Flying possibilities

[Bill Cummings]

We needed a north wind at the training hill here in Las Cruces NM (USA) 12-08-15.
Wunderground was saying it would be NNW 3 to 6 mph all day. (NOT)

We needed north for the training hill. 12-08-15.PNG (88.5 KiB) Viewed 3265 times

We doubted this since the most recent history was already making fibbers out of them.
But since we hold forecasters to a lower standard than bank tellers and heart surgeons we went to the training hill anyway intending to gain proof of concept with our BT4 device.

Trainer glider on transport rack..PNG (722.13 KiB) Viewed 3265 times

I reworked the Hot Nose Release so that it would actually drop and clunk on the roof of the Xterra to let the driver know audibly that the tripping of the nose release handle had actually activated the Hot Nose Release from the nose ring of the hang glider. I put some two inch wide pipe tape on over the paint on the roof top to prevent chipping the paint when the Hot Nose Release fell and hit the roof.

Cold Nose Safety & Hot Nose Release..PNG (700.79 KiB) Viewed 3265 times

This change will necessitate me re-adjusting the release line dangling from my gliders nose plate
But now it is right for the clubs smaller training glider.

Ready for transport..PNG (809.17 KiB) Viewed 3265 times

Transported up the training hill..PNG (160.29 KiB) Viewed 3265 times

If the wind will be right tomorrow we may get to try out the PL landing practice (no tow line.) on our new found road.

[Bill Cummings]

RGSA/Hawks,
We had another, "Light and Variable," day (L&V - or L&M - Light & Miserable). We put off flying for today but maybe tomorrow will be better.
For our BT4 project IE, Platform Launch (PL) for landing practice, I'm looking for a day when the wind is mostly down road at about ten MPH.
I've had no problem launching in a 15 mph, ninety degree, crosswind while platform launching from a land vehicle.
My first platform launches were while boat towing. It was when popping a WEAK-link right out of the launching yokes
where I found out that launching at around 32 mph (at 1,300' msl) had enough energy stored up that I could maneuver
comfortably clear of the boat and land. I later did a PL from the back of my Ford Escort in a stiff crosswind without a tow
line, turned 90 degrees into the wind and had good landings.

With a 20 degree crosswind of 10 mph once the PL vehicle is up to launch speed the relative crosswind (what the glider "sees,") is very small.

In a PM from Joe F. a while back he gave me the idea to not climb as high as possible after launching (without a tow line) but pull in
on the bar, save the energy, and see how far I could extend the glide with the help of ground effect.
I have to admit I never gave that a thought since each time in the past I had only wanted to make the most clearance with the vehicle that I
could get, round off the climb before stall and land at the side of the road.

Doing half of what I was doing and half of what Joe suggested would allow me to better incorporate the "Trim + 1 second and flare," landing
technique taught by instructor Jim Rooney. This strikes me as an improved landing procedure for PL landing practice.

Hey - look at that - just short of 38 years in the sport and I'm still a student. THANKS JOE!

[Bill Cummings]

It is west at 11 in Deming 60 miles up wind from the Mesquite gravel pit
Deming is at 276 degrees (GN).
We will attempt to work on our proof of concept BT4 if the wind is good. Maybe we'll get some video of us breaking things.
(KNOCK IT OFF ) I mean breaking the record for most times up the Mentor Hill.

[Bill Cummings]

It is west at 11 in Deming 60 miles up wind from the Mesquite gravel pit
Deming is at 276 degrees (GN).
We will attempt to work on our proof of concept BT4 if the wind is good. Maybe we'll get some video of us breaking things.
(KNOCK IT OFF ) I mean breaking the record for most times up the Mentor Hill.

____________________________________________________________________________________
How much rope should I take off my winch to lynch a Meteorologist?
With such a good forecast and we did get the wind in Las Cruces but we went south of town 14 miles and had 2-3 mph going up the valley to the north.
So we were able to four wheel up the sandy gravel pit for a west wind had it shown up but we gave up and went home. Suckers once more for believing.

Cruces was good but we had 2-3 south.PNG (37.44 KiB) Viewed 3248 times

Tomorrow looks like the last chance to chase a lie until after the weekend.

[Bill Cummings]

RGSA/Hawks,
Robin and I are going to leave my place at 08:30 for the Magdalena Rim (NW of Las Cruces, NM).
I've volunteered for the driver's seat. The plan is to hustle up before any possible blow-out that some models say may arrive later in the afternoon.
We think we know what we're doing but the follow up report this evening will have the cat out of the bag.
If things go well the report may appear all knowing an cocky or if not it may to appear that the weather-guy's are idiots.
Check back this evening and find out how the flying went.

[RobinHastings]

Well, the flying worked out - but not quite as the weather models forecast. Bill and I reached the launch with my U2 on the glider cart at 10:05 am (a 10-minute walk from the fence, not bad at all for guys like us). We were set up and I had a hang check by 11:00 am, we walked it to the launch, and then we waited. For a lull in the howling winds? No. For something strong enough to keep me up in the air! Forecast was for something like 15-20 mph ground winds by 11:00; instead we were seeing 10-12. But I was willing to wait, and at last, around 11:45, things looked pretty good. I got my hang check, Bill turned on his GoPro camera on the keel, and I cleared him from the nose. In two steps I was plucked off the ramp and was already soaring. I spent about 10 minutes making soaring passes back and forth near the launch, then explored the ridge a little further. I worked a couple of weak thermals and gained a bit, but about the highest I got for the day was 400 feet over launch height. Nice, pleasant temperatures, and very little turbulence - it's a fine thing to be doing on a late autumn day in New Mexico. When I couldn't find any more lift I set up a good, southwest approach into 8-10 mph of wind in the Arroyo LZ. I went just past the flag, cracked a few branches off a seemingly-innocent mesquite bush, and had a standup landing, for about 15 minutes of airtime. Still nothing stronger than a stiff breeze on the ground... Bill was down with the truck before I even started pulling battens, and we were back at Casa de Cummings by 2:15 pm. It was a very fine Christmas gift. Thank you, Bill! It's your turn next time.
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Well, the flying worked out - but not quite as the weather models forecast. Bill and I reached the launch with my U2 on the glider cart at 10:05 am (a 10-minute walk from the fence, not bad at all for guys like us). We were set up and I had a hang check by 11:00 am, we walked it to the launch, and then we waited. For a lull in the howling winds? No. For something strong enough to keep me up in the air! Forecast was for something like 15-20 mph ground winds by 11:00; instead we were seeing 10-12. But I was willing to wait, and at last, around 11:45, things looked pretty good. I got my hang check, Bill turned on his GoPro camera on the keel, and I cleared him from the nose. In two steps I was plucked off the ramp and was already soaring. I spent about 10 minutes making soaring passes back and forth near the launch, then explored the ridge a little further. I worked a couple of weak thermals and gained a bit, but about the highest I got for the day was 400 feet over launch height. Nice, pleasant temperatures, and very little turbulence - it's a fine thing to be doing on a late autumn day in New Mexico. When I couldn't find any more lift I set up a good, southwest approach into 8-10 mph of wind in the Arroyo LZ. I went just past the flag, cracked a few branches off a seemingly-innocent mesquite bush, and had a standup landing, for about 15 minutes of airtime. Still nothing stronger than a stiff breeze on the ground... Bill was down with the truck before I even started pulling battens, and we were back at Casa de Cummings by 2:15 pm. It was a very fine Christmas gift. Thank you, Bill! It's your turn next time.
-Robin

For some reason trying to embed a Youtube video has the little wheel spinning endlessly so I'll just post the link to Robin's flight earlier today that will take you to Youtube. I've found that viewing at Youtube makes for faster viewing with less hesitation during play back. Many times I can increase from 360p to 480p by clicking on the cog wheel on the lower right of the Youtube window for higher definition viewing. Also you can expand to full screen there when you can't when embedded.
https://youtu.be/W0DxYH0dxpw

[RobinHastings]

Thanks, Bill! That is a nicely-edited video. One of my better flights at Magdalena Rim - it was a very nice day to be out there!
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Deming NM less than 30 minutes ago was showing west 20 mph gusts 31.
'Cruces, NM less than 30 minutes ago was showing west 20 mph gusts 24 wind chill 38.
FAT CHANCE -NO WAY!
Football!

[RobinHastings]

Sunday afternoon I looked at the weather forecast for Monday, and said to myself (and Bill), hey, this could work! Ground winds were forecast to be southwest, starting at 5 mph at 8:00 am and increasing to 25 by 2:00 pm. If we caught it at the right time... Mike Reedy agreed to drive for us again, and by 9:30 we were all standing at the launch at Magdalena Rim. Only one glider (mine) was on the cart, however; Bill didn't like the direction of the strengthening winds, and chose to leave his glider on the truck. He sure helped in setting mine up, though! Mike took a hike to explore the Rim, and returned in time to be the nose man when I launched at 10:55. Just like Friday's, the launch went off like an elevator to the sky. I made several passes across the ridge, mostly staying to the left (southeast) of launch, and gaining about 50 feet each time. I found some good thermals around the bend, near the highest points of the ridge, and worked those up to a couple of hundred feet over, but (also like Friday) they were a bit unreliable. I could have stayed up longer (where have we heard that before?) but decided to head to the Arroyo LZ before the winds got much stronger. The red, white and blue of the flag was easy to spot, and winds were coming right up the slot. I set up a southwest approach again, pulled in for speed, cleared the flag and, in winds of 10-15 mph, set the glider down like a feather on a table. Perfect! (And no witnesses, again... Rats!) Mike came by with the truck as I was pulling battens, and we got the glider loaded before noon. Bill was busy with a shovel, clearing out a rock that makes for a bumpy path into the landing zone; we picked him up (and the rock) and reached Las Cruces well before 2:00 pm. Another good day in the desert southwest - and I STILL owe Bill the next one. Happy Christmas, everyone!
-Robin