Long Nights

I haven't posted in a few days since I've been fighting a flu that spread through a couple of the Florida flight parks.  That explains why I was so sleepy on the flight south about a week ago.  It started with a sore throat that grounded me but I did manage help an infestation of rigid wings launch at Quest Air before collapsing under the shade tree on Sunday.

The sore throat abated by Monday morning so I setup and was the first to launch into an breezy overdeveloped sky.  The first several hundred feet were rowdy, then the remaining portion of the tow was smooth ... too smooth.  Paul waved me off at release altitude and I didn't find a bump until I was down to 1400 feet (420m).  Ollie was next up and pinned off early to join my ripping 40 fpm (0.2 m/s) climb.  When he asked "were is it?" I had to answer "you're in it!".  I blundered around a bit, but landed soon after Ollie a few minutes later.

I was ready to park the glider for the day since I was sneezing a lot.  The remaining pilots launched and Ollie urged me to "give it another go".  I wasn't ready for another sled ride so I asked Mark P if he was finding any lift.  I didn't understand what he said but could hear his vario chirping wildly, so I got my answer.  Ok, one more attempt.

I was the last to launch and Paul drug me right into a strong climb near the field.

The entire crew was now in the same climb, and even Paul soaring in the yellow tug.

The climb to cloud base was easy, but I was having visibility issues.

No, it wasn't the cool hazy fog at base, but the results of constantly sneezing while wearing a full-face helmet. :-(   I flew upwinds to the south towards the Seminole Lake Gliderport and watched Mark P and Ollie land.  (Miller pushed on upwind to Wallaby Ranch).  I took a few more climbs over sunny fields but the sneezing just got worse.

I finally turned tail and bounced around the airfield before landing in a nice headwind.

We shared an early dinner at Red Wing and I turned in early hoping for a good night's sleep.  Oh, what a night.  Aside from a nose that was running like an open faucet, everything around me conspired to keep me awake.  First, neighbors decided that 11pm was a good time for an hour of motocross riding behind my tent.  Then an armadillo decided to churn the ground all around my tent.  Once the armadillo left, I heard a vehicle slam on its brakes on the nearby highway.  I didn't hear any crashing so I thought nothing more about it.  A short time later a lift-flight helicopter circled the field with blinding flood lights and finally landed but left the turbine running.  Apparently someone was having a worse night than I was.  Toss in a few roosters that crowed at 4:30 while still dark, a few barking dogs, and noisy birds and you get the general idea how the night went.

I spent the next day in a fevered daze; cold even in the baking mid-day sun.  Of course it was a spanking good day and I watched everyone sky-out under sweet looking cumulus.  I slunk back to my tent around 8pm for another fever-induced delirium that lasted almost until daybreak.

The weather deteriorated as I recovered.  Several pilots took extended sledders on Wednesday and by the time I was feeling good on Thursday, rain damped the day by noon.  Pilots are starting to arrive for the Flytec Race & Rally.

Aside from watching it rain, we are also watching the local wildlife.

Flights: 2, Duration: 1:40

Lazy Days

The last several days have been nice, but the wind has kept most pilots on the ground.  I snapped some pictures using my iPhone of the younger Jason landing after an evening flight at Wallaby Ranch on Thursday.

Jason

Jason (my tent is tucked in along the tree line in the center of picture)

I awoke to balloons landing near my tent on Friday morning.

Rodger and I paid to visit to Steve at Flytec on Friday morning and explored beaches Friday afternoon before I dropped him off at the airport for his trip back home.

Rodger

Sleepy

Two weeks of flying, partying, and being active was finally catching up with me.  Instead of sleeping in on Wednesday, I was up at 5:30am taking PK to the shuttle stop so he could head home.  I was wide awake when I got back so no more sleep.  While other pilots set up their gliders after landing out on Tuesday, I fell asleep on the bench of the picnic table.  I was ready to go back to sleep when Mike roused the troops for a trip to the Florida Ridge, a little over 100 miles (160km) to the south.  The nap would have to wait.

Once again I pinned off into a climb to base.  Mike, and then Aric, took off, but I waited for Jason who was climbing to the northwest.  While Aric and Mike cruised south along the east side of Route 27, Jason and I flew along the west side.  Mistake.  I watched Aric bop from cloud to cloud while we struggled with weak climbs.

Meanwhile Rodger relaunched and was heading south.  The drivers, Dennis and Wayne, were getting ready to chase.  Jason and I finally started moving again and did OK until we flew into the Lake Wales area.  Jason was ahead of me a few miles, but neither of us could put together a reasonable climb over 3500 feet (1000m) while the clouds teased us above at 6500 feet (2000m).  Aric and Mike continued to widen their lead while the drivers were soon directly underneath us.

Persistence paid off and I started moving again, drifting over the airfield at Avon Park at 7000 feet (2100m).  However, my shoulder was starting to hurt and I was loosing interest in fighting for climbs.  After a couple half-hearted attempts, I stepped over tall power lines, scared a few cattle, and gently touched down south of Sebring.  Unlike most landings, I wasn't upset to be on the ground.

I zipped up the glider bag just before the drivers pulled up in Jason's truck.  Speaking of Jason, he was flying overhead so we drove back to Route 27 and headed south to Lake Placid.  We stopped to water the drivers at The Royal Palm Cafe and waited for the pilots to check in.  As usual, the day waned and pilots started dropping out of the air.  Mike squeaked into the Florida Ridge after climbing out from 350 feet (100m) near the canal, Aric landed just shy of the 100 mile (160km) mark north of LaBelle on Route 29, and Rodger landed behind us at the airfield in Avon Park.

I assumed driving responsibilities and was pulling out of the cafe when Jason reported he was south of Lake Placid, about 32 miles north of the Florida Ridge.  I did some rough calculations and figured he was actually on the south end of Lake Placid.  I asked Dennis and Wayne to look out the window and see if they could spot him.  Sure enough, Wayne spotted him flying directly over us at 500 feet (150m)!  We drove a couple hundred yards to the north and watched him land.  Everyone helped him quickly pack up.

Jason

Unique spot for a falcon nest!

Since Rodger had access to a pilot's lounge and food a short walk away, we decided to continue south to pick up Aric and then Mike. We took a few minutes to say hello to friends at the Ridge and a grabbed a quick bite to eat in LaBelle before heading back for Rodger.

We got back to Wallaby Ranch at a reasonable time given the distance everyone flew and I finally got to take my nap at midnight.

Duration: 3:15, Distance: 60 miles

North or South

The forecast for Tuesday was a mixed blessing.  The strength and height of the lift was better to the south but a trip southward would mean flying into an increasing headwind.  I was also concerned that the conditions would be "too good" and eventually over-develop and maybe even rain.

Dennis C, Jason W, PK, Rodger F, and I eventually settled on a trip to the north.  I took a short tow to a climb right over launch, released, and was soon running from the haze forming at cloud base.  I played around with many other pilots while I waited for everyone else to climb up.

 

Jason had a weak-link break shortly after tow and suggested we move on without him.  Dennis, PK, Rodger, and I were together at base so we dove to the north.  Unfortunately, the rapid development we originally climbed in shaded the area and it was now a large blue hole.  Rodger, suffered on the long glide and landed shortly after.  Dennis, PK, and I found a weak climb but PK dropped out when he couldn't connect with Dennis and I in our next climb.  With two of our buddies standing on the ground below, Dennis and I moved on.

We had easy climbs to just under 7000 feet (2100m) flying along the lakes.  We passed Mike B heading south after tagging Quest Air as a turn point.  We continued to a string of dark clouds looming over Groveland, about 20 miles (32 km) to the north.  Dennis glided through slightly ahead of me without finding a bump.  I was convinced the area should be working so I swept wider to the west and slammed into a 1000 fpm (5 m/s) climb.  Meanwhile Dennis continued gliding and searching in vain.  Eventually he landed below me just south of the Route 33 and Florida Turnpike intersection.

With all my buddies on the ground, I decided to turn around and fly back upwind to Wallaby Ranch.  I got low near Quest Air but slowly climbed out before taking a long glide to a thermal marked by Mitch soaring upward in a Dragonfly tug!

One more low-ish save and I was back at the ranch.  Of course once there I watched Jason soar the edge of the field in light lift, unable to get down.  For the first time in my life, I pimped another pilot, Scott L, for sink!  We spiraled down while we could and landed at the same time on opposite sides of the field.

Jason and I jumped in my car and meet Igor, Dennis, and Rodger at the spot where PK landed after taking off from Quest Air for his second flight of the day.  We stopped for dinner and drinks before returning to the ranch.

Duration: 3:56, Distance: 66.5 miles

Wills Wing Demo Days - The Day After

On Sunday, the day after the big party, many people slept in, packed their bags for the trip home, and said goodbyes, while a lucky group of us were packing our harnesses and getting ready for a day of flying.

Wallaby Ranch (up close)

I had a nice short tow over the field before releasing into a smooth climb to cloud base.

I played around the field for awhile and snapped a few pictures.

Wallaby Ranch (from the southeast)

Downtown Orlando in the distance

Looking north along Route 27

I took a stroll to the northwest and flew with several sail planes at Seminole-Lake Gliderport before returning to the ranch for "pizza night".

Duration: 2:48, Distance: 30 miles