CHassan's blog

Great Miami River Days Tows (quick and dirty)

CHassan — Sun, 09 Sep 2012 03:31:05 GMT

Did some river tows today. Just demos for the River Days. I'm tired, here is a very quick/sloppy edit.

(not yet uploaded, but it will be after I'm asleep.)

http://youtu.be/r9KFp1KcyuQ

Sunday 8/19/2012

CHassan — Mon, 20 Aug 2012 10:56:51 GMT

I knew going to bed late sat, that I was going to head to Wesmar if the forecast looked good in the morning. I was up with the sun, and after looking at the forecast my day was planned.

Drove over to Wesmar, set up, and did the usual hang waiting, procrastinating, and waiting for someone to stick. Eventually we decided it was looking good enough to try. There had been several tows early, but all ended in extended decent.

Now a fresh line started. Two pilots went up, and two pilots came down. The third pilot released early in the turbulence. That meant #4 was due up. I was #4.
Soon after leaving the ground I wondered if I should just pin off and call it a day. I was already tired from a long Saturday moving my aunt, and a long Saturday night by the fire pit with the neighbors. Here I was at 500� and I�d already been through lift, sink, turbulence, more lift and more turbulence. I knew it was going to be a very active tow. Nearing the top of the tow things calmed down, but there was a moment of heart sinking realization that though I was still hooked to the tug, my vario had not made a sound in � a circle. Not a beep. It slowly started chirping again, but it wasn�t singing a real pleasant tone.

Eventually I hit 2k, but the vario was still only reading 300fpm up. On tow that means you are in sinking air. So I waited until the tug started climbing out on me and as he continued up I went ahead and released. It took me a few minutes and a couple trips �over the falls�, but I finally found my little slice of heaven. It was a 600fpm thermal with sharp edges and a small core. I bucked up, dug a tip in the middle of it and spun my way to 5300�.

The often present blue hole was surrounding the field, and I was about smack dab in the middle of it. My accent to 5300� was abruptly halted. I almost felt like I literally bounced off the ceiling. Yet looking across to the large cummies surrounding me, I saw I still had a ways to go before I would reach the bottom of them. I worked 3 or 4 more thermals in the blue, just trying to pound my way above 5300. A few other pilots were climbing out to the east under the clouds. There was lift all over in the blue hole so I didn�t feel the need to race away to join them.

I was around 5k and found a nice core. Strong and small, but as solid as could be. I made a few turns, passed 5300, and then things started getting better. 7.5 on the average, 7.8 on the average. I looked up and a cloud was forming. It wasn't long and the cloud grew quite large. I leveled out and pulled in to get to the edge before I was sucked in and spit out 20,000� later.

I made a couple trips in and out of the lift that fed this monster. Flying straight across the bottom at 40ish mph I was seeing over 600 fpm. By the time I was as close as I wanted to get to the bottom, I was actually looking down on the surrounding clouds. I probably could have climbed a couple more hundred feet and not greyed out.

I was going to head for the 3 gliders to the east, but Eric P in his ridged was heading my way. I decided to go cross wind to the lake about 7 miles away. I tanked up under my cloud one more time, told the guys where I was going and headed out. There was a nice looking series of clouds just east of the lake I targeted. Turns out they were much farther away than I anticipated. After an agonizing glide to them, I was left with less altitude than I started my glide with, and a quartering headwind back to the field. This didn�t look good. I had to find something, but I didn�t.

I turned tail and ran for Five Points, between me and the field. I wasn�t going to make it beck unless I found lift, which I did. Nothing like what I had been seeing. It was 1.0 and 1.2 on the average. The lift was bubbly, disorganized, and fading fast. I wanted to make a run up to Mt. Sterling, but after the first glide I was pushing my limits on making it back to the field. I decided in my last thermal I was heading back to the field. My last glide had me there about 900� over, and not a beep between where I was and where I ended.

I made a high speed downwind pass, pulled around dropped the VG settled in ground effect, and watched as my flair window passed me by. Add in my half assed flair and I had to take a knee and drop the bar. Not happy at all with the landing.

It was a fun flight with strong lift, strong sink, light winds and good friends.

July 29, 2012 A good day to fly Ohio!

CHassan — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 12:18:15 GMT

[ Mood: Cool ]
[ Currently: Working ]
So I had a night to sleep on it and here is my story.

I arrived early hoping to set up a classic glider of John's. I need something to fly at the Great Miami River Days and John offered his Moyes Maxi circa 1977. Last John had seen it he loaned it out to someone and wasn't sure if it was all there. Sadly it wasn't. The control bar has been misplaced somewhere along years. Ahh well. Later Rick mentioned he had an old Raven sitting at home. I've been given permission to wash that wing up for him with fresh clean "mountain stream" water.

So I started setting up with a couple other guys at the west end of the field. I don't know what happened, but I looked up at one point and I swear I saw 15 or so gliders set up. It looked like flight park. Must have been something in the air.

Matt G took a flight "early" around 11:30. John's first tandem went up a bit after that, but John didn't come straight back down. With a sky full of cu's I decided I was going to chance an early start too. Steve W, Ken, and Mike C all beat me to the punch. I think most of them managed to scratch up to cloud base, as when I launched I was looking up at a couple gliders.

Rick towed me up and through some decent lift. About 800 on the average. When we came back around and he shot up, I pinned around 1800 I think. But finding the lift I saw previously was not easy. I scratched in zero, and 20 up. I think it took me 20 or 30 minutes to finally get and stay above 2k. Soon there after it was cloud base, and the day was on for me.

I couldn't tell you how many glides I took, or how many thermals I worked. I made a couple trips to Derby, almost touched Mt Sterling, and Almost tagged Five Points. I know I flew some with Larry, Dan, and Steve. I also got a good look at John and a tandem passenger I think I worked the same lift as several other gliders, but I couldn't tell who they were.

I spent the majority of the day bouncing from cloud to cloud. Come out from under one and have to dive down to get below the next. There were a few glides under connected clouds (not quite organized enough to call a street) where I would go 4 or 5 mile glides with only a few hundred feet of altitude loss.

The few times I got down around 2k it did get a little sketchy. Lift above 2500 or so was much easier to find and work. Thankfully I didn't get low very often. My first trip to Derby had me worried about getting back. Near mt Sterling I again got uneasy about making it. At Five points I was sure I needed more altitude to make the field. I found enough lift to get from 2500 to about 3500, and made it back to the field with just over 2k to spare.

The Climax was a joy to fly. I think the Climax has a built in left turn. Every glider I've flown I've preferred right turns in a thermal, but the Climax feels rock steady to the left, but to the right it is like your neighbor's wife sitting on you lap. A little awkward and embarrassing if anyone should happen to see you.
I still have to get use to the glide being so flat. It just goes and goes and goes.

So I burned up a few thousand feet over the field, set up and landing nice and easy to end my 4+ hour day. That makes my longest flight to date.

Nice flight today.

CHassan — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 22:19:08 GMT

Chillin at the Newark/Heath airport waiting on my ride.
Topped out over 7K today. Pretty darn good for Ohio.
Flew for 3.5 hours. Pretty darn good for Ohio.
Knocked of 41 miles. Could have gon farther I think, but I was beat, and the terrain any farther was scary looking. Still 41 miles from point to point. Pretty darn good for Ohio.

A gathering.

CHassan — Wed, 16 May 2012 16:52:00 GMT

SO I've had some pretty good local XC flights. Not a huge amount, and I don't have the track logs for all of them, but here are the ones I could find.
Longest was 58 mile dogleg from Wesmar to Wakefield (51 mile straight line.

Flight plans

CHassan — Sun, 06 May 2012 11:17:38 GMT

[ Mood: Amused ]
Planning a 37 mile Triangle this morning. Largely depends on the rest of the crews plans.
Normally they go for downwind distance. Since I have to beg a ride from the other's wives/drivers, I usually just follow them. Light winds may allow me to talk them into my idea.

This will be the first XC with the topless.

I got to fly!

CHassan — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 10:52:16 GMT

So I hadn't flown since last October or something silly like that. Heck last year I only had about a dozen flights on half a dozen trips to the field. (That includes a week long stay in (not-so) sunny Florida.

Over Easter the guys went out and had some pretty good flying. Even the scooter tow pilots were soaring. Sadly I had family things to attend to and did't get to join them. I've been pushing to fly ever since.

Couple weeks ago I was trying to get enough folks to play hooky midweek, but it didn't happen. One of my sailplane buddies apparently spent 5.5 hours aloft and traveled all over south western Ohio that day.

Weekends have been windy and/or rainy. Sat was another such day. Not to mention cold. Sunday was forecast to be marginal, and marginal it was.

I took an early tow, to make sure I remembered how to do it. A little rough below 1500, but smooth above. Ended up a sledder.

My next one I used another pilot as a marker and was able to work a little bit of lift before the day gave up the ghost and everyone came down.

Not much, but man was it fun!

4 months off and a new wing.

CHassan — Tue, 08 Nov 2011 16:17:00 GMT

My last flight had been sometime in July, on my U2.

A suprise chance to fly during the week and I jumped on it. I recently picked up an Airborne Climax. The first one. Size 14. While this wing is 4 or so iterations old, it is in like new condition. I flew an Icaro Lammy last spring, and was looking forward to giving this one a go.

I suited up and was ready to go. I had to little vg and found myself climbing op to high and had trouble staying down with the tug. Once things started to go a little sideways on top of being high I opted to pin and try again. (My landing was not great, but not horrible.)

Second attempt went much better. I climbed out to 1700' and pinned off in lift. Considering I didn't expect any kind of organized lift, I second guessed my decision. To my joy the lift remained organized and I spent the next hour and a half working up to a max of over 4500' and fighting upwind against 25ish mph winds aloft.

I found the Climax to be a joy to fly. It took a little bit to get use to the things you have to do to make flying it smoother and easier. Once I figured the little thing out it was much much less taxing to fly.

Knowing the C1 is a dated topless, I can't wait until I can get under something more modern. Quick someone sell me a t2c for less than 1000 bucks!

Multi-aircraft flying.

CHassan — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 09:08:49 GMT

Sat I ventured out to the local flying field. One of guys had came by way of his home built Highlander.

One beautiful plane. (Oshkosh winner)Ended up getting about 30 minutes or so of refresher stick time. After many years it was funny how it doesn't take very long at all to get back into the hang of thing. I set up the approach and The PIC took over around 50'.

We waited around for an overcast layer to build, clear, and build. When it started clearing again it was time to go. First tow took me almost to cloudbase. Got off in lift and almost made my way to the white room. Once I got out from under the cloud I had nothing and was back on the ground fairly quickly.

Tow #2 a few minutes later and I was playing around at cloudbase again. Cloud base was about 2800 and after spending some time flying by feel I headed towards the next cloud. Again, nothing but this time it was a slow ride back down.

A little later the owner of a Monarch Sailplane offered a chance to fly it. I was hesitant, but decided it would be a fun experience. There was not much wind, and late enough in the day to be smooth.

I barely fit the cockpit. Headroom was not a key factor in the design of this thing. We hooked me up to the tow rope and off we went. A little squirrely at first, but soon got it settled down. The rest of the tow was pretty easy as a tad bit of bank and the tug would just pull the nose around.

Once off tow it was pretty smooth. I found me and the monarch like right turns better than left. My sense of coordination to the left is not as highly refined as it is to the right. I don't care what way I turn in ground bound vehicles. Once my feet leave the ground right turns are almost always more comfortable.

So I played around going around the neighborhood, until it was time to set up my approach. This was the part I was dreading the most. We have some powerlines at the end of the runway I had to come over. Not wanting to stall, and wanting to stay out of the power lines I came in a little high and fast, but otherwise a pretty decent approach I think.
I failed to bleed off much of that extra speed te firt time the wheel touched down. I bounced once, twice, and finally stuck to the runway. I still had just enough speer as I crossed the "bump" where the drain culvert runs under the runway. I was instantly launched 15 or 20' back into the air with a very unhealthy attitude.
In my powered training this was a simple case of add power and fly it back down. In a sailplane I really had no clue on how to react.I did what felt right, and I think it may have been wrong. I bounced 3 more time, each time a little harder than the last.
I'd like to say everything was fine, but there were some cracks that have to be patched up. Matt Kollman is on hand to do the repairs, and Dan only paid $250 bucks for the Monarch anyway, but it still makes you feel like shit when you break other kids toys

First real flight this year.

CHassan — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 18:16:20 GMT

I made it to the field around noonish. Set up and waited for about another hour.
Finally I went for it. Launch was clean as far as I could tell. The air was a bit textured, and soon 900+ was showing on the averager. My tug pilot made a circle in lift, and I questioned releasing, but I hesitated. Frank (my tug pilot) spoke to me using the power of the force.....errr.. 2 meter. Told me he didn't think it would get any better. We dropped out of the lift, and another circle back and we found nothing. The vario was now struggling to show more than 200fpm climb. I wanted off in lift, so I mentioned towing over Darbyville in search of it. We did, but there still was no lift.
I think it took me longer to get down than it did to get up. I worked a little bit of lift on the way down, but it fell apart and I settled in to join the others in thinking we had another day that looked decent, but stunk.

A little before 4 Mike P decided he needed to fly his Millennium. Other than a quick oscillation coming of the ground, it looked like it was flying pretty smooth. John, A, Larry B, and I were ready to go now. I won the race to suit up, and launched.
Frank again towed me into lift. This time I got off just under 2k. Thought maybe I didn't know how to center a thermal, because try as I might I netted a loss of altitude for the first few minutes. Eventually either I or the thermal got our shit together and I climbed up to where Mike P was. I think Larry came in under and worked his way up.

Larry headed out towards 5 points. Since that was cross wind, I didn't think he was going on his first glide of an XC flight, and I opted to head back towards the field. I searched and searched and was under 1000'. I saw Frank pulling John, and started the slightest hint of a 360. I thought he might be turning to come back around for lift lift and made a bee line for them. At 600 foot a hit a steady beep. It broke up little between 800 and 1000, but turned nice and steady up to 2500. Broke up again around 3k and then gradually dropped of between 4 and 5k. (I don't think I broke 5k, but it might have been close.)

After that it was just a matter of finding a little bubble, and then finding the core, or you could just look for one of the 6 mor 7 other gliders in the air.

I eventually made a mistake and left lift to early. The other guys hung on a little longer as I headed towards 5points. I was almost there, but worried about making it back. I was not finding anything and have already had to land there a couple other times. I headed a little farther south and watched the other guys head past 5 points. John called on the radio to say he had lift north of 5points, but I was past the point of going looking for it.

I very slowly worked my way down over Darbyville. I didn't see the others to go pimp off of, and couldn't find my own lift. I came in with too much VG and sped across the ground stirring up grasshoppers and the like. My flair was a bit early and slow, so I zoomed up and came smashing down in a bone jarring, but non-whack,non-damaging landing. Not happy with it, but the joy of the flight could not be tarnished.

Matt D came in after, followed by JD, Larry B and Mike C. JD did a touch and go, but ran it out. Mike C did a touch and go with his impression of a pro wrestler doing a pile driver from the top rope. A scrape, but glider and pilot were otherwise fine. Larry had to run, but kept it up. John A came creeping in behind us us and replayed Mike C's landing with a resounding thud. We haven't had much flying time, let alone landing practice this year. First time any one has had to land in no-wind conditions and other than Matt D's I don't think I saw anyone NOT struggle. Mike P doesn't count, he has wheels on his crate.

Final tally, I had just over 2:30 in the air. a few pilots had that much time in just 1 flight.

Florida after the Demo Days.

CHassan — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 12:29:00 GMT

What a bust! Due to Family requirements I had to miss Demo Days and showed up in Florida the Sunday afterward.
The sun was shining and it was a beautiful day on Sunday, but the wind was a little high. Then it rained, then it rained, then it rained, then it rained, then the wind blew again, then I went home.

It stopped raining one day just long enough to get out and get a couple quick flights. I managed to catch one thermal and return to release altitude from about 1/2 way down.

First flights in around 6 months, so it was better than nothing, but a bit depressing to waste a week long flying vacation not flying!

My first approach I ended up coming in a little high and made my turns at the wrong time. Felt a little messy as I had to add another couple turns to get where I wanted to be. (near the end of the runway to re launch.) Ended up with a good landing, but had to fail myself for the approach.

Second approach was a long fast glide into ground effect followed by a nice skim and a very nice 0 wind flair to a stop just short of the tie-downs. I was gosh darn proud of that one!

The rest of the time was more a semi-family vacation with visits to the beach and Sea World. A good time, but not what it was supposed to be about.

Day 1 and 2, with a hint of 3.

CHassan — Mon, 28 Mar 2011 10:15:10 GMT

Made it to central Florida about 2am sunday morning. Sat around and enjoyed the sun with those who remained. The wind was a bit much for flying.

This morning the storms are pretty much making me think I won't be flying today either. Tomorrow's forecast is looking pretty good for a run to Quest, and maybe even an attempt for the return trip.

Call me late, but don't call me Mike!

CHassan — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 20:30:01 GMT

We are southbound I-75 coming up 75 miles from Lookout. Do we stay or do I go now? Well it is raining so I think I'll just keep right on mother truckin.

1 hour for every month I had off.

CHassan — Tue, 10 Aug 2010 11:01:37 GMT

[ Mood: Sleepy ]
After flying at the Midwest HG Comp, I didn't get to fly again until last weekend. Over 2 months of no flying. Major suckage!

The forecast for the day looked great, but the day wasn't matching the forecasts I had seen. Little clouds were popping up and disappearing just as fast. Winds were about 120� off of what I was expecting. The day was a crap shoot.

Rick took his Atos up and stuck, but he looked to be climbing painfully slow. Paul took his atos up and came down in short order. Tom did the same in his Sport 2.

A few hours later Frank went up and was climbing slowly in his Discus. It was getting late and I figured it was now or never. By the looks of it several agreed as we now had a line waiting on the tug.

The tow was gravy. I think I came out of the cart just a little early, and maybe had the keel support a little high. I didn't like the feel of it, but climb out ensued and my flight began.

After a bit of climb I looked over and realized I hadn't set my altimeters for the day. I had no clue how how I was. I figured I'd go a little farther and see if we hit any lift.

I guess we did, but it was so light it didn't entice me to pin off. By my guess I passed our normal 2000' release and climbed a bit further. The tug pilot decided to turn back towards the field, and I didn't want to go that way so I finally pinned off.

It took a bit of glide towards away from the field and towards the nearest cloud before I hit any lift. Somewhere around 200fpm was the average for the day. I hit a few stronger, but that rate never lasted long. Cloud base came slowly in reach.

Eric came by in his Atos and snapped this picture as I was changing clouds.

The cloud in view grew a pretty good deal. There was a huge concave bottom that allowed you to climb up above the outer edge by several hundred feet. It was surreal seeing nothing but the ground below, and gray to above and beside you.

Since I didn't much of a clue how high I was, I'll say cloud base was 4.5k, and my thermal took me to almost 5.5k I got a little damp on the way up, hehe. Moving around to the sunny side of the could I watched my shadow run across the face of the cloud. What a beautiful sight that is!

After that I found a few more thermals, but nothing taking me back to cloud base. I had been spending my time east of the field, with the rest of the crew gaggling up to the west. As the clouds began to fade, the last of us gathered together in a close nit band. The 4 amigos, became the three amigos. I knew "light weight Larry", in his U2, would be able to milk the dying lift longer than I would. I ventured out to see if the last reachable cloud would provide enough lift to keep me above him for just a little longer. Eric and his Atos was already well above me.

The last wisp of the cloud dispersed as I approached it. The sky in any direction was, for the sake of argument, barren. I headed for the field spinning and spiraling, and acting like a porpoise on the way down. The winds were light, and blowing in the opposite direction from when I launched. I watched multiple socks and streamers as I cranked around to get rid of the last bit of altitude I had.

Committed to heading into the wind, I leveled out and pulled in for speed. My heart sank as I watched the first socks go limp. If I could make it further down the field the wind was still favorable. Those first socks now turned tail, while the other began to go limp. If I was lucky I would land just before the wind died, or switched.

Having not flown for over 2 months, I was a bit worried, and prepared to let the wheels get dirty. As my airspeed slowed, my ground speed wasn't far behind. I hit a hard flair and came down with a little forward momentum. Nothing a few steps didn't take care of. I watched as the last wind sock in front of me turned around and indicated wind at my back. I think I timed that just about right!

At one point I was watching some boaters on one of the nearby lakes. I could see skiers in tow behind the boats. At that point I could almost feel myself become a hawk. I had the urge to swoop down and catch the skiers in my talons, alight in a nearby tree, and enjoy my meal. I didn't of course. I landed ate some fresh melon and drank some cold beers. I'm just not to sure about the taste of human flesh.

Day 4 Task 3

CHassan — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:39:53 GMT

Wanting to keep the pilots close at hand for the evening festivities planned, a triangle was called. 63km around the course in what was forecast to be light to moderate winds.

Once I got in the air it was plain to see it was going to be a tough day. My tow was very rowdy, and I was thankful to be off at 1300. My previous day's tow was behind a Quicksilver. The tow was fine until we hit a thermal and suddenly the tow line was draping behind me. Not something I want to see again. This tow was rough, but not scary like the day before.

I climbed out but drift was massive. Once at cloudbase I tried to work my way back up to wait on Dad again. After 2 or 3 more cycles Dad did manage to catch up with me, but we didn't go on course together. Matter of fact I was last on course again.

It was painful going upwind. There wasn't much progress towards goal in an effort to get far enough upwind with altitude to set myself up for a nice run between turn point 1 and 2. After nearly 3 hours I was down to about 1000' and planning to go land. I hit one last nice thermal that almost had me at cloud base. Instead I left for the turn point, but realized I wouldn't make it. I settled for close, and set down next to the road to wait for a pick-up.

One of the open class pilots soon landed next to me, and as we packed up another open class pilot landed just down the road.

I didn't make goal, or even the first turn point, but I did get the farthest out of the sport class guys, to win the final day.

That evening we feasted and I was awarded a trophy and new Flytec speed sleeves. I knew I would enjoy a XC comp, but I didn't think I would win my first one. Regardless of the scores, I think everyone who flew had a great time. Enjoy is a great air park, and the surrounding area is wide open for XC flights. The local pilots are first rate, and the owner is nothing less than a HG pilots best friend. (owns the tugs, the land, the buildings, and doesn't ask for much of anything in return.)

I had a great time, and hope there is another one next year!

Day 3 Task 2

CHassan — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 13:23:58 GMT

The day started hot and got hotter. The winds were much lighter, and the cummies started popping early. The task committee called a dog leg for us of 94km. Crosswind to Pontiac Airport, and then a right turn downwind to another grass strip. The open guys were crossing the Mississippi to Princeton IA, about 220km away.

My plan was to wait for my Dad and any other sport pilot willing to fly together. I think I was the second sport pilot up,and the first guy was already gone. I spent almost an hour near cloudbase, waiting on the others. Two pilots came up and started out, while my Dad had a hard time and ended up landing just outside of the start circle. After that I headed out.

I quickly caught up with another pilot who was low. He stayed low, and I stayed fairly high as we passed over a wind farm on the way to the turn point. He was working hard, while I found a nice quick climb to cloudbase. I figured I keep going since the clock was now running.

I didn't pay enough attention to my GPS, and was flying by site. I headed for a big town thinking there would surely be some lift coming for there. Meanwhile I was passing up the turn point. I noticed the mistake just in time changed course. I found a bit of lift and chanced leaving it to tag the turn point. It worked out as I bee-lined back to it after tagging the airfield.

I watched the pilot who was behind me catch up as I was now struggling while he was higher. I flew in his shadow for most of the next leg. About 15km out from goal he left me and I didn't see him again. I had to fight to stay up at times but eventually it looked like goal was near.

I pulled VG and went racing towards goal. Knowing the other pilot left the start before me I still had a chance to be at least near his time if I got there quick.

Now goal was supposed to be a grass airstrip. I looked out over the landscape and could not find it. Checked my instruments, checked the horizon, checked my instruments, checked the horizon. I couldn't see goal. I stopped in lift to get my bearings and figure out what was wrong. Eventualy I realized the goal point I had was NOT an airstrip. The only thing I saw was a silo. So I pulled back in and tagged the goal circle.

I radioed I had made goal, but figured it would be a while before anyone came out. I checked how far the open class goal was from here and it was another 126km away. I didn't think I had it in me, so I explored the neighborhood until the retrieve vehicle came into sight. From 3k it took me a lot of bar stuffing and harness drogue chute action to get down. I think I spent more energy in the last 10 minutes of my flight than I had the entire flight. Lift was everywhere, and strong. Looking back I sure wish I would have tried for the open goal. However I was safe on the ground at my goal.

The other pilot who I flew with for a bit made goal and then some, but he missed the turn point by about 400m. That meant I won the day as the only pilot to complete the course. Yeehaw!

Day 2 Task 1

CHassan — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 12:55:06 GMT

The next day we wake up to still strong winds. Not as strong, but still pretty hefty. There is no option but down wind toady.

The task committee sets a task of 59km downwind to Gibson City. Both Open and Sport class going to the same goal. My guess is if the open guys can only get that far, the rest of us a screwed!

Our wind dummy goes up and comes back down. So he goes up again and is disappearing quickly, so the rush is on. A few quirky tows and as I'm getting fitted for launch, another pilots bumps the front of the line since his weeklink broke. Now maybe it didn't mean anything, but he made goal, and I didn't. After I launched you could see the launch order by where the pilots landed. Those who launched later ended up closer to the field.

Anyway I was a little worried about towing behind the Kolb, but found it is not to much faster than the Dragon Fly, just looks different. I pinned off and found some lift, but not much. As I headed downwind I found one more thermal before I landed. It was super strong and super small. I fought with it for a bit but didn't have the desire to get tossed around for long, and left it. I managed to get out of the 5km start circle, but only by the hair on my...<cough>

Prep and Day 1

CHassan — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 11:39:38 GMT

I drove over to Enjoy Field (4 hours away) Wed night to set up camp. Found out the mosquitoes were out to drain me while getting my accommodations set up. Dad showed up a little later, we got something to eat in town, and then went to bed.

Day 1 We set up our gliders behind the hanger as the wind was blowing pretty stiff. Strong enough even the back side of the hanger was just a washing machine of rotor. Eventually we moved them behind the small pine trees where the wind was less of a problem.

15mp winds with 25mph gusts, the day was canceled. So wee hung out and didn't do to much of anything.

2hours - no goal

CHassan — Mon, 17 May 2010 13:41:23 GMT

So after another month of no flying I was able to get out and set up. The day looked....ehhh...at least I'm out and the sun is shining. The forecast was moderate, but the recent rains, soggy ground, high cirrus clouds, and feelings in general, left me thinking it would be a weak to mild day. Yes my expectations were not very high.

Eric P and I came up with a 38 mile triangle to run. OK I came up with it and Eric said sure why not! Larry W never said he was going but I thought he might. Larry B of course was set to go downwind only.

The gaggle of Atos gliders went first. 3 stuck before I started getting ready. I went up after the 4th and magically stuck with them. I didn't expect to since none of them had been zooming skyward. Eric was already up and we waited around for Larry and Larry. I was treating the town of Darbyville as my start circle. (Like I have a clue what that even means!)
We waited around until the gang was all there. Larry W the last one coming up. I called for a start and Eric decided again, "why not". Larry B had already started, and Larry W turned to another gaggle in the opposite direction to get a little more height before heading out. What a leader I am!

Larry, Eric, and I headed out searching for some lift. I think we found one thermal and climbed a bit. The next one I found 350 up at one point and Eric found the same nearby. After about 2 turns it dissipated and we all searched but could not find it.

We all went into panic search mode. Each doing what they do best. Eric leisurely searching the county for lift in his Atos. Larry zooming off in his T2. I floundered not sure where to go, or if I should just give up.

Larry called over the radio he was going in. For some reason that made me decide to not give up and I came up with a plan of action. Check the treeline downwind, farm house, then 3 fields over to the large barns and gravel pit. OK I was under 1000' and had no time to spare.

Luckily the treeline worked and at 600-700' over the trees I found solid lift and started working my way back up. Reaching the top I saw Eric a few miles out on course and turning. I bolted for him but came in low and couldn't find a handle on what he had. When he said he was only getting 0 sink, I knew I was to late.

Off in the distance I could see about a dozen buzzards turning over a small green patch. Thinking I had a no brainer I ran for it. Only to arrive as a dozen buzzards scattered into the four winds.... SON OF A......

I looked all over for something to be going up, and again thought oh well it was fun. Until I hit 1000' again. Then I came up with a plan. I headed to another set of barns with a large parking area, just past that to the town, another tree line. Eric tried to help by calling me over to him with a promise of 300fpm up. Had I been another 1000' higher I may have had a chance, but just above the tree tops I found nothing.

I picked out a field, called in my landing, and settled in nice and easy.

I didn't get far, maybe 12 miles. Thanks to the staging and waiting for the others, I did get just over 2 hours out of it. Eric went on to tag the first turn point, 13 miles out, and headed back to the field, skipping the 2nd turn point. Larry B landed about 2 miles behind me, and Larry W passed over my head for another 10 miles.

Meanwhile back at the field everyone who tried to soar did, and the students spent the day getting their fulfillment of scooter tows.

I hope next weekend allows for another good day of flying. I am heading to the Midwest HG Comp the following week and would really like another flight or so before that.

A short and sweet Wallaby tale.

CHassan — Sun, 04 Apr 2010 10:54:48 GMT

Wed. I somehow managed to miss hours of fun most people were having. I took two tows but didn't stay up on either.

Thr. Flew around the ranch for 2.5 hours. Wans't an easy day, but lots of fun.

Fri. The plan was to head south (upwind) to some bell tower about 22 miles away. I had radio issues with a short making communication almost impossible.
Nibs launched right before me, and I was hoping to keep up with him. He climbs faster than my fat arse, so I new he would be hardmto hang with.
Climbs were solid, but not very high. The winds were also pretty strong and after one attempt to go upwind I kind of gave up.
About 30 minutes later I was in a position to chase Mike Barber upwind. I made it to his thermal and climbed with him a bit. He left as I was climbing up. I the Jeff's and 2 or 3 other topless gliders went zooming by me, so I followed them a little farther upwind.
Again I worked a thermal with them, but this time I was in the mix as they started peeling off and going upwind. I made another turn or two, so I would be in the right position to pimp off their search for lift. As they got very small and very low, I headed out on my own to see if I could find something.
I got about as low and far away as I dared and found nothing. I headed back to the field and spent the rest of my flight wasting altitude, and climbing back up. It took me forever to NOT run into lift on my way to land.
Finally almost 3 hours later I landed, tore down, and headed for home.

Started the year this weekend.

CHassan — Mon, 22 Mar 2010 13:35:51 GMT

I played skipped out of work Last Friday. the forecast was blah, but our forum banter and lack of airtime, won out and I bailed for the field.
The plan was to meet up at the airstrip, and check the conditions. If the winds looked right in speed and direction,we would pack up and head to the ridge. It was borderline. A phone report from a pilot at the ridge said conditions were ok for launch, but to light for soaring. We decided to stay at the airstrip and get some scootering in.
First pilot up caught a nice thermal to around 3500, but the drift was pretty bad. I launched and found lift to about 2200, but the first pilot and I were soon on the ground. I don;t know if it was the fact I had had nothing to eat, airsickness, or what, but I got pretty sick and that ended my flying for the day.
Sat I felt better and wanted to prove to myself I didn't develop any kind of motion sickness, or other ailment that would hinder my flying. The wind was still brisk, but the clouds looked inviting. I took 4 tows, never finding much more than a single beep from my vario. I felt pretty good, so far, and decided to test for motion/ airsickness. I released my last tow and yanked on some VG. Pointed the nose down and let rip with some wing overs. I have to say they felt like the most solid ones I have done. I finished off with a great landing next to the hangers.
Looking forward to the Demo Days. Hoping the forecast I've seen change before the weekend!

My Major Award!

CHassan — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 18:32:01 GMT

And the Award goes to.........................................................ME

My 51 mile flight from Wesmar to the tick infested LZ in May 2009. Not only was this flight my longest, and a site record, it was also the longest XC originating from Ohio. Winning me the XC trophy for the year.

What does the future hold?

CHassan — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 13:50:30 GMT

I don�t know, what do you think I am, a fortuneteller or something? If I knew what the future held, don�t you think I would be busy placing bets, buying stock, and moving to the next best place?

I can tell you I've not flown but twice since sometime in July. I can tell you I'll be doing everything I can to get out more often this year.

Demo Days looks to be a go again this year. I'd like to try one of race to goal comp. Several Ohio pilots have begun making plans to give a go in the sports class. I'm sure it would be a great time, but I may opt to hit some new sites. Then again, I'd kill for a local scooter tow sled run about now!

Sledders and a ramble

CHassan — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 15:21:53 GMT

I was up in Whitewater WI over the 4th of July. Managed to get in a couple flights, but was only able to extend both ever so slightly.
Yesterday I woke up to a fantastic forecast. XC skies and RUC was saying 5k with 500-600fpm updraft. Winds from the ground to cloudbase, 10mph.
I ate and packed my gear in my car, then checked the weather again. There was a big change as it was now calling for 25mph at cloudbase, but still light winds on the ground. The B/S ratio was 6-7 still so I was thinking it should still be good.
I left for the field, and set up while the clouds were building. Winds on the ground were getting a bit stiff and the clouds littered the sky. While they were plentiful, the shapes were ragged and poorly formed.
I decided to play dummy (not hard to do) and jumped in for a tow. There was some texture, but mostly turbulence. At 1800' I decided I would release at the next thermal. I watched the tug and followed behind him as were crossed the sky. I kept waiting, and waiting for the tell tail pop, but I hit 3200' and still the tug and I were level.
We neared a cloud, and I went ahead and pinned in case someone else was waiting below. I was about a mile and a half crosswind from the field, but I pushed farther to get where the lift should have been if the cloud was working. It wasn't and I was a bit worried about reaching the field in the heavy drift.
About half way back I hit buoyant air, and even made a few turns in just over 100fpm up. It was broken and I couldn�t' stay with it well enough to commit downwind. I pulled VG and pushed on over the field. Checked north and south and it wasn't until I headed over the tree line in the middle I hit something. Climbed from 1500' back up to 2k but was drifting to fast. The lift just wasn't solid or strong enough for me to go, so I opted to head back up wind. I found nothing and came in for a nice and easy landing not far from the "glider pits". I tied her up and waited to see if the day would get better. One other pilot attempted to go, and was soon down.
By 4 o'clock I gave up on the day as 4 others failed to stick.

Photo evidence

CHassan — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:18:27 GMT

Just some pics of taken by me and of me by Erip P, my driver for the day. (See the OLC entry and download the KML here)

My Launch felt pretty good to start the day.

Looking down on Tom P, just south of the field.

I spent way to much time here waiting around for others. I could have been 20 miles down wind before they made it here.

Still waiting.......

28 miles later, after I got stuck low, Eric was there to snap a few pics of me coming in. thankfully I had a decent landing!

My flare was early and weak, but I held it.

A satisfied customer!

My track is dark blue, Larry's is light blue. John's track would follow close to mine, but end up closer to Larry's ending. You can see the start of the trees and where I stalled out. Just didn't feel comfortble going in with the altitude I had.

Flight story with a happy ending.

CHassan — Mon, 11 May 2009 17:31:48 GMT

Looking a the forecast for the past weekend, my wife decided since it had been 3 weeks since I flew and Sunday looked the better day, we'd do Mother's Day Sat. So we visited the zoo and did some shopping and went for dinner. A good time.

Sunday I was a little late leaving the house due to a communications error. Or more so a communication misunderstanding on my part. I was still able to get to the field in time to talk some smack and get set up before anyone else took to the air. Well that was not 100% true, a new pilot coming over from PA had his first AT in the morning. Way to go Brian!

When the time came I was the first to get my glider on the dolly so I got to go first. the tow was uneventful up until around 1800', then we started hitting some lift, but nothing much. I pinned off and made a few rounds in something akin to 300 up. I wasn't able to stay with it for long.

I was below tow height and pretty far upwind, thinking I'd have to head back to the field soon I encountered what felt like thermal turbulence. You know the bumpy air you find near a thermal. I made a zig and a zag and bam, 300 up again. this time I hung on until I was visiting the white room door.

I watched my XC buddy pop a link around 150' and turn back to land. the next guy came in under me and started working up. I headed up to the nearest cloud and waited around at cloud base for Larry. He made it up and came in under me after a long time of waiting. My cloud was finally falling apart so I pushed on to the next leaving Larry kind of low. Larry headed a little more east, and I again waited at cloud base for him to get up. That would be the last time I saw him. I headed to the next cloud and never saw him again. he headed more east, while I was going more SE.

When my cloud started to die I headed for the next one again. Here I waited for another pilot (John) who was coming up behind me, and since we were sharing a driver I thought it would be good to stick with him.

He came in low and I pushed for the next cloud. I should have waited for him to climb up with me, instead I showed him where the sink was. I was way to low to reach the next LZ into the hills and forests of SE Ohio. I searched around but had to move upwind to get to any lift. It wasn't enough and I couldn't get up very high. A large mass of cloud blocking high crap moved in and began the shut down.

I played in everything I could find for the next 30 minutes or so. I heard Larry say he was going down (20+ miles farther than me) John was setting up for his landing 10 miles farther than me. I decided I had played long enough when I directed our driver into the field I had picked for an LZ. I came in on a down slope and leveled off when it flattened out. I flared a little early but not hard enough so I ended up running like mad to keep the nose up.

I packed up and we ran and picked up John. My total distance was around 28 miles and time was about 2.5 - 3 hours I didn't really check. I had let my shoulder straps out another inch and that made all the world's difference in comfort. I felt like I had only flew for an hour or so.

It was cold at cloud base, about 40�F, and I spent a long time boating around waiting at cloud base. My new batteries, in my GPS, didn't last the entire flight, I had to shut it down for a while, but I'll try to piece it together tonight. I also have a couple pictures to stick up.

I kicked myself for waiting around for so long. I only went on a couple glides, had I ran like I know I should have I may have had my best flight ever. Wait for friends or head out solo.......damn the choices!

It's to long between flights for me!

CHassan — Tue, 05 May 2009 11:50:27 GMT

So I'm making "designs" for possible t-shirts (that I'll be printing at home.) Just WIP, that may or may not be fine tuned into a classic piece of art imprinted on a t-shirt to show the world you have class. (want one yet?)

Edit to add this one:
(I need to make another glider graphic)

Didn't make goal, but gave it a hell of a shot!

CHassan — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 20:25:41 GMT

I posted a very favorable forecast for sat, on wednesday, or was that thursday? Who cares, our tug pilot made the call to tow on saturday. Quite a few pilot said they would be there, and called for a task to be a fairly large (for most of us) Triangle. 28 Miles from start to finish. The first leg was suposed to be a quatreing or less headwind trek to the highway. Sadly this became a directly upwind trek where even the Atos were having problems working upwind. The rest of us had no chance at all, but multiple of us kept trying, and trying, and trying.

I was able to see first hand the benifit of having a few extra square, and more performance. I passed up a Sport 2 and progressing into the wind I was able to hold alot more altitude. I was very happy until I looked up and the Atos I had been thermaling with was another 1000' above me!!!!

Even with a few 800fpm climbs I never made it more than a couple miles upwind, but I was able to hold on for nearly 3 hours.

Links to IGC and KML files of my track log HERE.

No flying, so I must keep myself occupied.

CHassan — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 11:48:49 GMT

I've not been flying much, and usually don't get to fly during the week, so I'm finding new hobbies to pass the time. (Much to the dismay of my wife!)
My daughter wanted a guitar so she got one for her birthday a few weeks back. I don't play guitar, nor does my wife, so we found a teacher and set up lessons. I've always wanted to learn to play, so I set lessons up for me too! Now I just have to get my daughter to let me use her guitar!

I have always wanted to learn to make screen prints too. Sure I can do single color, and very simple multi color prints on paper already. With only 1 screen it was hard and time consuming to do more than 1 or two prints, and they never had that crisp professional look. So I bought a 4 color press and the boxes of chemicals and supplies needed to use it. I've got stacks of printed information that I've been going over to to learn from. I have also talked to no less than 14 different manufactures and professionals on trick, tips, and the important do's and dont's. I've yet to make more than a test print as some of the materials I got with the second hand press were about 10 years past the shelf life and don't work as they should.

I have a couple designs I'm wanting to try. One is a design requested by my dad. I have the artwork semi finished. I need to do a bit of adjustments for customer satisfaction and producability, but it is coming along nicely!

In the mean time for a simple learning print KK lent me his "Non Possum Sentire Mea Testes" logo to practice with.

I was able to create the artwork and burn 2 of the 3 required images onto the screens last night. My new materials came in last night also so I can create the remaining screen and try pushing the ink this weekend.

Sat I'll be busy trying to bust out a 21 mile triangle that has continued to elude me on my Sport 2. I made it as far 19 miles, but fell just a hair short as the day ended. I'm hoping the better performance of my U2 will give me the extra little advantage I need to finally get make it all the way around! Of course if the winds are stonger than predicted, I'll just try to out run the rest of the guys downwind!

Flying over Wallaby pictorial

CHassan — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 10:04:37 GMT

I managed a few photos while over Wallaby. Need to work on my settings with the camera as many photos didn't focus ver clear. Still, I managed a few nice ones.

Mike from Ohio. His first flight on an Atos.

Flying with your Dad is pretty damn cool!

Another while turning rounds with Geo!

I let these guys pass me up to get a good picture of them

Tug bringing more pilots up to play.

Leaving Wallaby.

CHassan — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 02:17:23 GMT

Today was blown out. Tomorrow looks to be wet and blown out. Sat looks good, but since Sat would have to be a travel day, we are pulling up camp in the morning. It was great to see familiar faces, and I'm bummed I don't get to see everyone from last year again.

I hope those who stick around for sat get rewarded with another 3+ hour day. Wih any luck I'll see you at WWDD10.

Wallaby Wed.

CHassan — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:40:03 GMT

Woke up late again, missed the morning flights and Ranch breakfast. Left the gliders in the hotel. Thought about taking a Sport 2 175 for a test spin, but drank beer instead. The forecast thunderstorms and rain didn't come in, but a sea breeze really stirred up the air and things shut down early.

No one has challenged my BP ability yet.

Wallaby Tues.

CHassan — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 11:42:48 GMT

The day started off cloudy and breezy. Eventually the winds calmed a little, but not enough. Lift was light and drift was heavy making i hard to say with any thermal. I managed to extend my flight oh so briefly.

Then came the thunder boomer and put a halt on the flying for a little while.
A few tandems and solo/demo flights went on when the winds and rain passed, then of course several of us tried to empty the keg.

Wallaby Monday.

CHassan — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 12:12:12 GMT

After breakfast we set up and soon after pushed out to launch. A group of us from Ohio were first up and found lift nearly anywhere we went. It was topping out around 3k. You could see a pretty thick and solid looking inversion.
As the day progressed lift became smoother and the tops of thermals raised up near 4k agl. They sky was full of gliders and it was hard to find any alone time. There were a few moments I was highly uncomfortable as 2 groups of gliders encroached on each other thermals, both turning the opposite directions. I usually bugged out about then anf found more lift, or pimped someone else.
After around 3 hours I'd had enough and settled in for a decent landing in light and variable winds.
Bob Franklin and Dennis C managed some airtime. I hear a rumor Bob had an unfortunate incident and bent his keel on landing.
WW arrived Friday (Steve P), and had a few demos set up and some started flying on those already.
I have some pictures but with this internet it would take me days to upload them. Wallaby's net is down and the motel's is pathetic!
I did manage to upload my track log.

Wallaby 2009

CHassan — Sun, 29 Mar 2009 12:27:51 GMT

Ok I'm here. he drive from Ohio went well, butt... I'm still in the hotel, a budget hotel to be polite. However I didn't get carried off by giant cockroaches while I slept. The beds are comfortable, and they do have wifi.
Georgia was a mess with rain and I-75 was actually a little under water in places. The rain followed us down into Florida and looks like it will hamper any flying today. If not the wind may very well keeps us grounded.
I've not been to Wallaby yet, but I'm sure we'll make it around at some point. I may have to treat my parents like teenagers and turn on all the lights and threaten glasses of cold water on their heads, or we may miss breakfast!
I'll tr to update daily on the who's and whats that those not coming miss out on.

Weekend Flying.

CHassan — Sun, 22 Mar 2009 23:34:23 GMT

To tired to post much. Sat I got a sledder in the U2. Nice towing glider. very little bar pressure compared to the Sport 2. 2nd flight Sat started off in totally overcast skies. Then the clouds parted and the sun came out. 3 or 4 times I decided I'd had enough, played around and lost most of my altitude, found a thermal down low and fought back up. Finally I both had enough, and didn't find lift.
Sunday looked to be the better of the days. The skies were clear from sun up and are still clear as I write this. A writer for "Adventure Girl" came out for a tandem. They launched first and stayed up, went up, soared. So I finished getting ready and launched. 300 - 500fpm climbs, but I had serious troubles staying cored. In and out, tossed and turned, after about an hour and a half I was done. Luckily I didn't find any more lift so I didn't have to pass it up. Not sure if I had a tailwind, or if I just buggered it, but I ended up on my belly. My guess is maybe a little of both. The U2 is bot as forgiving as the Sport 2 in flair!
Packed it all until Wallaby!

A good day out.

CHassan — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:18:01 GMT

Last weekend, March 14 and 15, wasn't a bad couple of days to be at the field. Sat was cool and overcast, but just enough lift to keep you up longer than a sledder. I do mean just enough! Plus I finally flew my U2
I made a video of me setting up my U2 (time lapse) I wanted to get some shots from the launch end of the field during the flying, but the camera position and timing was off and it didn't turn out so well.
Sunday was a fun day. Warmer, more sun and more lift. Lift wasn't very high, and didn't last long, but it was fun, and I did get to thermal the U2 in small broken lift.

Over all the U2 should be a fun glider. I need to perfect my inputs more. I'm so use to the Sport 2 and being able to toss it around like nothing. With the U2 you need a different flying style. I'm looking forward to learning the ways of the U2!

Pilots of the day.

Steve555 Landing his new to him U2

Waiting on the day to catch up!

CHassan — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 10:23:59 GMT

At 3:15 I my eyes came open and I was awake. Not the mildly awake where you look around close your eyes and go back to bed. The wide eyed, 3 cups of coffee, ready to mow the yard, trim the bushes, fix the gutter, and solve world hunger awake.
I lay there for 30 minutes trying to will myself back to sleep, but have an Epic Fail. What can I do now but get up. I put the pot on to boil, and start up the computer. I have a few things I need to do before I head to the field anyway.
I check for a new CHDK for my camera. Nothing new, so I format the new SD card, and load on the hack. Pour a cup of coffee and decide to throw a couple extra scripts on the card. I spend a half hour or so playing with settings and otherwise button mashing to see what all the new options do. 90% of them I still have no clue, but the important things I can get to work.
Another cup-o-joe and I set back down to read my e-mails and forums. Tom is willing to car pool since my old Sport 2 is now his New Sport 2. I let him know was planning on leaving around 8:30 or 9. Mrs Diana Kumar's husband deposited $9.5M before he passed away and she would like me, a trustworthy person, to take her money and fund churches, orphanages, and widows. She would probably do it herself, but she is suffering lung cancer and can not leave the hospital. According to her latest reports the doctors said she may have only months to live.
I would love to help her out, but I'm not a religious person, so I couldn't bring myself to "throw away" money by giving it to the church. The orphanage sounds like a good idea, but I was at the grocery last night and found my 2 kids are enough. I don't want to be responsible for any more! Matter of fact, I'd like to "dispose" of the poorly behaved kids playing football in the bread isle with a loaf of Hunny Bunny white bread. Not just those 3 kids, but the millions who are just shy of doing such things. Lastly, I do not enjoy being around grieving people. I get very uncomfortable, and find myself blabbing and say very bad things. While my intentions are good, the words coming out do more harm than good.
So I replied that I can not, in good faith help Mrs Diana Kumar, but I would ask my loyal friends if they would be interested. Some may not have the same hang ups as I do. If anyone would like her contact, let me know, I'll pass it on.

Now I'm finishing my coffee and getting ready for a shower. I have time to spare since I was up so early. I have no purpose, and I'm just wondering around, waiting on the day to catch up.

Good and bad day at the ridge.

CHassan — Mon, 09 Mar 2009 11:24:52 GMT

Friday was looking to be blown out, but after a quick check, there would be pilots mounting the ridge in an attempt to take flight. I didn�t want to be left out again, so I went along.
I was first to the hill and made my way up around and thru the ruts the logging trucks have made in the road up. My poor little Nissan did some grading of that road!
I spent a half hour or so throwing limbs and debris off the set up area, and a little saw work to cut up some fallen timber. Then it was time to wait. The wind was blowing like stink, but it was straight in.
The others showed up and as the winds started to drop, we started to set up. It was fun trying to position the wings to keep them from blowing over or away, during set up. Being in the front of the pack I ended up rigging my glider flat. then pulled up the control frame and tied it to the sturdiest tree I could find!

Another round of hang waiting, and with a large lull enticing us, we suited up and made our way to launch. The first pilot didn't wait long and was soon a few hundred over. The next pilot was the start of the problems. He performed a perfect jack rabbit start and ended up 180 degrees and clipping the wind sock tree. Besides a bit of "tree rash" he escaped unharmed, but his glider suffered at least 2 broken leading edges and a mangled a frame.
While we waited on launch for the glider and pilot to be picked up, the winds started howling in again. There we were hooked in and straining to keep the gliders on the ground. When the wind next lulled I moved to launch, and didn't take long to clear and take my one two steps. My launch felt good, and I was conscious to keep my speed up as I transitioned and got into my harness. Once that was done I was tossed to into a right turn that left me looking into the trees to the right of launch. Because of the elevator I had been in I wasn't in any real danger, but the ridge scares me anyway, and this was just another reason why!
I guess I'm not afraid of the hill, but I don't like the trees and often give them such a wide berth I have a very hard time staying in the lift. Of course this make my flight that much more turbulent, and pushes me that much further away from the hill. Soon I'm out of lift, and out of altitude.
This time lift was everywhere. The air was pretty turbulent, but not so bad I was running for cover. I made my way north to join the first pilot at the high peak.
The winds I had seen before launching showed a westerly component, so I thought I'd go farther north to where the ridge bends more to face the west. I didn't even finish one pass when I knew something wasn't right. I turned and headed back for the high peak and hit major sink. I managed to cross a tree line and fly out over the road, but still had a long carry to the LZ.
This time I didn't land because I flew to far out front, but I did land because I flew to far north. Stupid, stupid mistake!
I watched from the LZ as the last two pilots launched and spent 30 more minutes or so playing around above the ridge.

John flying with a Bald Eagle

One by one they started to come in.

I didn't photo Mark's landing since he was going for the road on the other side of the trees (a good place to land), but watched through the trees. It looked ok, but he dropped the base bar. I saw the wing started to turn around and looked away. 10 minutes later Mark came around the corner and said he was having a hear attack, and he wasn't kidding! He was flying and recognized the symptoms and headed out to land. Thankfully another pilot was there watching and had his truck in the LZ. He whisked Mark to the hospital where he was treated and as of Sunday was in fair condition.

May the wind Gods find me worthy!

CHassan — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 13:09:17 GMT

[ Mood: Happy ]
A few of us are heading to the ridge to try and get off this earth!
Apparently they are logging the back side of the ridge, and the road up is rutted and still mostly washed away from the winter thawing and heavy truck traffic, but we'll get up it one way or another!

The temps should get up near into the 60's , slight chance of rain, and the winds may be a bit gusty, but damn it man were going to try it anyway!

Going early with the my chain saw to cut up fallen timber in the set up area. The wind sock on the hill is gone, just a pole in a tree now. The wind sock in the LZ is also gone, the pole is just laying in the field.

Since there is a chance of rain and I'm still not feeling current, so the U2 will stay home today. I'm dying to fly it, but I don't want to die flying it! (I'm a big chicken!)

Is winter over yet?

CHassan — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 21:22:08 GMT

I've only been able to get out flying twice since the TTT Team Challenge. I'm getting itchy to go again! WW Demo Days @ Wallaby are fast aproaching, and I've yet to try out my new U2. Sigh.......

The Ohio Flyers had our yearly meeting last weekend. I'm still president, Frank is still VP, but Thog is now the Tres/Sec, giving John a break from years and years of doing the Tres.
One of our members has designed a new forum based site for www.ohioflyers.org check it out it's pretty cool. It is not 100% finalized, but coming along nicely!

We had a stint of cold and snowy weather. To cold for snow to pack, then suddenly things warm up enough and Emily and I made a snowman. About 3 days later the snow was pretty much all gone.

Wed night the big storm blew thru and knocked down a few more pines. We were not as lucky this time and the trees landed on the roof. Looks like only cosmetic damage, but that makes 5 trees in 4 years.

I found some older pics the other day, made me laugh.
Emily has always had a way to make you laugh.

She also enjoyed having her hair put in hair ties. She'd bring a handfull to us, and want them all in!

Kylie competed in gymnastics for 4 or 5 years. Here she is taking "gold" at the age of 4.

And of course she could keep you smiling with her antics!

Most kids cut there own hair at least once when they are little. My brother cut mine for me, and Kylie's friend cut hers for her!

First flights of the New Year

CHassan — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 10:26:46 GMT

I woke up Sunday thinking I would just spend the day being lazy. Sitting around, eating more junk left over from the holidays, and gaining more ballast. Then I checked e-mails and noticed John was bringing out the scooter tow.
I checked the weather and it was supposed to be below freezing all day. Not ideal, but after 2 months I wasn't going to be that picky. I didn't know if I wanted to set up the U2, or fly the old familiar, so I loaded both onto my Sentra and headed out.
The drive went by much as expected........s..l..o..w. Not wanted to push the limits of my rack with 2 glider on it (even though it made it to Florida and back) I actually drove the speed limit. Add in the excitement factor, and mentally 4 hours later I pulled into the drive at the field.
One pilot had already towed a few times and was packing up to make an appointment. Another was getting ready to go, so manned the radio and launched him. He had a nice high tow and a better than average flight time.
Freezing temps and overcast skies were on order for the day. As I set up bits of snow bounced off my wing. My face and hands got cold, and I realized just how nuts this really was. I smiled and finished setting up and preflighting my gear.
I suited up and made my way to the cart, already positioned on the runway. Hooked in, made my checks, and called for tension. With winds almost down the runway I managed to squeak just over 1000' out of each of my 4 tows. There was 0 sink and just ever so slight hints of lift. The vario would beep a few times, but the order of the day was down. Since there was a little bit of snow falling most of the day, I wasn't to surprised.
So it wasn't an epic day, but I did get in the air, and that is better than 98% of the days spent on the ground.
Oh yeah, I stuck with the Sport 2, since it had been a few months, and because it was cold and the U2 still needs a new hang strap installed.

Soaring the mole ridge.

CHassan — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 11:36:49 GMT

[ Mood: Scared ]
I've often seen this little ridge line, running a good distance from the west to east. While fairly straight there are areas where it either drops to nothing, or jaunts off to the north or south, but I figured they would be easy to jump.

I decided if I ever happen to catch the winds right, I'd try it! Yesterday was the day. A rapid moving storm front, brought in the kind of winds I thought for sure would provide a soaring opportunity.

I had already scouted for the best launch area. Set up, and waited for a lull. It came and I cleared my wire crew. With full VG and bar stuffed, I launched. Up I went, up, up and well not really away, but backwards.

I pushed the bar as far back as my arms could reach, still backwards. (I was already saying OH SH17! Now I'm leaning towards Oh F@#$!!!) I had my ankles around the bar, trying to dive out front for all I was worth. My Sport 2 groaning and shaking, doing it's best to move forward.

Behind the ridge was a road I travel day in and day out. Trees, house, fences, wires, nowhere to make an approach in that direction for miles! Damn I should have thought about that before!

I reached the top of the lift band, and still didn't think I had enough altitude to make a turn and clear the down wind obstacles, but I was headed down wind anyway, turn or not!

OK well the mole ridge is actually just a running mound of dirt where a mole ran under our yard. The winds last night picked up to 62mph, but I am not so stupid or, as of yet desperate enough, to get my glider out in anything over 20mph. However I figured you could soar a mole hill in those winds!
Work, freak winds, and an active imagination, somethings are meant to only be thought!

Not hang gliding related!

CHassan — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 15:48:48 GMT

So I've made fun at all the people who thought Guitar Hero was a fun game. Laughed at those who bought Guitar Hero II, and ignored the cries of those who searched far and wide for Guitar Hero III.
Last night I was walking around Toys-R-Us with my youngest daughter. Just killing time while the oldest was at piano lessons. We walked over to see if she could find a new Wii game. While she was looking I saw a Guitar Hero III game set up to demo.
Jokingly I told her to watch dad be a Rock Star Super Poser! I started up the demo and frustratingly "plucked" and "fingered" my way through, some song I know, but couldn't remember the name. All the while thrashing around as much as the security tether would allow.
She laughed, I laughed, the folks around us laughed, the store clerk looked a little displeased, but ehh, can't please them all right! The game basically told me I sucked!
My daughter gave it a shot and gave up, so I moved in to finish the song. Again showing I could have been a rock star, had I learned to play something besides the trombone! (I wasn't a band geek I swear!) Finishing with a flurry of jumps and warble from the Wawa bar, the game again said I suck!
Another little boy comes over and I let him have a go. Emotionless, he stared at the screen played out the song. The crowd cheered and the game exclaimed he was great!
What! A snotty little kid who stood stone faced and played as if he had no soul, rocked better than I! I'm starting to think the game doesn't know what it means to be a rock-n-roll idol!
After another song or so, mom comes over and drags him away claiming he can play his as soon as he gets home. That's right little boy, out of the way for the real rocker!
I attempt a Pearl Jam song, and again with all the stage performance of a young Stone Gossard, the game gives me less than stellar reports! I try 2 or 3 more songs, all with the same outcome. If I didn't know this game was not a true measurement of rockability, I would have left downtrodden.
Frustrated I give the guitar to another kid and walk away. Pick up my daughter, about 5 minutes late, and go home to fix supper.
Guitar Hero my foot. Kids these days don�t know what rock-n-roll is all about! It is not about playing notes, it is about style, visual performance, stage presence!
My youngest daughter has piano tomorrow, I�ll take my oldest to Toys-R-Us to kill time, and we�ll see who the real Guitar Hero is! (I just have to remember to leave in time to pick up my kid!)

(I'm not a bad dad really, we would have been 5 minutes early, but there was an accident and I had to find my way around an unfamiliar neighborhood to get back!)

Not so angry anymore!

CHassan — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 18:32:02 GMT

[ Mood: Amused ]
I was able to get a few flights in on sat. Tows to around 700-800'. Even managed to gain a little altitude.
gnelson, popeye, and a few others were there. Steve555 was scheduled to show up, but he must have wussed out!

Updated my log book.

CHassan — Fri, 11 Jan 2008 12:03:10 GMT

[ Mood: Amused ]
OK so I got really bored, and combined my 3 log books into one, so I could see where I stand in hours and such.
I'm better off than I figured by 15 or so hours at 84.4. Having a pretty good spring last year boosted me farther than I thought.
As far as number of flights, I've gotten in 254 of them. Taking 600' sledder tows from the scooter sure hurts the airtime/flight ratio! Regardless, I can land pretty darn good!

So now I need to get ready for my H4 test, tandem, and instructor ratings! Whoohoo!

Winter sucks!

CHassan — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 16:52:03 GMT

[ Mood: Angry ]
Mother nature plays a mean trick! Here we are in January, temperatures in the high 60's. Winds blowing around 10-15 mph.....FROM THE SSW!!!!
..........

We need winds from the SW to soar our ridge, the runways are muddy from the 6" of snow that melted in the last few days, not to mention the rain that helped to melt it. That puts towing out of commission! I'm stuck on the ground looking up at a very inviting sky!
Did I mention

A month grounded.

CHassan — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 12:09:22 GMT

Well, after a month of being grounded, I tried in vain to soar this weekend.

Sat looked decent. The Dragon Fly was having some motor issues. By the time they were straightened out the winds were up, and sun was going down. A nice easy tow. I found light lift, but was already down wind. I didn't think I would be going very far, so I tried to go up wind. I was soon on the ground, and packing up to get home.

Sun I decided I would at least go get a few scooter tows in. It was "iffy" for the ridge. I didn't set up for the scooter tow, hoping the winds would pick up just a bit more.

They did, and we headed out for the hill. There were 2 pilots soaring as we pulled in. To the top and setting up I watch the last pilot go out to land. The wind was dying, and proved to allow no more than a few passes in front of launch.

For my landing I picked a spot on the gravel road running parallel to the ridge I did notice one thing I was doing that wasn't right. Coming in for a landing I was hanging on my down tubes. I've been having a small problem timing my flairs, and this may have been the problem. I relaxed and found the glider was again telling me when it was time to hit it. I was about 3' past the gravel, and took a step or two, but it was much better than I've had lately.

It wasn't the soaring flight I was hoping for, but it was fun none the less. Good to get another foot launch in.

Wesmar Flying, Bubba's and Back

CHassan — Sun, 07 Oct 2007 18:54:37 GMT

I have a huge headache, so I'll simply copy what I sent in an email to the club.

Boy what a day! I didn't count the gliders, but there was more than 2! Good to see such a turn out! I'm guessing the enticement of food and beverage by Eric and Melanie was the deciding factor for many! Big, big thanks for the grub and brew!

So flying...... . What a fun time I had.

Several guys had some scooter tows, Mario, Steve, Gary, Mike�� Then we all moved our gliders down and Paul warmed up the Fly. Frank took a tow and had a bit of no luck, and was soon back down. A brief pause and he was giving it another go. He found something and Larry W jumped me as I was trying to get Eric�s radio set up to use. (thanks for letting me carry more ballast! It worked on the ground, and I could get the repeater info, but Lisa and Larry came in as static to me. Regardless�.) Larry towed more to the south, after that I lost sight of them as I got ready to go.

My flight according to HOLC http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?flightId=2022354197

Paul pulled me into the best thermal I could find all day. Good solid lift all the way to 5400�. I was tempted to wait for Larry and Larry to lead me on another XC, but for the benefit of Steve W I opted for the Bubba�s and Back route. Pulling VG I headed NW for the intersection of London Road and 62 (Bubba�s gas station) Thinking I was going up win to start with I was pleased to find myself nearing Bubba�s in very little time. I thought this would be a piece o cake.

Well about 1.5 miles from Bubba�s, I stop to tank up on altitude. Leaving from about 4900� I hit big sink on the way and I�m down to 3k before I get there. Thinking the return trip would be down wind I pushed on and made my turn. As I finished y turn I realized I was now going upwind, and would be going right back into the sink I just went though.

I headed for my last known lift, didn�t find the good strong solid stuff, but spent a long time working light broken lift to get back up. I didn�t want to land already so I worked and worked and worked at it. The lift was very un organized, and hard to hang with. You could find a good core, but after a turn or two it would be gone, and you�d be left scrounging anything you could get. I did finally get back over 3k so I wanted to move on and look for anything better.

I headed for a combine pulling beans, (it had been working so far) Found more semi strong, semi coherent lift and climbed enough I thought I could make it back to Wes�s, but I saw Larry F and Eric turning a bit farther and a good deal higher! I pulled in and made a bee line for them. Found a nice thermal and made it up to Eric, Larry pulled in and headed back over to Wes�s. Eric and I worked our lift to 4k or so and I left as I saw the fly heading back to the field and figured he had dropped someone off in lift near the field. As I got closer I was looking and looking, but couldn�t see anyone. Found out later Frank had gone out for a quick flight with no glider in tow! I didn�t feel much more than a bump all the way over the heart in the cemetery and back to the field for a pretty good light wind landing.

Finished the day helping out launching a few tandems and Roger V for a sunset PG ride. Eric cooked up some burgers and sausages, and everyone ate and enjoyed the end of a good day at the field.

Larry and Larry went XC for some 20 or so, having to skirt around Rikenbaker as the tower has changed phone numbers and they couldn�t get clearance to pass over.

Great day!

Another super day going XC!

CHassan — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 09:42:19 GMT

[ Mood: Silly ]
The wind was blowing pretty good, and we set up and waited around for it to drop. While it didn't quite down much, people started thinking it was time to go.
Paul F, the modle pilot in the Mosquito add, tow up and headed out quick. I thought ehh he's on a rigid! Watched Rick go up then come across and yell at us to get off the runway. I don't know why, he was only at 300' and sinking. We moved but it was to late, he got up and became little. The key for me was watchin Steve W scooter up and stick (at least for a little!)
I got ready, asked Frank to keep me up wind, and off I went. Down low it was nasty towing! Frank went right and down, I went up and left, decided I'd had enough and pulled the pin near 1300' Turned back found some lift and worked my way up to 3000' or so. Saw Rick heading back towrds me, then crank it up on a tip and swing around with me. I watchd him right behind me, looked back sdeveral times and he was right there. Looked again and he was gone. I saw a flash above me and looked around and he was well above me. Bahh, stupid rigids!!
I momentarily thought of turning back. I tested my penetration back towards the field, and I realized I had already started my XC! So I wondered off with the drift. Scooting north to stay near 50 for an easy pick up. Marathon went by, Fayetteville went by, getting low. I found a thermal with a bit of corn husk soaring. He and I played, "King of the Thermal!" Seeing who could out climb the other! (No other gliders were out to join me yet, so I had to compete with someone/thing.) I realized his thermalling skills were not as sharp as mine, when I found a stronger core just outside of his turn radius and was soon well above him!
I followed this thermal to Hillsboro to my first cloud of the day. I made 6400' and just a bit below this beast of a cloud. I pulled VG and pulled in, reaching 6800 and change before I left the lift a couple miles later. Everything to the east, and south looked to be shaded by some kind of over development. The only sunlight I could see was to the north.
I rounded Hillsboro and chased the fading sunspots on the ground. I managed a couple more thermals and soon realized I would be on glide barring any miracles.
I could have made the start of the hills in SE Ohio, but I opted to land in a nice flat bean field the farmers were clearing off for me. (hoping the combine would kick something off and save me, no miracle there) I set down and did a little dance, and went on calling to see if anyone else was out. No suprise I found out the Larry's and Christopher were gone. I found out a bit later Terry was out also.
Steve, from the house I landed near, brought me out a MT. Dew and kept me company while I broke down. I was picked up before dark, Christopher just before dark, and we found Terry just after dark. Many thanks to the Lary's and sig other's for the pick up! Thanks to Frank for the Tow, as rowdy as it was it got me where I needed to be!

Total tally, I spent 3:08 playing around with corn husks and bean stuff at altitude. I didn't push myself to go far fast, and I didn't go far fast, but I managed about 46 miles, turning back and actually landing 41.4 miles as the crow flies.
I can't get this track to load into HOLC, but I did get it loaded into google.

The actuall airshow.

CHassan — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 16:47:50 GMT

[ Mood: Sleepy ]
[ Currently: Working ]
Sunday we set up the simulator, and static display. Also had a table of "stuff" to pass out.

and got everything ready for our demo.
We got the 2 o'clock spot, mid show.
I aerotowed, a PG scooter towed, another HG scooter towed, and then a powered harness took off. The tow was just plain unpleasent. Rowdiest tow I have ever had! Of course the reason was it was just so lifty, and sink(y?)!!

***Note the number of planes that were not here the day before!***
I left my vario in the car, didn't need it for the show. (Should have used it for timing!!) I don't know what the rate of climb was, but I had a fairly long flight for having the bar stuffed, not one for true areobatics, I pulled some high banked turns, and was trying to get back to the ground.
In the end we all got up and down in a safe fasion. My landing didn't make show center, but was off to show left a little. I wasn't happy with that, but it worked, and was an OK landing, not my best.
The others I think had good landings from what I saw.

Our static display had a steady flow of folks around it. The kids loved getting in the harness, and a few adults also.

Some long ago retired HG pilots came by to tell tales, and it was fun to hear how things use to be!

Brett Hunter finished off the day by giving us a high speed pass in his 330hp Pitts Special, right over our heads, as we waited for the tandem to return.

We finished off with a couple tandems, and packed up and went home! Great time!

( see all the photos HERE)

2007 Vinton County Airshow.

CHassan — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 11:30:08 GMT

[ Mood: Sleepy ]
[ Currently: Working ]
Sep 16th was the 2007 Vinton County Airshow. Since we didn't totally suck last year, they invited us to return. So what else can you do, but pack up and head out for some free flight sat before the airshow?

I ended up running late and didn't make the field until after 11:00. Looking at the sky full of flat bottomed, but skinny cummies, I was wondering if there would be lift. I hadn't done my weather homework so I wasn't real sure.

Our tug pilot was pulling in right behind me. I missed the last turn, so I actually pulled in behind him, but oh well. We looked around a second or two, and went on setting up.

Vinton Co Pilots and Boosters, rent the Vinton Co. Airport for $1 each year. Everything, from insurance to water is paid for through the Associations fund raising events. This is my second year, and I have to say that hospitality does not run short around here.

After setting up, Rick took his trike with a fresh rebuilt transmission, for a spin.

The wind was out of the north, and along the north side of the runway, is a substantial hill. This was causing some pretty trash air along the runway. I decided I'd wait abit more.
The wind never straightened out, but did lighten up, so I moved across the runway into the grassy "taxi way" on the other side. Rick came over, and with the help of another pilot I was on my way up.

I feel pretty stupid, and could play it off as a non-issue, but..... the tow was kicking and it was obvious we had some lift. I moved my vario back to the left downtube, and with it in the pod it tends to rotate and face down. Well I couldn't here it very well. I spun it over and looked, 740 on the avg..... sweet. The tug swung around and I looked again, over 1000' up whooohooo I'm outta here!

I pin, and only then did I remember how to read my vario. It wasn't over 1000fpm up, it was over 1000' alt!! DOH. I figured I'd be landing soon. I turned around and while it wasn't over 1000'fpm up, it was close to 500fpm! Rock on!!!

And it was Rockin! a nice little choppy bullet, coming from a lumber yard, if I had to guess at the origin. I had to fight to stay in it, and after a month of not flying, I new I'd be getting worn out fairly quickly.
I made it up to 3k where the temps dropped to somewhere around 50 degrees or so. I worked at staying in the lift and getting my gloves out of my harness, and on my hands. I'm always afraid I'll drop one, so I usually pay more attention to getting them on, than flying the glider. this time I was able to stay in lift while I slid into my gloves.

A few minutes later and I was up to about 5400' Flirting with cloud base. I stayed above 4k for the next hour jumping from cloud to cloud, going upwind, then downwind, then crosswind. Lift was pretty much everywhere!
I watched Tom tow up, I was SW 4 miles from the field, he towed NE a good ways. I new I couldn't reach him from where I was, so I continued to running to the next available cloud upwind. Noting there was only a couple more clouds before the blue stretched to the horizon!
The last cloud was 3 or 4 miles away, up wind, and one of the bigger for the day! I pulled VG, got pointy, and made a run for it. After a minute or so I looked up and watched as it shrank away.
Tom was turning so I aimed for him, but stopped along the way for light bubbles that didn't really hold together. Back down to 1500' I was goofing off over the runway. I flew around losing another 500' when a plane started his run up on the turn around. I flew over him and just as I cleared the end of the runway, BAM! another 500fpm thermal.
My freshly adjusted harness was cutting into my shoulder, and causing pain, and numbness, so I went to 2k and had enough. Pulled out and hit a 200fpm on the way back, a couple turns and I almost couldn't turn anymore, my arm hurt so bad!
I gave up and spun around until I was ready to land. Great landing, and spent the next 10 minutes trying to get feeling back in my arm. A good 2 hour flight, in fun air!

Tom P, John A, and Mark T all had good flights. Mark had his personal best duration! Way to go Mark! Eric P made use of his Mosquito, to get in some time.

We killed the evening as normal, and I jumped in my tent and fell asleep. (Did I mention the night temps were below 40�F! BRRRRR.

I'll add some more pics as soon as I get them uploaded.

Cloud 9 Funk Fest

CHassan — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 10:44:50 GMT

Made it up to Cloud 9 Funk Fest Fly In. Good times for sure. Pulled in on Friday evening. Ate some grub, drank some beer, set up tent and went to bed.
Up early on sat, caught the sunrise in the mist. The field is beautifull, and the sunrise was pretty cool.

Soon things started to buzz, and gliders were being set up, in the standard "hurry up and wait" mode. There was a couple old gliders set up to ground skim with the scooter tow.

A few pilots launched and some came down. Two exceptional pilots managed to hang on as a high layer of clouds moved in. Linda Salmone (SP), and Bob "Skydog" Grant, in his new T2, had to be working hard and efficient to maintain flight status. Excellent job by those two!!

Just as the sun broke free from the high clouds a few of us got in line. I was 2nd or 3rd, and managed to find every bit of sink on the way back to the field! A whoping 12 minutes from 2k! A couple pilots before me stuck, and I grabbed some water and prepared for the next tow. (Now in line behind another 10 gliders or so.) Both tugs were running so it didn't take to long.
I towed up near some turning gliders and released. I set up to properly enter the thermal, and zipped up on my way over. With all the glider markers in the area it didn't take long to find the lift. It appeared to be wide, but I found it was actually many small bubbles and not always well organized. One glider would be turning just outside the radius of another glider at the same altitude. Made for some interesting thermalling.
I went to tilt my vario pod up and the darn thing broke right off the mount. I had a couple choices. Let it dangle and possibly let it fall, or try to secure it some other way.
I ended up just holding the damn thing in my hand. It worked, but I cramped up several times. Shut it off no less than 3 times, but otherwise didn't have much of an issue.
During all of this I had cleared the thermall, so as to not "bump" into anyone else. I steared back into it and soon found myself pissed of and coring like nobodies business. I passed up a Falcon.

An Exstacy.

and a new Freedom

there was also a Aeros Combat, more Sport 2's and a handfull of other glilders I passed up at various times of the day. Only once or twice did I have to move out of someone elses way to let them come up past me. I think the Combat, and the Freedome were the only two.
I managed to pass up a Litespeed, and pull off a pretty good picture on the way up.

This was near the end of my flight, and I did end up landing about 3 minutes before this guy, but I went into wang mode, then full speed ahead to give us some seperation.

After adding up all the flights. (remember I shut my vario off several times.) I came out with about 2:40 for the second flight. hit the spot on my first landing, but had to go wide to clear a couple other gliders that landed before me. I turned towards the spot, but just didn't have enough. I also didn't have enough energy to flair and ended up on one knee. Other than a broken vario pod, I had no problems.

I was the 4th last pilot to come in. The light speed was 3rd, Larry W was 2nd, and Rick in his Atow was the last pilot down. (He said he fought hard to stay up until Larry landed)

Linda had landed right befor me, with something near 5 hours of airtime! Way to go Girl, you showed us guys how to do it.

We ate our fill of the wonderfull grub the neighbor catered for us. BBQ pork, beef, turkey, and all the trimmings. The party started and no one was left out. Even Bailey found a friend in Dickle!

Gotta love a good weekend of flying!

CHassan — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 10:44:12 GMT

[ Mood: Sleepy ]
I'm beat! Total airtime this weekend was just over 4 hours. The sky looked good, the air was rough, but man o man was it fun!
Sat started with a few real high clouds. Half way to the field they dissapeared and the sky was blue. About 10 minutes from the field things started to happen. Cumulus clouds were starting to form along the horizon, and the birds were out in force.
Set up and determin if XC was an option. Due to restricted airspace at Lunkin airport, we have to start either due north, or south before we can drift to the west. It just so happens the drift was pretty much WSW, and strong.
One pilot went up, and shortly came back down. Not a good sign, but he claimed the lift was there, just not for him. We waited another 30-40 minutes, and I figured what the heck!
Tow was not the worst I've had, but it was acctive and required some heavy control actions. Right about 2k I felt I was in a nice bit of lift and pinned off. My guess proved correct and I was soon bouncing around just under the clouds.
I was upwind of the field, so I decided to try and stay there for a bit. I made one run upwind, and found another thermal. It wasn't hard as I simply went to the next cloud. Winds aloft were fairly strong, but after 2 thermals I was 3 miles upwind. My 3rd thermal was tough to find. I was getting low and 3 miles out I was thinking I might just be dumb enough to land upwind on a strong drift day. About 1800' I did manage to find another thermall, and it was on once again!
Back up to cloudbase. I played in a couple more thermal before someone else finally towed up. A Falcon, remember there was strong winds, I didn't see much of him, but I don't think he did very well.
Another Sport 2 came up and I followed the tug in their general direction. Found some light lift, and decided to hang out and see what the other S2 would do! He pinned off and started turning. He looked to be in much better lift, so I bugged out and came in under him.
Always remember it is the top glider that needs to giveway for another glider thermaling up under you! I came up under him and we were not quite centered the same. I wanted to get banked up and whip around in the strong center I had, but everytime I would look get ready crank it over, he would be angled in at about my 4 or 5 o'clock position. I didn't get upset, but I was itching to crank it up, but I stayed to the outside jsut below him.
We both drifted a little to far and I pulled back upwind and found the strong stuff again. Now I can crank! Up on a tip and 500fpm up weeeee! (500 is pretty strong around here!) The other pilot came in under me and I was busy watching him when the clouds formed around me. Seriously, they appeared from nowhere. I had about 270� to go before I would be heading upwind again, and thought I could make it around and zoom out from under, but I was wrong!
About 180� in to the turn things went white. I leveled out the best I could and made a bee line for the edge. I looked down and to my right and just made out the other sport 2 at cloudbase. He was getting sucked up too! He was in about the same situation I was in. Still turning about 270� from upwind. I knew I wouldn't have to rworry about being in the same airspace as him, so I pulled VG and went for speed.
40mph and still climbing at 400fpm. This is fun! A flash of light on the left and I can see across a gap in the cloud. Another flash all around and I could see a gap in the top where it wasn't building. Then white, white, and more white! Still going up! Another flash and I was spit out the side like a watermelon seed! The other Sport 2 was 100 yards south and came blasting out too!
We flew parallel for a bit, then I slowed down in some floaty air, as he barrelled back towards the field. I hit more lift and started turning, hoping he would see me and be able to make it back over, but he was low and pretty far away.
I was back solo again for about another 45 minutes. I tried to run back upwind a few more times and finally gravity won.
Sat was much of the same with more drift, and wind. Still nice!

More flying.

CHassan — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:42:34 GMT

Well the summer dry spell ended last week. We had T-storms almost every day, getting lots of rain dumped. The first crap weekend in several months has fallen upon us. (ok crap weekend is a bit harsh! non spectacular day might be better wording!)

My dad came in from McHenry Ill, and we headed to the flying field. Sat I didn't do very well. Took 2 tows and did nothing but extend the flights. Dad managed just shy of an hour, a few other pilots managed to get up for over an hour.

The wind was cross so coming in to the runway you were short and in the beans, long and in the corn, or in the runway. Both of my landings were right in the middle of the runway.(poor flight + good landing in front of everyone = Happy pilot!)

Sunday things were better for me. I launched and again my shoulder caused me some problems on tow. I found using the right DT to pull myself over was made it easier to correct to the right. Still need to take a break and let it heal properly before I do real damage! (thought I know I need to do this, I doubt I will)

On tow my averager was showing from 100-300 climb rate. That is from 3-500 fpm to slow. I figured I�d be hitting the deck again soon after releasing. My tug pilot pointed to a cloud and we stayed the path. I wasn't getting off, and he didn't wave me. About 2500 he jumped up and waved me off at the same time. I pinned and started turning. Not long and I was up under the cloud at 6200.

Around 4000 I fished out my gloves, as it was getting cold. At 5xxx' my vario was saying around 52�. The crisp cool air was sending me into some coughing fits (I've been fighting a case of bronchitis) and I'm still hoping none of my umm.... expectorant found anyone's windshield, or heaven forbid, head!

I headed back upwind and found another thermal up to cloud base. Then headed over above my dad and managed a very weak climb to around 5k, as a layer of cirrus clouds moved in and shut the day down. The rest was just a smooth peaceful glide down for 1:20 on the nose.

We packed it in and made it home in time for supper!
Not the 2+ hours I have been getting in the dusty dry weather, but still not a bad day at all!

L&L fly in.

CHassan — Mon, 02 Jul 2007 12:24:17 GMT

We had a good sat a couple weeks ago, for the L&L Anniversarry fly-in. With a dozen or so gliders stuck in the air, nearly everyon getting all the air time they could handle.

The day was not clear, nor were they big fluffy cumies to point the way. I launched and realized my shoulkder problem is not getting any better. My left shoulder haas been giving me problems and it has made it hard to tow up. Corrections to the left are no problem. Trying to push my body to the right causes a little pain, and I just don't feel like I have the strength to push myself over. So far I've been ok and not had to many problems.

Anyway, I managed 2:45 and got some wicked pictures ]I posted on flickr.

The following sunday the rain came back and we all ended up packing it in early and heading home.

Farther's Day flying

CHassan — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 01:46:17 GMT

[ Mood: Angelic ]
Oh boY!!!!
I left home with a full overcast sky. As I made the 1:30 trip things started to clear up. Pulling in the drive Ron R was up and Rick was coming in with the Trike, Larry B was setting up, and that was what was happening. Tom pulled in 10 minutes or so later.
Larry and I finished setting up, Ron came in and the sky was clear...er. Still some high stuff clogging the atmosphere, but all in all it was opening up. I made an adjustment to my harness, then Larry helped me fix it the way it should be. Tom provided the tools to fix up my blown zipper so I didn't fall out of my harness. (If I'd ever get, or take, a break from flying I would send it in to Betty.)
Tom thought things were looking good, so he started the line and the rest of us Fell in. Larry was second and I was first. Off tow Tom reported massive lift, and Rick reported dark clouds over Cinci. Larry went up and the dark clouds loomed closer. I opted to take the chance and went on up. Larry and Tom were both high.
The tow was uneventful. At times my average showed 200fpm on tow, for extended periods. Rick banked the trike over into a mild turn and I'll be damned if I could get my wing to go that way. My shoulder started hurting a bit while trying and I pinned near 2 grand.
Lift wasn't far away and soon I was close to Larry and Tom. Tom pulled in and headed back towards the field, I followed the lift with Larry. I turned back towards the field thinking I over ran the lift. I saw Larry heading the other way. Figured I would head back to the field, as Larry was a good way away at this point.
Then something wonderful happened. My vario went nuts! I held 400fpm up on a 20 sec average, no make that 500, no 600, wow solid 700 and at times 800 on the average!! Weeeee!
I couldn't see Larry, but hell with this lift I'm riding it until it is gone! I took the lift to cloud base (6100 agl) about 7 miles out. Still haven't caught up with Larry. I decide to stay near route 50 for an easy retrieve. As I closed the distance towards Fayetteville, who do I see, Larry slightly above my alt and UPWIND! So I start towards him, but find good solid 300 up in time to get several hundred feet above by the time he works his way over.
We play around going up and down, searching around and not doing to bad. We leave our last bit of lift looking at a quarry, or brine lake, or some promising looking ground. Larry gets there first, and the fact he left rather soon leads me to believe nothing good can come from checking it out myself.
I took a different route leading to where Larry was heading. Neither of us found anything. We head towards 50 for a easy pick up. Larry is low and circling a field. I came in maybe a tad higher and he points to the landing field. Looks good to me. I see some birds circling over some trees and figure I'll give it a try. I'm down to 800 or so and Larry is running after dust devils farther north of 50. I floundered a bit and right where Larry had made a few circles I find good solid 200 up.
I watched Larry set down, but I figure I'll give this lift a chance. 2-300 up and I'm at 1300 when I hit the edge of Hillsboro, not enough to get comfortably over town. I decide to try and make it back to Larry's LZ. I make good progress not losing much on my way back when i find more 2-300 up, this time go over 2k but think about turning back to not anger my retrieve driver! I don't get very far and find some solid 500 up that takes me up and over town to my top altitude at 6800.
I was flirting with cloud base as I came over Highland County Airport. I thought I was up on Cowan Lake near Wilmington, so to keep from being run over by heavies, I turned north. A sailplane came 1500' under me and headed back towards Caesar Creek, and I was several miles north when I realized that I wasn't headed towards Wilmington, but I decided to aim for route 62 and went on final, landing at Leesburg.
Had I been able to find one more thermal, and kept flying on my westerly path, I could have made it in to soar the ridge for another hour or so!
Ends up straight line 30.1 miles, the HOLC website gave me my dogleg and counted 36-1/3 miles! http://www3.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/para/flightinfo.html?flightId=1011694548

I almost broke 3 hours, with about 2:45, and with Larry's adjustments to my harness, my back felt great!!

Thanks to Rick for the Tow, Lisa and Larry for the ride back, and Linda for launching me and rolling my windows up!

What a day!

Whitewater Fun Fly

CHassan — Mon, 11 Jun 2007 16:00:30 GMT

[ Mood: Cool ]
Freeflightaviations Fun Fly report.

Dad and I set up and looked around for a few minutes. Around 1 or so we got in line and prepared to give it a go. A few pilots were starting to stick. We picked a good time as the rest of the pilots soon followed suit and there was 15 or so gliders waiting.
Dad towed to 2k and was climbing right on up. On tow I watched as the tug jumped higer, and higer, and, higher, and...well enough is enough, I pinned off about 1500' (Not very often do I pin off prior to 2k, just not in my nature) So I spend abuot 5 minutes working my way up to 3k and realize the day was going to be good. I had no problem climbing up to 5300, which is where most of the pilots found the tops of the thermals to be. One pilot did manage to get 5700, but he cheated somehow I'm sure! Actually, I have no doubt that he managed that height as only one time did I look down on him, the rest of the time he was well over me.
Dad and I finally were able to fly together for extended periods. I don't think you can make a day much better than flying with your dad. (Maybe flying with your son?)
Everytime I looked there was still a line of gliders waiting to come up, or come back up. Any direction you looked you could see gliders dotting the air. Most of the day I flew with at least 2 or 3 gliders in the same thermal I was in. The last thermal I played in there was probably 10-15 gliders in it at various heights. A sore shoulder and headache sent me packing after a couple hours. I left just before all the gliders stacked up within a thousand feet or so. From a distance I watched them for awhile. Seeing that many gliders in the air is just to cool!
I dropped out of the harness and goofed around. Practicing my running , flew with my feet on the control bar, see how long I can go with no hands, and other ways of having fun. I dropped my flour bomb from 1200' (good enough for 2nd place) and missed the spot landing cones by 20' or so. No one was measuring, but from what I saw good enough for 3rd place.

Great flying, good food, and the weekend was complete. 61 tows for the day. (Went out sunday, but winds and high clouds kept us from setting up. Still had a long drive to get back home!)

Flying 5/27/07

CHassan — Sun, 27 May 2007 12:30:34 GMT

[ Mood: Cool ]
Another day of waiting around for the winds to calm down. There has been a good deal of that around here this year. Normally we are waiting out rain storms, but there has been very little of that this year!

Greg D took off in his mosquito powered harness. He was able to shut off his engine around 700' and go into climb mode. He said he had to start it once more to go upwind, but other than that it was all motor off. I can vouch for most of that, as I spent a good deal of time above his wing

Larry Wright beat me to the cart for launch, ok I let him go first, hoping to pimp off him!
He was a fair ways east when I pinned off at 3000. (Tug and I went through a thermall at 2K, as I was waiting to circle around to it again I was waved off. I pinned and looked down I was at 2800 in less than a 360.
I caught up with Larry, and to my suprise I was able to see the top of his wing. That might have been the first time!

Greg, Larry, and I all flew in proximity to each other for abit.

Shortly after I took this one I left and headed back towards the field. On the way I met up with Tom P, and Chris T. We all played around in some lift, then almost at once we all went down. Larry and Tom tried to hold on a bit to long and didn't make the field. Chris and I then came down, while Greg showed the virtues of the Atos in boating around a fiar bit longer than the rest of us.
Just over an hour for me, and I proved to myself my trusty Sport 2 will penetrate better than I think! I don't venture to far from the field most times. I don't fully understand how good my wing is. After yesterday I have even more respect for my wing. It carried me back up wind with out a problem!
All in all, a great day. Nephwe's graduation and hockey game tonigh, then it looks like King's Island Monday (ugg there are going to be lines for everything!)

We waited, and waited, and waited, and waited!

CHassan — Mon, 14 May 2007 12:38:43 GMT

Then finally you get to the good stuff!

Yesterday at Cary's (local flying field) the wind was blowing pretty stiff most of the day. Sure it was straight in, but a bit too much for anyone to bother going up. John took a ride around 2:00, but nothing much happened. Unless you count reports of twanging wires.

So we stood around for a while, and marveled at Darcy's frisbee catching skills, while laughing at Bandi prancing around with her�s. Often tripping on her way back to the frisbee tech! (Darcy and Bandi are Austrailian Blue Heeler's. Bandi is only about 1/2 the size of a normall Blue, which is what makes the frisbee catching and such so funny)

John, Tom, Christopher, Rick, Eric P, Shay, Darren from Indy, and I stuck around hoping and waiting. Mohan waited as long as he and his family could. Steve from PA stuck around until the air calmed down, then had to make the 6 hour trek back home, flightless! That is dedication!

Tom was threatening to take an aerotow, but in true Tom fashion, he stood under his glider for 20 minutes staring at the ground waiting for someone else to try it first! Not wanting him to over heat and pass out I obliged him by stuffing my chubby self into my harness (yes Larry I am chubby!), and moving my glider onto the cart.

Rick, our tug pilot, warned that it would be pretty rowdy coming up out of the field for a thousand feet or so. The air didn't disappoint us. It was rock and roll, but I was able to hang on to 2 grand. Rick waved me off in light lift and I worked to stay that high. I was all the way up to 2200' when I saw Tom and Rick on the way back up.

They separated at about 1200' and both started turning. I saw Rick didn't have much throttle on the trike, so I figured he was marking lift. I didn't have far to go to get to them, so I made a pass to see what they had.

It worked and I was in better lift, Tom passed to the west of me and while keeping an eye on him I noticed another glider farther west and higher than both of us!!! Who the... Where the..... How'd he get there and who is he? Once he flashed the orange bottom at us I new it was John. He took a scooter tow between Tom and my aerotow, and was out climbing us both.

We were drifting west at a good clip, and the lift was weak, or broken and hard to stay with. I didn't venture to far west and headed back to the upwind side of the field to stay in a "comfortable" place. The run upwind was uneventful. Again, I proved to myself, my glider has better penetration than I give it credit. Found another thermal and worked to my highest climb to 2400'. The others made it to 3k or there about. At some point Christopher launched in his Sport 2 and he and Tom were the last two to come down.

I managed 45 minutes of pure fun flying, and topped it off with a super light no stepper close to where I intended to be!

Eric made a couple foot launched tows, and moved on to cart launching. As many expected he had no issues with the cart at all, and I think I heard John say he is well on his way to his first aerotow! Also Darren from Indy was still making scooter/condor runs after I packed up and left. He looked to be showing good instinct and may be another of John's successful students.

Sure some of us waited and missed the flying sat, but we had a good time Sunday in weak conditions. Even Tom was "happy" with the flying, and that hasn't happened in a long time!

The meet!

CHassan — Thu, 26 Apr 2007 16:55:03 GMT

[ Mood: Hypnotized ]
Well we did it again. This year's Scooter tow comp is over, and was better than last year. With more pilots and better conditions.
I wasn't around a big chunk of the day. I actually was around, but between 2000 and 5000' .

Things below me went well. I forgot the measuring equipment for the bomb drop and spot landings, but we made due with educated guesses, and no one went home mad.

I need to give a huge round of thanks to several people who made it possible.

John Alden our local instructor. First for teaching me to hang glider, and second for towing us and not flying himself. John was one of two scooter operators who spent most of the day at the end of the field running the scooters.

Don Emslie, our second scooter operator. Don spent most of the day on his scooter, neglected. No one thought to ask him if he needed water, or food, we just kept towing, and he just kept towing us! Sorry Don! The icing on the cake was Don wouldn't take money for his operation for the day. Thanks Don!

Tom Primavera, he's not one to pull punches and always keeps sharp objects around incase anyone needs to be poked into action. Tom provided us with 2 beautifull HG pendants. I'll have to post a photo of the one I won Last year. Tom is one of the most enthusiastic members of the club. I swear I heard him while I was at 5000' and 2 miles from the field.

For the second year Wills Wings, and Flytec provided a variety of merchandise to award to our lucky pilots. Every one was happy to go home with either a hat, shirt, jacket, sunglasses, or multiple other items graciously donated by the Wills Wing and Flytec crew. (Thanks Steve and Linda!)

Once the flying began there was very little pause until right about sundown. I don't know how many tows we had, but I'd bet it was a pretty good number.

Next year I hope things will be bigger, better, and even more fun!

Ohio Flyers / Wings To Fly Scooter Tow Competition

CHassan — Fri, 20 Apr 2007 23:27:06 GMT

Well it's finally going to happen. After a more than a month we are getting the Scooter tow Comp off the ground tomorrow.

Pilots from at least Ill, IN, PA, and Ohio are getting ready to battle it out for air supremacy. Duration, spot landings, bomb drops, and more.

At stake this year are hundreds of dollars in prizes, bragging rights and for the first year ever, the "King of the Scooter" trophy. This will be our first yearly trophy, each year's winner getting to take the trophy home and have their name added to it.

also a PG version

Sunday is then off to the hill for some spring clearing, then back to Wesmar for more flying.

April played us for a fool

CHassan — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:02:40 GMT

[ Mood: Angry ]
Looking at the forecast on Sunday (April 1) morning I figured the weekend was a bust and went about taking care of other things.
About 4:00 I found I had a voice message and an e-mail from earlier in the morning, stating the weather forecast looked wrong and the weather was actually going to be good for the ridge. Seeing as how it had actually been nice, I figures I missed a good day. Today I get this e-mail confirmong that notion.

Quote:

The weather played an April fools day joke on us. Well, most of us but not
Shay Ranta. He called me Sunday morning as I was planning to do everything
but fly. Glad he did. Those of us who made it to Richmond Dale were treated
to a beautiful spring day. I think we all should have been there a couple of
hours earlier though. The first pilot off at about 2:30 got 2.5 hours and
3300 above. Those who launched 1.5 hours later were treated to higher winds
and not as much altitude gain. The air was crystal clear due to the post
frontal nature of the air mass with climb rates as high as 1400 ft/min and
some very drastic sink at times too. Cloud base looked to be about 4500. The
air for the most part was comfortable to fly, with decreasing cloud cover
and there were lots of buzzards and hawks to play with. A long xc flight was
to be had for anyone willing to make the commitment. Robb Peffer, Shay Ranta
with Amy, Larry and Linda Wright, Eric Proulx with Melanie, Gary Carpenter
and some State rangers enjoyed the ridge. Once again, you had to be there.

Blown out at the Ridge.

CHassan — Tue, 27 Mar 2007 12:30:47 GMT

Thought yesterday might be a decent day at the ridge. Winds looked to be straight in, but on the light side. By the time I loaded up and made it there it was obvious I'd be waiting.
2 Pilots actually broke down to wait out the screaming batten bending gusts coming in. Things would look good for a few minutes, then BAM! A nasty gust would plow through and threaten to toss over even well secured gliders.
After waiting around for a while things looked better. One pilot managed to fling himself off the hill and make a couple passes before heading out to the LZ. Appeared things turned 180� and now there was not enough wind.
I started setting up and by the time I was done, the wind started screaming in again. Now from a little to much west. Again after a while things started to calm and another pilot went out to launch. After 5 minutes at launch the wind was strong enough to strain the 4 man wire crew while attempting to return the glider to the set up area.
Another half hour or so and we packed it up and drank a beer. By the time I had my glider back on the car it was light enough the PG pilot who showed up was contemplating taking a sledder. No sooner had he pulled his rig to launch, than the wind picked up and dashed any plans of a safe launch.
5 pilots on the hill, 1 pilot flew, the rest bagged it, drank a beer, then went out and found some grub to pacify us.

Flying our ridge.

CHassan — Wed, 14 Mar 2007 12:08:40 GMT

[ Mood: Happy ]
Yesterday was a good day at our local ridge. The winds turned out a bit strong, and at altitude were way off line with launch, but just slightly crossed at launched.
(The launch, and the valley.)

Only 3 pilots took advantage of the day. John (our local instructor, and Larry W, another local top of the stack kind of guy.
(John, Larry and Linda (Larry's wife and driver)

Larry was set up and launched first. Didn't take more than a pass or two and he was turning above the ridge. I got set up and was second in the air. John brought up the rear.
(Larry's launch)

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Link

While it wasn't smooth, it wasn't as rought as I had flown in here. Good steady ridge lift, and nice thermalls blasting in. Larry and I managed to get high before John launched. We proceeded to find good strong thermall about the same time, Larry was a bit higher than me and farther behind the ridge. I made 3 or so 360's and realized I was drifting farther than I was comfortable. I pulled in and headed for the ridge, only to realize I wasn't making it back, or at least not with enough height to be comfortable with. Larry was commited and I turned back down wind trying to catch up with the thermall I left. I was also scoping out a LZ.
As I turned away from the ridge again I saw John was plenty high, and figured he would soon be trying to catch Larry.
Larry was already a mile or more down wind of me. I couldn't find any lift and headed for the biggest open field I could see that didn't have livestock running around in it.
By the time I was on the ground and parked next to the fence row, John and Larry both were gone.
(Where I landed, and the sky I landed under, looks good ehh!)

I cursed and kicked dirt and other objects laying on the ground. Why oh why didn't I just continue after Larry. It would have been my first long XC! Why, I'm still chicken, I didn't prepare for the possibility of XC, and I simply got owned!
I ended up 2 miles behind the ridge. Luckily the farmer came out and ended up giving me a ride to the hill. I had him drop me off at the bottom so I could punish myself by having to climb the hill! Next time I'll not turn back!
In my defense, this was the first time I had ever seen anyone go over the back here. Everyone almost always stays out front or just above, behind the ridge, and maybe a venture out over the valley in front of the ridge, but never over the back. Still it came down to being spooked an unprepared!

We all made it back to the hill, and conditions looks like they were still soarable. John and I decided to go again. I set up and had a very good launch if I do say so myself. Plus John caught it on film, and let me watch it! Nose was down and the glider lifted me, no little drop as I dropped into the harness, just run, run, run, and lifted clean off the ground! i was happy!
I made several passes in front of launch gaining just above the hill, then the ridge flushed and I was sent down to the LZ. Here I met a big gradient, and found myself falling towards the ditch running through the LZ. I managed to clear the ditch, but not with enough altitude or speed to flair. I went in on the wheels, in the mud. The wheels sank, the bar caught, and got my 1 whack per year out of the way! Again I was cursing and kicking things! Luckily no one got film or photos of that!
John launched 15 minutes later and flew for over an hour, until the sunset! Apparently I just caught the tail end of a cycle and that is why I didn't get back up.
Oh well I had a blast, and learned several things, so the day was not wasted, nor by anymeans was it a bad day! I came, I flew, I flew, I went home!

Weekend flying

CHassan — Mon, 12 Mar 2007 14:45:18 GMT

[ Mood: Happy ]
[ Currently: Working ]
Finally the ground was clear enough, and the weather cooperated for some scooter towing.
I managed a decent flight getting off tow somewhere between 400' and 500'. I hung on to a nice 'house' thermall and made it up to 1300' before I declined the remainder of lift for a sure glide back to the field.
I've had 2 XC ventures in that direction, both ending after about 2 miles. I didn't want to bother anyone with a 3rd retireve from the same place. I did give up a rather solid feeling thermal.
Regardless, fun was to be had back at the field, and it was good to be back in the air. I had my longest dry spell since I started in July of '05. Pure torture!

On another note. I had tightened my tip battens by turning the clips 2 full turns out. What I found was my glider became fairly stiff to turn. I think I can attribute that to the tighter tips, but I'm going to have to look into that!

Tomorrow looks like I might be able to make a ridge run! Oh the joys of spring!

X-C Clinic.

CHassan — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 10:57:12 GMT

[ Mood: Neutral ]
[ Currently: Working ]
I was all set to go to the X-C clinic at Quest next week, but it looks like that will not happen.
Ok I wasn't all set, I really just found out about it yesterday, and I decided I wanted to go. Work and family decided I wasn't going, and thus I'll not be going.

Hopefully next weekend we can hold our Scooter clinic, looks dodgey, soi 'm more inclined to say it will be the following weekend at the earliest.

Broken Toe!

CHassan — Fri, 09 Feb 2007 01:20:42 GMT

[ Mood: Shocked ]
[ Currently: Listening to Peter Gabriel (I\'m so cool ehh!) ]
My daughters were playing around in the house, I don't know how she did it, but the oldest came out and said her toe really hurt. I looked at it, and it looked a little swollen, but wasn't mangled. The fact she wasn't crying led me to believe it was nothing serious.
A hour or so later she came out and showed me a swollen and slightly bruised toe. When I looked at the other foot I noticed the toe was not at the same angle.
Our neighbor is a foot doctor so we went over and asked his opinion. He said it wouldn't hurt to wait until the next day. (The weather was getting bad, and it was getting late.)

The next her mom took her to the Dr, and got X-rays. Low and behold it looks pretty bad. The poor thing has been a trooper. I'm sure it hurts like hell, but she has not made much of a fuss over it.

Look at the X-ray here!

No flying for to long!

CHassan — Wed, 07 Feb 2007 17:42:05 GMT

[ Mood: Very Sad ]
It's been to long since I've flown, and way to long since I have had any sustained flying!
3 weeks ago I took a few sledders off of a scooter tow. 400' at best. Nothing grand, but I'd pay double right now to get even that!
I might have to make a power run somewhere flyable. From what I can figure, Lookout is about the closest place. I plan to get down there anyway, why not now ehh?
Leave work, drive 8 hours, sleep a little, get up and start flying. What ever I have to do. training hill, aerotow, scooter tow, the mountain, just get me off the ground!

I bought my first items off of e-bay. A fiberglass instument pod, with a GPS and airspeed indicator. All for $100 . The GPS should be here today, the rest will probably not get here for a week yet. I don't know if it will work, and even if it does, I have never used one, so I don't know if it will do me anygood

This is getting ready for last March's Scooter Fun-fly!

Thanks sg!

CHassan — Wed, 24 Jan 2007 15:40:35 GMT

[ Mood: Amused ]
[ Currently: Working or should be ]
Thanks to sg for the Blog space!

I think this is a cool feature, lets users tell their tales, and gives me something else to read at work!
I'm assuming this is will work much like the forums. As far as posting pics and what-nots!

I do have one question! What is a trackback?

Me and my oldest daughter Kylie after her 4,500' trike ride. She even got to visit 2 clouds!