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……..