Wallaby Ranch hosted Wills Wing's annual Demo Days last week. Although the weather was not stellar, many pilots demo'ed gliders, flew newly purchased gliders, and earned aero-tow ratings.
I got to check out the new T2C wing tips and speed battens.
Malcolm and staff keep the flight line moving, the kitchen packed, the dance floor hopping, and even managed to host the big Saturday night dinner after the big tent was blown down during a severe thunderstorm.
Life at Wallaby Ranch rolled on Saturday morning. I watched tandems stream into the air, including this young pilot-to-be. He was excited, but matter-of-fact, about his flight when we chatted later at breakfast.
The main feature for the day would be the brisk west wind. Some pilots made plans for cross-wind XC flights, but I decided early on to prove to the skeptical that I could stay local.
I flew upwind towards the Green Swamp to the west. It was evident early on that a western sea breeze would push through.
I made several trips west to Route 33 and quickly zipped back downwind to the ranch. I shared a climb with a sailplane just north of the ranch.
I shared the sky with a bevy of happy pilots continually pounding upwind.
I tried to time my arrival to the field between thermals, rapidly circling down in sink.
However, I was less than successful. I arrived in a full-on gusty thermal lift-off to everyone's amusement on the ground. Although it was a carnival ride, I had a nice no-step landing. (The two remaining pilots in the air, Oded and Jason, were not impressed with show.)
Although not as promising as Wednesday or Thursday, Friday also looked like a good day for sightseeing at Wallaby Ranch. I planned to fly to Groveland and back since I didn't have a driver. The day started later, but once it started blooming, it was calling all soaring pilots to go play.
Tommy launched first and struggled low over the field after getting off tow prematurely. He landed and got back in line for another go. He soon announced his position a climb or two away as I was on tow behind Fay. I watched Mitch leave as I parked at base waiting for others. After flying back to the field and seeing no one above 2000 feet (900 m) I turned around and headed northwest on course line in a light crossing downwind.
The climbs were predictable and strong. The first thermal was 500 fpm (2.5 m/s), the second around 650 (3.3 m/s), and the third a robust 900 fpm (4.5 m/s).
Everything was going along according to plan ... until it wasn't. I left cloud base with Groveland within easy reach (1500 feet over best glide) but found nothing but smooth sinking air.
I embarrassingly announced on the radio that I was probably going to land. I picked a field and was making a last ditch cruise around the edge when I noticed Mitch on base into the same field. Moments later I was standing on the ground next to him totally baffled as to what had just happened!
Mitch and I talked through possible scenarios but essentially came up empty. We watched Mike Barber carefully pass overhead and found out later he almost made it back. The only person that made the full round trip was Tommy.
Meanwhile Mitch and I were getting ready to file "change of address kits" with the U.S. Postal service. Finally Mitch talked with Jim Prahl who, in Johnny's truck, gave us a lift to Quest Air where we could wait with something other than crickets for company. (Thanks Jim!) Mark gave me a complete tour of the recent renovations, while we waited for our possible drivers to land.
Jason hopped into my car and fetched us after he flew for most of the afternoon. (Thanks Jason!) We returned to a full-on pizza party at the ranch and discussed our baffling misfortune with anyone that would listen.
Flights: 1, Duration: 1:06, Distance: 17 miles (27 km)
I arrived at Wallaby Ranch around 1:30 AM Wednesday morning after driving 21.5 hours non-stop. I crawled into the new Aliner camper I dragged south from Massachusetts and quickly feel asleep.
Unlike the 10F (-12C) temperature I left at home, it was warm and sunny when I awoke to the sound of Dragonfly tugs at 8:00 AM. Everyone was excited by the promising forecast but I decided to stay earthbound knowing that Thursday would also be a good day. My resolve to remain responsibly on the ground was tested when Mike Barber informed me that President Obama was flying into the area on Thursday and that we would be grounded between 11:00 AM and 4:15 PM. Maturity won out even as I watched gliders circle overhead for hours.
We sat on the ground staring at gorgeous cummies as we sang the "president grounded me" blues Thursday afternoon. Although we feared the FAA would extend the TFR past 4:15 due to scheduling delays, by 4:30 we were convinced it was safe to take off.
I was hoping, at best, to have a "one and done", a single thermal climb, before the day shut down. However, the day was anything but that. We were all treated to a couple hours of weak, smooth, and abundant lift; just what I needed after 6 months on the ground.
Paul dropped me off in a lazy climb over the field that eventually went to cloud base. From there I headed west where I shared a climb with Johnny Durand, Brooks Ellison, and a upset feathered friend.
Johnny and friend
I played at base in pillow thermals with old- and soon-to-be friends.
Brooks
I was about to land when I found a 30 fpm (0.15 m/s) climb back to base. I used my reprieve to glide through the buttery air and smell the orange blossoms wafting towards the sky.
I topped off the flight with a no-step landing in front of an appreciative audience.
My flight on July 21 was the first since my "failure to aviate" a month earlier. Several pilots offered gliders, but I took up Jeff Curtis' offer since he lives fairly close and he offered up a Falcon, which is a light single-surface glider. A light glider was important since everyone was heading to Mount Ascutney, the flying site with a long hike to the cliff launch. Although I was a little concerned about launching with my healing injuries, my biggest concern was just being able to hike my harness and glider to launch. I considered the day a major success when I arrived at launch still standing!
Several pilots were taking their first flights from the mountain. Unfortunately, those pilots and a few others were relegated to extended sledders.
Jake Pierce offering advice to David Park and Ilya Rivkin
Green was my color for the day. Thanks Jeff!
It was soon my turn to launch. I felt surprisingly confident, but was moved when Jake, and a few others still on launch, took time to ensure that I and everything else was ready for the "first launch" after the accident. Although the wind was predominately crossing from the left, I waited for the right conditions and cleanly launched.
Like the pilots before me, I slowly slid down the mountainside, briefly rising in bubbles of warm air.
I finally found a small, but workable, thermal that lifted me back above launch.
I bounced up and down along the top of the mountain with a few other pilots before finally sliding back down the mountain to a climb that I shared with Jake.
It was great to be in the air again with friends, especially when the climbs led to cloud base.
... and above
I quickly remembered why I put up with the extra weight of the T2C on the hikes to launch; glide performance. The wind was strong enough at base that I couldn't make forward progress to the LZ if I stopped for climbs under 350 fpm (1.7 m/s). It was a fun game "pushing upwind" in a Falcon.
Although Jake and Jeff Bernard took off towards Morningside, I continued my upwind treks and landed in front of the mountain with Jeff Curtis. It was good to be back in the air and I rekindled my love of falconry.
