Flying possibilities

[RobinHastings]

SUNDAY, JUNE 28:
Well, our hopes were not unfounded. Bill generously offered to be my driver, which is second only to him being my fellow pilot. We also had along two young people who were interested in learning about the sport, Jason and Myriah Kucirka from Holloman AFB. Skies were full of cumulus turning moderately dark, out to the east, but mostly clear over Alamogordo. The cloud shadows were moving slowly from the northeast, but we saw enough southwest indicators at Dry Canyon launch to tempt me to set up my Wills Wing U2-160. By 2:00 pm it was looking good, and I launched at 2:05. I shot up about 50 feet and headed over to the left, but finding no lift there I went along the ridge to the right, going west with the emerald jewel of the LZ in mind. I worked what lift I could find on the way, but it wasn't much, and Bill, Jason and Myriah could see from my steady sink that I was not going to make it unless something changed. Great first impression for our sport, no? Well, no; as I got to the base of Curt's Bluff at 6000 ft MSL (1000 below launch height) I finally found the thermal I'd been searching for, and made it work. I rose steadily in it, with the encouragement of the local avian crew (buzzards, mostly) and reached 8500 ft. Whew! From then on, thermals were in abundant supply; every cloud forming above me had one. I worked them one after another, reaching 9800 ft three times, and finally, about 2:45 pm, got to 10,000 ft, just below cloud base. The clouds were getting to be a darker and darker gray by then, so I decided it was time to make a run for the west. Not a bad decision; I stuffed the bar and ran for about two miles, sinking steadily through the air, and arrived over Scenic Drive at - you guessed it - 10,000 ft. (The air was going up...) I hung out near Cox Field as Bill and our guests arrived, then began to dump some altitude. Bill gave me a running review of the wind conditions, which was very helpful; even more helpful would have been (if I'd asked for it) some coaching on my abysmal landing techniques. I wound up flaring too soon as I tried to turn a west approach into a northerly direction at touchdown. I flared and dropped, from 8 or 10 feet, but fear not! I was not damaged, nor was the glider. (Our guests, though, were not highly impressed.) We finished off the events of the day by giving Jason a couple of runs in my U2, so that he could start to get a sense of how launching is done. Myriah, somewhat shorter, had trouble getting the basetube off the ground - a 160 is a full-size glider, no mistake about it. But I think they were satisfied with what they saw and learned today. I had an hour of airtime, reached 3000 feet above launch, and survived my landing yet again - so I was satisfied, too. Bill and I stopped for a late lunch, and made it home by supper time. Not a bad day at all. It's Bill's turn next time - I certainly owe him one!
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

SUNDAY, JUNE 28:
Well, our hopes were not unfounded. Bill generously offered to be my driver, which is second only to him being my fellow pilot. We also had along two young people who were interested in learning about the sport, Jason and Myriah Kucirka from Holloman AFB. Skies were full of cumulus turning moderately dark, out to the east, but mostly clear over Alamogordo. The cloud shadows were moving slowly from the northeast, but we saw enough southwest indicators at Dry Canyon launch to tempt me to set up my Wills Wing U2-160. By 2:00 pm it was looking good, and I launched at 2:05. I shot up about 50 feet and headed over to the left, but finding no lift there I went along the ridge to the right, going west with the emerald jewel of the LZ in mind. I worked what lift I could find on the way, but it wasn't much, and Bill, Jason and Myriah could see from my steady sink that I was not going to make it unless something changed. Great first impression for our sport, no? Well, no; as I got to the base of Curt's Bluff at 6000 ft MSL (1000 below launch height) I finally found the thermal I'd been searching for, and made it work. I rose steadily in it, with the encouragement of the local avian crew (buzzards, mostly) and reached 8500 ft. Whew! From then on, thermals were in abundant supply; every cloud forming above me had one. I worked them one after another, reaching 9800 ft three times, and finally, about 2:45 pm, got to 10,000 ft, just below cloud base. The clouds were getting to be a darker and darker gray by then, so I decided it was time to make a run for the west. Not a bad decision; I stuffed the bar and ran for about two miles, sinking steadily through the air, and arrived over Scenic Drive at - you guessed it - 10,000 ft. (The air was going up...) I hung out near Cox Field as Bill and our guests arrived, then began to dump some altitude. Bill gave me a running review of the wind conditions, which was very helpful; even more helpful would have been (if I'd asked for it) some coaching on my abysmal landing techniques. I wound up flaring too soon as I tried to turn a west approach into a northerly direction at touchdown. I flared and dropped, from 8 or 10 feet, but fear not! I was not damaged, nor was the glider. (Our guests, though, were not highly impressed.) We finished off the events of the day by giving Jason a couple of runs in my U2, so that he could start to get a sense of how launching is done. Myriah, somewhat shorter, had trouble getting the basetube off the ground - a 160 is a full-size glider, no mistake about it. But I think they were satisfied with what they saw and learned today. I had an hour of airtime, reached 3000 feet above launch, and survived my landing yet again - so I was satisfied, too. Bill and I stopped for a late lunch, and made it home by supper time. Not a bad day at all. It's Bill's turn next time - I certainly owe him one!
-Robin

Jason and Myriah Kucirka.JPG (59.88 KiB) Viewed 3869 times

Set up and buddie checked Robin and U2 160.JPG (47.57 KiB) Viewed 3869 times

can-he-handle-it---oh-yes..JPG (27.21 KiB) Viewed 3869 times

[RobinHastings]

SUNDAY, JULY 5, 2015:
Another good day for hang gliding in Alamogordo. Where, oh where, were my flying buddies today? The conditions looked excellent when I arrived at Dry Canyon launch today with Keighley driving. Coming in about 10 to 12 mph, southwest, and thermals popping up every so often. I quickly set up my U2 and got into my harness; right about then a couple of spectators, James and Cindy, arrived. Very nice people, who run an RV park near McGinn's Pistachio Farm on Hwy 70/54. I took off about 11:45 am MDT, and immediately shot up 100 feet. Went to the left, found some lift, and continued to work back and forth across the launch area as I steadily gained altitude to 7500' MSL. I found a thermal just down the ridge from there and reached 7800 ft, my highest for the flight. Clouds were building off to the east of Cloudcroft, gradually getting darker and closer, and while skies were clear to the west when I was setting up, more and more cumies started building while I flew. Excellent! There was no shortage of thermals, but they were fairly punchy and I could never work them up past 7500' after I left the launch. I had an excellent time, though, making several saves out by the West Ridge, and circled above hawks and buzzards several times. I even spotted a small herd of desert bighorns down below, right after I launched - it was a happening day for wildlife! I had no radio in the truck, so I didn't seriously contend for a cross country flight; I finally brought it in to the Cox Field landing zone about 35 minutes after takeoff. This time (keeping in mind my wild ride across the whole LZ into an arroyo at the fly-in) I aimed to clear the fence at 30 feet or so. It worked! I came down into a nice southwest wind, held it, held it, flared on time and had a no-step touchdown, soft as you please. (Yeah, when's the last time THAT happened? Especially in July...) Keighley helped me pack things up, and my only minor complaint for the day is that the sprinklers came on right there, just as we were finishing. But really, how can you complain about a day like this? I just wish I weren't so LONELY up there in the sky...
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Good job Robin,
Did some “Honey Do,” stuff around the house today and was wondering what was going on at Dry for wind.

We still have boxes to unpack from Terry’s move from the apartment in Santa Fe to Las Cruces.
Looks like I will be getting the extra steak knives and other kitchen stuff for this October Columbus Day camp out in the Cox LZ.
We won’t need to buy paper plates, cups, plastic silverware, (now that would be a strange alloy) I have a plastic storage container packed already.
It also has stuff like inverter, lights, Wet Ones, TP, etc.
Mike is going to make up 5 more anchor stakes for the new 10 by 20 foot tarp I bought for the west side shade extension. I also bought some 3” wood screws for the fascia board that is getting loose on the shade cabana. Terry brought home two more card tables so that makes four total.
We have lots of flour here with her move so I can make some more flour baggies for the bomb drop. (gee I hope that didn’t sound the siren alert at the Utah NSA data collection center.) (NSA go back to your “Playboy.” There isn’t enough powder in these bombs to blow your nose with.)

Looks to be cooling off this week with still enough moisture to add to instability.
It could be a good week.

[RobinHastings]

Wednesday looks pretty good for our area. Either Dry Canyon or Magdalena Rim would be good - provided I can be back to teach by 5:00 or so. Anyone want to fly?
-Robin

[Bob Kuczewski]

Wednesday looks pretty good for our area. Either Dry Canyon or Magdalena Rim would be good - provided I can be back to teach by 5:00 or so. Anyone want to fly?
-Robin

Now that's a good life!!!

Fly safe Robin!!!   

[RobinHastings]

Sunday, July 12, I went out to Alamogordo in the early afternoon. Byron Stevens, a prospective pilot who moved here from Virginia a couple of years ago, was to be my driver and we went up to Dry Canyon launch. There were dark skies to the east and warnings of flash flooding in Otero County (we never saw any). We heard thunder when we got to launch, but nevertheless we took a walk with a nice young couple, Curtis and Heidi, whom we met up there. They heard all about hang gliding from us, then finally drove back down the hill, and after noting that the breeze was blowing over the back, Byron and I did, too. (My wife Nancy reported that the winds in the LZ were from the north, so that sealed the deal.) Nancy and I with daughter Keighley enjoyed a good visit with Byron, both at Plateau Espresso and at his home in Tularosa, then the three of us finally drove home to Las Cruces. Wouldn't you know it? The winds at 6:30 and 7:00 were out of the southwest, just about perfect. No time to get to launch, get set up and fly before sunset, though. Nature has a way of laughing up her sleeve at us! I guess I'll just keep trying...
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

SUNDAY, JULY 19:
Another Sunday, another attempt at flight. This time, Bill Cummings and I went to Magdalena Rim, setting out about 2:00 pm. He generously drove for me (again!) and I had my U2 carted to the launch and set up by 5:00 pm. Conditions were a little unsettled, with cumulus burgeoning up all around when we arrived at the site, but starting to break up and dump virga by the time we had the glider ready. Winds were pretty strong, over 20 mph at times, varying in direction from west to southwest at the launch. I wanted something coming straight in (southwest) and not too strong (15 to 20 would be nice, yes). This finally occurred at 5:30 pm MDT, and I went right up after two steps down the launch. I worked the ridge lift and gained 200 feet or so, then went down the ridge to the east and found a good thermal or two. I got up to 6200 ft MSL (700 over launch) and was cruising, until I went negative, hard, and decided the air was rougher than it appeared. I left that lift and looked for something mellower, which, alas, was not to be found in the time and altitude I had. I looked at the flag that we'd set up in the Arroyo LZ and decided that it was a lot more westerly than I preferred, for that terrain. So, I crossed the Corralitos Road (and power lines!) with 500 feet to spare, and set up a west approach into the Rectangle LZ. The last time I landed there I overshot by quite a bit, so this time I made sure I would land just inside the downwind edge. Or short. Short proved to be the case, but in the strong west wind I dropped in like a feather. I had 15 minutes of soaring, and an excellent launch and landing - I'm sure not complaining! An hour later Bill and I were having sandwiches at Subway, discussing the flight and making plans for Bill's next flight - obviously, I owe him one. It was a mighty fine day, all around. Let's see what the week may bring.
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

SUNDAY, JULY 19:
Another Sunday, another attempt at flight. This time, Bill Cummings and I went to Magdalena Rim, setting out about 2:00 pm. He generously drove for me (again!) and I had my U2 carted to the launch and set up by 5:00 pm. Conditions were a little unsettled, with cumulus burgeoning up all around when we arrived at the site, but starting to break up and dump virga by the time we had the glider ready. Winds were pretty strong, over 20 mph at times, varying in direction from west to southwest at the launch. I wanted something coming straight in (southwest) and not too strong (15 to 20 would be nice, yes). This finally occurred at 5:30 pm MDT, and I went right up after two steps down the launch. I worked the ridge lift and gained 200 feet or so, then went down the ridge to the east and found a good thermal or two. I got up to 6200 ft MSL (700 over launch) and was cruising, until I went negative, hard, and decided the air was rougher than it appeared. I left that lift and looked for something mellower, which, alas, was not to be found in the time and altitude I had. I looked at the flag that we'd set up in the Arroyo LZ and decided that it was a lot more westerly than I preferred, for that terrain. So, I crossed the Corralitos Road (and power lines!) with 500 feet to spare, and set up a west approach into the Rectangle LZ. The last time I landed there I overshot by quite a bit, so this time I made sure I would land just inside the downwind edge. Or short. Short proved to be the case, but in the strong west wind I dropped in like a feather. I had 15 minutes of soaring, and an excellent launch and landing - I'm sure not complaining! An hour later Bill and I were having sandwiches at Subway, discussing the flight and making plans for Bill's next flight - obviously, I owe him one. It was a mighty fine day, all around. Let's see what the week may bring.
-Robin

Harness wrestles Robin into a take down..JPG (91.03 KiB) Viewed 3812 times

Harness dragging off RH to devour..JPG (34.47 KiB) Viewed 3812 times

Harness assimilates RH into forced symbiotic Relationship..JPG (43.05 KiB) Viewed 3812 times

Robin yields to harness..JPG (17.6 KiB) Viewed 3812 times

Bill surviving ambush and attack of Diamond Backed Rattle Snake..JPG (71.48 KiB) Viewed 3812 times

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GTZVIVSa9Dk

Published on Jul 20, 2015
Bill C. surviving ambush and attack of Diamond Backed Rattle Snake. After assisting Robin Hastings launch his hang glider.
This snake came after me. I had to drop my back pack in front of the snake and I heard the snake strike my pack. The snake then waited for me to make the next dumb move. (NOT!!)

[RobinHastings]

Nice photography, Bill! But why did you mention the snake? Now everybody's going to want one! (Guess they'll just have to come to New Mexico for it...)
-Robin