Pulpit Sunday May 23rd

[XCanytime]

Looking good and warm to boot! Who's interested? Bacil

[Bari]

I am in was already wondering when this discussion would start.

[1otIII2007]

What about Saturday? Either the Pulpit or Woodstock.

Allan B.

[XCanytime]

Pulpit Saturday too. Bacil

[markc]

I might only be able to get away for one flying day this weekend.

If that's the case, I'm leaning Sunday at Woodstock, based on the Friday forecasts as of 4pm. Looks pretty strong at the Pulpit.

[XCanytime]

Unless you join Charley and I very early to attempt Higgs Dream a.k.a. "The Mission". It is looking perfect to at least try for Charlie Allen's spread west of Liverpool PA. Bacil

[wmelo]

So far, Sunday @ WS sounds very promising.
If possible I would like to have a stress free flight this Saturday to test my GoPro max gift from my son

[1otIII2007]

Woodstock then?

[RichH]

Forecast looks good for WS on Sunday..thinking of getting there about noon

[markc]

I'lll be there. Gary also.

[markc]

The short version:

We mowed the LZ! Joe S included, even though he wasn't flying today. Thank you Joe, ditto for the tractor-tutorial. And big thanks to John McA, for the equipment!

In the air: Gary, Rich H, Allan, Charlie, myself. Conditions were on the strong side for Bari, unfortunately, and he did not fly. Bacil helped with launches, after he had a flight up at the Pulpit early in the day. Several of us headed to the Woodstock BrewPub after flying (they have up'd their game, new outdoor seating and an expanded menu).

Flying wise: Well, I have to say, the fun-o-meter wasn't ticking over much. Conditions early were downright mean. I headed north and skated between big Q's because it seemed like they could easily OD. Lots of action on the dtube, spit out of cores more times than I can count, the lift just wasn't sweet. On the plus side, had a brief encounter with a redtail and two other locals who were mixing it up, claws-up. My highest was 4978 MSL, with a couple of 4500 MSL climbs. We all capped out around the same altitude.

I was happy with my launch, but my landing sucked : Did not burn it in, and was unable to get fully-around on final. Grrrr! After several "nailed-it" landings in technical conditions at WS, a rookie mistake. I'll try to post a brief vid later. Everyone else's landings were great.

[XCanytime]

It was a Pulpit weekend for a few pilots. After getting off of work Saturday, I headed to the Pulpit to meet up w/ H2s Bari and Alex in hopes of getting them a late evening flight, and a 1st Pulpit flight for Alex. Charley wanted to do a low stress shakedown flight on his glider, so we had wire crew for Charley. Rich showed up w/ his new glider support rig for his vehicle, so Rich took the 3rd wire crew spot so Alex could watch a wire assisted launch from the ramp. Charley executed a good launch in challenging conditions around 5:30P, got up easily, and found smooth air w/ an appreciable headwind. I took Alex down to the LZ to watch Charley execute an accurate, consistent approach and nice landing after 45 minutes in the air. The forecasted throttleback did not occur, so we pulled the plug at 7P.

I got to the Pulpit launch Sunday at 7:50A to go for an XC to Charlie Allen's house west of Liverpool, PA. The forecast was ideal for the attempt. WNW turning NW as the day went on. I secured 3 wire crew for Charley and I (Bari, Anthony, and Rich). I quickly set up and monitored the Holfuy windmeter. Around 9A Bari, Rich, and Anthony showed. Charley showed up at 9:15A, so I promptly launched as it was ramping up. I had a good launch and got up easily, but the air was a mess. 10 minutes later Charley radioed me that it was already blown out. I found one good climb to ~ 3900' MSL by the Rt. 16 xover, and I promptly lost it heading north. After an hour and a half in the air, I threw in the towel and landed on the driving range of the golf course. Charley retrieved me, and we agreed to drive to Woodstock and I would be Charley's driver.

Leaving at 12:30P, and taking the Rt. 522 route, we arrived at Woodstock launch around 2:45P. Found Allan, Rich Heigel, Mark C., Gary Smith, and Bari set up. Conditions on launch were light to moderate to strong. Mark C. was the 1st to launch, followed by Allan, Rich, and Gary. Bari and I launched Charley around 5:30P, and I tracked Charley on the WhatsApp group as I drove along Rt. 11 to Fisher's Hill. The live tracking feature is the best thing to happen for chase crews . I radioed Charley to see if he was going to try for Front Royal Airport. He decided to just run back to the bridge field, so I raced him back. I didn't beat him by much . Bari made the command decision to break down after I left to chase Charley; he used Mark's vehicle to transport his equipment to his car at the bridge field, and in turn retrieved Mark's vehicle for him. The 'ole 2 birds w/ one stone . I got to watch the pilots landing approaches, and I'd say the majority executed textbook approaches. Landings were difficult in the sporty air, and Charley, the last pilot to land, made a command decision to roll in on the wheels. I commend him on that choice as he sped by me in the wonky air at ground level. Post flight brews at the Woodstock Brewhouse quenched a lot of thirsts on an extremely warm day for May 23rd. Bacil

https://ayvri.com/scene/z15y60z0jx/ckp2 ... 6hkzs39aus

[markc]

Neglected to mention that Gary was among the LZ-mowing crew. He actually instigated the plan, but then had to deal with some issues at home on Sunday morning. So Joe S was elected to show the newbie (me) the ropes. After a bit of hemming and hawing, we got the tractor oiled, fueled, and started. First cut of the year for the field apparently (very dry month of May), and I learned quite a few things.

Gary and I got a decent section cut for landings, but then Joe went to town and finished-off the entire field. Which, BTW, I directly benefited from later, as I wheeled-in after my crappy landing approach.

And I also need to mention Joe's prior & ongoing work, clearing launch! Major kudos, we need to buy him a case of beer on the next WS day!

[krryerson]

Awesome!
Thanks!
Knut

[Dunegoon]

Launched last. Nice air to race the Bald Eagles to the Knob and back. Spent much of the flight with full VG practicing smoother flight. Of course the Eagles did the VG thing also and left me in their wake. Did not find a good climb so just raced Bacil back.

Faster than needed approach and goofy transition left me going back to the base tube and wheel landing before things got ugly. Good thing the field was mowed.

I have a new antenna from Davis Straub that works much better than the rubber ducky. On Saturday at the Pulpit a ham from West Virginia and I had a QSO. Of course I had to explain that I was flying a hang glider about a thousand feet over McConnellsburg PA at the time of contact. He looked up my call sign and was genuinely amused by the fact that I was airborne.

Not so interesting flight track: https://ayvri.com/scene/31jnnvz2jd/ckp3 ... 6ixsqdwcg6