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Grade
Alert!
Plenty strong; satellite shows clearing.....
Plenty strong; satellite shows clearing.....
Re: Grade
Alert!
Gusts to 52 mph, but hey, just take off with full VG or fly a rigid wing.
- Larry
Gusts to 52 mph, but hey, just take off with full VG or fly a rigid wing.
- Larry
Grade
alert
Buoy reports showed SSW 17 - 20 kts all afternoon. Seemed a bit windy inland though!
Tomorrow's local forecast says SW10-20, Marine says W 10 -20.
I'll go if it looks good.
Leo
Buoy reports showed SSW 17 - 20 kts all afternoon. Seemed a bit windy inland though!
Tomorrow's local forecast says SW10-20, Marine says W 10 -20.
I'll go if it looks good.
Leo
Grade
Kurt and Leo going to the Grade today. Work...? On a day like this?
Kurt and Leo going to the Grade today. Work...? On a day like this?
3500ft at the
Grade
Yes, it finally worked, It didn't look as if it would, it was rainy on the way there, it was straight in but only about 10mph when we arrived and it soon went too west, crossing from the right at 45 degrees. There were lots of threatening squalls.
But then, miracles, it picked up until it was 18 gusting 25, the squalls abated, and it blew in almost straight - only about 20 degrees crossed.
Me, Kurt, Ernie and John Blacet all flew. Kurt got to over 3500ft, I got to 2800ft. Kurt flew north to Sea Ranch, Ernie (first Grade flight) and I flew to Fort Ross, in lift all the way. Most of us got 1.5 - 2 hrs, Kurt flew again and went to Fort Ross and back.
Leo
Yes, it finally worked, It didn't look as if it would, it was rainy on the way there, it was straight in but only about 10mph when we arrived and it soon went too west, crossing from the right at 45 degrees. There were lots of threatening squalls.
But then, miracles, it picked up until it was 18 gusting 25, the squalls abated, and it blew in almost straight - only about 20 degrees crossed.
Me, Kurt, Ernie and John Blacet all flew. Kurt got to over 3500ft, I got to 2800ft. Kurt flew north to Sea Ranch, Ernie (first Grade flight) and I flew to Fort Ross, in lift all the way. Most of us got 1.5 - 2 hrs, Kurt flew again and went to Fort Ross and back.
Leo
Grade!
Great day!
Eventually got straight in for launching but was a bit west in the air. No problem going North but was getting about 5 to 8 mph on the GPS flying the old Ram Air. About 44 mph going back south!
Thanks for the call, Kurt!
Great day!
Eventually got straight in for launching but was a bit west in the air. No problem going North but was getting about 5 to 8 mph on the GPS flying the old Ram Air. About 44 mph going back south!
Thanks for the call, Kurt!
Site
Records
3500' is feet should be an altitude record for the site. Sea Ranch might be aq distance record as well. As far as I know Todd's flight to Cassini Ranch in Duncan's Mills is the farthest. I 'll have to wait to get to a map to check it out. Or maybe Ernie can give us the distances from earth viewer?
Hangfly (wisht I'duh been there!)
3500' is feet should be an altitude record for the site. Sea Ranch might be aq distance record as well. As far as I know Todd's flight to Cassini Ranch in Duncan's Mills is the farthest. I 'll have to wait to get to a map to check it out. Or maybe Ernie can give us the distances from earth viewer?
Hangfly (wisht I'duh been there!)
Re: Site
Records
Well, I don't know where the Cassini Ranch is, but I measured about 6 miles from the T/O at Vista Trail to the general area of downtown Duncans Mills.
Going up the coast from Vista Trail, Ft. Ross is just about 5.2 miles away. I don't know how much further Kurt went. I hope he has a track log that I can measure. But, I'm pretty sure he went more than a mile past the fort.
So, it looks like Kurt has the new distance record for Vista Trail. And, Kurt's flight was an out-and-return!
It's too bad that we get to fly there so seldom. Next time a day like Thursday happens, I'll just keep going north until I land. That should get me a distance record, unless Kurt is in the air too.
BTW, I'm claiming an out-and-return of 10.4 miles. I have the photo to prove it. But then, Leo gets the same points too.
Well, I don't know where the Cassini Ranch is, but I measured about 6 miles from the T/O at Vista Trail to the general area of downtown Duncans Mills.
Going up the coast from Vista Trail, Ft. Ross is just about 5.2 miles away. I don't know how much further Kurt went. I hope he has a track log that I can measure. But, I'm pretty sure he went more than a mile past the fort.
So, it looks like Kurt has the new distance record for Vista Trail. And, Kurt's flight was an out-and-return!
It's too bad that we get to fly there so seldom. Next time a day like Thursday happens, I'll just keep going north until I land. That should get me a distance record, unless Kurt is in the air too.
BTW, I'm claiming an out-and-return of 10.4 miles. I have the photo to prove it. But then, Leo gets the same points too.
Records
Checking my map it looks like Todd went about 6.5 miles. Cassini Ranch is past the middle of Duncan's Mills. Kurt said he flew to Sea Ranch which I measure as about 20.5 miles from launch. It does look like there is ridgeline all the way up to there. Even if he only went to Stewarts Point that's about 15 miles.
CW (wisht I'duh been there)
Checking my map it looks like Todd went about 6.5 miles. Cassini Ranch is past the middle of Duncan's Mills. Kurt said he flew to Sea Ranch which I measure as about 20.5 miles from launch. It does look like there is ridgeline all the way up to there. Even if he only went to Stewarts Point that's about 15 miles.
CW (wisht I'duh been there)
Epic Grade
flights
In the air we talked about what settlements were beyond Fort Ross. I had no real idea. It was probably Stewart's Point we were looking at, not Sea Ranch.
BUT it was amazingly buoyant. Even though we weren't flying over any ridge there was lift all the way to Fort Ross. The higher you were the liftier it got. Clouds were forming about half a mile inland of where we were - Kurt got to cloudbase. I lost 100ft flying back to launch, arriving with over 2500ft, and that probably only because I wasn't pushing out any more. It seemed from that height, with a strong tailwind component (I had a groundsped of 55mph) that Bodega was a mere glide away. I honestly believe that it might have been possible to fly to Mt Tam. (speculate, dream, speculate!) But, no drivers, I was cold, etc. etc. Scot, I'm sure, would have ignored all that!
OK OK I will stop rubbing it in now. But it seems, unless you are very lucky, that great Grade flights only happen about every two years. I musta been out there at least a dozen times since the last one I had (in Feb 2002).
It was worth every single minute.
Leo
Hurry up with the photos, Ernie.
In the air we talked about what settlements were beyond Fort Ross. I had no real idea. It was probably Stewart's Point we were looking at, not Sea Ranch.
BUT it was amazingly buoyant. Even though we weren't flying over any ridge there was lift all the way to Fort Ross. The higher you were the liftier it got. Clouds were forming about half a mile inland of where we were - Kurt got to cloudbase. I lost 100ft flying back to launch, arriving with over 2500ft, and that probably only because I wasn't pushing out any more. It seemed from that height, with a strong tailwind component (I had a groundsped of 55mph) that Bodega was a mere glide away. I honestly believe that it might have been possible to fly to Mt Tam. (speculate, dream, speculate!) But, no drivers, I was cold, etc. etc. Scot, I'm sure, would have ignored all that!
OK OK I will stop rubbing it in now. But it seems, unless you are very lucky, that great Grade flights only happen about every two years. I musta been out there at least a dozen times since the last one I had (in Feb 2002).
It was worth every single minute.
Leo
Hurry up with the photos, Ernie.
Grade Photos
2001
No film in camera thursday, but here is a page of photos from my last great grade flight mid November 2001.
Handheld Canon APS camera.
A very similar day view wise, but luckily no squalls chasing us (Andy Long) this time. Big sets of waves below though!
cloudbasecafe.com/
No film in camera thursday, but here is a page of photos from my last great grade flight mid November 2001.
Handheld Canon APS camera.
A very similar day view wise, but luckily no squalls chasing us (Andy Long) this time. Big sets of waves below though!
cloudbasecafe.com/
Re: Grade
Flights
Glad you guys hit it on a good day! I'm in the east bay working still and haven't got a zipper for my harness yet but should soon. I make it up here every other week to get my mail and catch up on the internet. I may be heading south a week from monday to do some flying in southern cal and pick up my trailer in Gilroy on the way. Probably Horse and Crestline , Elsinore and Torrey with maybe a stop in Santa Barbara. Any one interested in hooking up with me call me on my cell phone at 707-694-9445. I should be up here next weekend preparing my gear for the trip so may be able to fly Sunday. Scot
Glad you guys hit it on a good day! I'm in the east bay working still and haven't got a zipper for my harness yet but should soon. I make it up here every other week to get my mail and catch up on the internet. I may be heading south a week from monday to do some flying in southern cal and pick up my trailer in Gilroy on the way. Probably Horse and Crestline , Elsinore and Torrey with maybe a stop in Santa Barbara. Any one interested in hooking up with me call me on my cell phone at 707-694-9445. I should be up here next weekend preparing my gear for the trip so may be able to fly Sunday. Scot
Howdy
Scot!
Scot, it was nice to hear you on the radio on Saturday as I was working the broken thermal over Eagle Pk at Diablo. Even when you're working you can't help but monitor the SW frequency, eh?
Unfortunately for me, when I finished talking to you, I found myself in a hole, lost 1000 ft., and never did get back up again. And I had just been thinking that I'd be up with the rest of the gaggle in a short time. Such is life...
Scot, it was nice to hear you on the radio on Saturday as I was working the broken thermal over Eagle Pk at Diablo. Even when you're working you can't help but monitor the SW frequency, eh?
Unfortunately for me, when I finished talking to you, I found myself in a hole, lost 1000 ft., and never did get back up again. And I had just been thinking that I'd be up with the rest of the gaggle in a short time. Such is life...
Re: Howdy
Scot!
Scot,
I heard you too. Unfortunately my PTT had come unpluged, so I couldn't talk back. On the other hand after Ernie's story, maybe it was a blessing in disguise! I'm still not sure why you are buying another trailer when you already have a palace.
Take care, and work hard.
Greg
Scot,
I heard you too. Unfortunately my PTT had come unpluged, so I couldn't talk back. On the other hand after Ernie's story, maybe it was a blessing in disguise! I'm still not sure why you are buying another trailer when you already have a palace.
Take care, and work hard.
Greg
Great photos,
John
Hey John, Thanks for posting those great grade photos from 2001. That's a trip I never made, so it's nice to see it vicariously.
Hey John, Thanks for posting those great grade photos from 2001. That's a trip I never made, so it's nice to see it vicariously.
Grade
Pioneer
Hi Ralph,
As I recall, you were among the first to ever fly at the Grade.
1980? Blue Raven?
Eric Beckman soared there a couple of times in the mid 80s.
Who else?
Hi Ralph,
As I recall, you were among the first to ever fly at the Grade.
1980? Blue Raven?
Eric Beckman soared there a couple of times in the mid 80s.
Who else?
Pioneering
That's right, Jon, I'd almost forgotten. Bones, Sharol, and I bandito'd it one time. I don't have my older logbooks with me, so I had to search in my old journals for awhile 'til I found it.
It was on June 7, 1980, with Bones and Sharol. Mel was there too, but didn't fly. I launched first on my Raven, even though it was only marginal, made a few passes before sinking out and landing on the beach in Russian Gulch. Sharol flew next on her Condor, and finally Bones on his Scirroco, both landing soon on the beach also. It was a long hike out to the road with gliders and gear.
That's right, Jon, I'd almost forgotten. Bones, Sharol, and I bandito'd it one time. I don't have my older logbooks with me, so I had to search in my old journals for awhile 'til I found it.
It was on June 7, 1980, with Bones and Sharol. Mel was there too, but didn't fly. I launched first on my Raven, even though it was only marginal, made a few passes before sinking out and landing on the beach in Russian Gulch. Sharol flew next on her Condor, and finally Bones on his Scirroco, both landing soon on the beach also. It was a long hike out to the road with gliders and gear.
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