Flying possibilities

[Bill Cummings]

I think we are missing it for anyone that isn't at launch in Alamogordo, NM (USA)

So far on 11-19-15 Dry C..JPG (55.44 KiB) Viewed 3161 times

[SamKellner]

Bummer. Had to work.

Bill, what time of year is best for those 15min sled runs?

Will Falcon 4 make it to LZ?

[RobinHastings]

Hi, Sam. A Falcon 4 will make the LZ at Dry Canyon, sure. Best time out here? Autumn, winter, summer and spring. Come anytime! We'll take care of the details.
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Bummer. Had to work.

Bill, what time of year is best for those 15min sled runs?

Will Falcon 4 make it to LZ?

Sam quote:

“Bill, what time of year is best for those 15min sled runs?”

My best guess would be December through February during the middle of a high pressure, very light, and variable day.
(I think Robin will have a better feel for the best time.)

Just before and just after that time frame when the Jet Stream is low and right overhead we get a lot of wind and dust storms.



Sam quote:

“Will Falcon 4 make it to LZ?”

Mike E. sold his earlier model Falcon since he was ending up short of the LZ that is 3.4 miles west (271°) of our SW facing launch.

It’s a 7/1 glide from the ramp to the LZ. (17,950’ divided by 2,541 = 7.06)
Our LZ looks level because it is so big.
North to South it is 236 yards.
East to West it is 350 yards. (With a shallow N-S narrow ditch near the west side. Not a problem.)
The elevation of the NE corner is 4,465’ msl.
The elevation of the SW corner is 4,447’ msl.
Landing are usually to the SW for a total of 350 yards for final.
The average elevation of the big LZ is 4,459’ msl
The vertical drop from the ramp to the LZ is 2,541 feet.

There is some help with the 7/1 glide. We will usually follow the ridge line to the right of the ramp as it descends toward the City of Alamogordo. We follow the rim for about two miles and then before the rim takes us too far on that 300° heading (off of our desired 271° heading.) we turn left slightly, leave the rim, for the LZ.
Even though it is technically a 7/1 glide in totally dead air it more times than not has the feel of a 5/1 to a 6/1 glide because we don’t launch in dead air.
To summarize -- my guess would be that you could count on making the LZ in a Falcon 4, eight times out of ten. (EXCITING HUH?)

[Wyatt]

I'm heading up to Little Floridas if anyone else wants to join. My gf is driving. I'll be at the LZ at around 2. Call or text if interested. 520.289.7512

[RobinHastings]

Thanks, Wyatt! I caught the invitation too late to take advantage of it. I hope you had some good airtime!
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Hawks,
Today Robin and I worked on the glider transport yoke but now we are modifying it to double as a platform launch yoke but without the winch or towline.
Years back I had rigged my Ford Escort for platform launching but before we went as far as mounting the winch I did test launching.
Without the towline we went through the whole platform launch procedure.
I prefer launching with the glider neutral, - no positive pitch, - speed held steady at 32 to 35 miles/per/hour, - radio the drive to activate the nose release, - ( While on constant transmit,) - I confirm visually that the nose release has dropped, - then rock back and allow my fingers to be stripped clear of the hand hold cords beneath the control bar.

This will allow me to launch in the prone position, - pull back in to round off the climb at 40 to 60 feet agl, - pull on speed approaching the ground, - go up right in the harness for landing, - bleed off speed with the curb feelers sensing the ground (toes), - wait for trim speed, plus one second, - then flare.
The idea is to do many landings in one outing instead of one landing every two weeks.

If I'm successful in attaching a picture of the launching yoke it will not show today's modifications yet which are:
Cut a V into each of the control bar launching yokes.
Add hand hold cords inside plastic tubes touching the under side of the control bar at each hand hold position.
And this idea Robin gave me, to use my old aero-tow keel release at the nose of the glider attached to the rear crossbar of my Xterra roof rack.
The release handle will be Velcro-ed to my front left roof rack and will be within reach of the vehicle driver through the driver side door window.
We're not done yet and flying at Anapra, NM tomorrow will get in the way of further rigging. (Then Thanksgiving.)
I'll get some more pictures of this transport rack for hill flying and static towing and also doing bunny hops for landing practice.
AND YES WE WILL COUNT EACH PLATFORM LAUNCH WITH ITS LANDING AS ANOTHER FLIGHT. (Estimate 8 to 10 seconds.)

Glider transport rack for up hills- static returns- launching and landing practice (no tow).PNG (1.25 MiB) Viewed 3134 times

[JoeF]

Indeed, such 8 second flights are complete flight experiences!

Thanks for the detail descriptions of the adventure.

[SamKellner]

Thanks Robin I want to make it out there for some FL.

BillC, that sounds like good landing practice and PL training also.

steady at 32 to 35 miles/per/hour

[Bill Cummings]

RGSA/Hawks,
Robin pulled up in my driveway at 09:30 and we put our gear and gliders in and on my Xterra for some ridge soaring at Anapra, New Mexico (USA).
The forecast said it would blow out all morning and taper off after one PM.

Round trip between launch and my house is 93 miles. A retrieve drive to the LZ would add 3.3 mile one way. So about one hundred miles there and home for a flying outing which isn't too bad.

Google Earth is showing me that launch elevation is 4,141' MSL the LZ is showing 3,910 for about 230' vertical. The ridge faces a little north of due east.
The length of the ridge running close to a north south direction is 640 yard long (Or interestingly 344.9 Smoots - what ever the heck that is. For sure spell checker never heard of it.)

We battled the wind setting up Robin's big U2 hang glider but only after waiting out gusts to 41 mph.

Robin @ Anapra NM 11-21-15.PNG (718.71 KiB) Viewed 3127 times

By 3:20 pm we gave up waiting for the wind to ease up as was the forecast and bagged it to drag it.

Blown out at Anapra NM 11-21-15.PNG (411.89 KiB) Viewed 3127 times

We made it back to my house by sunset at 5pm.
I think this is the second time at Anapra that Robin had to knock down the glider without a flight.