I pinned off low after slamming into a thermal that was close to throwing me off tow anyway. I spun up to the top floor that was already occupied by a few others.
I was at the northern edge of a safe glide back when I asked if anyone was interested joining me for a little XC adventure. Mitch, who was just above and behind me, replied "I'm right with you!" I interpreted that as "Lets go do this together" and proceeded to zoom off to the northwest. It wasn't until I was low and looked back did I realize he had turned around. Sigh. Since my only potential ride was connected with Mitch I decided turn around as well. I found a climb drifting away and worked my way back upwind.
I spent the afternoon playing in the sky with friends, birds, and aircraft associated with Sun 'n Fun in nearby Lakeland. I don't know if it was associated with the air show or not, but I had a large airliner fly under me as it flew directly northeast along Route 4.
White object below my forearm is a large aircraft
Although the air was pleasant, I bagged the idea of being the last to land. I flew north to wave goodbye to Rick in his Stalker and then took a long glide and climb to the south to wave goodbye to Mitch.
Stressful climb ;-)
Mitch
I flew back to the ranch via a wire-singing high-speed glide. Everything was blissfully easy until I watched the wind in the LZ swing from east-southeast to the north as I setup my approach. I should have landed along the western runway that faces north-northeast, but I was afraid the wind would switch back to the east-southeast causing me to land downwind. Instead I landed to the northeast end of the field, but too close to the tree line. I ended up plopping on my stomach as I ran out of airspeed in the rotor just as I started to flare. At least I landed in front of, and to the amusement of, a large group of pilots. Sigh.
Here is a short video from the day.
Flights: 1, Duration: 2:41
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