Flying possibilities

[Bill Cummings]

The flying possibilities here in the desert southwest are strong today.
When I stopped my vehicle I made the mistake of parking with the rear of the Xterra into the wind. When I opened the drivers side door a gust caught it and sent me flying out of the drivers seat. I was lucky enough that my vehicles plastic door guard met up with the other vehicles plastic side guard and did their job.
It is difficult to see the New Mexico horizon due to Arizona on it’s way to Texas.
Is it windy too in San Diego?

[Bill Cummings]

Well the good news is that it’s supposed to cool off to 100 degrees Saturday.
The bad news is that it’s supposed to cool off to 100 degrees Saturday.

[RobinHastings]

SUNDAY, JUNE 8:
I had a good time flying Dry Canyon today. Jan Zschenderlein (with kids) and Keighley Hastings (my kid) were the drivers. The newly-graded road could sure use some rain and packing in spots! But no chance on this day; there were good, towering cumies to the east, past Cloudcroft, but not a cloud to be seen overhead. We also had to go around a big Ford 250 pickup that stood abandoned in the middle of the road; Jan spotted oil from it, trailed out down the road, so we developed a scenario as to probable cause. (And the smarts of the owners, of course). We got to the launch about 10:30 am. I flew in my Airwaves Formula 144 (thanks again, Matt!) and took off about 11:30. I had a fine launch, went down the ridge a few points to the resident thermal, and quickly took it up to about 9000 ft MSL (2000 over launch). I looked for the abandoned truck but couldn't see it - and neither could Jan and Keighley when they drove back down. It was nice to have some altitude! Cooler up there - though the temperature didn't break 100 F on the ground, today. There was sink between thermals, so when I flew out to the West Face I was down to about 6800 ft. From there, not finding much lift, I went out to the Cox Field LZ, where the conditions were rocking. I'm glad I didn't stay up for another hour! I got lifted as I came in on final approach, and had to do another turn or two to dump altitude, but came in at last without a whack or a broken downtube. All in all, it was wonderful to be in the air again, even if only for 20 minutes. If you fly, this time of year, expect to get up high and then come down hard. Be safe!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

Thursday, July 3, 2014:
A very nice day today, all around. Jon Boarini, a Hang 4 pilot from Florida, was driving through on his way to a new teaching job in Las Vegas. With Jesse Cone as our driver, we went up to Dry Canyon launch. The road, by the way, is vastly better than it was on Sunday, when Jan Z., Chloe, Patrick and I found foot-deep moon dust on the way. The recent rains have done some packing for us. On launch Jon set up his Wills Wing T2A, I set up my Formula, and we were both in the air by noon. The conditions were excellent. Clear skies overhead, lots of cumulus building up eastwards, but no overdevelopment. Lift was sketchy at first, and both Jon and I worried about sinking out, then we found some saving thermals near the West Face. I went from 6000 ft MSL to over 7500 in one column of lift, while Jon circled right overhead. By 1:00 pm it was starting to get rougher, and not having any great need to hang out forever, I went to the Cox Field LZ. Lots of lift right there, too - we could have stayed up all day, but decided to bring it in while the winds were still mild and steady. I made a west approach and a perfect landing, followed almost immediately by Jon, with Jesse right there to coach us on. It was Jon's first mountain flight in years (Florida has a paucity of 10,000-ft peaks) and he was thrilled. I was, too - it was another great day of airtime. Jesse had to go shortly after we landed, so Jon and I had good barbecue on 10th Street before making it back to Las Cruces in time for my evening astronomy class. Jon went back out to do some photography, and stayed over with Jan Z. in La Luz, before continuing his road trip on Friday. Hey, the airtime is good - get out there and have some!
-Robin

[RobinHastings]

DRY CANYON, July 12, 2014
Mike Ellsworth and I, with driver Martin Lara of Chihuahua, went up to Dry Canyon launch about 11:15 am today. Conditions were overcast but not threatening, and by 1:30 I was on the ramp. Winds were light, south and southeast. I took off well, cruised the ridge, and found one of the resident thermals before the Bowl that took me up to 9000 ft MSL (2000 above launch). I looked for others after I topped that one out, but never found another as good. Mike waited for another good launch cycle (winds today were light, southeast to south) and finally took off at 1:55. We both had about 40 minutes in the air. Winds were light at the Cox Field LZ. I brought my U2 in using a big flare, plus the wheels. Mike added the nose plate to his final touchdown, but no aluminum required repair at the end of the day. Nice flying, about 40 minutes of airtime for each of us. Now I'm waiting with Jan Z. for some good evening conditions so that he can do some paragliding. Another good Saturday in Alamogordo...
-Robin

[Bill Cummings]

Robin I had a change in my plans and I will be able to drive for you to Mag Rim Sat and Sunday.
Give me a call.

[Bill Cummings]

I arrived home at 11:00 pm. (Thursday).

Just outside of Las Cruces on I-10 westbound lane the guys in blue, green and maybe brown were having a mega flashing light party of some sort.

I have no idea what all the fuss was about but in nature you would see such activity if you knocked down five bee hives all at once at a nudist convention.

I left Phoenix, AZ’s record breaking heat of 116 degrees at 3:30 AZ time.

At 12:35 pm I nose wired Ole and Bill Comstock off the Mingus Mountain AZ ramp under a thundering Cu-nimb. (Not me ----fat chance -- No Way!)

Yesterday no one flew since it was over 100 degrees below the mountain. It was nice at the campground at 7,818’ msl.

I had made the Mingus run to deliver a glider that I picked up on my trip to Minnesota to see family.

It sure has been hot lately. No flying for me since it’s just the opposite condition that I had in Minnesota in February when it was 40 below zero. No flying then either.
I should be free to fly Sunday after, noon.

[Bill Cummings]

RGSA/HAWKS.
We are still in monsoon season for our area and off the pavement travel does relocate mud.

I’m hoping that the four wheelers aren’t doing what some feel that four wheelers do which is try to get up the muddy Dry Canyon road in only, “LOOK AT ME GUYS -- TWO WHEEL DRIVE ONLY! --AHILK, AHILK, GOLLY LOOK AT THE MUD ON MY FOUR BY FOUR!-- HOLD MY BEER AND LET‘S GET A SELFIE AND TWEET IT!” (yeehaw and fist bumps all around.) (some high fives too.)

Cloudy most of the day yesterday and looking like rain so Robin picked up a DVD at Red Box for a $1.30 (Captain Phillips). We watched it at my place while it rained on my BBQ on the patio. (Tender loin, Terriyaki, sweet potato, corn on the cob ---no booze or women this time.)

If the rain permits tomorrow, Wednesday, I will drive for Robin while he gives Mag. Rim a try.

We are planning a 500 mile trip to Mingus Mountain, AZ on the 12th of Aug. weather permitting.

[Bill Cummings]

Well,
The forecast for today is conflicted.
One says SE at 5 mph another says, SSW at 4 mph.
Only SSW would work at Mag Rim.

I wish the Sooth Sayers were better at forecasting ---Like me.

I give it a zero percent chance of snow today and 100% chance of dark tonight!!
(I’ll put money on it too.)

Robin hasn’t called yet by 9:30 am so I’m thinking he is in a state of indecision due to the Sooth Sayers.

[RobinHastings]

Hi, Bill. Yeah, it didn't look that good on Wednesday. Unfortunately, this weekend doesn't look too great either; mostly east winds, except when they're north, and a good chance of rain. Of course, if Saturday looks good, I'll be ready to go. I'll post my forecast in a few minutes, over in my weather page.
-Robin