Flying possibilities

[Bill Cummings]

Jan,
Terry says, "Yes! You can go play with your little friends!"
So as you are headed to Las Cruces Friday give me a call and I can meet you at the tow road.
I'll take along my flag for wind direction. It's light weight so it works good in light wind.
We had rain last night but that should be dried up by today. If we get any more I can scout out
tow road conditions before you start this way.

[Bill Cummings]

Jan, Robin called and he may be free tomorrow afternoon to assist as a go-fer like me, "Take him this line and be quick about it," "give the pilots some water," "unhook that tumbleweed from his lines," "get farther out of his way," stuff like that.
We were going to take the ramp to the Little Florida Mountains earlier Friday (tomorrow) but thought better to wait until the wind is the right direction for once we get the ramp in place. We would be ready to launch Robin since the truck has to go past the LZ on the way out.
Or even chase him toward Las Cruces if he can get over the back.
Getting a flight after installing the portable ramp would make paying for gas way easier than only doing the ramp install.
The only trouble is it looks like the coming Thursday is the only mention in the forecast for a west wind.
If we install the ramp and the wind doesn't come in until Thursday, what's the point? Right?
Friday late afternoon looks okay and Saturday morning looks okay for your towing plans.
I could hook my GoPro to the truck for towing too.

[JanZ]

The more the merrier!
I'll be out some where on Corralitos Ranch Rd around 1730 tomorrow (Friday) and be there till Saturday morning. It looks like we're going to be at least 4 PG Pilots.
Right now it looks promising both days, but like always, we'll see when we're there.
Do we have any Guniea Pigs that want to try being towed on a HG?

[Bill Cummings]

Look at the Media thread for the results of Friday and Saturday towing at Corralitos Ranch. (Video and stills.)
Robin was going to check with his family and get back to me about Dry Canyon tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow morning he will call.
It looks much the same as the last time we went when Taro and Robin flew.
I expect rain in the afternoon again. 8 to 9 MPH SSW so Mike might not care for that. The last time Taro and Robin had no wind in the LZ when they landed. I will only be a driver tomorrow.

[Bill Cummings]

Hey Robin,
Do you remember when we went up the Hatch Hwy and turned north on the Nutt (SPELL CHECKER, CUT THAT OUT! I'M SURE IT'S SPELLED WITH TWO "T"s) Hwy to kick rocks on a training hill with Ed Huerta?
Life had plans for him on his first attempt to take to the air in a hang glider and now that his son has grown up the two of them want
to take a run at it.
I saw last night were Ed had signed on the the US Hawks and I tried to answer him with a PM but I don't know if he knew to click on the,"new messages," area to find the personal message (PM). I'll try again to see if Bob can make that area wiggle to catch one's eye when a message has arrived. I have several messages that haven't been opened by the addressed party for a long time. If pilots don't log on each time new items are not flagged as new. The can go unnoticed.
Ed found another way through the RGSA to email me and that is how I was able to return a reply to his personal email that he should see once he gets off work.
WE WELCOME ED AND SON INTO THE KETTLE OF HAWKS.

[Bill Cummings]

Portable Ramp to the Little Florida Mountains.
The forecast is west @ 8 mph at noon, Thursday.
Robin will pick me up at around 8 or 8:30 and have the portage cart along to haul the ramp.
If we can get the pieces bolted together Robin may get to fly down or go XC over the back toward Las Cruces.
We might get rained on in the afternoon.

[Bill Cummings]

Things at 20:25 forecast for tomorrow are showing 11 to 12 mph East at Anapra.
Robin will pick me up tomorrow between 09:30 and 10:00 we will meet Taro at the Village Inn Exit #11, I-10 and Mesa St., 10:30 to 11:00.
I called Mike and left a message to see if it is okay to have Taro use the Falcon. (The back up can be the Formula.)
Thunderstorm chance is 15% so it looks good for HG but strong for PG.

[RobinHastings]

Bill, Taro, I think we're going to have to meet at the Artcraft Exit from I-10 after all. I just read in today's newspaper that I-10 will be closed all day Sunday for some bridge demolition, a little bit south of Mesa Drive. Taro will have to go over Transmountain Highway from the east side of El Paso, in order to make it to any kind of rendezvous spot. But the times remain the same...
-Robin
Saturday evening, Aug. 13th

[Bill Cummings]

Copy that

[RobinHastings]

SUNDAY, AUGUST 14th: Bill and I met Taro Nihonyanagi about 10:45 in El Paso, and soon were at the base of the Anapra site. Lo and behold, the only other vehicle we spotted was a blue Corolla, driven by our up-and-coming PG pilot Steve Crye. He guided us up to the launch, helped us to set up, and fed us the vitally important wind speed data we needed. The gusts got as high as 35 mph, the lulls down as low as 13. (Steve had already had a bumpy sled ride from the site in his PG, and was heading home when he met us.) We set up our Wills Wing gliders: My U2, Bill's Sport 2, and the Falcon 195 for Taro. Eventually, only the U2 was still assembled; the winds looked to strong to Taro and Bill. I finally launched into 23 mph east winds at 2:20 pm, MDT. I turned right, but not soon enough; I was right out of the lift band, as I cruised along the ridge to the Border Wall. I turned there, and without enough altitude for another pass, I just went out to the landing area. I had an excellent landing. Bill, Taro and Steve soon joined me, as I put away the glider, and so did a nice Border Patrol agent, who had a great time learning about PG's and HG's from us. We said goodbye to Taro about 3:30 and he drove back to his home in El Paso; Bill and I reached Las Cruces about 4:15. It was a pleasant day with good friends, and a fun flight even if short. Who am I to complain?
-Robin