Flying possibilities

[RobinHastings]

SATURDAY, APRIL 2:
Bill Cummings and I went out for a flight at Dry Canyon today. We actually left from Las Cruces in a small caravan - Bill, myself, and new pilot Taro Nihonyanagi in my truck, my daughter Keighley and our friend Kerry Guthrie in his. We were at the launch by noon - and an unexpectedly chilly noon it was. There was late, fresh snow from yesterday on Sierra Blanca to the north, 30 miles, but the air was clear and sunny. Bill set up his Sport2 and I set up my U2, and we were all set to take off by 2:00 pm. Bill went first, running off flawlessly and going right up. I followed about 5 minutes later, at 2:06 pm MDT, and went out, not up - but within 5 minutes I was climbing past 7500 ft MSL, 500 over launch. We had no trouble staying up today, though the turbulence was strong; I reached 10,000 ft, Bill got to 9200. It certainly got cold up there, however. We cruised around for about 40 minutes, then decided simultaneously that we'd both gotten cold enough, and headed for the Cox Field LZ. Bill landed first, with a nice southwest approach and, from my vantage point, a perfect touchdown. I came in a few minutes later, dumping altitude in defiance of air that seemed to be going up all over that piece of airspace. When I finally put it down I had Bill coaching me on the winds, and again made a pretty good landing thanks to his advice. Keighley, Taro and Kerry were all there, too, within the next 10 minutes. After packing up, and some exceptionally fine hamburgers at the Rockin' BZ nearby, we said our goodbyes and all made it home in good time. By the time we arrived in Las Cruces the temperature was a lovely 65 degrees F, and we were ready to call it a pretty nice flying day. Why the rest of the flying world wasn't soaring with us will forever remain a mystery...
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

SATURDAY, APRIL 2:
Bill Cummings and I went out for a flight at Dry Canyon today. We actually left from Las Cruces in a small caravan - Bill, myself, and new pilot Taro Nihonyanagi in my truck, my daughter Keighley and our friend Kerry Guthrie in his. We were at the launch by noon - and an unexpectedly chilly noon it was. There was late, fresh snow from yesterday on Sierra Blanca to the north, 30 miles, but the air was clear and sunny. Bill set up his Sport2 and I set up my U2, and we were all set to take off by 2:00 pm. Bill went first, running off flawlessly and going right up. I followed about 5 minutes later, at 2:06 pm MDT, and went out, not up - but within 5 minutes I was climbing past 7500 ft MSL, 500 over launch. We had no trouble staying up today, though the turbulence was strong; I reached 10,000 ft, Bill got to 9200. It certainly got cold up there, however. We cruised around for about 40 minutes, then decided simultaneously that we'd both gotten cold enough, and headed for the Cox Field LZ. Bill landed first, with a nice southwest approach and, from my vantage point, a perfect touchdown. I came in a few minutes later, dumping altitude in defiance of air that seemed to be going up all over that piece of airspace. When I finally put it down I had Bill coaching me on the winds, and again made a pretty good landing thanks to his advice. Keighley, Taro and Kerry were all there, too, within the next 10 minutes. After packing up, and some exceptionally fine hamburgers at the Rockin' BZ nearby, we said our goodbyes and all made it home in good time. By the time we arrived in Las Cruces the temperature was a lovely 65 degrees F, and we were ready to call it a pretty nice flying day. Why the rest of the flying world wasn't soaring with us will forever remain a mystery...
-Robin

https://youtu.be/fV8DqviOhcM

[RobinHastings]

SUNDAY, APRIL 3:
More flying today! Bill and I helped Taro Nihonyanagi to launch at Mesquite Dam today, then Taro was driver at Matt's Mountain (Mag Rim) in the afternoon. Bill decided, with his usual prescience, that it looked too light today, and left his glider on the car. With Bill's and Taro's help I hauled my Formula 144 to the launch, where Hadley Robinson, Lee Boone and Steven Crye were there to assist and spectate. I had the glider set up by 5:20 pm MDT. Whereas yesterday was chilly, on top of Dry Canyon, at Matt's Mountain the temperatures were in the mid-70's today. Perfectly clear again, too. Winds were cycling in with thermal cycles, anywhere from 5 to 15 mph. I chose a decent cycle at 5:30 and had a fine launch. I went up 20 feet, went left along the ridge, and found nothing that I could work to get up. Within two or three minutes I was making a sharp turn to bring it around into the Arroyo LZ. I made a good SW approach, with the wind slightly crossed from the west, and had a pretty fair landing (for me) a little past the flag. Just a sled run, but nice to fly the site once again, and at least Taro got a look at it. I don't know if Had and Steve got to fly their PG's after I launched, but I sure hope they did and that they had a great time in the air. Another lovely day in our desiccated desert paradise. (Hey, when do we get some rain?)
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Anapra NM is looking good on Launch Code and Wunderground.
(Click on attachment to expand if necessary.)

Anapra, NM Looking good 4-21-16.PNG (47.02 KiB) Viewed 3600 times

____________________________________________________________
Click on link below for Thursday April 21, 2016
https://www.wunderground.com/weather-forecast/zmw:79821.2.99999

[RobinHastings]

Yeah, that looks like a great forecast, Bill. Do you want to try flying there today?
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Yeah, that looks like a great forecast, Bill. Do you want to try flying there today?
-Robin

RGSA/Hawks,
I called Robin just a bit ago and we checked the updated forecast and of course the perfect conditions have somehow slid down the chart.
Forecast wind speeds are lower and a little more cross.
BUT
Friday is looking good. So when it gets here we will look again and if it isn't into any hill or mountain I'll drag out my static tow equipment and we can make things happen.
We will keep you posted.
Now I have to attack the garage and look for some Fusion parts.

[Bill Cummings]

Yeah, that looks like a great forecast, Bill. Do you want to try flying there today?
-Robin

RGSA/Hawks,
I called Robin just a bit ago and we checked the updated forecast and of course the perfect conditions have somehow slid down the chart.
Forecast wind speeds are lower and a little more cross.
BUT
Friday is looking good. So when it gets here we will look again and if it isn't into any hill or mountain I'll drag out my static tow equipment and we can make things happen.
We will keep you posted.
Now I have to attack the garage and look for some Fusion parts.

__________________________________________________________

Never Mind..PNG (131.6 KiB) Viewed 3591 times

[Bill Cummings]

RGSA/Hawks,
Robin and driver Robert G. will be at my house at 09:00!
We are headed for Mag Rim NW of Las Cruces, NM (USA).
Looks like launch early for HG and earlier for PG.
Also looks like a blow out for both in the early afternoon.

[Bill Cummings]

RGSA/Hawks,
Robin and driver Robert G. will be at my house at 09:00!
We are headed for Mag Rim NW of Las Cruces, NM (USA).
Looks like launch early for HG and earlier for PG.
Also looks like a blow out for both in the early afternoon.

And we did go to Mag Rim. For pictures and video of the flying on Sat 4-23-2016
page back and click on the:
Magdalena Rim NW of Las Cruces NM (USA)thread.
As for today Monday and Tuesday Wunderground has both days forecast to be -
29 mph.
Launch Code is showing:
33 mph Monday and Tuesday.
EDIT:
Before supper yesterday Dave C. dropped off some spare downtubes for the RGSA Club.
They are round and thick .125 and not anodized but could be shortened to fit most anything.
If Scott can make Dave's old 2" HP2 wing tube work we have that available. (I still have to measure what I have here for Scott.)

[Bill Cummings]

Everyone, I've got really good news!
The meteorologists two days ago announced that Monday and Tuesday would be blown out. Well --- they didn't actually say that -- but --
from what they said we were able to deduce that as far as HG & PG was concerned --- it would be blown out.
I find this to be really exciting news for the meteorologist since they now have proof to point to that they got it right! Even more fantastic is that they got it right TWO DAYS IN ADVANCE!

But now I have some really bad news! They were right. (It's blown out.)
Isn't it funny how the ying and the yang of this comes into play?
The mixed feelings and all---
It's just like watching your mother-in-law drive over a cliff in your brand new car.