The flying was textured, but fun. My last landing was not my best, but so it goes. Flying was followed by beer and food with Chris, Urs, and Ben D. A great day.
Golden Gate
CRV Looking Slippery
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Winter Funstonland
Saturday was a nice winters day at Fort Funston. Good strong wind, and lots of gliders. Chris V was out trying on his new Rotor harness. He was looking real slick once he got the thing zipped up...
The flying was textured, but fun. My last landing was not my best, but so it goes. Flying was followed by beer and food with Chris, Urs, and Ben D. A great day.
Golden Gate
CRV Looking Slippery
The flying was textured, but fun. My last landing was not my best, but so it goes. Flying was followed by beer and food with Chris, Urs, and Ben D. A great day.
Golden Gate
CRV Looking Slippery
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Makapu'u Flight Report Day 2 - Jan 14, 2010
Thursday morning Dave called and said it was looking like we might get a launch window again. I was hesitant as T had a bit of a stomach bug and I felt guilty at the prospect of taking up another day for flying. But T was supportive, as always, and practically insisted that we go flying again. Who am I to argue? So we loaded up and off we went.
We met at Dave’s house and loaded up the gliders. His prediction was for 25mph on launch. “Oh great…” I thought. It’s no secret that windy conditions stress me out, and this launch seemed particularly intimidating in strong winds. But I figured I would go up there and check it out. I could always chicken out and just watch Dave and another pilot, Dale, fly.
On launch we found the SE flow was being partially blocked by the peak to the South, and was wrapping around slightly. So what we saw coming up the face was ~15mph, ranging from 10 to 20+. It looked fine to me and I was eager to launch. I watched Dave again and this time Dale assisted me at launch. Same routine as before, but this time with more wind. One step to get an aggressive launch and I was off again.
Soaring with Dave
The air was big and phat. P-H-A-T! I quickly climbed high up over launch as Dave chased me around the sky trying to get some good video shots. After a short while I flew a ways out over the ocean to get some shots of my own. Wow!
Looking SE From High Over the Water
Rabbit Island. I liked watching the waves wrap around the island.
NorthWest From Out Over the Bay
Dale launched on a crispy new T2 and he and Dave flew South to play around the lighthouse and low in the bowl over SeaLife Park. I stayed high cruising several miles of ridge from the lighthouse back to North of launch. I wanted to buzz some parts of the ridge, but the lift was intense near the hill and the bar pressure on the Horizon was enormous. So I contented myself with flying around high, cruising out over the ocean, and generally drifting lazily through the sky. The strong SE wind did put us downwind of Rabbit Island which did through off the occasional (and surprising) bit of nasty turbulence. I got hit by it 2 or 3 times and it always caught me off guard because the air was otherwise so smooth and nice. It reminded me a bit of Waddell actually, except I was having fun…
Over The Back
Military Heli Over Rabbit Island
I Really Liked the Two Pointy Peaks by Kailua
I spent more of this flight at the SE end of the island. Dave and Dale were playing around low in a bowl below me (want to try that next time). I cruised out around the lighthouse and over the shallow bay next to it. There is a ton of helicopter traffic on the island. Lot’s of sight seeing tours, and a good number of military copters as well. I assume they know the area is frequented by hang gliders and paragliders, but I kept a constant eye out and always tried to show a sunny undersurface to any that I saw.
Another View of the LZ
Dave and Dale Playing Low in a Cove, SE of the LZ
Lighthouse at the SE Tip of the Island
Looking Back to the North From the SE end of the Island
A little more than an hour after I launched I decided it was time to head in and show off for my family who were watching in the LZ. I burned off some altitude circling over the water and set up a similar approach as the day before. Low over the parking lot and touching down smoothly about midway in the LZ. Smiles, cheers, and beers were soon to follow and I instantly started sorting out how I could get back there again.
Flight Time: 1:12
We met at Dave’s house and loaded up the gliders. His prediction was for 25mph on launch. “Oh great…” I thought. It’s no secret that windy conditions stress me out, and this launch seemed particularly intimidating in strong winds. But I figured I would go up there and check it out. I could always chicken out and just watch Dave and another pilot, Dale, fly.
On launch we found the SE flow was being partially blocked by the peak to the South, and was wrapping around slightly. So what we saw coming up the face was ~15mph, ranging from 10 to 20+. It looked fine to me and I was eager to launch. I watched Dave again and this time Dale assisted me at launch. Same routine as before, but this time with more wind. One step to get an aggressive launch and I was off again.
Soaring with DaveThe air was big and phat. P-H-A-T! I quickly climbed high up over launch as Dave chased me around the sky trying to get some good video shots. After a short while I flew a ways out over the ocean to get some shots of my own. Wow!
Looking SE From High Over the Water
Rabbit Island. I liked watching the waves wrap around the island.
NorthWest From Out Over the BayDale launched on a crispy new T2 and he and Dave flew South to play around the lighthouse and low in the bowl over SeaLife Park. I stayed high cruising several miles of ridge from the lighthouse back to North of launch. I wanted to buzz some parts of the ridge, but the lift was intense near the hill and the bar pressure on the Horizon was enormous. So I contented myself with flying around high, cruising out over the ocean, and generally drifting lazily through the sky. The strong SE wind did put us downwind of Rabbit Island which did through off the occasional (and surprising) bit of nasty turbulence. I got hit by it 2 or 3 times and it always caught me off guard because the air was otherwise so smooth and nice. It reminded me a bit of Waddell actually, except I was having fun…
Over The Back
Military Heli Over Rabbit Island
I Really Liked the Two Pointy Peaks by KailuaI spent more of this flight at the SE end of the island. Dave and Dale were playing around low in a bowl below me (want to try that next time). I cruised out around the lighthouse and over the shallow bay next to it. There is a ton of helicopter traffic on the island. Lot’s of sight seeing tours, and a good number of military copters as well. I assume they know the area is frequented by hang gliders and paragliders, but I kept a constant eye out and always tried to show a sunny undersurface to any that I saw.
Another View of the LZ
Dave and Dale Playing Low in a Cove, SE of the LZ
Lighthouse at the SE Tip of the Island
Looking Back to the North From the SE end of the IslandA little more than an hour after I launched I decided it was time to head in and show off for my family who were watching in the LZ. I burned off some altitude circling over the water and set up a similar approach as the day before. Low over the parking lot and touching down smoothly about midway in the LZ. Smiles, cheers, and beers were soon to follow and I instantly started sorting out how I could get back there again.
Flight Time: 1:12
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Makapu'u Flight Report - Day 1 (Jan 12, 2010)
Oahu. Where stop signs are blue, fire trucks tow motor boats, and where hang glider pilots can fly a small little ridge called Makapu’u…
My cousin was graduating from Pacific University in Honolulu. T and I took the opportunity to be good, supportive, selfless relatives and fly out to Oahu for a week to attend his graduation. It just turns out that Makapu’u, a site I’ve always wanted to fly just happens to be on that island also.
I was in touch with Dave G from the Hawaii Hang Gliding Association and the morning after we arrived T and I were heading down the windward coast to meet up with him and check out launch. Conditions looked light and switchy and not very favorable for flying. Dave suggested we load up anyway, and off we went. Along the way we picked up Tim, a local photographer and launch assist expert.
After checking out the LZ we drove up the ridge. A short hike brings you to the launch point with a small platform perched on the edge of a 1,100’ vertical cliff. No nice roundoff like Funston. Vertical, with a sharp edge. 5 feet back from the lip, the air was still. But when we leaned out from the box, we found a nice breeze of ~5mph blowing up the face. It was light but straight in and soon we were rushing to setup before the wind clocked around to the south as predicted.
Checking out Launch...
Launch is like no other I have experienced. Over 1000' straight down!
The View Down From the Box
Dave leant me a Northwing Horizon to fly. I had been worried about borrowing a wing and not knowing what kind of condition it would be in, but my concerns were quickly relieved. Dave’s gliders are in great shape and this one was no different. I had never flown a Northwing before, but it was easy to set up and looked like a nice glider.
I watched Dave launch and climb out. I took a deep breadth, grabbed my glider and headed to the box. The purely vertical moving air makes for a unique and exciting launch technique. It’s intense and I found it to be a lot of fun. There is no wind 10’ back from the cliff so you walk your glider to the box easily. Tim, doing launch assists, is off the front end of the box, on a ledge about 4’ down (harnessed to the box). When you reach the back of the box, about 5’ from the edge, you drop your nose to the ground. I shimmied the glider forward and Tim grabbed the nose wires. I moved the glider forward until the nose was past the front of the box and the control bar was about 2’ from the edge. At this point I hooked in and had to do some aerobics to get my head past my hang strap and through the control frame. It’s an awkward position with the nose straight down. I had to hunch over and use a bottle grip on the downtubes. Eager to go, I gave the command “Up, Up” and Tim raised the nose wires enough to bring the control bar about 1’ off the ground. “Go!” and Tim released the wires and ducked below the box. You’ve got one step to get forward momentum and get off the box. I dove as aggressively as I could into the rising air and got off smooth and clean.
The lift band was enormous. Even with only 5mph winds the climbs are strong due to the 5pmh being straight up. The views were like nothing I’ve flown over before. The range is long, green, and full of deep chutes and towering points. The water was clear. The range of my flight this day was from a peak and turn in the range to the North of launch, to a lighthouse on the South Eastern tip of the island. I spent a little time feeling out the characteristics of the Horizon since I had never flown one before. It was quickly apparent that the glider was easy and predictable to fly. Satisfied with that I was able to enjoy the smooth lift and scenery.
From North of Launch Looking South-East
Looking Down on Launch
I’ll let the photos speak to the flight. To the North, Kailua and Kaneoho Bay. To the South, a rocky point and lighthouse. To the West, over the back Hawaii Kai and Honolulu further to the North West.
North, Showing Kailua and Kailua Bay
North, Showing Kailua and the Main Mountain Range
The Water is So Clear
The Southeast Tip of the Island has Lighthouse and Nice Rocky Face
The wind continued to clock around to the South and soon I was slowly sinking out. I wanted to give myself some altitude to sort out my approach so once I got below cliff height I headed out to the LZ.
The LZ is not big, but it has an unobstructed area over the ocean to make your approach, and a nice uphill section in the middle of the grass strip we land on. Not a lot of good overshoot options so I set up to land as far back as possible on my first flight and put it down nicely about halfway up the strip.
The LZ is the Grass Strip Where You Can See a Paraglider and Hang Glider
5 Days later I’ve still got a smile on my face thinking about it. I can’t thank Dave enough for his time, gear, and eagerness to get me in the air.
Flight Time: 40min
Stay tuned for day 2….
My cousin was graduating from Pacific University in Honolulu. T and I took the opportunity to be good, supportive, selfless relatives and fly out to Oahu for a week to attend his graduation. It just turns out that Makapu’u, a site I’ve always wanted to fly just happens to be on that island also.
I was in touch with Dave G from the Hawaii Hang Gliding Association and the morning after we arrived T and I were heading down the windward coast to meet up with him and check out launch. Conditions looked light and switchy and not very favorable for flying. Dave suggested we load up anyway, and off we went. Along the way we picked up Tim, a local photographer and launch assist expert.
After checking out the LZ we drove up the ridge. A short hike brings you to the launch point with a small platform perched on the edge of a 1,100’ vertical cliff. No nice roundoff like Funston. Vertical, with a sharp edge. 5 feet back from the lip, the air was still. But when we leaned out from the box, we found a nice breeze of ~5mph blowing up the face. It was light but straight in and soon we were rushing to setup before the wind clocked around to the south as predicted.
Checking out Launch...Launch is like no other I have experienced. Over 1000' straight down!
The View Down From the BoxDave leant me a Northwing Horizon to fly. I had been worried about borrowing a wing and not knowing what kind of condition it would be in, but my concerns were quickly relieved. Dave’s gliders are in great shape and this one was no different. I had never flown a Northwing before, but it was easy to set up and looked like a nice glider.
I watched Dave launch and climb out. I took a deep breadth, grabbed my glider and headed to the box. The purely vertical moving air makes for a unique and exciting launch technique. It’s intense and I found it to be a lot of fun. There is no wind 10’ back from the cliff so you walk your glider to the box easily. Tim, doing launch assists, is off the front end of the box, on a ledge about 4’ down (harnessed to the box). When you reach the back of the box, about 5’ from the edge, you drop your nose to the ground. I shimmied the glider forward and Tim grabbed the nose wires. I moved the glider forward until the nose was past the front of the box and the control bar was about 2’ from the edge. At this point I hooked in and had to do some aerobics to get my head past my hang strap and through the control frame. It’s an awkward position with the nose straight down. I had to hunch over and use a bottle grip on the downtubes. Eager to go, I gave the command “Up, Up” and Tim raised the nose wires enough to bring the control bar about 1’ off the ground. “Go!” and Tim released the wires and ducked below the box. You’ve got one step to get forward momentum and get off the box. I dove as aggressively as I could into the rising air and got off smooth and clean.
The lift band was enormous. Even with only 5mph winds the climbs are strong due to the 5pmh being straight up. The views were like nothing I’ve flown over before. The range is long, green, and full of deep chutes and towering points. The water was clear. The range of my flight this day was from a peak and turn in the range to the North of launch, to a lighthouse on the South Eastern tip of the island. I spent a little time feeling out the characteristics of the Horizon since I had never flown one before. It was quickly apparent that the glider was easy and predictable to fly. Satisfied with that I was able to enjoy the smooth lift and scenery.
From North of Launch Looking South-East
Looking Down on LaunchI’ll let the photos speak to the flight. To the North, Kailua and Kaneoho Bay. To the South, a rocky point and lighthouse. To the West, over the back Hawaii Kai and Honolulu further to the North West.
North, Showing Kailua and Kailua Bay
North, Showing Kailua and the Main Mountain Range
The Water is So Clear
The Southeast Tip of the Island has Lighthouse and Nice Rocky FaceThe wind continued to clock around to the South and soon I was slowly sinking out. I wanted to give myself some altitude to sort out my approach so once I got below cliff height I headed out to the LZ.
The LZ is not big, but it has an unobstructed area over the ocean to make your approach, and a nice uphill section in the middle of the grass strip we land on. Not a lot of good overshoot options so I set up to land as far back as possible on my first flight and put it down nicely about halfway up the strip.
The LZ is the Grass Strip Where You Can See a Paraglider and Hang Glider5 Days later I’ve still got a smile on my face thinking about it. I can’t thank Dave enough for his time, gear, and eagerness to get me in the air.
Flight Time: 40min
Stay tuned for day 2….
Thursday, January 14, 2010
More Makapu'u Photos
Internet is slow out here and I just can't get the videos to upload. Also no time still for a flight report. Oh well, here's a couple more photos.
I might be heading up the mountain again tomorrow...
I might be heading up the mountain again tomorrow...
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
Makapu'u Teaser
I arrived on Oahu Monday afternoon for my cousins graduation. Tuesday, 1pm I was heading up the road to fly Makapu'u. I have not yet had time to write a flight report or gather all the pictures and videos. But here are a couple teaser photos. Stay tuned for a full report soon!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Speed Gliding Practice Days
The event is drawing ever nearer. I think that Chris, JB and I have put together a pretty good course. It's fast and aggressive and I've been struggling to get my glider down at a steep enough angle. I'm improving each time, but need lots more practice (and maybe some ballast...).
The course we've set up is shown here. Red line is the open course and the kingposted course. Light blue line is the rookie course (which we decided today needs to be changed). The Start Gate, TP 4, TP 5 and the Finish Gate are "Altitude Control Gates". That means you have to have your wing and/or body within 20' of the ground as you go through. The rule is optional for the kingposted class (they can fly above the altitude gate with no penalty), and prohibited for the rookies (flying below the altitude gate is an automatic DQ).
This weekend has been the first realy good weather for speed gliding that we have seen. I got in a few practice runs and put together a course tour video. Enjoy.
The course we've set up is shown here. Red line is the open course and the kingposted course. Light blue line is the rookie course (which we decided today needs to be changed). The Start Gate, TP 4, TP 5 and the Finish Gate are "Altitude Control Gates". That means you have to have your wing and/or body within 20' of the ground as you go through. The rule is optional for the kingposted class (they can fly above the altitude gate with no penalty), and prohibited for the rookies (flying below the altitude gate is an automatic DQ).
This weekend has been the first realy good weather for speed gliding that we have seen. I got in a few practice runs and put together a course tour video. Enjoy.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Flying In the New Year
I decided to celebrate the end of the decade by joining the crowd at Big Sur for a New Years Day flight at one of the most scenic sites I know. Hit the road at 5:30am and picked up Ryan on the way. Got down in plenty of time and headed up to Wild Cattle launch.
It was blowing light over the back when we arrived but we set up anyway and waited. Soon it lulled and I took a no-winder into nice buoyant air. Got to race the ridge some and generally had a nice smooth and fun flight the bring in the new year.
We had a good turnout from the Mother Lode Sky Riders and the Wings of Rogallo crews.
A video of the day here, and some more photos below.
link
Launch looking South towards Sand Dollar beach
Launch looking North
Ryan's high-tech vario mount
North from the air
South from the air
Some self portrait action
Diev showing off for the crowd
Glen is happy...
I can't think of a more beautiful place to break down a glider and hang with friends
Happy 2010!
It was blowing light over the back when we arrived but we set up anyway and waited. Soon it lulled and I took a no-winder into nice buoyant air. Got to race the ridge some and generally had a nice smooth and fun flight the bring in the new year.
We had a good turnout from the Mother Lode Sky Riders and the Wings of Rogallo crews.
A video of the day here, and some more photos below.
link
Launch looking South towards Sand Dollar beach
Launch looking North
Ryan's high-tech vario mount
North from the air
South from the air
Some self portrait action
Diev showing off for the crowd
Glen is happy...
I can't think of a more beautiful place to break down a glider and hang with friendsHappy 2010!
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Rainy Day
Too much rain for flying, so spent the afternoon with Mr Valley building camera mounts. Made a super stable boom using the wheel bracket of a WW litestream control bar. Also worked on some of the more exotic ideas we've had for camera angles on the hang glider.
Thursday, November 26, 2009
Monday, November 16, 2009
RLF - Restriced Landing Field
Some hang gliding sites have whats called a Restricted Landing Field (RLF). There is a special skill sign off for RLFs and I believe it is one of the most valuable skills to master in hang gliding. I practice RLFs almost every time I land, regardless of if the field is large or small.
RLFs refer to landing areas that are not only small, but have tall obstacles around their perimeter. Good spot landing skills are a prerequisite for a good RLF landings, but in addition to being able to hit your spot landing, your approach pattern is severely limited by the obstacles around the field.
It is this limited approach that makes the landings tricky. At a minimum, your base and final approach is going to be confined to the area within the perimeter of the obstacles, and often you downwind leg will be as well. Since the small field does not allow for a long final, your are by definition going to be turning close to the ground, and flying very close to those obstacles.
Speed is your friend here, as is precise glider control and the ability to execute your entire approach path accurately (In an RLF landing you typically do not have the option of extending your downwind or base legs to hit your spot. Once you are on you downwind, you are typically committed with few adjustment options). A standard RLF approach is going to aim to be turning onto final as close to the downwind obstacles as possible, and as low to the ground as can be safely executed.
You can practice these landings by setting up an imaginary perimeter in larger fields. Do this often. Then when it is time to pull of the real thing you will already have learned how to anticipate your glide on downwind accurately, and how low you can comfortable turn.
We've got a site in the Bay Area that is a great example of an RLF. A typical wind direction will require an approach with your base leg going through a slot between large trees, while simultaneously flying over some smaller trees (no room to adjust once your on base). Following that you need to make a 90 degree turn low, and then land on a slight downhill with a row of trees on both sides, and another row of trees waiting to greet you at the end if you came in too high.
Here's a couple photos from a less than stellar RLF at Windy Hill. In the first photo I've just completed my turn to final. I'm about 10' off the ground and too high!
Here I am flying downhill, dragging my feet through the mud trying to slow down before the trees.
Dirk took a video of a better approach. Notice how the flight path is completely determined starting from the Base Leg? Behind the big oak tree, over a few smaller ones, behind another, then turn to final.
link
Last weekend the wind was light enough to land the other way on the slight uphill. It's a much easier approach, with more room to adjust on your downwind and base leg, but still an RLF, and still a great chance to practice. Ours is the small field marked by the brown overgrowth. Don't be tempted by the larger field next too it. Landing there would get the site shut down. Plus, it is even less flat than our field, and the trees between the two fields are larger than they look making it impractical to use for overshoots.
Notice how close I get to the downwind row of trees. Keep up your speed so you can pull off the low turn safely. Too much fun!
link
RLFs refer to landing areas that are not only small, but have tall obstacles around their perimeter. Good spot landing skills are a prerequisite for a good RLF landings, but in addition to being able to hit your spot landing, your approach pattern is severely limited by the obstacles around the field.
It is this limited approach that makes the landings tricky. At a minimum, your base and final approach is going to be confined to the area within the perimeter of the obstacles, and often you downwind leg will be as well. Since the small field does not allow for a long final, your are by definition going to be turning close to the ground, and flying very close to those obstacles.
Speed is your friend here, as is precise glider control and the ability to execute your entire approach path accurately (In an RLF landing you typically do not have the option of extending your downwind or base legs to hit your spot. Once you are on you downwind, you are typically committed with few adjustment options). A standard RLF approach is going to aim to be turning onto final as close to the downwind obstacles as possible, and as low to the ground as can be safely executed.
You can practice these landings by setting up an imaginary perimeter in larger fields. Do this often. Then when it is time to pull of the real thing you will already have learned how to anticipate your glide on downwind accurately, and how low you can comfortable turn.
We've got a site in the Bay Area that is a great example of an RLF. A typical wind direction will require an approach with your base leg going through a slot between large trees, while simultaneously flying over some smaller trees (no room to adjust once your on base). Following that you need to make a 90 degree turn low, and then land on a slight downhill with a row of trees on both sides, and another row of trees waiting to greet you at the end if you came in too high.
Here's a couple photos from a less than stellar RLF at Windy Hill. In the first photo I've just completed my turn to final. I'm about 10' off the ground and too high!
Here I am flying downhill, dragging my feet through the mud trying to slow down before the trees.
Dirk took a video of a better approach. Notice how the flight path is completely determined starting from the Base Leg? Behind the big oak tree, over a few smaller ones, behind another, then turn to final.
link
Last weekend the wind was light enough to land the other way on the slight uphill. It's a much easier approach, with more room to adjust on your downwind and base leg, but still an RLF, and still a great chance to practice. Ours is the small field marked by the brown overgrowth. Don't be tempted by the larger field next too it. Landing there would get the site shut down. Plus, it is even less flat than our field, and the trees between the two fields are larger than they look making it impractical to use for overshoots.
Notice how close I get to the downwind row of trees. Keep up your speed so you can pull off the low turn safely. Too much fun!
link
Sunday, November 8, 2009
Magical Weekend
Some days are beyond words. But I'll try...
Smooth, beautiful day at Ed Levin with wide lift and lots of friends. A night in Half Moon Bay with Christina. Watching the surfers at Maverick's. A reunion with friends and family. A night by the fireplace with games and wine. And flying four hang gliding sites in one go in Tom's Lancair.
Friday, Nov 6:
Fall is upon us and Friday had all the makings of a great post-frontal day at Ed Levin. I left work at 10am and met up with Ben, Tom, Urs and others. My dad came along to drive. The winds were light, the lift was smooth, and the whole range opened up.
Above Ed Levin with gliders in the air
I launched towards the approaching clouds and quickly climbed up. The lift was easy, and cloud base was ~3,700'.
The South Bay
I headed North getting a great glide and stopping for smooth slow climbs along the way. I played around in the middle of the ridge taking in the view, and savoring the rare, gentle day. Ben joined me, and I headed over to Mission Peak.
Looking down at Mission Peak
After an hour I felt the cloud suck building and my hands getting a little cold. I watched Tom loop and spin his way down as I circled in sink over the LZ. Brought it in fast and low over the road for a nice no stepper by the breakdown area.
It's flights like these that make me feel so lucky to have wings.
Saturday, Nov 7:
Christina and I spent Friday night in Half Moon Bay. In the morning the surf was enourmous so we headed out past the airport to watch the big wave surfers at Mavericks. Can you find the surfers in the pictures below?
They don't look so big until you see the tiny people on them...
Saturday evening we had a reunion with friends and family. All the kids I grew up with were invited. It was great to see everyone together and our mothers presented us with a very nostalgic gift. I don't have any pictures, but it will be in my home for years to come.
After dinner T and I headed home to enjoy a relaxing night by the fireplace.
Sunday, Nov 8:
Sunday morning the weather did not look promising for hang gliding. NorthEast throughout the Bay Area. But we have a small, H4 site that works in an East wind. Tom gave me a call and reminded me of this little jewel. But, it was late by the time we figured out where we should be, so it was uncertain if we could get setup and ready before the whole hill was in shadow. Oh well, time for plan B.
It turns out plan B was waaaaaay better than plan A. Tom offered to take me for a ride in his Lancair and I jumped at the chance!
Drool......
We launched and headed over to Windy Hill to check out the launch. The hillside was already in shadow, so we knew we were in the right place with the right aircraft.
Banking around launch in a 2g turn we headed over the back towards the coast. Settling in at 300' we flew up the coast at 200mph.
Heading North towards Half Moon Bay
The Lancair is amazing. It's small and light and powerful. It is like driving a sports car through the sky. Except sports cars don't go this fast....
Flying past the Half Moon Bay airport
We headed to funston where we flew below the cliff, past launch, and circled around in a high g climbing turn. I won't even try to explain it. Just watch the video below.
link
We continued up the coast, flying over the Golden Gate.
Low and Fast
The Bay was full of sailboats.
Too much fun,
link
SF and the Bay
Sausalito and Tiburon
Tom gave me a quick lesson on the in's and out's of the Lancair, then handed me the controls. We flew out of the bay and turned North again towards Mt Tam. The plane is very sensitive in pitch, with just a tiny bit of pressure needed to get the nose up or down. Roll takes a bit more force, but is still very light. If you input a roll, the plane will want to continue that roll rate. The same goes for pitch. So it is very stable, but requires constant flying. It won't return to level flight on its on.
Flying past Tam I could feel the rotor even out over the water. That site can have big teeth in a North wind.
I banked the plane and turned 180 degrees and headed back south along the coast at about 800'. In a matter of minutes we were past Half Moon Bay again and flying over Waddell Creek. That made 4 hang gliding sites in one day. Not bad....
We climbed a bit near Waddell and then Tom showed off the aerobatic capabilities of his rocket ship. I don't know if it was the plane, or Tom's flying skills. Probably a combination of both, but Tom and his Lancair inspire confidence. The rolls and wingovers were pure fun.
The Highlight...
All of those thing were fun.
But none of them compare to the highlight of my weekend.
The highlight of my life.
Christina said yes...
You and me babe
Smooth, beautiful day at Ed Levin with wide lift and lots of friends. A night in Half Moon Bay with Christina. Watching the surfers at Maverick's. A reunion with friends and family. A night by the fireplace with games and wine. And flying four hang gliding sites in one go in Tom's Lancair.
Friday, Nov 6:
Fall is upon us and Friday had all the makings of a great post-frontal day at Ed Levin. I left work at 10am and met up with Ben, Tom, Urs and others. My dad came along to drive. The winds were light, the lift was smooth, and the whole range opened up.
Above Ed Levin with gliders in the airI launched towards the approaching clouds and quickly climbed up. The lift was easy, and cloud base was ~3,700'.
The South BayI headed North getting a great glide and stopping for smooth slow climbs along the way. I played around in the middle of the ridge taking in the view, and savoring the rare, gentle day. Ben joined me, and I headed over to Mission Peak.
Looking down at Mission PeakAfter an hour I felt the cloud suck building and my hands getting a little cold. I watched Tom loop and spin his way down as I circled in sink over the LZ. Brought it in fast and low over the road for a nice no stepper by the breakdown area.
It's flights like these that make me feel so lucky to have wings.
Saturday, Nov 7:
Christina and I spent Friday night in Half Moon Bay. In the morning the surf was enourmous so we headed out past the airport to watch the big wave surfers at Mavericks. Can you find the surfers in the pictures below?
They don't look so big until you see the tiny people on them...
Saturday evening we had a reunion with friends and family. All the kids I grew up with were invited. It was great to see everyone together and our mothers presented us with a very nostalgic gift. I don't have any pictures, but it will be in my home for years to come.
After dinner T and I headed home to enjoy a relaxing night by the fireplace.
Sunday, Nov 8:
Sunday morning the weather did not look promising for hang gliding. NorthEast throughout the Bay Area. But we have a small, H4 site that works in an East wind. Tom gave me a call and reminded me of this little jewel. But, it was late by the time we figured out where we should be, so it was uncertain if we could get setup and ready before the whole hill was in shadow. Oh well, time for plan B.
It turns out plan B was waaaaaay better than plan A. Tom offered to take me for a ride in his Lancair and I jumped at the chance!
Drool......We launched and headed over to Windy Hill to check out the launch. The hillside was already in shadow, so we knew we were in the right place with the right aircraft.
Banking around launch in a 2g turn we headed over the back towards the coast. Settling in at 300' we flew up the coast at 200mph.
Heading North towards Half Moon BayThe Lancair is amazing. It's small and light and powerful. It is like driving a sports car through the sky. Except sports cars don't go this fast....
Flying past the Half Moon Bay airportWe headed to funston where we flew below the cliff, past launch, and circled around in a high g climbing turn. I won't even try to explain it. Just watch the video below.
link
We continued up the coast, flying over the Golden Gate.
Low and Fast
The Bay was full of sailboats.Too much fun,
link
SF and the Bay
Sausalito and TiburonTom gave me a quick lesson on the in's and out's of the Lancair, then handed me the controls. We flew out of the bay and turned North again towards Mt Tam. The plane is very sensitive in pitch, with just a tiny bit of pressure needed to get the nose up or down. Roll takes a bit more force, but is still very light. If you input a roll, the plane will want to continue that roll rate. The same goes for pitch. So it is very stable, but requires constant flying. It won't return to level flight on its on.
Flying past Tam I could feel the rotor even out over the water. That site can have big teeth in a North wind.
I banked the plane and turned 180 degrees and headed back south along the coast at about 800'. In a matter of minutes we were past Half Moon Bay again and flying over Waddell Creek. That made 4 hang gliding sites in one day. Not bad....
We climbed a bit near Waddell and then Tom showed off the aerobatic capabilities of his rocket ship. I don't know if it was the plane, or Tom's flying skills. Probably a combination of both, but Tom and his Lancair inspire confidence. The rolls and wingovers were pure fun.
The Highlight...
All of those thing were fun.
But none of them compare to the highlight of my weekend.
The highlight of my life.
Christina said yes...
You and me babe
