Kiting Southwick State Park

The wind was up and predicted to be W so I felt the need to take the kites and the buggy and head for the beach. It was a little more south crossed than predicted but still doable. you could cruise N but had to work hard to make and progress south. Bob was there already laying down tracks and we were soon joined by a couple kite boarders and later by two more that were up on North pond. As the wind tapered off the kite boarders had to quit but everyone got to try the buggy using Bob M's 5m NPW9. Great amount of fun was had by all.

Sailing Hemlock Lake

Ron has been working on a sailing canoe for a couple years and finally got to the point where it was ready enough for the maiden voyage. He was reluctant at first because of a long week at work but after a little convincing he decided to go. I was safety kayak in case of mishaps but as it turned out I was unneeded. It was real light when we arrived and the boat functioned flawlessly. It was a good confidence booster for Ron in his design and the boats capability. He tacked back and forth across the lake and after a couple hours let me take it for a cruise. Right after I got in the wind picked up and I was soon dragging Ron around in the kayak. We switched boat and spent the rest of the evening cruising the lake dragging me around in the kayak. Great fun, I have to build me one of those now!!! 

Flying with the Gooney Bird

      The C-47, designated W7, was a paratrooper transport during D day. It has been completely restored and is in great flying condition. With two 1000 hp engines it has some power and makes some cool noise as it taxis by and accelerates down the runway. What a thrill to be flying around such historic aircraft.  
     The first 4 pictures are of the Gooney Bird taxiing and taking off while we were setting up. The next is of Matt just after he touched down to a premo landing and the last is of Mark coming in to land with the Remax balloon landing behind him.
    There were a few of us out, Linda, Bill V., Joe, Alex, Matt and myself. Linda caught the only thermal on a day that was predicted to be awesome. Everyone else sledded in the to smooth air mass that surrounded the field. Alex did great on his Mark IV and Matt flew his Sport 2 for the first time and did great. I had a butter smooth tow and a nice long sled ride down to a no step landing.  

Flights: 1
Airtime: 23 min
Max altitude: 4100'
Fun factor: 9

   Geneseo Airport has turned out to be a great place to fly. Although the conditions did not turn out to be soarable, Todd had the flight of the day at 39 minutes, there were lots of hang glider pilots out and a couple of other forms of aviation late in the evening. The first picture is of Mark getting ready to tow with the Remax balloon behind him, the last is of Marlin launching moments later and the second pic is of the balloon launching, Katrin landing(look closely at the sun) and a high end RC plane taxiing in after a flight.
  I got one tow to 3000' and found nothing to keep me up.

flights: 1
airtime: 17min
fun factor: 9

With a sky like that what are they waiting for?

   We have been towing at the Dansville airport while other activities keep us out of Geneseo. Sunday was a good day with intro and training flights early, soaring flights mid day and then scooter towing, more intro and training tandems when conditions wound down.
   For a warm up I took Todd's U2 for a test flight to determine if it had a problem. It towed just fine and I dropped off tow at 500' then had to find sink and force it down to give it back to Todd so he could fly. I waited for a sail plane to launch then dove it in to a premo no step landing. On my second flight Mark dropped me in a nice thermal and I took it to cloud base and the cool air of  5300' ASL, with a great view of the sail planes and other hang gliders towing up I boated around then came in for a second no step landing.

  The picture is of everyone sitting around talking about flying but no one wanting to be the first one to try after watching Bob and Ron sink out, Moritz finally went and then I went up again and when we stuck everyone piled off.

Flights: 2
Airtime: 1:02
Max Alt 4773 AGL
Fun Factor: 8

Trike flying at Long Acres

We went out to Long Acres farm in Macedon to set up the clubs trike and give out new trike pilot, Mark a work out. Ron, Linda and myself started rigging our gliders and as I was setting up I noticed a crack in one of my tip wands. It it a flexible fiberglass rod that forms the curved tip on the glider and if it broke while flying it may not make the glider fall out of the sky, it would still really suck. So although I have an extra one it was at home so I was done for the day. I worked as ground crew and got Linda and Ron in the air and then convinced Mark he should take me for a ride and I got a quick trike lesson. Here are a few pics I snapped while up and cruising around at 1500'.

Paddling Hemlock Lake

First trip of the year, Mandi borrowed Cody's kayak and we headed out. The lake water is high and cool and it was a good respite to the heat. We were discussing ways to bring Alyss along next time. Pulling her along in a inner tube is leading the options for now. Here is a short video clip.