Eating Crow

Since my new Subaru Outback isn't outfitted to carry gliders I have to rely on the kindness of other pilots if I want to go flying.  Although some pilots have tucked their gliders away for the winter, others noticed that Monday offered a cornucopia of flying alternatives.  Easterly winds meant that the coastal sites on Cape Cod, as well as the yet-to-be-snowbound mountain sites on Equinox and Greylock, might work.

I was checking the forecasts and email at 6:00 AM when I read that Randy left home at 3:20 AM to meet Matt for a sunrise flight on the Cape.  They setup under the full moon and greeted the sun in the air.  Freak'n awesome!  Why didn't he call me?  :-(

About an hour later I talked with Peter.  He wanted to fly Mount Greylock one more time before the road froze shut and didn't like the forecast for light showers later in the day at the Cape.  He also offered me a ride but wanted to leave as soon as possible to make the most of the morning solar heating on the east facing slope below launch.  I was fine with that, but pointed out that little solar heating happens around here in November.  I agreed to call Jeff while Peter tried to beat the morning rush-hour traffic.  Of course Jeff was interested but couldn't be at my place before Peter arrived.  I told him to hurry, but I would stall Peter.  Besides, I told him, getting to launch early wouldn't matter.  Meanwhile John called and wanted in on the fun.  Once again I explained that Peter was on a mission to get there early.

Peter was a good sport and waited for Jeff and John to arrive before we piled onto his truck and started our drive to the other side of the state.  We all laughed, including Peter, about his quest for thermals, especially since the most optimistic forecast only showed barely soar-able thermals.  On the way there we learned that Brooks, Gary, and PK would meet us at launch.  We also pretended it was early spring instead of late fall.  Our season wasn't ending, it's was just beginning.  The snow had melted, the trees would be budding soon, and high cloud-bases wouldn't be far behind.  I know it sounds silly, but it was our way of "reframing" a cold leafless dimly-lit November day.

We were pleasantly surprised to find real cumulus clouds overhead and a nice breeze blowing straight in when we arrived at launch.  We quickly rigged to get the most out of the limited daylight.  Randy sent a text message saying he had just landed after flying 5:20.  He challenged us to do as much.  Yeah, right!

Setup area

John getting ready for his first flight off Mount Greylock

PK

Our rules state an intermediate pilot (H3) must be escorted by a sanctioned USHPA observer.  Since I was Jeff's observer for the day, we suited up together and I would ensure he launched OK before joining him in the air.

Jeff

Jeff launched and flew back and forth in front of launch holding on to anything he found.  Gary and John graciously waited on my side wires until it trickled in and Jeff was clear.  I started climbing almost immediately.  I didn't see Jeff so I snapped a quick turn, squeezed the harness shut, and didn't stop turning until Jeff and I were almost at cloud base at 1500 m (5000 feet).

So much for the "no thermal theory".  Jeff and I drifted around a bit before I headed upwind to stay out of the clouds and to see if there were more usable thermals around.  The answer was yes!  Surprisingly the thermals were some of the strongest thermals I encountered all year in New England.  Climbs of 2.5 m/s (500 fpm) were common and I had several 4 m/s (800 fpm) climbs.

Launch is near the peak

I watched Jeff consume most of his altitude on a necessary glide through the blue.  He worked a few thermals but eventually settled into the LZ below launch.  Bummer.  Meanwhile, I was playing with a mass of clouds to the south.  Even at 80 k/h (50 mph) I couldn't stay out of the clouds so I had to keep running for blue spots to loose altitude before ducking back under to move on.  I seriously contemplated turning around and striking off for some XC flying but bagged the idea when I realized I would be heading in the opposite direction from home and I had failed to discuss the possibility of cross-country flying with the crew.  (I suspect a 80 km / 50 mile flight was possible.)

Stick-season (leaves are gone)

While I was zipping around the valley and working to stay out of the clouds, pilots back a launch were suffering (or landing) in the blue.  The sky was drying out but pronounced cloud lines still swept across the countryside.  I watched Peter head to Ragged Mountain low.  I'm sure he was worried but I was sure he would sky out once he reached the cloud line that intersected his path.  I looked over a while later and saw him zooming up.

Line of clouds to the north that Peter climbed under

I flew over Adams, Chesire, and the other side of the valley.  I did a lot of sightseeing, especially noticing the rocky ravines normally hidden by deciduous leaves.  I wandered back to launch and flew with John and a PG pilot before moving on to Ragged Mountain where I swirled around a few times with Peter before heading across the valley again.  Brooks and Peter followed me for a short time, but turned around when they didn't find the same lifting line I did.  I snapped some pictures of the deep quarry between launch and the mini-golf LZ at The Range.

Deep quarry

PK flew out to join me for a climb over Adams but returned to the mountain as I pushed on to the other side of the valley.

Last remnants of leaves in Adams

I wandered about before gliding across the blue to hook up with Peter as he headed to the mini-golf LZ.  We landed next to each other and talked as we walked to the roadside.  I was "eating crow" big time after such a good thermal flight!

Brooks, John, and PK also landed with us.  Jeff volunteered to ride up with some pilots to retrieve Peter's truck while we packed up in the fading daylight.  PK commented he was packing his glider very carefully since he might not be flying it again for 5 or 6 months.  He might be right, but I'm still pretending its spring and more good flying days are just around the corner.  ;-)

Flights: 1, Duration: 1:43