[Radwhacker]

Just got back home for the King Meet. What an awesome place to fly! It reminds me of the Owens - only more challenging.

We had 5 valid days out of the possible 6 - one day canceled due to high winds. For those of you who have never flown there, you have to get up from launches (upper or lower) that are situated part way up the mountain, get high enough to go over the back or down range, and then cross a series of ranges to go on one of the four possible routes.

It is BIG air most of the time, one of my buddies hit solid 2,700' up! It can be intimidating when you find yourself deep in on a range, banging up against the peaks, with a long glide out if you don't make it, over steep canyons in ratty air.

You typically will reach altitudes of 15-18 thousand, so O2 was mandatory for most.

I only flew 3 out of the 5 days. One day I haired out due to a forecast of possible high winds and OD, and the other I was just too worn out. But I got in some great XC and had a blast.

Bill Soderquist of Elsinore won the Open Class - the guy is an amazing pilot. One of his flights involved flying through a snow storm with zero visibility.

Nobody was seriously hurt - one dude dislocated his shoulder pounding in. There was quite a bit of glider carnage due to the high wind landings - but yours truly entirely failed to entertain - not one whack! (I brought 4 extra downtubes along just in case).

The first day provided lots of thrills as pilots re-learned flat slope, light wind, high alltitude launch skills - but by the second day we had it wired.

The only drag was the insane amount of moolah we had to fork out to pay for gas - around a 100 bucks a day plus the trip there and back - ended up costing @ $1,300 just for the gas.

[noman]

its some black diamond flying, ay rad.Great to hear you made it and yes bill would smoke davis.Flew through a snow storm,hes unreal.

[saltoricco]

[Radwhacker]

Billy took first - I think Ben Dunn took second.

They had to add a little strip of paper at the bottom to fit my name on.

[saltoricco]

[Radwhacker]

I did see Scott Silver - we have become good friends - he was also at the aero clinic.

Yeah, to place you have to fly EVERY day - even the sketchy ones. And you will probably have to do some sketchy things.

I learned to not ask how the other pilots' flights went - cause then they would be polite and ask me how mine went...

The first day I had issues...Got to 15 thousand and found out I had an empty O2 bottle, then a few minutes later my GPS went dead, then I couldn't fish out my camelback tube. I went over the back but was pretty much lost, so I bailed to an airstrip that at least had some pilots in it.

On my second flight I went @ 45 miles - then on my third and last flight I didn't get off the hill until 4:30, took a long time to get up, ended bailing over the back @ 12,500 (not usually recommended) and then got glider sucked by the rest of my team who had landed at an airstrip and were making margaritas in the shade.

There weren't very many long flights this year - most ran into OD. King is challenging - it is harder to get the miles than other sites such as the Owens.
And not knowing the routes and terrain is a bit of a detriment - I think next year I'll be able to do better than 31st.

[saltoricco]

[noman]

u know rad,the year i got 3rd place,i had to fly near a thunderstorm that grounded most people.I only did it because i was ignorant to what a thunderstorm can do.Your assessment of the smarter pilots getting close to last place as being the smart ones is ,i think ,correct. Next year i plan on going because im feeling realy ignorant again.Ben dunn and bill s CONGRATS !...

[flakey]

Sorry I didn't make it to help you and Wayne pay gas. Sounds like fun. I would have been at the bottom of the list too. But you know Bill, he's bold. I guess that's what it takes to win there. Looks like we have Elsinore for another year. Chin even trimmed some of the weeds.

[Radwhacker]

You would have had fun Flakey. E-Team Jack and Craig did show up - also saw Beardsley and Steve Rudi.

I met a lot of cool people there - Lisa Tate is a sweetie and did a great job running the meet - and all of her assistants were cool too.

Jack got a nice 60 miler (and would have gone much farther but he was accidentally flying into an off-limits area and had to make a u-turn), and Craig showed a lot of promise for a newish pilot.

Good news about another year at the Z.

[Spark]

...

[Eteamjack]

Everytime Rad had a Margarita his landings improved?
Awesome flying (Big Rowdy Air) and spooky high wind landings.
Great Event! Congrats to Bill. Thanks to the Event organizers and staff.
P.S. I added to the tubeage fest.

[hepcat88]

Rad, thanks for the write up. King sounds HUGE! I drove through there on my way out to meet Spark in Colorado. It was spring and big storms at that time.(May).I didn't even get to see launch. I would like to fly there in the future.
Shawn.

[hgnv]

Welcome back to 108 degree heat... Sounds like you had an excellent trip (except for the fuel cost)... Two week ago I went with Matt to Crestline for a truely exceptional flight 2+ hours... Had plans for Cedar City tomorrow; but it is looking over developed . Matt and I are going to try again (Crestline)tomorrow... If your not too tired of flying... It is always great to fly with the famous "RAD" ... Either way I'll catch up with you soon....

[noman]

[day dreamer]

here is a flight report from our own mlsr site in regards to our very own Captain. Great job to Ken for doing what he does best. This dude has hollow bones. I hope to fly as good as he does some day.
http://www.mlsr.net/phpbb/viewtopic.php?t=468