Dockweiler RHG Diary

Honoring the rich history and bright future of gliding at Dockweiler Beach

Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Bob Kuczewski » Tue Jun 22, 2021 3:18 am

Thanks Frank and Bill!    :wave:

It turned out to be a very good flying day ... almost too good. Joe and I were flying Frank's "old" Condor 225 (thanks Frank!), and the wind was so good that we were able to soar it much like the 330. Every time I took an extended soaring flight I was losing daylight hours needed for the record ... but it was too fun to resist. It was also so good that even my non-soaring flights were soaring. Towards the end of the day, Joe and I were strategizing on how to get me down sooner to take up less time per flight.

I had a glider-mounted camera, and I captured every flight except two where I forgot to turn it on. I plan to make a sped-up video of the days' flights when I find some time.

Thanks again to Joe and Angela for being my all-day observers, and thanks to Frank for the glider.
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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Bob Kuczewski » Mon Aug 23, 2021 6:09 am

Today (August 23, 2021) looks like a good RHG day at Dockweiler ...

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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Chris McKeon » Mon Aug 23, 2021 11:24 am

Hello Everybody;


I want to say that even though I have Never been to Dockweiler Beach ever before in MY LIFE. you Guys do not have any idea How good it will feel for Me for when My Feet leave the Ground For as of now, Today if I Flew it would be 11 Years 5 Months since My last Flight. YES that is to the Day since my last Flight on My Predator.

Speaking of My Predator. In the Past I have been on Launch with Friends who were Flying the Latest and Greatest Top-less Gliders. Well I would say to Them when I was asked Why I Flew My Predator? Why is it Chris that You Still Fly Your Predator? I would say that I Flew My Predator because it was the Most a** Cooking, A world Beater as a Glider. Well what I said would be Me wasting what I had said to them. They would launch say their Laminar, I would Launch my Predator We would then proceed to Fly, yes we Would Head out on our XC Flight. The only difference would be that We would land in different Spots. With My Predator having going further. The Last time I did this I was Flying with a Much Better Pilot. I will Not Say His name because that would not Be appropriate.

But I had an unfair advantage I was Flying a Predator! My Friend was flying a Laminar MR 700 Topless. We all know, or you should Know that when it comes to Flying XC a Predator will always out distance a Laminar.

John Yes John designed one Kick a** Glider!

enough Said: Game Set Predator!
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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Bob Kuczewski » Mon Aug 23, 2021 8:38 pm

Joe Faust and I had a fun day at Dockweiler today. The wind was right in the comfort zone. It was just strong enough for easy launches and landings, but not strong enough to make ground handling a challenge. Joe flew about 20 flights, and I flew about 30.

Here are some pictures from today ...

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Bob_Joe_2021_08_23.png (559.55 KiB) Viewed 3459 times


Thanks Joe!!     :wave:
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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Chris McKeon » Tue Aug 24, 2021 7:07 am

Dear all You Hawkes:



Well I spoke with Bob and Joe on the Phone Yesterday. I learned that they Had flown down there at Dockweiler Beach. I told them both, Bob's Phone has this cool "Speaker option". Well So I was able to speak to both of them at the same time. I told Joe when I am down there Flying with them that We could all Fly a little XC flight together. Yes after all of us get airborne We could Fly the Albatross XC Route,. We could all fly out to Catalina Island and back, I think that even though that XC flight would not be an Cross Country flight. It would be a Cross Water Flight. I do believe that {GOOD PILOTS} fly Cross Water lights.
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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Chris McKeon » Tue Aug 24, 2021 11:50 am

"LATERAL MOVE's"

Well I have not Been doing much today. I have been thinking, I have been Fantasizing about Flying of course. What else should I Fantasize about? I so love to fly. Flying, being that I can not Fly My beloved Predator I might be doing what some of You think of as My stepping down. Me being a passionate Predator Pilot. Well if I were to pursue some more air-time via a Sailplane. I do not see that If I were to get more Air-Time by flying a Sailplane, Flying a Sailplane in my mind anyways is not a step down, it would be a Lateral move.

It is just the case with Me. That in My Heart I am a Sky-Guy. A busted up Guy, But a Sky Guy.
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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Frank Colver » Tue Aug 24, 2021 3:28 pm

Bob I wish I could have been there yesterday. It was the third anniversary of my flight at Point of the Mountain. Last year, on the 2nd anniversary date of my POTM flight, I was crewing for you at Crestline. I didn't fly there but at least i was involved in a hang glider flight on the day.

Would have been great to have flown at Dockweiler on the day this year.

I'm going to have to try to make it a tradition to fly at some site on August 23rd every year, to honor my POTM flight of Aug 23, 2018.

Frank
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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Bob Kuczewski » Sun Nov 14, 2021 8:20 pm

Frank Colver wrote:I'm going to have to try to make it a tradition to fly at some site on August 23rd every year, to honor my POTM flight of Aug 23, 2018.

Just let me know, and I'll be there if I can.    :thumbup:
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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Bob Kuczewski » Sun Nov 14, 2021 8:28 pm

While preparing for my upcoming trial, I keep finding old flying videos on my computer.

I think Joe Faust took this video when I was flying at Dockweiler on February 18th, 2019. I was flying the Wills Wing Alpha 210 that had been owned by Frank Colver, Joe Faust, and eventually sold to me. Thanks Frank and Joe!!

https://youtu.be/OLptYRkGuHs



P.S. After posting this, I looked back and found that Joe had already uploaded and posted a copy of this video. Oh well, it doesn't hurt to see it again. :D
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Re: Dockweiler RHG Diary

Postby Frank Colver » Mon Nov 15, 2021 1:06 pm

Well done, Bob! :clap:

Now imagine yourself in my Alpha 235 even higher above the bluff and not subject to tip stalls. It looks like you may have had one there.

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