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Nibs
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Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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 Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:17 pm Post subject: Day 4 |
 #41 |
Day 4
I went up for one day this weekend because the weather report looked really ugly for Sunday. Drove up Saturday morning and it looked good, although it was so cold within a half hour the entire bottom of my face was numb and my speech was slurred and slow. All part of the fun 
There were more people at the training hills today than I'd ever seen which is funny for this time of year (I think). I did finally get a chance to meet a bunch of the Atlanta people so that was cool (Han, Jeff and Slava). Anyway, we get to the top of the hill and there was a gentle breeze, but it was a tailwind  We lined up and waited probably 10+ mins per person for a quick moment when the wind died down so someone could launch. We did that a while and when the sun came up, we started to get a better wind direction but the thermals started popping as well so we had to give up early.
Since I've already completed all of my tasks, I'm now just trying to reach 40 flights so I can solo on the mountain. I got in 7 flights today and used them mainly to work on my landings. It was tough because I was landing in a tail-wind and am used to using the ground to judge speed. Half the time I'd go to flare and there would be nothing left. The Falcon that I train with doesn't seem to give much in the way of bar-feedback.... or maybe it's just me... so I end up trying to go off of ground speed for the flare timing. Guess I will have to keep practicing that to make perfect. I don't have any problem flaring in a head-wind or dead air.
So now I'm at the point where the next time I go back, they will ask me to perform a trim flight, a 45 degree turn, a 90 degree turn, a reversing 45 and a reversing 90, then a speed run and they'll sign-me off for the mountain. I've already completed those tasks twice before so it shouldn't be a problem. I would have done it today but the wind was crossed on the mountain so no chance of a launch up there. Hopefully it will happen next weekend!
Ordered a harness today so it should be ready sometime in March (I hope). Guess I'll have to borrow a knee hangar for my mountain flights in the mean time.
Oh, and thanks TB for praying to the weather gods: I got my 7 flights in today so it worked!
PS: I'm going to make a copy of this thread and post it in my blog section.
Last edited by Nibs on Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:03 am; edited 1 time in total |
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T.B.
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:28 pm Post subject: |
#42 |
| Glad to see youre advancing forward....(Good Job)...What type of harness did you get..?? Any special colors or design.? |
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:44 pm Post subject: |
#43 |
I got a LMFP XC Harness. I wanted to get colors to match my gliders (which is white and red) but they don't have or recommend white as a harness color and I understand why  So I went with grey with a red stripe. It should be ready in March... maybe sooner.
I posted a review on the Tenax and the LMFP harnesses in the harness review thread. Take my observations with a grain of salt because neither were custom fit for me and I haven't flown with either, but I was able to note some differences etc. |
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derekjet
3 thumbs up
Joined: 27 Jan 2007
Posts: 33
Location: redding, california
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:55 pm Post subject: |
#44 |
Your posts were just what I was looking for. Now Im even more excited about learning to fly. Just reading your posts gave me some butterflies in my stomach and made me a little nervous. Man I can't wait. Found a school thats only 30 minutes away called Pitman Air. Anyone know anything about them?
pitmanair.com/
Thanks again for the great writing.
Derek |
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T.B.
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 1:56 pm Post subject: |
#45 |
I checked out the info on that harness..(wish they had more,and more pics).
But it does look to be comfortable....The price , it's not specified if that includes the chute (what make)...if it includes it , than i have to say this is a good deal...(if it doesn't then ahh)
And one more question, is it side entry or front..? |
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:16 pm Post subject: |
#46 |
| Thanks Derek. Never heard anything about Pitman but I just moved here from Sacramento 7 months ago.... though was only there 11 months. I bet there is a lot of GREAT soaring in northern/central cali! |
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FormerFF
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Joined: 28 Aug 2006
Posts: 2482
Location: Roswell, Georgia, USA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:17 pm Post subject: |
#47 |
Way cool. I'm looking forward to your pirep when you solo.
Did the other Atlanta guys get some flights in? |
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:19 pm Post subject: |
#48 |
TB, the price doesn't include a chute. I don't think its a bad price for nice harness is it? Seems like most of the other brands of similar quality like WW, high energy etc seem to go for about the same amount no? Also not sure about the other harnesses but the LMFP are all custom made to order. You send them in all required measurements and they make it fit just right.
It is front entry, just like the Tenax. Zipper goes all the way down the front. It has a nice kick panel for your feet etc. It's very slender and form fitting which I really like. A lot of other harnesses just like gigantic and puffy to me.
I will post pics of it when I get mine. |
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:22 pm Post subject: |
#49 |
| FormerFF wrote: |
Way cool. I'm looking forward to your pirep when you solo.
Did the other Atlanta guys get some flights in? |
Most of them had been up there since Thursday so I know they had been flying the last two days. Today I only saw Slava fly I think.... He was doing great and made it to the big hill today. |
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derekjet
3 thumbs up
Joined: 27 Jan 2007
Posts: 33
Location: redding, california
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:32 pm Post subject: |
#50 |
Well if you picture Sacramento as a big basin that sucks air from the Delta and San Francisco Bay because of thermals. That basin runs all the way up to Northern California where we have mountains on three sides. Sacramento Delta has one of the best wind surfing sites in the world. The Northern California coast is only 3 hours away. The mountains to the east have a couple area's where wind farms might go in. I'm new at this but my hunch is there are some great sites around here. That's to bad you don't live in Sacramento anymore, I'm down there all the time.
Last edited by derekjet on Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:34 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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T.B.
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:33 pm Post subject: |
#51 |
Well ..what options did you get on it..?....What was the price with the chute included..? (oh...In case you decide to aerotow did you get tow loops option..?..Important , if you didn't you still have time to add.)
I bought a High Energy Tracer also custom fitted with every option they had, Camel back pocket, Knee pad supports, side pockets, Aero Tow loops, Jam cleat adjustment, toe protector and fitted with a Quantum 330...for $1,300 (grand total)
P.S. Nibs you'r thread just might go on forever....Fantastic Job 
I will make shure to prey for good weather for you....Maybe i'll see you there this fall.....Planing a trip there to learn mountain flying this year. |
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sg
3 thumbs up
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
Posts: 11030
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 2:51 pm Post subject: Re: Day 4 |
#52 |
Dont get into the habit of using ground speed to time anything.
Ground speed is meaningless, the glider just doesnt care about it 
Learn to feel the difference in your airspeed, and the gentle feedback coming thru the downtubes.
Next time, try this. After you have slowed down enough to get your hands high on the downtubes, try slowing the glider down even more by pushing up sloooowly, but dont push up enough to make the glider climb. Push it further and further until the glider is going really slow and feels like its mushing, then push thru hard to finish the flare. You will probably be late a few times, so just memorized what the pressure on the downtubes felt like THAT time, and flare a little bit earlier next time
If you start slowly pushing for a flare, and the glider does not react by climbing at all, this is your key to start accelerating your flare.
This is the idea behind the "crescendo flare" you might hear some people talking about. You start with a slow motion flare which accelerates as you get near the end. The beginning of the flare is in slow motion so that if you are early, you can simply "pause" and wait for the glider to settle back down again, and then contiue with your flare.
| Nibs wrote: |
The Falcon that I train with doesn't seem to give much in the way of bar-feedback.... or maybe it's just me... so I end up trying to go off of ground speed for the flare timing. Guess I will have to keep practicing that to make perfect. I don't have any problem flaring in a head-wind or dead air.
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_________________
H4, AT, FL, TFL, AWCL, CL, FSL, RLF, TUR, X-C
Aeros Stealth III 142
| Thomas Jefferson wrote: |
| All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. |
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:42 pm Post subject: |
#53 |
| T.B. wrote: |
Well ..what options did you get on it..?....What was the price with the chute included..? (oh...In case you decide to aerotow did you get tow loops option..?..Important , if you didn't you still have time to add.)
I bought a High Energy Tracer also custom fitted with every option they had, Camel back pocket, Knee pad supports, side pockets, Aero Tow loops, Jam cleat adjustment, toe protector and fitted with a Quantum 330...for $1,300 (grand total)
P.S. Nibs you'r thread just might go on forever....Fantastic Job
I will make shure to prey for good weather for you....Maybe i'll see you there this fall.....Planing a trip there to learn mountain flying this year. |
TB:
I don't think there really are any options on the LMFP harness. I paid $800 or $900 for it... can't remember without looking at the receipt. I think it comes with tow loops but I will double check to be sure. It has the jam cleat adjustment for the pivot control, I'm pretty sure it has a toe protector and a hard wood back plate. No camel back pocket or knee pad supports though (they may be options, not sure). I don't think it has side pockets but I don't think it needs them either because it has a few front pockets that you can load up with stuff. Not sure if your's has that too or not. They sell chutes for like $500 so @ ~$900 + ~$500 it's $1400 so it's about the same. Does the High Energy come custom fit for your measurements? I know a couple people who fly the High Energy and love them.
Keep in touch on your trip out here so I can make sure I'm at the hill. I am going to take a couple of weeks vacation spread out over the year and am planning on being at the mountain! |
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 4:49 pm Post subject: |
#54 |
Thanks SG, that's all really good advice. I think most of my problem is that I'm still so new. I have to use every reference I can at this point since I'm not tuned in and don't go completely by feel at this point. I use the bar pressure, ground speed, the feeling of wind on my face, and the amount the gliders climbs (or doesn't) when I begin the first phase of the flare (gentle push out test).
That said, today was the first time I'd ever landed in a tail wind so when I pushed out at first, I felt like I was a little fast based on ground speed so I think I just ignored the bar pressure thinking subconsciously "No, this can't be right, bar pressure when I'm coming in hot??". Of course, I continued pushing out and the glider starting mushing. I tried to push all the way up fast at that point but I was already on the ground wondering what just happened. Thankfully I was able to run it out and save at least a little face. 
I will keep practicing and use your advice.... especially trying to ignore the ground speed. Even though I KNOW it's a bad idea, it's still the EASIEST form of reference at this stage. |
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sg
3 thumbs up
Joined: 17 Jul 2006
Posts: 11030
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 5:45 pm Post subject: |
#55 |
| Nibs wrote: |
| Thanks SG, that's all really good advice. I think most of my problem is that I'm still so new. I have to use every reference I can at this point since I'm not tuned in and don't go completely by feel at this point. I use the bar pressure, ground speed, the feeling of wind on my face, and the amount the gliders climbs (or doesn't) when I begin the first phase of the flare (gentle push out test). |
Drop the ground speed reference and you are doing everything right Sounds like all that is remaining is a little bit more practice for you and you are golden. But trust me, the groundspeed reference can really really bite you. Your landing below, is an example of that, but imagine what would happen if you really got caught in a strong down wind. The ground speed reference would fool you into flaring much much to late and you would end up eating it hard.
I landed in a tailwind at 5000 feet on a very hot day in tall weeds. Not a good combination for a landing!  Fortunately, I already learned to totally ignore the groundspeed and listen only to my glider and the wind. Well, my glider clearly whispered to me, "flare NOW!!!" At that moment I looked at how fast the weeds were screaming by below me, and thought oooooh shiiiiit, but I gotta commit!!! I flared like I never flared before, ran my ass off and pulled off the landing. Groundspeed is like the devil tempting you to eat the apple 
| Quote: |
That said, today was the first time I'd ever landed in a tail wind so when I pushed out at first, I felt like I was a little fast based on ground speed so I think I just ignored the bar pressure thinking subconsciously "No, this can't be right, bar pressure when I'm coming in hot??". |
Precisely. The ground reference fools you into thinking its much too early to flare. ITS A LIE. Listen to that bar pressure and forget the ground.
| Quote: |
Of course, I continued pushing out and the glider started mushing. I tried to push all the way up fast at that point but I was already on the ground wondering what just happened. Thankfully I was able to run it out and save at least a little face. |
Very typical. The ground reference fooled you into being less aggressive. You probably flared a little later and less aggressively because the ground speed was trying to trick you into thinking you were too early. Thats exactly what happens. This is actually a great lesson because you pulled it off, so it was a cheap lesson. Next time you will trust your glider and ignore the ground
| Quote: |
I will keep practicing and use your advice.... especially trying to ignore the ground speed. Even though I KNOW it's a bad idea, it's still the EASIEST form of reference at this stage. |
Yep, its seductive, like that little devil with the apple, haha
_________________
H4, AT, FL, TFL, AWCL, CL, FSL, RLF, TUR, X-C
Aeros Stealth III 142
| Thomas Jefferson wrote: |
| All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent. |
Last edited by sg on Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:16 am; edited 1 time in total |
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T.B.
Guest
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| Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2007 11:45 pm Post subject: |
#56 |
Yes Nibs...My harness was made custum fit.......and the quantum series chutes are the best you can get....(this is the reason i was wondering what make the chute you bought was.!!!)
..And another thing , the information that SG gave you on landing..is absolute gold, I can see he is a man well worth his ratings ..(and much more than that)
Anyway if i meet up with you all this fall, I'll trade towing info for mountain flying info.....looking forward to fly with you all.  |
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 9:08 am Post subject: |
#57 |
SG, 3 thumbs up for the great info. Looking forward to having a chance to put it to work!
TB, the chute I bought is a Free Flight Enterprises PDA. WW sells them as do many others.....
http://www.willswing.com/prod2.asp?theClass=parachutes&theModel=pda
I don't know that they are the "best" chute out there but they are cost effective and time proven to work well (according to what I've read and been told). Hopefully I will only get the chance to test out the first of those two qualities  |
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T.B.
Guest
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| Posted: Sun Jan 28, 2007 10:21 am Post subject: |
#58 |
Well said Nibs...
P.S. If you look at LMFP's speed gliding vid...at the end you'll see 3 landings , the last two are Crescendo flares ... |
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Nibs
3 thumbs up
Joined: 29 Dec 2006
Posts: 2612
Location: Atlanta, GA
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 1:21 pm Post subject: Day 5 |
#59 |
Day 5 2-15-2007
I think I was wrong about the number of flights I needed to solo on the mountain. I actually need 5 more. I found this out on the training hill today.
Friday evening, the weather report showed COLD (20 degree) temps, and wind from the right direction, although the wind speed could be high. Sunday about the same, maybe a little less wind. I decided to go for it and make it another weekend trip. Slava (also from Atlanta) got ahold of me and we decided to carpool. It was the first time I didn't drive up to the hill alone and it was nice to have some company... especially someone who I could talk shop with for the two hours it takes to get there!
Got to the hill at 7:15 and waited a while. Setup the gliders and we noticed a tailwind. We all had to wait about 45 minutes before they stopped and we could start flying. Right after we started, more tailwinds. It ended up being the same as last weekend..... wait 5 minutes, wind dies, fly, wait in line. The line was short as there were only four of us there, but by the time I had completed 3 flights, the wind really started to kick up and we had to quit.
So now I'm down to 2 flights remaining for my mountain solo. I am hoping I can kick those two out tomorrow morning, then race straight for the mountain before the winds pick up to perform my first solo. If not, I may have a second chance if the winds die down in the evening.
This all sounds a little dull and frustrating I know, but it's my fault.... I read the weather forecast and as usual, the wind predictions were accurate. The smarter thing to do would be to wait until a GOOD weekend of weather hits, then head to the hill, but at this point I am so addicted and focused that I'd probably even show up if it was snowing.
Tonight I will drown my frustrations in sushi and sake, then hope for the best for tomorrow. |
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Zerosink
3 thumbs up
Joined: 30 Jul 2006
Posts: 167
Location: LMFP
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| Posted: Sat Feb 03, 2007 2:09 pm Post subject: |
#60 |
I'm in Marietta working on the scooter trailer and its way to cold!
I guess it got above freezing about noon.
At 5pm the temps dropped like a rock.
SUnday forecast looks like ....
Sunday, February 4 at 9am
Temperature: 27°F Dewpoint: 19°F Wind Chill: 27°F Wind: M 2mph
Sunday, February 4 at 10am
Temperature: 32°F Dewpoint: 19°F Wind Chill: 25°F Wind: NW 8mph
Sunday, February 4 at 11am
Temperature: 36°F Dewpoint: 18°F Wind Chill: 30°F Wind: NW 8mph
Sunday, February 4 at 1pm
Temperature: 42°F Dewpoint: 16°F Wind Chill: N/A Wind: WNW 10G16mph
Get up there early |
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