Early Christmas present 11/23/11

With no snow this season & a system moving through the stale air finally got moving & in the right direction. Off to Tekoa for a try. With temps in the teens this week, a high of 30°  was going to feel warm.

4 paras & I got on top around 12:30 to find the XC skies forecast to be correct, 13-16 SSW. Robert was off while I was futzing with a new headset & helmet combo (ahhhh) Not realizing during this I did not buckle me helmet. Nothing came of it as I figured half way through the flight. (Wondered what that noise was….buckle hitting the helmet)

Got an hour & 40 minute flight out of it & managed to stay warm the whole time. Wind switched to a SSE & got sinky. The LZ had an E 3-5,  odd it was 90° off from aloft. Pulled off a nice drogue chute landing.

Everyone had a really good time.

11-25-11 fine Nov flight

Leaving town with SW winds gusting over 30 mph to what's forecast to be lighter to the north of town again. (Worked last time) Arrived in the LZ to find NNW 3-5…… well… lets go up and take a look.

Steve, Jimmy, Clint were at Parker (NE of where we were going) since 8 am looking for soaring conditions. Having a mixture of light & cross they managed 2 sled rides. Rick & I were able to make it to the top (12” of snow a week earlier, not much snow left ) to find 15+ straight in. Called to boys to let them know it was on here. They were headed over, but upon retrieving the last rig from the top they said it was starting to come in and would stay. With another sled ride they should have came over.

We set up & I was 1st off. (This was my 2nd flight from this new site we just opened. 2nd time being flown as well) Lightly soarable but soarable. Rick was not impressed with conditions & the fact he had to pull my left wing down on launch.(We are learning that you need to move to the right as this tends to happen) Add the fact we had no driver he opted to watch & ultimately break down.
Was able to squeeze an  hour flight out of it. This was for better then the first time Jorge & I flew it with a 4 min flight. Really nice Nov flight.

Nice Nov flight

What the site looked like during clearing. Its come a long way.

11-13-11 lite thermal flight

Left Spokane with 20-30 mph winds. Forecast called for lighter to the north so I headed to Inklers for a try. After a Tekoa run the day before to find 35-40 mph winds and 30° I was mildly optimistic.

 

Couldn’t muster anyone else to go as the wind was blowing & forecast to blow. The LZ had 10-12, launch was showing 12-15 cycling in. Set up & off I went. Light ridge with light cycles mixed in. Worked an hour and 15 min flight out of it.  2 bald eagles joined me for a few minutes.

Towards the end of the flight reaching my highest altitude, I ran into what I think was shear. Forecast called for upper level winds to be strong and 90° to surface. I got tossed around pretty good. checked the reserve handle a couple of times. Few hundred feet lower it was better. Was not a pleasant felling. But a good flight for sure.

Sure did not look or feel like mid November……..

 

Late Oct day

Forecast did not call for what was to be a very special day to me. Light winds, late Oct….expected a extended sled ride at best. The day was so much more then that.

In the LZ is was ESE, (wrong direction for launch.) I was here might as well go up.  On top it was coming in fairly straight. Clint (para pilot) was off first. Light cycles coming in. Gave it a few, he got low then found some stuff to work. Looking promising now. Took the next cycle & off I went.

Epic cloud play

For the next 1:45 I was playing with the clouds.

The wind picked up to strong for the newer paras that were waiting to get some. Joaquin showed up and launched his Falcon He had his longest flight to date 2:15. He only landed because he was frozen.

Been a very long time since I have updated this. So hard to keep on it. What prompted me to give it a go again now…. not sure.

The summer was spectacular. The Atos really help rack up the X-C miles. Broke a lot of personal bests thanks to Martin &  Mia, & Michele & Jorge.