O happy day!

I've always liked Sweden, but today I like my second home country a little more than other days: A little more than 1000 dollars just magically fell down from heaven dedicated only to hang gliding! Or I guess I should say they appeared out of the ground as a thermal propelling me into heaven... =)

That's what you get for being one out of (my wild guess) 3-10 female hang gliding pilots in the country, having friends who know the system, and write a letter telling the people in charge how desperate I am to fly. Now it's definitely time to get some air under those wings!!! Whohooooo! =)

Yes...No...Yes...No...YES!

Last Sunday a handful of us headed down to EL for what conceivably should have been an excellent soaring day. And it was...just not for us. :-( Winds were S, SE 9-18, averaging 10-12 for our first flight, which, given the conditions, we were lucky to get at all. We started to set up...then were told to put our bags back on....then we watched conditions for awhile (looked good) and were told to set up....then conditions changed...and we were told to pack up....THEN...we were told to set up. I hustled to set up as quickly as possible to get off the hill before a) my instructor decided it was too strong (15 and above), b) before the wind direction changed, and c) before I changed my mind after the tennis volley that had just occurred.

Suffice it to say that the sport of hang gliding involves a 'hurry up and wait' and a 'hurry up and hurry up' mentality which at times is just fine, but other times is incredibly frustrating. Bottom line is take the time you need to get your glider set up and pre-flighted, and more importantly take the time to get 'yourself' set up.

My launch was fairly straightforward. I should have run harder and pulled in more as my nose popped slightly after reviewing the video. Flight itself was uneventful, headed to the 600' and over to the dead tree to do a figure 8 approach and landed heading into the S12mph winds. Would have liked a better landing - my jeans ended up with some souvenir mud.

Oh...and I got my 1750' sign off. :)

Flight Log: 1 flight each off the 1750' (aircurls, cleanpants, cookie girl)

Fan-tam-stic

A long overdue post.. Late February storms brought some great days at Tam, and some snow. The road was closed the better part of a mile back from launch so we had to hike in. A gaggle of pilots flew 1-2 hours, getting up to 3400' or so max. I did just over an hour, mostly above launch and a little south of it.

End of the line for the cars. Threw a few snowballs before hiking in.

Had a little fun with iMovie.

sundays the way they should be

Airwise Saturday was better, but as the forecast routinely fooled us all, the bay's usual aerial suspects were trying to ridge soar or ridge scrape Sled Heaven. While some of that was actually happening, the gaggle created some traffic and kept a consistent crowd of landing spectators, scrutinizers? You know how it is, trying to put out your best landing ....

So the milestones! Ali got his 1st and 2nd flights off the 600 ft, after doing driving duty, thanks! And congrats on a swanky landing.

Clayble had more success putting down the ultrasport, and apparently he lands better while doing challenging traffic avoidance maneuvers. Unusual south-bound light crosswind approach to avoid an oblivious bag ... well done.

Aircurls banged out flights 5 and 6 for the weekend! 1 to go for a sign-off ...   0 to go for a first mountain flight. Looking good in the air and on camera.

Other things you don't normally see on a Sunday are three coyotes, and an aerial loop.


Flight Log: 
Ali (first 2 flights from the 600 ft - congrats!);
aircurls (flights 6 and 7 from the top!);
clayble - 2 flights, 1750;
cookie girl - 2 flights, 1750;

Tired.....and Happy

That's what 4 flights off the top will do to you in 1 day.

More to come shortly. Am just so so tired.


Ed Levin 02.12.2011 from Dan H on Vimeo.


Flight Log:
4 flights 1750'

1750' - Flight #1 - Woot!

Flight 20 something all told. But those were in a panty a long time ago. :)

Saturday, January 22 - a gaggle of us went down to EL and it was blowing over the back pretty strongly. We decided the 600' seemed reasonable, but upon setting up in incredibly switchy conditions, and attempting to turn my glider such that I could pre-flight it with the tail a quarter into the wind, the wind had switched yet again. My glider decided it wanted to fly a bit before I was geared up and hooked in. Brian raced over to help and neutralize it, whilst his pilotless glider decided to make a run for it. I raced over to rescue that one and straight out of a movie, Anthony appears on the horizon running to our aid. Brilliant. I broke down as quickly as I could. Brian followed shortly thereafter. Fast forward to Sunday.

Sunday, January 23 - wasn't sure I wanted a repeat of Saturday so was torn between going to a cafe to get my requisite mocha and work, or get my requisite mocha and head to EL. While in line at the cafe I looked outside and it was such a beautiful day...and it was the weekend...and why should I be working anyway?? I quickly decided to make the trek to EL and wasn't disappointed. Chris Valley sponsored me off the top, as he was there in preparation for the upcoming speed gliding event, and Daniel and Anthony joined as well.

We arrived at the top and I quickly set up as the winds were perfect. W at 3-4mph. Went over to launch and ironically had a hard time picking a target as everything was so vast and I was so high (ha!). Finally settled on something way off in the distance and off I went. Uneventful launch although I should have pulled in a bit more - watch your pitch! Satisfying to not have to immediately think about my landing approach while I cruised along the ridge with light bumps here and there, enjoyed watching the red tails and turkey vultures, and fought the irresistible urge to turn every time I felt the least bit of lift (must follow flight plan).

Landing approach was fine, winds minimal (W 1-3mph), pulled in, landed just past the hang 4 spot on my feet, by the ditch. Karl provided celebratory wine which we all enjoyed in the LZ. Big grin on face.

Flight Log:

1 flight off 1750'

Name change?

Hello chicks and friends!

Happy new 2011.... and wishing all new soaring heights for the new year!

This is an administrative kind of post, inspired by random discussions and reactions about our flog. We are about to become 1-year-old, so this is good time for introspection before the birthday ... For those who don't know, our readership extends way beyond local, which is actually a bit surprising, since the flog is not searchable or linked to anything on the web!

This story was never posted here, but papirtiger (or helmet girl) and I started this as the 21-century alternative to the ever elusive log book, accidentally on February 21. We wanted to share our own learning with ourselves, slowly add other students until this becomes a resource for lessons, our memories, stories, pictures, you get it. Student flying log. Now the name - if you have not figured that out yet - is a joke (I forget who came up with it, but helmet girl knows), played on the fact that our grand and small flying community club has the highest number of women pilots, compared to any other establishment that we are aware of. It didn't mean that our authors are all women, just kiddinngggg! While jokes are healthy, it is possible that the name might discourage others to join and write. That would defeat the original purpose - have students post and share experiences. 

I propose we discuss this in a democratic way - post comments if you care, and by all means, vote! Poll posted, voting ends on our birthday :-o)

Clear skies to all,

yours - cookie girl

Skunked. At Least I was.

Am a few posts behind and this was a draft from a few weeks ago. Am suffering from 60 hour work weeks and spending what little time I have left with the kiddos and Dan. Went out to Ed Levin in mid January with the family and headed up to the top. Uh....blowing over the back at 12-15mph. Looking at the bright side, visibility was good. This was the first time the boys had driven up to the top and they were none too pleased with the road and insisted on walking down to the LZ. As the conditions looked poor for me to go flying, Dan drove our gliders down while the boys chased after the truck, took shortcuts across the hills, rested on boulders, made a sundial, found a walking stick, and generally did all the developmentally appropriate things a 6 and an 8 year old boy should do. I followed along and took a few pics.

We hiked all the way to the top of the 300 at which point Dan came and scooped us up to take us to the top of the 600'. I was hoping to get at least one flight off, but the conditions were varying so dramatically and so quickly (N, NE at 12, S at 7, E at 6, N, NW at 8) as was my mood, especially after a wind gust blew my glider over when it was just on its wheels and not even open. I thoughth it prudent to drive down with the boys, while Dan took an extended 6 minute sledder ending with a 'power to the people' one-handed flare in the spot.

Learned an important lesson for a very cheap price

The club aquired an Ultrasport 166, and I wanted to fly it. So, I took it to Ed Levin today, and flew with Daniel M. We started the day running on the flats, until I was almost taking off from the 5 foot hill. Then, we progressed to the 50 ft hill, where I managed to get a 5 second flight from starting half way up the hill (in dead wind!). I was quite proud of that. Next, I launched from the top of the 50 ft hill, and I nearly landed in the H4 spot- this glider has better glide than my pulse. Also, it was very easy to land; I was really starting to like this glider.

Next, we carried our gliders to the top of the 300 ft hill for one last flight to cap off the day. My glider weighs a little over 70 lbs, so this was no small feat (though Daniel carried it half way up the hill for me). I took a quick break and launched off the hill. I immediately started PIO'ing...BADLY! I started getting into bigger and bigger oscillations and in my mind I knew that I was supposed to let out and fly more slowly, but being this close to the ground I didn't want to stall either. I followed my flight plan as well as I could but the glider kept going all over the place as it oscillated. I've seen videos of other people in a PIO, but none of them were as severe as the situation that I found myself in. My glider was literally standing on one wingtip, completely vertical when I was a mere 20 ft over the ground. I thought for sure I was going to crash, so I was getting mentally ready to bring my arms in before I hit the ground.

Miraculously, the glider leveled out and went into ground effect. I was too frazzled to pull off a good landing, but I gave a small flare, ran out a little before the glider got ahead of me and had a small whack. I was more than a little freaked out by the experience, and I am very happy that I am alive and without a single injury to myself or the glider. A very, very cheap price for the learning experience. My lesson: fly more slowly and listen to the glider.