Day 2 Task Cancelled
Day 2 started out a bit slower since our pilots meeting was set for 11 am. This gave most of the pilot time to take care of the little stuff that they needed from stores. Sunday didn't really allow for that since most of the stores are closed or close early on Sunday.
Checking the weather it looked OK (7k day with maybe 9k later in the day). I was checking the weather at about 7 am. NWS was calling for 40% chance of TS in the vicinity but isolated. With everything charged up battery wise for me all I needed to take care of was the T2's tuning. Rob Kells from Wills Wing said he would help and we should turn down the sprogs and he could help with the right turn. Most everyone elase was already set up so by the time I was setting up there was plenty of space to be had. I got to setup right in the middle of the hangar right after Rob tuned the glider. One would think that being in the hangar would be nice, and generally I would agree until you factor in the humidity. Humidity just makes everything that much less enjoyable.
At the pilots meeting they announce we gotta hump all our gear to the south end of the hangars. That's a long way. Since it's into the wind I decide I can walk my stuff all the way down there (bad idea). It was ok but exhausting, and I still needed to get my harness so I had to shlep it again.
Then the long wait, for tow. In line, I'm sweating, it feels like I just jumped out of the pool without the cooled off feeling. While I'm there volunteers are coming by with water. I will definely stay hydrated today. The news crew from last year is here with the same reporter "J-Lo", affectionatly named because of her rear. As I was standing in line the news crew comes over and interviews me (cool, "hey Dayna, I'm gonna be on TV". I was the very next morning).
I'm right behind Chris Smith as the trike pulls up. Chris declines the trike and it's my turn on the slow climb. I take it and make a nice takeoff. The trike tow is going well till he waves me off at 3800! Why, I thought, is he waving me off so early. Everyone else is getting off at 5000. I try and make a few turns but it's sinking everywhere. I run to the N end of the airport to see if I can salvage the tow and get a low save. No chance and I make the decision to re-light. Another light wind landing and I stick it right in front of the news crew (but they are not watching). I get a dragonfly on the next tow and it goes well until about 200' where we get tossed around I look at the release thinking about pulling off. Somehow I salvage the tow and get pulled right into a 500' up thermal. I'm going up really good but I'm not getting in position for a good start. I climbed to cloudbase and set out on course 5 minutes behind all by myself. The T2 is finally handling nice and it's not wrapping in as it was before. Speeds look better and the glides are somewhat better.
I can hear Chris out on course 7 miles ahead and things seem to be going well. I figure I can catch up. Reports of lightning over the first turnpoint and rain are coming over the radio, and it looks like the weather is getting worse. I cross the start cylindar around 5800 and shortly after hear someone say that the task has been called (cancelled). After hearing this several times I contemplate turning around right away. I think I get it but I'm not sure I'll make it. I decide to take the thermal I have and gas up to make it easier to get back. As I struggle with the slow climb I'm in I see the "airforce" coming back high. After seeing this I decide to take what altitude I have and go. One the way back I'm getting drilled with 1000' / min down for a loong time. I pull the bar in to fly faster in effort to escape this downward progression to the earth. I reach decision height and opt for the field across from the airport about 1 mile short. Nice landing although a bit fast. Ben is there before I can even begin to breakdown. Many pilots make it back. Nice for not having to breakdown.
Checking the weather it looked OK (7k day with maybe 9k later in the day). I was checking the weather at about 7 am. NWS was calling for 40% chance of TS in the vicinity but isolated. With everything charged up battery wise for me all I needed to take care of was the T2's tuning. Rob Kells from Wills Wing said he would help and we should turn down the sprogs and he could help with the right turn. Most everyone elase was already set up so by the time I was setting up there was plenty of space to be had. I got to setup right in the middle of the hangar right after Rob tuned the glider. One would think that being in the hangar would be nice, and generally I would agree until you factor in the humidity. Humidity just makes everything that much less enjoyable.
At the pilots meeting they announce we gotta hump all our gear to the south end of the hangars. That's a long way. Since it's into the wind I decide I can walk my stuff all the way down there (bad idea). It was ok but exhausting, and I still needed to get my harness so I had to shlep it again.
Then the long wait, for tow. In line, I'm sweating, it feels like I just jumped out of the pool without the cooled off feeling. While I'm there volunteers are coming by with water. I will definely stay hydrated today. The news crew from last year is here with the same reporter "J-Lo", affectionatly named because of her rear. As I was standing in line the news crew comes over and interviews me (cool, "hey Dayna, I'm gonna be on TV". I was the very next morning).
I'm right behind Chris Smith as the trike pulls up. Chris declines the trike and it's my turn on the slow climb. I take it and make a nice takeoff. The trike tow is going well till he waves me off at 3800! Why, I thought, is he waving me off so early. Everyone else is getting off at 5000. I try and make a few turns but it's sinking everywhere. I run to the N end of the airport to see if I can salvage the tow and get a low save. No chance and I make the decision to re-light. Another light wind landing and I stick it right in front of the news crew (but they are not watching). I get a dragonfly on the next tow and it goes well until about 200' where we get tossed around I look at the release thinking about pulling off. Somehow I salvage the tow and get pulled right into a 500' up thermal. I'm going up really good but I'm not getting in position for a good start. I climbed to cloudbase and set out on course 5 minutes behind all by myself. The T2 is finally handling nice and it's not wrapping in as it was before. Speeds look better and the glides are somewhat better.
I can hear Chris out on course 7 miles ahead and things seem to be going well. I figure I can catch up. Reports of lightning over the first turnpoint and rain are coming over the radio, and it looks like the weather is getting worse. I cross the start cylindar around 5800 and shortly after hear someone say that the task has been called (cancelled). After hearing this several times I contemplate turning around right away. I think I get it but I'm not sure I'll make it. I decide to take the thermal I have and gas up to make it easier to get back. As I struggle with the slow climb I'm in I see the "airforce" coming back high. After seeing this I decide to take what altitude I have and go. One the way back I'm getting drilled with 1000' / min down for a loong time. I pull the bar in to fly faster in effort to escape this downward progression to the earth. I reach decision height and opt for the field across from the airport about 1 mile short. Nice landing although a bit fast. Ben is there before I can even begin to breakdown. Many pilots make it back. Nice for not having to breakdown.
posted by Jeff Chipman at 6:07 PM
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