The forecast models for Tuesday looked like Ronaldo and me would finally have a shot at flying the 63 miles from Sylmar to Crestline. I was predicting clear skies and climbs to 7200' but there was too much moisture left over from recent rains. The dew point caused Cus to form between 5800' and 5950' w/ little room between. There was no shortage of turbulence and most thermals were broken up, skinny w/ cascading edges. It was a challenging ride and by the time I reached the jumping off point 14 miles East of launch, I'd had enough and headed back.
I was feeling pretty run down before I'd launched and topped it off by performing my round out and skim about 3' too high while setting up my landing. There's no excuse for this lack of proper landing set up. You will see the result twice near the end of the video. The first view is from my keel camera and the second view is from Ronaldo's Flip HD. I found the view from Ron's camera very instructive as to how I muffed what should have been an easy no-stepper. Watch and learn.
Anyhow, I hit cloud base several times during the flight and got to see some of the leftover snow in the San Gabriels and on Mt Lukens which shows up well in spite of the hazy skies over L.A. yesterday.
....I think you just needed more speed and push out a bit later....
Thanks Dennis. I was just being typically reckless on that landing.
I was so tired yesterday that I couldn't even lift the nose of my glider out of the crater. At least I replaced my divot.
Looked like a little hesitation on your flare. I'm sure you would have pulled that one off fine without it. I dont think a whack in soft green grass should count anyway.
Looked like a little hesitation on your flare. I'm sure you would have pulled that one off fine without it. I dont think a whack in soft green grass should count anyway.
Wes
Wes every time your nose touches, no matter how light we are all going to call it whack
now when my nose hits softly its called beaking it, all topless nose hits are all called full blow out whacks _________________ Explore nature from the eyes of an Eagle
Looked like a little hesitation on your flare. I'm sure you would have pulled that one off fine without it.....
All I needed to do was commit to the flare and I would have been fine. I was disoriented from lack of sleep the preceding night and it felt like my wing was dropping and I was closer to the ground than I actually was. The turbulence felt much worse than it actually was also.
Looked like a little hesitation on your flare. I'm sure you would have pulled that one off fine without it.....
All I needed to do was commit to the flare and I would have been fine. I was disoriented from lack of sleep the preceding night and it felt like my wing was dropping and I was closer to the ground than I actually was. The turbulence felt much worse than it actually was also.
Atleast your flying. Its still acting like winter up here.
Cal,
But that only happens when I land down wind. I need to break that habit
NME, sorry I missed you when I was in Cali, I got the worst flu.
Lost 15 lbs, and quit smoking though.
The great news is that I got a new DVD and now I can stream video
Directly to my big ass HDTV.
Since I am only able to HG vicariously through the computer right
now, that rocks! SOON I will be gliding at least.
NME, sorry I missed you when I was in Cali, I got the worst flu....
Glad I missed you. But seriously, that flu has been going around and it slightly got me this time since I've already had the flu twice this season as well as a shot about 4 months ago. Hopefully, next time we'll meet up. Glad you have a vicarious thrill machine.
My next project will be to clean the crap off
my computer, so I can load MS Flight sim
and fly the King routes with the trike. That
should make me a lot better ground asset
this year.
Southern Caifornia Where the air is dense and the landings are easy I can't call that a wack That is a good landing _________________ H-4. Flying since 1975, Gliders, 17 ft Manta St, Electra Flyer Wildflower 220, Leading Edge Air Foil 6-C 160, Electra Flyer Oly 160, WW Omega 220, UP Comet 160, UP Comet O.V.R.160, UP Comet 2 160, UP TRX 160, WW Fusion 141, Bennett Dream 220 , UP Predator 142 and T-2 154. Love to Fly King Mt. Willard and the Crawford Mt's are the home sites. FL,AWCL,CL,FSL,RLF,TUR.
Very nice video Jonathan. Any place that has sunshine now is the place to be.
Temperature during flight? Still appeared a bit chilly. _________________ H-4 (1976) UP Saturn 147 & UP Axis 13
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Very nice video Jonathan. Any place that has sunshine now is the place to be.
Temperature during flight? Still appeared a bit chilly.
I think it was only about 38F at cloud base. Warmer than forecast.
If all goes well, today will be a very nice (and cold) snow flight over Crestline ridge, where the snow is fairly deep. I should bring some extra cameras and mount them on other gliders, huh?