Flight Reports - 2001
Author
Comment
Leo Jones
(2/9/01 9:17:50 pm)
(2/9/01 9:17:50 pm)
Flying
with Ralph and Julie Hyde
I just got back from So Cal. Greg and Ralph warned me before I set off that it was very cold down there, esp. at night at 3000ft, and it was really cold the whole way down, but when I arrived it was 90 degrees F in San Diego and I was glad it was a bit cooler at Lake Morena!
The next day we flew Horse Mountain. It faces SW, and was smaller than I had imagined - 4,500ft MSL, maybe 1,300ft or so top to bottom. I was a bit nervous, not having flown for 4 months. The wind was only about 10 mph, easy to self launch in, but it was working quite well and I got to 6,600ft. Only a comparatively small part of the face seemed to work however - I wasn't very adventurous - but Ralph and Julie explored north and south to little avail. The terrain is very rugged around there and you would need a lot of height to go anywhere much. I wanted to fly back to the campsite but it was 6.5 miles, somewhat into wind, and Ralph wasn't optimistic about making it that far.
There are two LZs for Horse - the first consists of a small patch cut into the chapparal, less than 100 yards across and sloping downhill in the direction you want to land in. Julie landed there but I had pretty much decided I didn't want to try it, preferring the "big" LZ on the other side of the freeway. This was a green field, fairly long, but quite narrow - maybe 100 yards wide at most, and the wind was right across the field. There was a tree (of course!) right in the middle. I flew for an hour and three quarters, and managed to make a perfect landing, right where I needed to break down, tho' I thought I would take out the flagpole for a few seconds, as I used up most of the field!
The next day seemed more unstable, and was much more windy. We were joined by 6 Canadian pilots. The wind on launch was about 20mph and I was glad of some help. Julie took off first, and it seemed pretty bumpy, but Ralph took off and said that once you got up a bit it was nice and smooth. Well, I took off and it wasn't smooth at all, and it got trashier and trashier. I got to 6500ft in one thermal that was over 1500ft/min for several turns, but most of the thermals were small and broken, I got wire twanged several times, and my Fusion seemed hard work in such air with 9 other gliders, and I landed after 45 mins. Ralph landed soon after, and admitted it had gotten pretty rough!
That night it rained, and in the morning it was snowing! What happened to those 90 degree temps? I decided it was time to head home. It was fun to see Ralph and Julie again, and to get to fly after a such a long break.
I just got back from So Cal. Greg and Ralph warned me before I set off that it was very cold down there, esp. at night at 3000ft, and it was really cold the whole way down, but when I arrived it was 90 degrees F in San Diego and I was glad it was a bit cooler at Lake Morena!
The next day we flew Horse Mountain. It faces SW, and was smaller than I had imagined - 4,500ft MSL, maybe 1,300ft or so top to bottom. I was a bit nervous, not having flown for 4 months. The wind was only about 10 mph, easy to self launch in, but it was working quite well and I got to 6,600ft. Only a comparatively small part of the face seemed to work however - I wasn't very adventurous - but Ralph and Julie explored north and south to little avail. The terrain is very rugged around there and you would need a lot of height to go anywhere much. I wanted to fly back to the campsite but it was 6.5 miles, somewhat into wind, and Ralph wasn't optimistic about making it that far.
There are two LZs for Horse - the first consists of a small patch cut into the chapparal, less than 100 yards across and sloping downhill in the direction you want to land in. Julie landed there but I had pretty much decided I didn't want to try it, preferring the "big" LZ on the other side of the freeway. This was a green field, fairly long, but quite narrow - maybe 100 yards wide at most, and the wind was right across the field. There was a tree (of course!) right in the middle. I flew for an hour and three quarters, and managed to make a perfect landing, right where I needed to break down, tho' I thought I would take out the flagpole for a few seconds, as I used up most of the field!
The next day seemed more unstable, and was much more windy. We were joined by 6 Canadian pilots. The wind on launch was about 20mph and I was glad of some help. Julie took off first, and it seemed pretty bumpy, but Ralph took off and said that once you got up a bit it was nice and smooth. Well, I took off and it wasn't smooth at all, and it got trashier and trashier. I got to 6500ft in one thermal that was over 1500ft/min for several turns, but most of the thermals were small and broken, I got wire twanged several times, and my Fusion seemed hard work in such air with 9 other gliders, and I landed after 45 mins. Ralph landed soon after, and admitted it had gotten pretty rough!
That night it rained, and in the morning it was snowing! What happened to those 90 degree temps? I decided it was time to head home. It was fun to see Ralph and Julie again, and to get to fly after a such a long break.
highhuber
Registered User
(2/25/01 8:15:26 pm)
Registered User
(2/25/01 8:15:26 pm)
Flight
Report
If you're willing to drive a little there is airtime to be had. Kurt and I flew Funston Saturday for 1.5 hrs making it to Westlake in South winds. Needless to say the return trip was much quicker. Chris Giardina (Hawkeye) was there with his new MRX 2001, nice looking glider but he didn't risk the trip south so I didn't get to compare performance with him. He did take out a downtube on landing though. Sunday we went to Drakes and I got another 2hrs. in light winds but beautiful clear blue skies. Kurt launched after me and got a sled ride to the beach 1/2 mile to the west of the parking lot. He landed down wind and took out a tube but was uninjured. Rangers were rescuing a beached dolphin at the base of the cliff so that was fun to watch from the air. I'm heading for San Diego midweek and hope to fly Santa Barbara on the way. If anybody is interested in going down let me know. hh
If you're willing to drive a little there is airtime to be had. Kurt and I flew Funston Saturday for 1.5 hrs making it to Westlake in South winds. Needless to say the return trip was much quicker. Chris Giardina (Hawkeye) was there with his new MRX 2001, nice looking glider but he didn't risk the trip south so I didn't get to compare performance with him. He did take out a downtube on landing though. Sunday we went to Drakes and I got another 2hrs. in light winds but beautiful clear blue skies. Kurt launched after me and got a sled ride to the beach 1/2 mile to the west of the parking lot. He landed down wind and took out a tube but was uninjured. Rangers were rescuing a beached dolphin at the base of the cliff so that was fun to watch from the air. I'm heading for San Diego midweek and hope to fly Santa Barbara on the way. If anybody is interested in going down let me know. hh
Ernie
Camacho
(3/11/01 10:37:02 am)
(3/11/01 10:37:02 am)
Saturday 3/10
Todd, Rich, Leo, Ernie, Matt, Jon showed up at the Elk LZ. We went up in Ernie's and Rich's vehicles, Ernie in front. At the first rough section in the road, snow made progress difficult. Then Ernie's steering linkage broke. After a tussle getting his car back to flat ground and repaired well enough for him to limp back down the mountain, the rest continued on, only to be stopped by snow further up.
They then tried Pitney Ridge, with no luck. Then Matt tried flying his Zagi, only to have it go down in the bushes where it could not be found even after a heroic battle with the brush.
Ernie got a tow home from Upper Lake. The rest of the gang dragged themselves home later. A good day's exercise was had in the beautiful weather. No flying was committed.
Todd, Rich, Leo, Ernie, Matt, Jon showed up at the Elk LZ. We went up in Ernie's and Rich's vehicles, Ernie in front. At the first rough section in the road, snow made progress difficult. Then Ernie's steering linkage broke. After a tussle getting his car back to flat ground and repaired well enough for him to limp back down the mountain, the rest continued on, only to be stopped by snow further up.
They then tried Pitney Ridge, with no luck. Then Matt tried flying his Zagi, only to have it go down in the bushes where it could not be found even after a heroic battle with the brush.
Ernie got a tow home from Upper Lake. The rest of the gang dragged themselves home later. A good day's exercise was had in the beautiful weather. No flying was committed.
Vince
(3/11/01 1:07:07 pm)
(3/11/01 1:07:07 pm)
This
weekend
After a nice flight at Funston and my first trip to Westlake, Bob and I went up to Ed Levin on Saturday. When we got to the LZ it was blowing west, at launch it was blowing over the back (east). Great launch conditions. As you can imagine, there was a nice convergence. There were about 5 paragliders and one hang glider a couple hundred over launch. By the time I was set up, it was blowing west at launch. Everyone that had got a taste of the convergence was flushed and in the LZ. Two paragliders launched just before me (it seams like they always blow a couple of launches each before they get in the air). There was light lift in very small pockets. The paragliders could work it to some extent. I was managing about 20 fpm down and had fleeting thought of going to Mission and back. After working my way about a mile in that direction, I gave up and headed back. There was another hang glider in the air now. Both paragliders and the hang glider looked to be doing OK over the 600' hill. I headed back there only to find light sink. Now I was averaging 50 fpm down. I hung on as long as I could. Both paragliders and the hang glider had already landed. I managed 25 minutes, which is my second best for Sled Heaven.
Vince
After a nice flight at Funston and my first trip to Westlake, Bob and I went up to Ed Levin on Saturday. When we got to the LZ it was blowing west, at launch it was blowing over the back (east). Great launch conditions. As you can imagine, there was a nice convergence. There were about 5 paragliders and one hang glider a couple hundred over launch. By the time I was set up, it was blowing west at launch. Everyone that had got a taste of the convergence was flushed and in the LZ. Two paragliders launched just before me (it seams like they always blow a couple of launches each before they get in the air). There was light lift in very small pockets. The paragliders could work it to some extent. I was managing about 20 fpm down and had fleeting thought of going to Mission and back. After working my way about a mile in that direction, I gave up and headed back. There was another hang glider in the air now. Both paragliders and the hang glider looked to be doing OK over the 600' hill. I headed back there only to find light sink. Now I was averaging 50 fpm down. I hung on as long as I could. Both paragliders and the hang glider had already landed. I managed 25 minutes, which is my second best for Sled Heaven.
Vince
John
Blacet
(3/12/01 8:24:57 am)
(3/12/01 8:24:57 am)
Re:
Flying This Weekend
Goat was real (non flyable) light but Todd and Rich brought their new Laminars. I developed a real case of lust on the spot....how ya gunna keep a country boy on his trustly old air cow when he sees one of these italian stallions...?
Also present were: Bob and Ann, Charley, Linda, and one of the new PG guys.
Goat was real (non flyable) light but Todd and Rich brought their new Laminars. I developed a real case of lust on the spot....how ya gunna keep a country boy on his trustly old air cow when he sees one of these italian stallions...?
Also present were: Bob and Ann, Charley, Linda, and one of the new PG guys.
Chris McKeon
(3/17/01 7:46:02 pm)
(3/17/01 7:46:02 pm)
Flying
McClure,
Hi Guys,
I went to McClure today, Saturday. It was pretty darn good down there. There was a large turnout of pilots. There were some other Sonoma Wings Pilots there also. Kurt, and Steve B. Pluss all the Sky Riders...Up-Chuck, Birdman, Cockroach, The Gland, Doc, Harlold, Jorge, Ken M, Shanon, Joel, and others.
It was good flying, thermals were not super strong. But it is definitely the begining of Spring flying. Everyone in the L.Z. seemed pretty pumped about their flights.
Regards,
Chris.
Hi Guys,
I went to McClure today, Saturday. It was pretty darn good down there. There was a large turnout of pilots. There were some other Sonoma Wings Pilots there also. Kurt, and Steve B. Pluss all the Sky Riders...Up-Chuck, Birdman, Cockroach, The Gland, Doc, Harlold, Jorge, Ken M, Shanon, Joel, and others.
It was good flying, thermals were not super strong. But it is definitely the begining of Spring flying. Everyone in the L.Z. seemed pretty pumped about their flights.
Regards,
Chris.
Vince
(3/17/01 10:34:47 pm)
(3/17/01 10:34:47 pm)
Saturday, March 17, 2001
Flight report for Saturday.
Todd, Rich, Bill, Matt, and myself went up to Elk. We had a full load at 11:00 so we headed up the hill. Matt showed up at 11:30 and drove up by himself. There was very little snow on the road to launch. At launch the wind was blowing 10 to 15 out of the North. There were clouds at 5,000 blowing by at 25 to 30. Matt flew his Zaggi to test the lift. There looked to be quite a bit right in front launch. It appeared that we might get rained on so we waited to set up. Finally, Matt unloaded his glider and all but Todd followed. He had flown earlier in the week at Goat with the winds in the low 30's (mph) and he had had enough wind for the week. He said he would drive for us.
I was hoping for an out and return so I could start racking up the miles. The winds were predicted to be from 5 to 10 but that was definitely not true. Bill launch first and got right up in front of launch. He reported that things were not too bad so Matt, then I launched. By the time Matt launched, bill was over the LZ. I never did ask him what happened. I went up right away. I was going up at about 800 fpm when I started to get into the wispies of a cloud. I managed to get around the cloud and back in front of launch. I was now up to 6,300' and in between two clouds. Another 500' and I could get on top of the clouds. I was drifting back over launch at about 30 mph and the cloud in front of me was too big to get around. Matt was already heading XC downwind so I turned to join him.
My ground speed was 56.8 mph, but I was going down at over 900 fpm. After 4 miles I was down to 3600. I stopped on a spline and worked some light ridge lift. Matt who was ahead of me, came back to join me. I got up to 4200 and decided to go further down the ridge. There was big sink between splines. I was down to 3000 at the next one. Matt stayed here and worked it in zero sink for quite a while. I got tired of the trash and headed toward Upper Lake. The wind had now shifted from the West. I had to penetrate out toward town at about 15 over the ground. I was about a mile from town and I did not like the LZ situation. I went back toward Elk for a mile and landed in my backup LZ. The winds at 400' were at 20+ and the winds on the ground were 5. I had a great landing in spite of the conditions. Matt landed back at the thistle field. Rich had not launched yet. He said it was getting stronger since I had launched. He finally launched and ended up in the regular LZ. I managed a whopping 7 miles XC!
Man, I love this glider (Atos). I went weightless twice, got rotored several times, but the glider handled it fantastically. Sunday looks like it will be better. The winds are supposed to be lighter.
Vince
P.S. by Ernie: Leo Bynum wanted to check out our flying sites so Greg Sugg and I joined him at the Petaluma airport for a ride in his Piper Cherokee. We went as far north as Elk, where we talked to the gang on the North Launch. They hadn't set up yet. We didn't go on to St. John, because the sky cover was too dense in that direction (we're flying VFR), and it would take too long to go the long way around. It was great fun checking out our sites and routes from this motorized vantage point.
Flight report for Saturday.
Todd, Rich, Bill, Matt, and myself went up to Elk. We had a full load at 11:00 so we headed up the hill. Matt showed up at 11:30 and drove up by himself. There was very little snow on the road to launch. At launch the wind was blowing 10 to 15 out of the North. There were clouds at 5,000 blowing by at 25 to 30. Matt flew his Zaggi to test the lift. There looked to be quite a bit right in front launch. It appeared that we might get rained on so we waited to set up. Finally, Matt unloaded his glider and all but Todd followed. He had flown earlier in the week at Goat with the winds in the low 30's (mph) and he had had enough wind for the week. He said he would drive for us.
I was hoping for an out and return so I could start racking up the miles. The winds were predicted to be from 5 to 10 but that was definitely not true. Bill launch first and got right up in front of launch. He reported that things were not too bad so Matt, then I launched. By the time Matt launched, bill was over the LZ. I never did ask him what happened. I went up right away. I was going up at about 800 fpm when I started to get into the wispies of a cloud. I managed to get around the cloud and back in front of launch. I was now up to 6,300' and in between two clouds. Another 500' and I could get on top of the clouds. I was drifting back over launch at about 30 mph and the cloud in front of me was too big to get around. Matt was already heading XC downwind so I turned to join him.
My ground speed was 56.8 mph, but I was going down at over 900 fpm. After 4 miles I was down to 3600. I stopped on a spline and worked some light ridge lift. Matt who was ahead of me, came back to join me. I got up to 4200 and decided to go further down the ridge. There was big sink between splines. I was down to 3000 at the next one. Matt stayed here and worked it in zero sink for quite a while. I got tired of the trash and headed toward Upper Lake. The wind had now shifted from the West. I had to penetrate out toward town at about 15 over the ground. I was about a mile from town and I did not like the LZ situation. I went back toward Elk for a mile and landed in my backup LZ. The winds at 400' were at 20+ and the winds on the ground were 5. I had a great landing in spite of the conditions. Matt landed back at the thistle field. Rich had not launched yet. He said it was getting stronger since I had launched. He finally launched and ended up in the regular LZ. I managed a whopping 7 miles XC!
Man, I love this glider (Atos). I went weightless twice, got rotored several times, but the glider handled it fantastically. Sunday looks like it will be better. The winds are supposed to be lighter.
Vince
P.S. by Ernie: Leo Bynum wanted to check out our flying sites so Greg Sugg and I joined him at the Petaluma airport for a ride in his Piper Cherokee. We went as far north as Elk, where we talked to the gang on the North Launch. They hadn't set up yet. We didn't go on to St. John, because the sky cover was too dense in that direction (we're flying VFR), and it would take too long to go the long way around. It was great fun checking out our sites and routes from this motorized vantage point.
Bill Vogel
(3/18/01 8:44:30 am)
(3/18/01 8:44:30 am)
Sunday
3 18
It is 800 AM Bright Sun and light winds so far. Yesterday the wind was buffeting and I went Zero several times. On the last time it was real bad and I headed over to Middle mtn but found nothing so went in and landed at LZ. Will Go again today. Bill
It is 800 AM Bright Sun and light winds so far. Yesterday the wind was buffeting and I went Zero several times. On the last time it was real bad and I headed over to Middle mtn but found nothing so went in and landed at LZ. Will Go again today. Bill
highhuber
(3/19/01 10:49:57 pm)
(3/19/01 10:49:57 pm)
checking in
the flying has finally gotten good here in s. cal. I got to 9500 ft. at Horse on sat. and flew blossom valley today and made it up on
El Capitan for the first time ever. Will probably go down to baja for a few days for some coastal ridge flying and then hit Crestline and maybe Santa Barbara before I return. Looking forward to some good spring flying with everyone. Stay high. hh
the flying has finally gotten good here in s. cal. I got to 9500 ft. at Horse on sat. and flew blossom valley today and made it up on
El Capitan for the first time ever. Will probably go down to baja for a few days for some coastal ridge flying and then hit Crestline and maybe Santa Barbara before I return. Looking forward to some good spring flying with everyone. Stay high. hh
Hangfly
(3/21/01 8:56:46 pm)
(3/21/01 8:56:46 pm)
re:
Elk
It was soarable! Todd, Jon James and I flew. Conditions looked better that they were, but it was pretty thermally for this early in the year.
I got the lowest, 5200'. I had a soft landing in the creekbed. Jon landed by Rich's house. Todd flew 15 miles WNW toward Willits.
It felt great for me to get back in the air after four months off. This was my 25 year anniversery flight.
CW :D
It was soarable! Todd, Jon James and I flew. Conditions looked better that they were, but it was pretty thermally for this early in the year.
I got the lowest, 5200'. I had a soft landing in the creekbed. Jon landed by Rich's house. Todd flew 15 miles WNW toward Willits.
It felt great for me to get back in the air after four months off. This was my 25 year anniversery flight.
CW :D
Jon James
(3/22/01 10:43:21 am)
(3/22/01 10:43:21 am)
Elk on
Wednesday
Elk was great. Clouds were forming early. We were set up and ready to go before noon. I took off first at 12:25. South side.
Climb-out was slow at first but I eventually got to 6000. After coming back to below launch, got to 6400 the second time, with the help of a 700-900 fpm thermal. From there, went to Middle Mountain. The clouds looked good over High Glade, but you had to go deep because Pitney was bare. There was a nice cloud over Mid/Potter Valley. I headed toward Rich's and landed there (by 1:30).
Todd came thru later, went from Mid into Potter Valley. He made his way to the VanArsdale dam, then along the west side of SanHedrin. He got over a hill a few miles east of Willits but found nothing there, so had to backtrack to the Circle X Ranch, which is a huge clearing in the middle of the forest. There was a locked gate and a brief hike out, but the owners and neighbors were friendly. It's a beautiful place.
Elk was great. Clouds were forming early. We were set up and ready to go before noon. I took off first at 12:25. South side.
Climb-out was slow at first but I eventually got to 6000. After coming back to below launch, got to 6400 the second time, with the help of a 700-900 fpm thermal. From there, went to Middle Mountain. The clouds looked good over High Glade, but you had to go deep because Pitney was bare. There was a nice cloud over Mid/Potter Valley. I headed toward Rich's and landed there (by 1:30).
Todd came thru later, went from Mid into Potter Valley. He made his way to the VanArsdale dam, then along the west side of SanHedrin. He got over a hill a few miles east of Willits but found nothing there, so had to backtrack to the Circle X Ranch, which is a huge clearing in the middle of the forest. There was a locked gate and a brief hike out, but the owners and neighbors were friendly. It's a beautiful place.
Hangfly
(3/25/01 9:53:02 pm)
(3/25/01 9:53:02 pm)
We
Worked
Saturday eight pilots showed up at Crazy Creek. We mowed two launch strips. One parallels the runway and one angles toward the runway, more into the afternoon wind. The angled one needs to be graded. The parallel one has a mucky spot that we may need to deal with next weekend. (1/4" Plywood over it?)
Present were Bill, Todd, Rich, John B, Leo, Jon J, Matt and me.
Charley
Saturday eight pilots showed up at Crazy Creek. We mowed two launch strips. One parallels the runway and one angles toward the runway, more into the afternoon wind. The angled one needs to be graded. The parallel one has a mucky spot that we may need to deal with next weekend. (1/4" Plywood over it?)
Present were Bill, Todd, Rich, John B, Leo, Jon J, Matt and me.
Charley
Hangfly
(3/25/01 9:43:40 pm)
(3/25/01 9:43:40 pm)
Elk
I think no one looked at the BB this morning 'cause we decided yesterday after workin' at Crazy Creek that we were going to Elk today.
At Elk were T, Rich, Bill, Todd and I. No epic flights but hours of soaring in cold air with overcast skies.
T is a paraglider pilot from Portland, OR. We flew the north side in ridge lift with thermals mixed in.
Typical Elk landing conditions, switchy north, northwest and west. No bad landings.
CW :D
I think no one looked at the BB this morning 'cause we decided yesterday after workin' at Crazy Creek that we were going to Elk today.
At Elk were T, Rich, Bill, Todd and I. No epic flights but hours of soaring in cold air with overcast skies.
T is a paraglider pilot from Portland, OR. We flew the north side in ridge lift with thermals mixed in.
Typical Elk landing conditions, switchy north, northwest and west. No bad landings.
CW :D
John
Blacet
(3/25/01 7:18:31 pm)
(3/25/01 7:18:31 pm)
Re:
Flying (and working) this WE 3-24/25
St Helena was OK. Light turnout with Ernie, myself, Justin and Anthony; two HGs and two PGs. I had to even call Ernie from the cross roads to see if he wanted to fly.
Apparently, the only person who looked at the BB this morning was Justin!
It was pretty strong cycles at first but mellowed out as the sky clouded over. Ernie and I got about a grand over. The PGers launched last as condx mellowed. We all ended up at the BL LZ within minutes of each other around four.
The ranch now has a gate; you have to punch 01 to get the caretaker to open up. I suggest leaving at least one car in the LZ because you need a car to trip the gate sensor on the way out. The sensor is cleverly placed on the *wrong* side of the road, resulting in a few comic maneuvers the first time we tried to leave!
We walked out to get our cars and some of the kids opened up for us although there is low point on the wall to leap over (that's what the kids did...to get to the keypad.) I tried waving a piece of scrap metal over the sensor but no go; you have to wave a car over it....;>
St Helena was OK. Light turnout with Ernie, myself, Justin and Anthony; two HGs and two PGs. I had to even call Ernie from the cross roads to see if he wanted to fly.
Apparently, the only person who looked at the BB this morning was Justin!
It was pretty strong cycles at first but mellowed out as the sky clouded over. Ernie and I got about a grand over. The PGers launched last as condx mellowed. We all ended up at the BL LZ within minutes of each other around four.
The ranch now has a gate; you have to punch 01 to get the caretaker to open up. I suggest leaving at least one car in the LZ because you need a car to trip the gate sensor on the way out. The sensor is cleverly placed on the *wrong* side of the road, resulting in a few comic maneuvers the first time we tried to leave!
We walked out to get our cars and some of the kids opened up for us although there is low point on the wall to leap over (that's what the kids did...to get to the keypad.) I tried waving a piece of scrap metal over the sensor but no go; you have to wave a car over it....;>
Vince
(3/25/01 7:51:14 pm)
(3/25/01 7:51:14 pm)
Re:Diablo
Diablo was OK. No great XC flights. I think Greg managed 2.1 miles. There were about 6 gliders in the air, with most getting to 5,000'. I thought there was lots of turbulence. Half the gliders in the air were rigids, two Ghostbusters and one Atos. Greg decided to go over the back for some XC but was met with lots of sink. He flew back to the mountain and landed next to Clayton road. I was going to go as well, but I could not get Nancy on the radio to tell her. She was out of the truck walking the dogs. By the time she got back, I was too low to leave.
My landing was the exciting point of the day. As I approached, winds on the ground were reported 5 to 10 from the NW. When I was less than 200' the wind shifted 180 degrees. I check my vario, I descended 189 feet in the last 15 seconds of flight. I figure I was leveled out for about 5 seconds, so I was coming down at almost 800 fpm, not enough time to turn. The ground was rushing up. With the now 5 to 10 mph tail wind, my ground speed was 33 to 38 mph. The ground was really passing under my feet at that speed. I did my best no step flair and hit the ground at about 15 to 20 mph. The weeds were a little wet and I literally skidded to a stop on my feet, dragging the keel behind me. The glider never nosed over. I did no damage to the glider or myself. To the people on the ground it looked like a normal landing. I have to count my lucky stars for that one.
Vince
Diablo was OK. No great XC flights. I think Greg managed 2.1 miles. There were about 6 gliders in the air, with most getting to 5,000'. I thought there was lots of turbulence. Half the gliders in the air were rigids, two Ghostbusters and one Atos. Greg decided to go over the back for some XC but was met with lots of sink. He flew back to the mountain and landed next to Clayton road. I was going to go as well, but I could not get Nancy on the radio to tell her. She was out of the truck walking the dogs. By the time she got back, I was too low to leave.
My landing was the exciting point of the day. As I approached, winds on the ground were reported 5 to 10 from the NW. When I was less than 200' the wind shifted 180 degrees. I check my vario, I descended 189 feet in the last 15 seconds of flight. I figure I was leveled out for about 5 seconds, so I was coming down at almost 800 fpm, not enough time to turn. The ground was rushing up. With the now 5 to 10 mph tail wind, my ground speed was 33 to 38 mph. The ground was really passing under my feet at that speed. I did my best no step flair and hit the ground at about 15 to 20 mph. The weeds were a little wet and I literally skidded to a stop on my feet, dragging the keel behind me. The glider never nosed over. I did no damage to the glider or myself. To the people on the ground it looked like a normal landing. I have to count my lucky stars for that one.
Vince
Hangfly
(3/31/01 11:23:43 pm)
(3/31/01 11:23:43 pm)
Crazy
Creek Flight Reports
Today, Saturday, was another good day at Crazy Creek. Rated pilots had no trouble launching between and after clinic pilots. Everyone easily got their quota of flights.
People were staying up shortly after 10:00am. There was a down cycle around noon. By 1:00pm people were staying up as long as they wanted.
Many pilots got over 7000'. It was really cold up there. Four pilots tried to make to Crazy Creek from St Helena. One made it, Jon James.
It was great fun to follow the tug again, see Joe and carve circles close in with friends. It was also fun to share thermals with sailplanes and to watch them fly.
Joe is looking foreward to pulling up as many pilots as he can. So, if you're AT rated get out there and do some soaring.
CW :lol
Today, Saturday, was another good day at Crazy Creek. Rated pilots had no trouble launching between and after clinic pilots. Everyone easily got their quota of flights.
People were staying up shortly after 10:00am. There was a down cycle around noon. By 1:00pm people were staying up as long as they wanted.
Many pilots got over 7000'. It was really cold up there. Four pilots tried to make to Crazy Creek from St Helena. One made it, Jon James.
It was great fun to follow the tug again, see Joe and carve circles close in with friends. It was also fun to share thermals with sailplanes and to watch them fly.
Joe is looking foreward to pulling up as many pilots as he can. So, if you're AT rated get out there and do some soaring.
CW :lol
Ernie
Camacho
Moderator
(4/2/01 7:54:30 am)
Moderator
(4/2/01 7:54:30 am)
Re:
Crazy Creek Flight Reports
Sunday wasn't as good. When I got there about 12:30, The tug had lost it's engine while towing up Tim. They replaced it and managed to get Rich, Mark Grubbs, and Steve Werthheimer up before the air got too rowdy. Later I tried to get up but got too high behind the tug as we climbed through the gradient and was given the rope. I made a few judgement errors on landing and ended up with a broken downtube. That wrapped it up for the rest of the waiting pilots and we called it a day.
If you want to tow during this next week, Joe will check in at the tow site each day at 11:30. If you want to fly, be there and he'll tow you. If you can't make it by 11:30, call Crazy Creek (info on our calendar page) and have them ask Joe to wait for you. Chances are Joe will be hanging out at the site anyway, working on his stuff, but don't count on it.
For some photos of what the site, and the flying, looked like on Saturday, 3/31, click here:
http://www.hanggliding.org/pics/crazycreek03312001/napa_valley_hanggliding.htm
Sunday wasn't as good. When I got there about 12:30, The tug had lost it's engine while towing up Tim. They replaced it and managed to get Rich, Mark Grubbs, and Steve Werthheimer up before the air got too rowdy. Later I tried to get up but got too high behind the tug as we climbed through the gradient and was given the rope. I made a few judgement errors on landing and ended up with a broken downtube. That wrapped it up for the rest of the waiting pilots and we called it a day.
If you want to tow during this next week, Joe will check in at the tow site each day at 11:30. If you want to fly, be there and he'll tow you. If you can't make it by 11:30, call Crazy Creek (info on our calendar page) and have them ask Joe to wait for you. Chances are Joe will be hanging out at the site anyway, working on his stuff, but don't count on it.
For some photos of what the site, and the flying, looked like on Saturday, 3/31, click here:
http://www.hanggliding.org/pics/crazycreek03312001/napa_valley_hanggliding.htm
Hangfly
(4/2/01 4:07:47 pm)
(4/2/01 4:07:47 pm)
The
Pictures!
Who was the guy with the Stealth who took all the pics?
Thanks to him! The pics are great! I wished I had a shot looking straight down on the launch line from 7K'. I remembered my camera in the car when I got about 5800' and was looking at the snow-capped peaks to the north.
Next weekend I'll remember to fly with it.
Charley 8)
Who was the guy with the Stealth who took all the pics?
Thanks to him! The pics are great! I wished I had a shot looking straight down on the launch line from 7K'. I remembered my camera in the car when I got about 5800' and was looking at the snow-capped peaks to the north.
Next weekend I'll remember to fly with it.
Charley 8)
Ernie
Camacho
(4/3/01 7:51:15 am)
(4/3/01 7:51:15 am)
Re: The
Pictures!
His name is Jack Axaopoulos. He's a Bay Area pilot. He maintains the www.hanggliding.org web site, where the Michael Champlin XC challenge is hosted. If you follow the HG list, he shows up there often enough. You may have heard of him being referred to as "Bunny Boy".
Yes indeed, you've got to fly with a camera, to save these great flights for posterity - or at least your bedroom wall!
His name is Jack Axaopoulos. He's a Bay Area pilot. He maintains the www.hanggliding.org web site, where the Michael Champlin XC challenge is hosted. If you follow the HG list, he shows up there often enough. You may have heard of him being referred to as "Bunny Boy".
Yes indeed, you've got to fly with a camera, to save these great flights for posterity - or at least your bedroom wall!
Vince
(4/3/01 8:14:08 am)
(4/3/01 8:14:08 am)
Re:
Crazy Creek flight reports
As Ernie said, the tug lost power on Tim's first tow Sunday. They were about 50' AGL. Tim was quick thinking enough to release before Joe got rid of the rope. Joe was close to the road and thought the rope might get caught on something so he got rid of it. Bob S. and John D. found the rope. John, Tim and myself then got busy and changed the engine on the tug. It took about 3 hours. We had to remove all the ancillary stuff from the old engine and put it on the new engine. It then took another couple of hours of ground run to break it in. By the time all that was finished it was too windy for any of us in the clinic to do our tows.
Sunday night the winds picked up to about 40 mph. Dirk, Tim, John and myself all met at the airport Monday at 7:00 AM hoping for the weather to change. It was still blowing over 20 at the airport when we arrived. There was talk about going home, but I thought we should wait for the sun to come up and see if that would change things. By 8:00 the wind started to die down and it looked like we could give it a try. Joe took off to see how the air was at 2500 agl. The winds at that altitude were still about 20 and it was a little turbulent. I think we wore Joe down and he agreed to start towing us. I figured we could always release it things got rough.
Again Tim was the first to tow. He did a great job. We could see the tug getting tossed around, as much as we saw on Sunday. Tim stayed on all the way to 2500. Dirk was next and has a week link break before the cart even moved. His release system puts twice the load on the week link than the system the rest of us were using. Now it was my turn. Everything was going fine, but I kept staying low. Joe finally gave me the climb higher signal and I got into the proper position. When climbing up into the proper position, it felt like I was extremely slow and close to stall. It took a little bit to get used to that. Joe said as long as there was tension on the rope, you can't stall. At about 1000' we started to hit the turbulence. It was very rough. A couple of times I was close to wire twangs. The rope went slack twice. I managed to stay on tow. At 2000' things smoothed out quite a bit. The Atos tows so well, in the smooth air I could take my hands off the bar and it would track behind the tug.
The decent down for another tow was worse than the tow was. I wanted to get on the ground as quick as possible to get a chance to get all 5 tows in before things got really bad. It was too rough to go fast. At 150 fpm down, it takes a long time to land. I managed to find some sink and cored it at 600 fpm down. The rest of my tows were easier than the first. I thought they felt less turbulent than the first. Thermals started to kick in about the third tow and it was harder to find sink. At one point I flew for about ˝ mile in 700 fpm up until I could find sink. After my last tow, there was still a lot of lift so I flew over to Todd's house. I had a 18 mph headwind component, but still only lost 600' all the way to his house. It was cold at 3500' (the release altitude), about 38 deg.F. I was starting to shiver so I went back and landed.
Dirk managed to get his weak link problem figured out and got in 5 ˝ tows. John was having a harder time of it. He was flying a glider that Joe had provided and it was too big for him. It took a lot of bar pressure to stay behind the tug. He had a weak link break, as well as a bridle break. The weather looks bad for this coming weekend. I hope all of those who signed up get a chance to tow. It is quite the experience.
Vince
As Ernie said, the tug lost power on Tim's first tow Sunday. They were about 50' AGL. Tim was quick thinking enough to release before Joe got rid of the rope. Joe was close to the road and thought the rope might get caught on something so he got rid of it. Bob S. and John D. found the rope. John, Tim and myself then got busy and changed the engine on the tug. It took about 3 hours. We had to remove all the ancillary stuff from the old engine and put it on the new engine. It then took another couple of hours of ground run to break it in. By the time all that was finished it was too windy for any of us in the clinic to do our tows.
Sunday night the winds picked up to about 40 mph. Dirk, Tim, John and myself all met at the airport Monday at 7:00 AM hoping for the weather to change. It was still blowing over 20 at the airport when we arrived. There was talk about going home, but I thought we should wait for the sun to come up and see if that would change things. By 8:00 the wind started to die down and it looked like we could give it a try. Joe took off to see how the air was at 2500 agl. The winds at that altitude were still about 20 and it was a little turbulent. I think we wore Joe down and he agreed to start towing us. I figured we could always release it things got rough.
Again Tim was the first to tow. He did a great job. We could see the tug getting tossed around, as much as we saw on Sunday. Tim stayed on all the way to 2500. Dirk was next and has a week link break before the cart even moved. His release system puts twice the load on the week link than the system the rest of us were using. Now it was my turn. Everything was going fine, but I kept staying low. Joe finally gave me the climb higher signal and I got into the proper position. When climbing up into the proper position, it felt like I was extremely slow and close to stall. It took a little bit to get used to that. Joe said as long as there was tension on the rope, you can't stall. At about 1000' we started to hit the turbulence. It was very rough. A couple of times I was close to wire twangs. The rope went slack twice. I managed to stay on tow. At 2000' things smoothed out quite a bit. The Atos tows so well, in the smooth air I could take my hands off the bar and it would track behind the tug.
The decent down for another tow was worse than the tow was. I wanted to get on the ground as quick as possible to get a chance to get all 5 tows in before things got really bad. It was too rough to go fast. At 150 fpm down, it takes a long time to land. I managed to find some sink and cored it at 600 fpm down. The rest of my tows were easier than the first. I thought they felt less turbulent than the first. Thermals started to kick in about the third tow and it was harder to find sink. At one point I flew for about ˝ mile in 700 fpm up until I could find sink. After my last tow, there was still a lot of lift so I flew over to Todd's house. I had a 18 mph headwind component, but still only lost 600' all the way to his house. It was cold at 3500' (the release altitude), about 38 deg.F. I was starting to shiver so I went back and landed.
Dirk managed to get his weak link problem figured out and got in 5 ˝ tows. John was having a harder time of it. He was flying a glider that Joe had provided and it was too big for him. It took a lot of bar pressure to stay behind the tug. He had a weak link break, as well as a bridle break. The weather looks bad for this coming weekend. I hope all of those who signed up get a chance to tow. It is quite the experience.
Vince
Vince
(4/3/01 8:48:54 am)
(4/3/01 8:48:54 am)
RE:
Crazy Creek
I uploaded a couple of my vario printouts from my tows at Crazy Creek. Go to:
groups.yahoo.com/group/SonomaWings
click files, click Vince's pics, then click one of the two files, Crazycreek01 or 02.
These were supposed to be steady 500 fpm climbs to 3500' msl. You can see how rough the air was. No Greg, the graphs were not a result of PIO.
Vince
I uploaded a couple of my vario printouts from my tows at Crazy Creek. Go to:
groups.yahoo.com/group/SonomaWings
click files, click Vince's pics, then click one of the two files, Crazycreek01 or 02.
These were supposed to be steady 500 fpm climbs to 3500' msl. You can see how rough the air was. No Greg, the graphs were not a result of PIO.
Vince
Hangfly
(4/4/01 8:48:39 pm)
(4/4/01 8:48:39 pm)
4-4-01
Report
No big miles today. Developement kept the ground shaded enough to make the lift weak and disorganized.
I got an hour the hard way, three tows.
Seems this towing thing can be a bit like going to Reno. "I know I'll win eventually. I can get up this time. Here's another twenty."
Anyway I had three good landings. Maybe I needed the practice. See you there tomorrow!
CW :)
No big miles today. Developement kept the ground shaded enough to make the lift weak and disorganized.
I got an hour the hard way, three tows.
Seems this towing thing can be a bit like going to Reno. "I know I'll win eventually. I can get up this time. Here's another twenty."
Anyway I had three good landings. Maybe I needed the practice. See you there tomorrow!
CW :)
Leo Jones
(4/4/01 9:48:25 pm)
(4/4/01 9:48:25 pm)
Re.4.4.01
I started my clinic today. The ground was white with frost when I got there and there was ice all over the tug! Cu's began to form by 10 a.m. I took my first tow at about 10.30. First tow went well, second tow I held onto the dolly a bit longer and was unprepared for the subsequent sudden leap into the air, and broke a weak link. Good practice! Third tow I got to almost 6K and stayed up for about 40 mins.
I then flew my Fusion, which was a lot easier in terms of bar pressure, if a bit yawey. Though the sky was full of great looking clouds, lift was fairly spotty and weak below about 4000ft MSL, and only rarely more than 300ft/min above that. I eventually got up to cloudbase at 9,200ft, but it was so cold it was scary. My hands were freezing, even with gloves and bar mitts, and my face felt like it had been injected with novocaine! I knew I couldn't stay up there very long. It sure was gorgeous though and I took a bunch of pictures.
Charley and Todd were trying to go XC, so they only took 2000ft tows. It proved very difficult to get up from that altitude. As I was training I took 3000ft tows and it made all the difference on this day. We may need to amend the GFI rules in this respect.
What fun! If you haven't got your aerotow rating then go do it. It seems to be a very safe and easy way to get aloft, far superior to winch, platform, or truck towing IMHO.
"Aeroleo"
I started my clinic today. The ground was white with frost when I got there and there was ice all over the tug! Cu's began to form by 10 a.m. I took my first tow at about 10.30. First tow went well, second tow I held onto the dolly a bit longer and was unprepared for the subsequent sudden leap into the air, and broke a weak link. Good practice! Third tow I got to almost 6K and stayed up for about 40 mins.
I then flew my Fusion, which was a lot easier in terms of bar pressure, if a bit yawey. Though the sky was full of great looking clouds, lift was fairly spotty and weak below about 4000ft MSL, and only rarely more than 300ft/min above that. I eventually got up to cloudbase at 9,200ft, but it was so cold it was scary. My hands were freezing, even with gloves and bar mitts, and my face felt like it had been injected with novocaine! I knew I couldn't stay up there very long. It sure was gorgeous though and I took a bunch of pictures.
Charley and Todd were trying to go XC, so they only took 2000ft tows. It proved very difficult to get up from that altitude. As I was training I took 3000ft tows and it made all the difference on this day. We may need to amend the GFI rules in this respect.
What fun! If you haven't got your aerotow rating then go do it. It seems to be a very safe and easy way to get aloft, far superior to winch, platform, or truck towing IMHO.
"Aeroleo"