[FormerFF]

Woohoo Judy!

[FormerFF]

So, how many flights did she get?

[Mrsposer]

Hey guys...

When we went up to Lookout this past weekend I was not really thinking I would get a mountain flight due to the weather. Sat. was blown out on the big hill so I wasn't able to reclear. We decided to go out on Sun. to see if the weather was any better. I was in luck. The weather was looking pretty good. I got recleared and we headed up to the mountain after everyone got done at the hills. We had tons of people on the big hill because of the crappy weather the day before so Randy decided he would stay and keep towing everyone back up to maximize their flying time. Anyway, when we made it up to the mountain there were a lot of low time pilots setting up but it looked like it might start raining at any time. It did begin to rain a little while we were trying to decide if I should set up and since we hadn't had lunch yet and we needed to take Reagan out to potty we decided to take care of all that and come back later to see if the rain had passed. Well, it passed on the way down to the travel trailer. But we were due for another little shower (at least that's what someone had told us) and it was about an hour away. My thoughts were that I wasn't really all that anxious to take my second mountain flight (my first on my glider) if there was a chance for rain and then have to pack it away wet. Randy and Lilposer took me into Chattanooga to Sticky Fingers for lunch and when we were done we headed back up to the mountain. Randy needed to have his chute repacked and we decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and have it done while Jerry had time. We also ordered my harness. ( Nice Mother's Day gift!!! ) Once we were done with that we decided that it was looking so good that I should try to get a flight so I started setting up. I was really really nervous. In fact I was much more nervous this time than I was on my first flight. Once I had gotten my hang check and stepped up onto the ramp I was a bundle of nerves. This actually felt more like a first flight than my first flight did for some reason. I think my anxiety was mostly because the LZ was really wet and there was some standing water even. I knew that my approach was probably going to be trickier than usual. I went over it with Dan again for good measure but then he started asking me about which direction I was going to land. My brain had gone on vacation temporarily and then I realized that I was going to have to land coming from the North end of the field which would have either put me in line to land in the wet stuff or either land on the tug runway facing the tugs. I wasn't comfortable with that at all. So Matt told me that since it was light and I was going to intentionally wheel land to just do what I was used to and land from the South end. I have never had a tandem flight from the North end so I was afraid that I would misjudge my altitude and turn too low on final like I had done on my first flight. It doesn't seem that we land from that direction very often and I really want to get that tandem to practice the approach from that end soon just in case the wind changes and I have to change my pattern. Anyway, with so many new variables on this flight, my new glider, the wet LZ, the fact that I might have to change my approach to accomodate the wind direction, I was a little more nervous than I think I would have been under normal circumstances. I finally got myself in the mindset to do this, double checked that I was hooked in and just went for it. Once I launched I flew away from the mountain and eased out to see how I was trimming. It looked to be between 16 to 18. I pulled in for some speed to see how that felt. I did ease out some although Randy and Matt said that I was flying too fast. I really didn't feel like I was but I have been feeling like my glider is more pitch sensitive than the school gliders and coupled with the fact that I generally do fly fast I'm sure I was hauling ass. But I felt relaxed until I started to approach the field. After looking at the wind sock and streamers and seeing that they were basically limp I began my box pattern while looking for a dry patch of grass. I was surprised that I had entered the field with less altitude than I had on my first flight since Matt and Dan had told me that I would probably launch and start going up. Oh boy, I was feeling like I was really going to have to make some adjustments. The dry patch of grass was basically the tug runway which is usually not our landing protocol but since it was so wet everywhere else I was told to land there this time and that the tug pilots were aware that people were landing there. Well, once I was over close to the parking lot I realized how much altitude I had lost (probably from a death grip on the downtubes) and I decided that I needed to think about landing. I was still a little nervous about landing anywhere near the tugs and I decided that I would turn earlier than I had on my previous mountain flight. You all remember that I had turned too low on final on that one and I was trying to avoid doing that again, trying to be conscious of air traffic if any, looking for my dry grass to land all while flying my new glider. It felt a lot trickier than my first flight for sure. I am so used to having a nice big groomed field and because of the water it had shrunk so it was a lot more like what I would perceive landing out to be. I made my 180 and had good enough speed but realized that there was a pocket of trees that encroaches onto our field and in order to avoid them I had to make another smaller correction. So I am coming in for final, good speed and I realize that I am higher than I thought and I wasn't real interested in running out of field so I pulled in some more and came down for a nice soft wheel landing. I had to walk my glider a pretty good ways through some mucky terrain, thankful that I had actually made a good decision to land where I had. Of course, being the critical person that I am I started moaning and groaning to Randy and anyone else around about how I had completely screwed up. I had come in over the field with less altitude than I desired and had to make a lot of decisions quickly. He did point out, though, that I had a wheel landing in a wet field and managed to find a dry spot...so dry that my jeans weren't even wet. All in all, it wasn't too bad I guess. I have to admit that I enjoyed my first one more but I learned more on this one. And hopefully, I will be more relaxed next time and more aware of my grip on the downtubes, especially when I encounter something that makes me nervous. It was actually good restricted landing practice. Also, Randy and I were talking about how we take our groomed field for granted. Well, that field can undergo changes. We knew it was wet. You could see that it was wet from the mountain. But, we really should have walked it first to familiarize ourself with the changes and where they were. I think I would have been a whole lot less nervous if I had since it looked completely different than I had expected from above it. Lots of learning!

[Wingspan34]

[Imaposer]

[Skyhighwoman]

That is awesome. Do not feel bad about being nervous especially after 7mos. Being nervous especially with that much time off is pretty natural.

Glad you went ahead and went for it.

As Helen says: GOODONYA!!!

Hopefully this is the start of good weather and the TWO of you can get some air under your belt.





Carm

[RTylenda]

[Mrsposer]

It really was a nice Mother's Day. And I even got exactly what I wanted this year.


It was great meeting the Phantoms too. They have such a beautiful little family. I'm hoping that we hear that MrsPhantom has gotten her first mountain flight soon.

[freddy]

Great looking glider- Judy- welcome back!

[Wingspan34]

After a day of trying to fly, I finally got a chance to read the Poser's detailed flight reports.

Very good job, Posers! There were lots of things to think about, eh Judy? I'm trying to put myself in your shoes, but I can't remember a flight where I've had that much to think about - in a LONG time. All I can say is - Good Job!

Yea, and what a Mother's Day! With all the water in the LZ, I think all you forgot about on your flight was takin' a fishin' pole and some worms along.

[Mrsposer]

Thanks all!

[phantomflier]

[Rick M]

Nice Gary - glad you didn't ruin all of the weather

[Imaposer]

ROCK ON BETH!

She was doing great on Sunday so I just knew she was on the cusp of clearing. That's why I was so adamant about her getting her tests done Sunday afternoon. I’ve just seen too many people put it off and then suddenly they’re clear for a first solo, the conditions are perfect but they miss the opportunity while they’re taking tests. I was really hoping she would get some good weather and be able to get that first solo before you guys went home. But at least she had fun and got a lot accomplished. She seemed to be pretty excited about how she was doing and looked to be having fun out on the hills. She’s hooked! Can’t wait to see her go off the mountain for the first time.

[Imaposer]

[Mrsposer]

[Mrsposer]

[Mrsposer]

One other thing that I forgot to mention but wanted to...


I posted in a recent thread regarding which training package to get at LMFP that I would go with the Eagle or at least get a tandem flight before a first mountain launch. I stand firm on that! And, my above 2nd flight is why. It was said by another forum member on another thread that the T-Hills teach you the basics and if the instructor and the new pilot feel good about his/her skills that it was probably okay to skip a tandem. Well, the basics are what I forgot on this flight. Can you imagine going off the mountain, forgetting the basics, dealing with traffic and completely screwing up your approach??( All of this while never having a tandem flight prior.) That could cause all kinds of problems. So, yes, I still stand firm on what I believe, especially since my last mountain flight. Also, while I do trust my instructors to help try and keep me safe, once you go off the mountain or even the training hills your life is no longer in their hands. The new pilot will be the one making all the decisions whether right or wrong. At the end of the day it is up to the pilot or pilot in training to make the safest decision possible. Also, if I see that our LZ has undergone significant changes I will be walking it first from now on.....flight or no flight.

[Imaposer]

I think you are being way too hard on yourself. You definitely didn't forget the basics other than not keeping a loose grip and relaxing. This made you fly faster than usual but was caused by being nervous about the approach in the unfamiliar LZ. Your familiarity with the approach was what allowed you to cope with it and ahve an uneventful flight and landing. If you had never actually experienced setting up an approach things could have turned out very differently.

I still agree that taking at least one tandem is a great training aid. I realize that this may not be an option for everyone, depending on where you train, but if it is, do yourself a favor and take advantage of it.

Yeah, I have a feeling the field will still be flooded this coming weekend too. I'm feeling pretty rusty on my approach skills (which is what I was working on my last few flights) so I'm a little leary of the reduced options available now. I definitely learned something last weekend and definitely plan to walk, slog, wade, swim, the field before flying into it.

[Mrsposer]

[quote="Imaposer"]Your familiarity with the approach was what allowed you to cope with it and ahve an uneventful flight and landing. If you had never actually experienced setting up an approach things could have turned out very differently. quote]


Yes, sorry, this is what I meant when I posted a while ago. With the reduced size of the field and restricted landing options it could have been a heck of an approach/landing should a new pilot be that nervous and flying fast,etc., plus dealing with traffic (which someone on a first mountain flight without having had a tandem would not be used to) and the trying to judge altitude and landing pattern.