Indian Cliffs 10/18/08

I blew off bow hunting because the forecast looked sooo good. I got there a little late and expected to see gliders everywhere but there was only one PG in the air a couple hundred over. A quick call up top to SkyQueen told me why, it was a little strong and crossed so everyone was setting up and watching the conditions. After hightailing it up top and setting up quickly I watched a couple gliders launch and hit the wall out front, the conditions were still strong and after running off in the shadow you would hit the up draft and shoot skyward. I finally stepped up and watched everyone slowly sink to ridge level as I got there so I waited till it picked up again and they were going back up then could not get the glider to feel level for launch so I stepped out of the slot and let Don? go and was heartened by a nice launch.

When I finally did launch it was no problem and the ridge was working and I got up quickly but soon there was a lull and everyone was down on the ridge and scratching but it was short lived and soon we were back over launch by a few hundred and got to spread out and work the hill. The air had some texture to it and you had to hang on tight at times but as you got higher it smoothed out a lot and was not too bad.

The hawks were out in profusion and it was fun flying with them and watching their antics. At one point I looked down and one was inverted about 30 feet below me and looking up at me I thought at first it was an owl, white with brown spots, but then it flipped back over and I realized it was a red tail. I was following another and it would tuck its wings and become football shaped, plummet 30-40 feet then open its wings and soar back up to the level it had started. I thought it was diving at prey but as we flew down the ridge it kept doing it over and over again and I realized it was just plain having fun.

The Cliffs were working well and they remain one of the most postcard perfect places to fly. The colors were exceptional, HG, PG and sailplanes all flying together and the river below make for a great place to fly. The only problem was I forgot my camera and did not get any pictures for the postcard.

Flights: 1

Airtime: 3:04

Fun Factor: 7-8

Bristol and Hammondsport this weekend

Saturday was the day to fly at Bristol with lots of pilots coming out. Jeff got his first soaring flight. I did a bunch more mowing in the LZ and never did make it up top to fly. Sat. night the party was a great success thanks to Moritz and all his hard work. I slept out under the stars and moon and it was warm but cool enough to keep the mosquitoes away. Sunday there was breakfast at Bears then some light ridge buffing for Moritz and the PGers. Jeff got a sledder and an other high site under his belt.

FIRE

If you can't fly burning something will do, there is something primevil about fire and I can watch it for hours. Mandi turns 20 on Thursday and she had a few friends over so we had to burn the pile. Good fire.

Hammondsport, Mt. Washington 8-16-08

And what a day it was! The first to arrive and the last one to leave the day started with some mowing and as I was finishing the CROWD started to arrive. Ryan, Karl, Katrin, Mark, Linda, Doug, Chuck, Matt, Lon, Todd, Dan, Moritz, Mark S. and Marlin. And I probably missed a couple more.
I put the mower away and started to rig as the wind came around from the west to NW but it would continue to cross periodically during the day. Mark, Linda and Ryan all launched as I rigged and slowly worked their way up. Marlin went next then Katrin and I was finally done and ready to go. The ridge was working but it would only gain you a few hundred feet at best but you could maintain and wait for the ride to the clouds. The thermals were a mixed bag with some big fat easy ones and then some high velocity bullets that would make the vario scream.
Marlin had a great flight and was working the air like a champ but finally fell to a sink cycle that had me down a hundred under launch, unzipped and working some light lift on the ridge behind the church. I saw a few hawks working something on the point on the west side of the bowl and went to them and was rewarded with a building thermal that would eventually take me back to cloud base.
Once at base you could wander at will with abundant lift and I was able to check out the entire area as I flew around. If you got low there were a few spots that would almost always be working and get you back up. I watched numerous people launch and boat around and a few climbed out and disappeared off on XC flights. I lost Mark early on and flew with Linda for a while but it was mostly just pick a cloud and go see if it was working if not try another. I was under a huge dark cloud with great lift to base but could not see the top so I was a little worried about getting sucked in but kept flying to the edge and zero sink to assure myself I was all right.
By the time I came down I was to tired to flair and basically plopped in to land and I ache in my shoulders, neck, hip and back but it is a pleasant pain considering the texture of the air and the work it took to stay in it.
Oh and ask Marlin about his flight I think he did ok and broke out with drinks, fruit and melon for all that stuck around at the end, thanks.

Flights: 1
Duration: 1hr 56min
Max altitude 4400' ASL
Max lift: 1330FPM
Max sink: 937fpm
Fun Factor: 7 of 10

A good day at Bristol

What a crowd at Bristol today and a bumch of good flights to show for it. Two Dougs, Chuck, Lon, Mark, Linda, Karl, Katrin, Matt and Katrin's mom and cousin from Germany. PG'ers launched first into light thermic conditions and Karl and the Dougs worked their way up slowly and disapeared. Mark went next and shamlessly pimped off the baggers to find his first thermal and climbed out. Skyqueen potatoed on launch through a sweet cycle then FINALLY launched and climbed out under Mark. It was real light when I stepped into the slot so I potatoed for a while waiting for my cycle to come through. It finally picked up and I launched into light but workable lift and although it took a while worked my way up and over the back and climbed in a growing thermal to cloudbase. I could hear Mark and Linda on the radio but could not answer back and had last seen them at base behind the mountain so I drifted back looking but could not find them. Turns out they had worked back up wind over the valley, went over me, and were now behind me. As I came to the edge of the lake I turned cross wind and started working north towards Canandaiqua, climbed again over Chesher and as I was looking around I realized I was looking down on clouds and was up in the wispies of the cloud I was under. OOPS I pulled in and headed north to get out from under the cloud and could see the city coming up quickly. I decided to head more west towards Bloomfield as that was the last thing I had heard from Mark and Linda but found massive sink on the way. I picked a wheat field that had been recently combined and headed for the nearest cloud up wind of the field and found nothing but sink till I had to turn back to make the field. I finally found some lift two hundred feet over the field but it was weak and drifting me over a bunch of unlandable blocks of corn so I surendered to the day and set up and landed. The landing was a belly slider and as I skided in I realized the field had recently been spread with a nice coating of manure which makes for a nice slick surface to slide on but leaves a very smelly film on harnesses and clothing, I HAVE GOT TO DO SOME LAUNDRY NOW!!!!!!!!
Thanks to Mark for coming to pick me up, we picked up Doug S. in Chesher, Linda in Bristol Center on the way back to the LZ, I don't know where the rest ended up and I don't think they were done when I left I thought I heard Matt was headed up.

Flights: 1
Duration: 42 min.
XC: 9 miles
Fun factor: 9 out of 10

It was all good till the shower after

I unexpectedly was able to get out today and packed up and was on the road in record time and headed for Hammondsport. Doug and Chuck Stoner and Nik and Fady HG pilots from Canada were on launch when I got there and we went over procedures and went up top to set up. As we were rigging Mukrum showed up and launched from the lower launch and quickly climbed a few hundred over. That would be OOH (over our heads) for those following the AGLvsASL debate!!!!
That spurred us on to rig faster and just as we were ready to launch Mukrum was at launch level and below. But not for long as the cycles straightened out and got stronger he was soon high above launch (HAL).
I picked a good cycle and launched into an elevator for a quick ride above launch and watched Nik launch behind me climb up and we spent the better part of the next hour 3-500' over with an occasional bullet thermal to 7-800'. They were strong but disorganized and you had to stand the wing on its tip to stay in it as it drifted back.
It was OD'ing to the north but staying a distance away but eventually it got closer and someone threw the switch and it all shut off. We were soon on the ground and should have packed up immediately but took to long with reliving the flight and the sky opened up and we and our gliders got soaked.
Thanks Doug for bringing my truck down and mowing at launch. It was nice meeting and flying with Nik, meeting Carlyn and Fady good luck tomorrow for another flight.

Flights: 1
Airtime: 54 min
Max lift: 940fpm
Min lift: -760fpm

Bristol 7-15-08

I met Mark and was later joined by Ron, Linda, Doug F., Doug S. and Chuck and was farting around with my camera mount while Mark and the two Dougs got up and soared. Ron sledded, Linda worked hard for everything she got and I got a sledder but figured a few things out with the mount and was able to get one picture on approach to the LZ. Had to pack up and go pick up the boys but it still looked good up top. It was a pick the right cycle day as Mark proved with his flight to Lyons.

1flight: 5 minutes

Training Wed. 6-25

Training last night was a definite challenge with a strong SW component to make the launches a challenge. Everyone stepped up to the plate doing crosswind launches and corrected some early mistakes to have a good learning experience. Add to it the pressure of having roving reporters and camera crews, spectators and students flying their own gliders made it interesting, eventful but very positive in the end. Congrats to all who attended, well done.

As you can see by this batch of photos the comp atmosphere at the ECC is real stressful, in the first the Spears are hard at work working out their strategy for the day's flying and retrieval, you can see the stress written all over their faces.

The next is some kind of Egret or Heron we saw at the beach.

And the third is a picture of the camera mount that Mr. bill built for his glider. PVC and standard hardware that is fully adjustable and solid as hell. I have more pics of it if anyone is interested and I am building one now. I will let you know how it comes out.

It is one example of what you can learn from the very talented group assembled at a comp. I had just to ask and Mark, Linda, Kevin Carter, Jonny Durand or any one of a bunch of great pilots would gladly help set up my GPS or Vario, discuss the conditions and thoughts about the day, or just give a great neck and shoulder massage to a stressed out pilot(thanks Dana you're the greatest). If you have ever thought about doing a comp I would repeat Mr. Frutiger's advice and say the ECC and Maryland is a great place to learn XC. Fields bigger than anything we have to land in anywhere in the Finger lakes, as far as the eye can see, friendly landowners, and a family of pilots that are out to have a great time combines with a first class facility to create an atmosphere that can't be beat. Now if Sonny can control the weather we will be set.

See you there next year.

ECC pictures

Being the first comp I was ever in I figured I needed some high octane fuel to help compete so the first pic is me fueling up at the avgas pump.
In the second the world champ shows his style in "puddle boarding" and proves he's got it in more than hang gliding. Here is Jonny Durand staying dry on the slolom course.
Number three is Lake Ridgely a mysterious lake that would form and disapear within hours bringing with it what sounded like thousands of frogs at night.
The last is of Bill (Mr. Bill) Schell driver extrodinare out on the kite board on a non flyable day. Rumor has it he flew 65mile out from the Florida Ridge yesterday. Way to go Mr. Bill.
They say that more pilots get hurt on non flyable day than when flying, you can start to see why in a couple of these pics.

ECC day 7

It was a steamy day with temps hitting 100 and really high humidity again. I was melting on the ground and finally got into the air with cooler temperatures at a couple grand and loving it. It was a struggle to stay up with the gaggle with really light lift again today. I could never quite get up to Linda, Campbell and Jamie Sheldon and when they went on glide down the course line even though I was only at 1600' I went with them. They stopped to climb just west of the town of Greensboro and when I got there I was only at 600'. There were a few turkey vultures turning over a corn field so I joined them and worked back up to 900' and stayed there for the next 15 minutes. I watched as Linda and crew climbed out above the town and continued on course but I did not have enough altitude to cross over the town and no landable areas. I eventually lost the thermal I had as it drifted over the town and was soon on the ground with 4 other sport class pilots already on the ground.
We broke down in the extreme heat and went back for the pool, party and awards ceremonies. Mark ended up in 17th, Linda in 19th(1st in women's), Daniel and Bob DNF today and ended up in 5th and 6th respectively in the rigid class.
In the sport class the longest flight was 7 miles and most of us fell into the field next to "Squid Cemetery" we knick named due to five of us sport pilots decking it together 1.5 miles from launch. I got 5th for the day, twenty points and finished third for the meet.
What a gas, I got a short flight but almost climbed out, was flying with the buzzards and had one fifteen feet below me checking me out, and other than the heat enjoyed every single second of it.
I will post some pics soon and link a couple videos of the non flying activities soon.


Flights- 1
34 min.
1.5 miles XC

ECC day 6

Another light lift day with temps at 95 and the humidity even higher the wind was light and crossed so launch was not a problem. The first tow I broke a weak link twenty seconds after leaving the cart and with the tugs having the 914 turbo's I was plenty high enough to drop the landing gear and have a nice landing just off the end of the run way. The tugs have some serious power and climb like crazy but have a lot of pull coming off the ground so I will need a new weak link each tow from now on. As I was waiting to launch there was a large gaggle circling to the north and getting lower and lower, then the sky rained gliders as the whole gaggle came down at once. It was exciting to watch twenty gliders fight it out for air space and landing options with some choosing to spin down fast and beat the pack and others going to best glide to eek out a little more time. They all got down safely with nothing more than a light whack by a couple.
The next tow went well and I signaled the tug pilot to take me north as I was not planning on coming back. I went on a death glide right off tow and stopped only once to circle in a stinky thermal right over some chicken coops, we are talking thousands of them smelly creatures in each coop and there were about a dozen coops, the best I could do was zero sink so I left after a couple turns and continued down the course line. I picked a huge field and set up and landed at 4.4 miles, 6 tenths of a mile short of the edge of the start circle. No one else in the sport class made it much further and the day was only worth 1 point to any one that flew so the stats remain the same.
One thing I found out today is that Dan Braddo, the guy leading, is a master rated pilot with over 30 years experience so it doesn't hurt as bad being behind him. :o)
This stuff is a blast I would highly recommend the experience to anyone wanting to XC.

Flights: 1
12 min.
4.4 miles XC

ECC day 5

No more storms today but very soft conditions, there is standing water everywhere and it started overcast and very humid. I lost about a gallon of liquid while setting up and getting ready for the task. Thanks to my lovely daughter and ace driver Ron they kept me hydrated and supplied while waiting.
A twenty four mile task was called to Hidden Hills and the wait began. No one wanted to go first and finally the wind dummy stayed up and Daniel Spears launched. He spent the next half hour struggling at a 1000-1500' and looked like he was coming in to land when he caught something and went to base(2000') and left on course. Then the flexies started going so I jumped in line hoping to pimp shamelessly off some of the better pilots. I kept getting pushed further and further back in line by the priority staged pilots(committee members and top ten open class) and finally got to launch. The tug pilot waved me off at 1500' in nothing but sink and I was soon back on the ground. Tow 2 was better but I spent the next 25 min. going from 1100' to 1900' with four other gliders and finally lost it and landed again. I had to promise the launch babes I would not return to get another tow and I shalt not lie. I got off tow at 2000' and took a couple turns, found nothing and pulled VG made myself small and went on a death glide down the course line.
I never found any thing but I started to notice other gliders on the ground below me and started feeling better at little. I passed over an ATOS and it turned out to be Bob then saw another glider in a very landable field below so I flew as far down the course as I could then came back to land next to him.
Turns out no one did much better I took 5th for the day and am still in 3rd overall.

Three flights
45 min.
31/2 miles XC

ECC day 2

What a great day, it started when I found out I won the day yesterday and continued as a 26.8 mile down wind task was called from Ridgely to Pevey a small grass strip to the south east. Everyone had the same start time so the sport class started launching shortly after the start time of 12:45. The prediction was for improving conditions as the day progressed so I decided to hand back and wait for the open class and rigids to go. They all went at once and I found myself near the end of the launch line in 90 degree heat waiting. I had a good tow in a strong cross wind and got dropped off in a small disorganized thermal right over the field. It took a long time to climb out and I finally made it to 3000' with one sport class and four open class and Bob Roth on his Atos. I left when they did but 3-400' lower and followed them down the course line. Watching them and going to them we covered a bunch of ground and three or four climbs one to 4800' we got to the place where our paths diverged and Brian the other sport pilot and I headed east towards Pevey. My vario said I had it with 1500' to spare but I stopped for one more climb to be sure and made it to goal with 2000' to spare. Brian came screaming in over me and broke the cylinder first and beat me by a minute or two. I am still totally stoked. YAHOO

1 flight
1hr 24min
27 miles XC

ECC day 1

After arriving a day early to get a little airtime and a couple mellow tows it turns out that we get lots of rain heavy wind a broken tent pole and a gallon of water in the tent instead. I was just not prepared for the first day of the comp by any stretch of the imagination. I learned how to put a competition route in my 5030, Garmin and tried to get myself mentally prepared for the first aerotow I have done since last October. The wind was crankin and I had a good launch and tow and refused to get off till the tug pilot waved me off, at 2100' we hit a doosey and he waved me off. I was able to climb to 3900' and when I saw another sport class pilot leave 500' below I did what Linda has taught me well and pimped off him hard. The first mile or so we dolphin flew and gained a little then flew out to a blue hole and got nothing but little blips on the vario. I got as small and tight as I could and pulled full VG and went as far as I could, 7 miles and nothin', I picked a big field when I was below 800' and set up to land but got broken lift at 500' and spent the next 5 min. trying to get a ride back up. No such luck, I waffled between 5-600' then lost it and landed in a bean field a couple hundred yards from a farm house. The farmers wife came out to see if I was ok and was smiling almost as big as I was as I told her about hang gliding. She offered me a ride and gave me some water which was great considering I pulled the drink tube off my Camel Back and had dumped all my water down my back and wished me well. Ron and Bob showed up right as I finished packing up and we headed back.

1flight
7 miles XC
34 minutes