Sunday Report - Ridge
26 November, 2001 

Hi All,
    I am going to have to stop flying, I can not keep up with all the
descriptions ;>)

    On Sunday, I put my GPS and recorder in VKA for its flight. I have
attached a low resolution graphics of the flight on a topo map so that those
that did not fly get an idea of the location and range of flying. I wish I
had recorded the wave flight last week for contrast. 600 ft AGL flying
versus 10,000 ft AGL flying.

    One of the most enjoyable aspect of flying our little ridge in the
Valley is the intimacy with the landscape and the other gliders on the
ridge. At first it is a little unnerving to fly more than a kilometer away
from the closest point to the field... BUT as you fly more and trust the
reliability of the ridge lift and get to know where the sweet spot is you
extend your flight. Early Sunday was not as reliable as Saturday was. The
wind was more due south that southeast which best for the ridge which runs
30 deg south of west. A wind of 15 knots or more would have made soaring
easier if not bumpier.

    I flew on check flight in ALN. We had only 900 ft launch or less and by
the time we got to the ridge were only at the level of the mountain. At that
height the lift was not working and we had to turn back to the field and had
plenty of height to make it safely with a straight in landing. Usually, from
a 1000 ft launch, any glider could reach the ridge and still be above the
mountain an in weak lift. By carefully flying along the ridge, height could
slowly be gained to 1000 ft but not much higher. Only on passing a thermal
on the slopes did one get a boost above this.

    An aspect of Sunday versus Saturday was that the strength of thermals
along the ridge was much stronger yesterday (at least when I was up). There
was one location that was active most of the afternoon and allowed me to
climb to 2000 ft off the ridge.  The thermal was over the height of the
North Mountain and initially, one was very low making one very careful to
fly well. Actually, I usually started out with figure 8 flying in the
thermal in front of the ridge until I gained several hundred feet but by
that time I had drifted back over the ridge and changed to normal tight -
steep banked thermalling.

What a interesting feeling to climb to 1500 ft agl (normal launch height)
and feel high! 2000 ft was positively luxurious. At that height there was no
lift from the ridge and gradually, I decended to 1000 ft where the ridge was
working. After a second climb to 2000 ft I ventured about 5 km into the
Valley but found little thermal activity in which to fly. I eventually ended
up back on the ridge and found it working better than before, and with the
Sun lower, not being disrupted by thermals. Later I learn that about that
time Allison had ventured west past Swindles Knob and found it was working
better down there.

    Flying with the other gliders was enjoyable and, I felt, never
dangerous. All pilots kept a good look out and gave warnings of turns over
123.4 MHz. Everyone followed the rules of turning away from the ridge,
overtaking on the ridge side, and staying right when encountering a glider.
All the flying was done at minimum sink so we were all moving only 40 kts or
less. Actually, it was enjoyable to frequently fly by each other and wave or
just look. Spectators on the ground remarked that it was glorious to see
four gliders going up and down the ridge. One of the was an owner of a house
underneath the flight paths and came over to see the operation and talk to
us.

    We had many visitors of which we had at 2 and maybe three older
gentlemen who had been glider pilots and were glad to see us there. Earlier
in the week, I met a fellow who used to fly with York Soaring but is not
into sailing. I would never have guessed there were that many former glider
pilots in the Valley. There are probably more. When I landed at 4:30 pm,
Dick Freeman was in the center of about 20 people of all ages. The Mennonite
community had come over to watch. All the gliders were up at the time and I
was the first to land at that time and astonished a few with a sideslip-full
spoiler approach. Dick explained what was going on. I found it a little
disconcerting to be watched by so many people as VKA was pulled into their
midst to be dis-assembled. They stayed to watch me pack the glider into its
trailer.

    There were many birds in the area and I think everyone commented on
flying with an eagle, hawk or gull. At the end of the day hundreds of ducks
flew over the field as we were putting gliders away.

    The three other gliders landed shortly after I did and we efficiently
put them away as the Sun was setting (beautiful evening in the Valley!). AWA
was put back in the hanger at Waterville Airport while VKA, UIL, ALN and the
winch are parked in my backyard.
    After a long enjoyable day a half-dozen of us met at Paddy's Pub for a
meal, brew and reflection on the days events. Even though it was late
November, we still look forward to the possibility of another chance to fly
the ridge.

Cheers,
Larry