Another Aborted XC

I keep getting skunked when I plan XC flights.  Based on the forecast, my intention this morning was to get up early, fly against the wind to the Clanton Airport, refuel and fly back.  The forecast winds aloft showed I could just barely make it the 42 miles to Clanton on a tank of fuel in just under 3 hours.  The return trip would take just over an hour. 

I launched a bit later that usual,  10:40am, since I wanted some thermals to help should I need them later in the flight.   Once in the air, the usual south wind rotor you get at Bessemer from the Shades Crest ridge was in full effect.  Bouncing along, I started the climb out - I like to get to 3000 feet before leaving the field if I am departing to the south.  Lots of trees and inhospitable terrain, not to mention the 700ft ridge.

At 700ft AGL I knew I had issues - my ground speed dropped to 2mph.  At 800ft I was parked.  I wasn't going anywhere today.  I didn't feel like buzzing the field, nor did I want to fly over to the RC field, since with those winds it would be over an hour to get back. I landed after a short flight and went back home to work on the honey-do list.

Quick Flight on the Geo 4

The plan today was to test fly the new Ozone Geo 4 demo.

It was windy when I launched at Bessemer, at 8:30 am Saturday.   Despite the early hour, it was a bit rowdy this morning.  I a few laps of the airport, getting bounced around a bit, then decided to land.

Nice glider, typical smooth Ozone handling.  It was too short a flight and too bumpy to give a full review, but once I have a few hours under it I will post a better review.

More West Coast

Another business trip to LA means a long weekend at Ron's in San Diego.  Finished up LA meetings Thursday and haul butt down the 5 to catch the last of the lift at Torrey. It was very, very light and cross but I got a flight in!

I headed to Ron's to wait on Jeff and Rob C.  Rob was in LA too and decided to drive down the next day and Jeff would not get in until around midnight.  Took Ron to dinner (BBQ) and caught up on email.

The next day the weather wasn't great for Torrey and I spend my usual Friday doing conference calls and emails before taking Jeff back to the airport to return his rental car.  Rob showed up in time for dinner and we hit the Mexican place down the street.

Occupy Vista!

Earlier in the day, Jeff and I had been sorting out our camping gear.  We both have our dual sport motorcycles in Ron's garage and all our bike camping gear stowed in one of his spare bedrooms.  He should start charging us rent.


Anyway, we decided to setup a simulated vol biv camp and sleep in the yard that night. The result was it looked like the Occupy Movement had setup shop in Ron's backyard.  I slept great, btw.

Saturday was the Bama-UT game, so Ron and I stayed at the house to cheer on Bama while Jeff and Rob C headed to Laguna Mtn with the San Diego PG club.  They took extended sledders and then headed back.  After the game (Bama whupped ass), Ron and I took the bikes for a spin up to Pala and back.  We got back just before Jeff and Rob and threw some steaks on the grill.

Sunday looked great a Blossom, and Blossom never disappoints.  We even dragged Ron with us, although after hiking up the hill with his heavy, old school gear, I'm not sure how much he appreciated us dragging him out there.  I had 2 good flights but never went to El Cap.  Both Jeff and Rob C. made it El Cap.  Ron had 3 good flights and top landings.  Gonna make him a thermal pilot yet.

Another fun trip to SoCal.

Rob C setting up to launch at Blossom

XC Postponed due Rain Delay

Well, our intent today was to fly from Bessemer to the Old Baker Farm off highway 280 in Harpersville, a nice 42 mile XC.  I dropped my truck off there yesterday in preparation.

Laps at Bessemer

Curtis and I meet at 8:00 at Bessemer and the sky did not look good.  The forecast rain for later tonight was here...there were patches of clouds dropping a bit of rain but there looked to be an open area to the west.  We hung out for half an hour and watched the sky.  It looked iffy but potentially do able, so I launched to sample the air.

It was not too bumpy but while I was flying I could see more rain on the way, so I landed and we called it a day.  Dropped my car and gear at the house and Curtis gave me a ride to get my truck.  He also learned an important Rob lesson - when I am headed into the gas station and ask "do you need anything?" -  you better speak up.  Don't be mad I didn't get you a roady just because I got myself one - I asked.  ;)

Motor XC with Curtis

Can you spot Curtis?

Met Curtis early this morning at EKY and took him for his first real cross country.  The plan was to fly West and check out the strip mines east of the I-20/I459 interchange. 

I had another motive too - I was scoping out a couple LZ's for a future steath fly and camp (motor-bivy trip).

We launched and pushed into the slight headwind on the way over, and then looped south a bit before returning to EKY.  We even stopped and buzzed the RC field.  I landed and talked to the guys and then relaunched.

After landing we hit Little D's for cold ones and nacho's. 

Here's my GPS track on Leonardo


And a link to the Dorama of the flight.

Motocross & Paragliders

Jeff, Cuv and I were back in SoCal this weekend.  I was in LA for meetings Thursday & Friday and was able to get some flying in at Torrey Pines in late Friday afternoon before picking up the other two from the airport.

We crashed at Ron's Friday night and then headed to Elsinore on Saturday for the final MX race of the season.   It was hot and dry but the race was exciting (despite having to walk over a mile to a different Will-Call for our pit passes).  We got to hang out with Christina and the Rock River team and stayed hydrated with Bud Lites.

After the race, we decided Ron needed a new grill, so it was off to Lowes.  Jeff promised it would fit in the back of the rental.  It didn't.   We got lucky as an older guy was leaving and asked if he could help.  He had a truck and was headed right past Ron's, but his small truck bed was filled with an old grill he had just acquired for 5 bucks.  We were able to fit this grill into the trunk, put the new one for Ron in the bed of the truck and we were off!


The forecast for the local soaring sites wasn't great on Sunday, so we ended up back at Torrey, along with Ron and his visiting fraternity brother, Smith, from Birmingham. Good flying in very light conditions and Smith got a long tandem.


The main purpose of this trip (other than the motocross) was to test out Jeff's new LM5 and Cuv's new Delta 2.  The LM5 is a beautiful glider, handles great and glides like crazy.  Of course we weren't able to test it in thermic conditions so I'm still hesitant about flying it in big air.

I also liked the handling of the D2, even thought I was under the weight range.  Of course it was easy to stay up in the light conditions when you are light on the glider. 

Oh, Jeff's motor student, Joe, was out at Torrey working with Phil Russman on his P2, so we got to see both Joe and Phil and share a post flight beverage.

Thanks again Ron for the place to crash!

Next up in 2 weeks - our Alps trip!  This year the destination is Saint Andre in the French Alps!




Brief wing testing video:

Back to Blossom

Another business trip to LA, so I spent the weekend in San Diego at Ron's new place in Vista.   Jeff and Cuv joined me and we hit blossom again.

We all made it to El Cap this time - special thanks to Phil Russman (Lite Touch Films) for the encouragement to make the jump over the valley when I didn't think I was high enough.

Here's my track.

And a Doarama of my flight.
 


Here's Jeff's video:

Motor fun!

Sorry for the lack of updates - not much flying going on recently.  I used the down time this winter to get some motor maintence out of the way.

Anyway, I got my usual Saturday before Fathers day Hall Pass and used it to go flying!

San Diego Weekend

Rob C, Steve and I had business on the west coast, so we all met up in San Diego for some flying.  Jeff straggled out and joined us.

Rob, Steve and I flew Soboba on Friday and it rocked.

Then we hit Torrey Saturday morning, then Blossom Saturday afternoon and Sunday.  Great time and excellent flying, especially Blossom, although no one managed a run to El Cap and back.

My Soboba track is here.


One of my Blossom tracks here.





Some video from Blossom:

Ozone Ultralight 3- Mini Review

Received an Ozone UL3 in a 25M late last week. Incredibly light and small. 


I laid it out against a S swift 2 and a MS Geo3 - looks to be the same size and shape as a small Element 2.  The size of the risers is sick - so small, thin and light!

Photo comparison of the UL3 on the left, compared to a Swift 2 on the right, along with the light risers:

I put about 4 hours flight time on the UL3 last weekend at Torrey Pines. It was all ridge lift with the exception of one climb in the house thermal on the south side. Glide is better than expected and because I am light on the wing, I was usually the highest glider on the ridge.

My all up weight is 79kg and I was flying the 25M size with an Advance Lightness harness.

The good:

• launching is a breeze... very stable overhead too.
• very responsive, once you learn to give it quick, deep inputs
• surprisingly good glide - a bit less that 7.5:1 but I think I am light on the wing.
• typical smooth ozone handling
• love the light weight and packing size
• love the light brake handles - very comfortable, especially with taking a wrap.
• very easy to make a flat turn, without the need of outside brake

The not so good:

• the light risers are a pain in the ass to sort
• no brake line snap - just some velcro that doesn't work well. will be modifying that.
• glider seemed very slow (but I am coming from an A2/Swift2 as my usual wing)
• the speed system requires a good bit of pressure to engage
• weighshift is not that great, but once you get in a turn initiated, its easy to keep it in the turn without needing brake

Love the glider, but I think I am going to sell it and get a 23M. I got the larger size because I intended to use it for vol biv trips and wanted a better glide, but I think the 23 will be just fine and also give me a bit more speed for mountain flying where there are high valley winds.

Here is a quick video of a short flight in very light conditions at Torrey... I top landed after a single pass rather than risk a hike up from the beach.  


UL3 First Flight from Rob Reynolds on Vimeo.

Switzerland 2012 - Wrapup

Another great time in the Jungfrau - lots of flying and on the 2 days that were not flyable we did some hiking/exploring and rented downhill mountain bikes.  Loads of fun.

Here's some photo's from the week.

Parawaiting:

Rob C:

Launching at Mannlichen:

 

The crew, going for a hike:

 Hiking to the Lauberhorn:

 The crew, starting the muddy ride down:

 Post ride:

 

The town square slackline provided hours of entertainment... especially on the way home from the bar:

 

 Steve at the top of the Shilthorn:

 Jeff:

Steve:

Rob R:

Switzerland - Just a little taste!

We all made it to Switzerland - Jeff, Rob, Steve and I.  Today we took the train from Wengen to Niesen to fly this famous mountain site.

The valley winds were strong and we should have stayed in lea in front of launch.  We didn't.  Everyone had good flights but the landings in the valley were interesting.  Rob and I landed at the official LZ in a howling valley wind and lots of thermic bumps.  I was on full speedbar until about 6ft above the gound and barely penetrating.

Jeff and Steve landed in a tiny field near the train station.  They were about 2 miles up the valley and the winds were not as bad for them.  Rob and I got a nice workout hiking to meet them.

Looks like its gonna be a good week!

Sample from today's flying:

A Peaceful Sunday Morning at Torrey Pines

Spent the weekend with Jeff & Rob in San Diego.  Got to put some hours on the new Swift 2 - very pleased.  Love this glider.  Handles great, good glide & excellent speed.  Glides really well at half bar too.


Can't wait to hit the Alps with my new ultralight setup - Swift 2, Advance Lightness harness & a  Plum ultralight reserve.

Here's a bit of video from Sunday morning.

Peaceful Sunday Soaring

New Gliders Take to the Air

A couple of new gliders took to the air this past week in Tampa. Scooter and Stinky received their new Ozone gliders, courtesy of their favorite Ozone dealer. A slick new Alpina for Scooter and a Rush 3 for Stinky.

Here's a video of them breaking them in with their paramotors.

Switzerland Paragliding July 2011

Thompson put together this great video with our combined footage from this weeks trip. Wasn't the best flying trip due to the weather, but we still had fun.

Thermals above Mannlichen

Here's some raw footable from Jeff Thompson from last Saturday.

2011 Alps trip - 3 Week Countdown

T minus 3 weeks until our annual paragliding trip to the Alps. We are headed back to Switzerland for the 3rd straight year. While the Swiss Franc's continue pummeling of the dollar doesn't make it nearly the affordable flying vacation it was 3 years ago, the sheer number of flying sites and their diversity (thermal, acro, turn & burn, extended sledders with a view), along with excellent public transport, stellar food and luxury accommodations keeps us coming back.

Once again our base will be in Wengen, where we scored the same apartment as last year (Thanks Mrs. Paterson!) on the top floor of the old Eiger Hotel. I'm sure Jeff & Rob will be terrorizing the locals at the Monkey Bar until 2 in the morning again this year.

Here's a taste of why we continue to go there - great video from Jeff of last year's flying.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3sqrIpPopYI