), and Richard for their amazing assistance!

I am posting the video so others can learn from my mistakes:

Walt

[A.Lloyd]

I'm glad that the Pulpit worked this weekend! Walt it must feel good to have an entire mountain to yourself on a perfect day.

[silverwings]

Woodstock worked fairly good for HG's and PG's. There were light launch conditions at times but better cycles. Also, seemed that it got really nice late afternoon. Some pilots went XC. I had a very nice PG flight ending my sled streak!

[mcgowantk]

I had a nice flight at Woodstock too. Flew for about 1:30 getting to 5k msl. Got to fly with a sail plane and an immature bald eagle. It was nice to get out and fly the mountains. Glad the Pulpit worked too - I would have thought, given the wind readings I saw, that it would have been great there.

Tom McGowan

[markc]

Thanks for the flight reports over the past few days! Even vicarious flight beats no flights at all!