Better Late Than Never

The sun rose over a cold QuestAir, (41F / 5C), this morning.  Given the moderate wind and strong lapse rate, I decided to hold off for a late afternoon flight.  One pilot didn't want to wait and gave us a scary flight and landing on the runway after releasing early.  The show also included ambulances, firetrucks, and a large helicopter.  The last I heard the pilot was ok but was being held for observation overnight for a concussion.

Needless to say no one wanted to fly for a couple hours after that.  Eventually the wind backed down and the tugs started pulling pilots into the sky again.  I was helping others get ready and didn't make it to the flight line until after 5PM.  I was prepared for a sledder, but squeaked out almost 1.5 hours in small, weak, and blown apart thermals.

Settling in for a long slow climb

QuestAir off the front of the base bar

Turning onto final

The flight was a unexpected early-evening bonus; nice tow, mellow lift, and a sweet landing.

Flights: 1, Duration: 1:21

Playtime

A small group of us, (Daniel, Dave, Davis, Greg, George, Larry, and myself), decided to fly a small triangle that included QuestAir, the intersection of Route 33 and the turnpike, and Kokee.  (Davis wrote about the task and his experience on The Oz Report).

Jim towed me to a weak climb that I shared with Dana and then Dave Williams.  Dave and I eventually moved on course after reaching cloud base.

Larry, who launched last, caught up with us as we approached the Grass Roots Airpark.

I arrived at the same height as Larry after the next climb, but couldn't find consistent lift and eventually lost Dave and Larry.  I floundered awhile, but made my way to the turnpike and then headed to the next turn point at Kokee.  I got very low (700 feet / 215m) but found bits of lift that eventually turned into a robust climb to base.

A large blue hole enveloped Kokee by the time I arrived a few climb/glide cycles later.  I played in tiny bits of lift again, but couldn't get away.  I landed in a nice pasture and broke down in the shade of a moss-drenched oak tree.

Sue arrived shortly after I finished packing and whisked me back to the airfield.  Thanks Sue!

I had a lot more fun than the small distance I covered might hint at.  I enjoyed soaring over the countryside, coaxing each move forward from the sky.

Flights: 1, Duration: 2:08, Distance: 26.7 miles

Opening Day

It took most of the day for the overcast to clear and even by mid-afternoon cloudbase was still under 2000 feet (600m).  However, I wanted to get the 2015 flying season started, low cloudbase or not.

Tim, a new tug pilot, towed up a tandem glider, then Greg, and then me.  I wasn't surprised he was towing fast out of the field; its typical behavior for new tug pilots.  However, I was just able to keep in position and was hoping he would slow down once he cleared the tree line.  Instead of slowing down he entered a turn which I couldn't match.  I was soon high and on the outside.  I knew what comes next so I released.

Mark brought over a launch dolly after I landed and explained that Greg and I were Tim's first solo tows.  Greg landed soon after and also confirmed the too-fast tow speed.  I moved into position for another go.  As soon I as came out of the dolly my weak link broke.  Dang.  Nothing like landing in prop wash.

I took a breather, tied on a new weak link, and moved into line for another attempt.  This time we towed at a comfortable speed and Tim dropped me off above cloudbase.

There is a lot of water in Florida.

I flew west to join Greg in a smooth climb near base.

Greg flew further west while I stayed and glided between clouds and amongst the birds.

Here is some video for your amusement.

Flights: 3, Duration: 0:47

Dune Skimming

Yet another day when the conditions were not good for rookie paragliding at Wellfleet on Cape Cod.  It was marginally soarable for hang gliders so I gave it a go with my hang glider (Falcon).

I turned downwind, instead of the safer upwind, along the ridge since it usually provides better lift.  I flew as close as I dare and slowly gained only to be thwarted by a detour around old vertical pipes exposed by erosion.  I continued zooming along downwind until the ridge dropped below my height and I was finally able to get established on top of the ridge.

I was having a good time until I made risky move during a lull.  In just a few minutes I was back on the ground watching Max and Vitaly flying overhead.  Sigh.

Enjoy the video.

Flights: 1, Duration: 0:45

A Day at the Beach with Tom & Tom

I drove to Cape Cod hoping for a soaring flight in my new paraglider.  However the wind was too strong for a rookie like me.  Luckily, I brought along a hang glider!  I setup, launched, and bounced around the dunes for about an hour.

A fellow rookie paragliding student, Tom Peghiny, was also grounded by the wind.  Tom is also a hang-gliding ace, so I had no problem offering him a flight on my glider.  We squeezed him into my harness and shoved him into the air.

I patched together a short video of our flights, including a couple shots Tom got of seals swimming along the shore.

Flights: 1, Duration: 0:60