Sunday Funday Nov. 15, 2015 ?

[SamKellner]

The (willswing) Alpha flying Torrey is one of the most important milestones of a Hang Gliding comeback, in my opinion.

Let's surely hope so.

[JoeF]

Fun day it was! We did not get blown out as Sylmar did. Besides several types of "micro hang gliding" there were three significant soaring flights. Max Wagner, Bob Kuczewski, and Greg DeWolf even with some cross winds each had significant slope-soaring flights with Bob Kuczewski's WW Falcon 3 - 195. Greg accepted my pre-flighting of the Bob's wing, the only wing up for the day. The wind was at 15-22 mph at 6 ft. off the ground at the top of the slopes. One wing filled the needs of five pilots. Thanks, Bob!

Frank Colver, BobK, and I had extended micro hang gliding sessions. We each had a many micro hang gliding flights in those sessions.

BobK had an extended session of a second kind of micro hang gliding; following one of his soaring hang glidings flights he did wing running spiced with signifiant series of micro hang gliding flights that were probably greater than one second but less than three seconds.

One wing return had Frank Colver at left wing wire, BobK centered, and myself on right flight wire. Bob K. paused to note the rich moment under his historical interpretation; it was fun for him to have two founders of the early USHGA assist the wing's return to the blustery top.

Greg and Max top landed their significant soaring flights.

I explored three flavors of micro hang gliding today: regular, coat-winged hair, and large hat. Two extended sessions of many microHG flights.

BobK had in his past some Condor soaring flights at Dockweiler. But today was his first on his Falcon 3. Yeah!

For a day that was almost blown out gave many a day with great cloud-ocean changing views, good talk, and fun flights. Seagulls and pelicans and crows were soaring the gusty high winds. Extra thanks for Greg's multipart roles for a successful Dockweiler Funday.

Shelly Butler graced the party; he reported that many had gone to launch at Kagel, but had to return by road vehicle; no one flew; they were facing winds that were much too high for hang gliding.

[Bob Kuczewski]

A long awaited day ...

I believe the date was September 19th, 2004. The winds at Dockweiler were measured at 15mph early in the day, 22mph a little later in the day, and up to 42mph before the day was done. My logbook entry reads:

  "10 flights for a total of 3 minutes, Falcon 2 195, DSB 15-22-42mph!!
    Several straight out flights followed by a few soaring passes. Glen Phillips Soaring, Paul Thornbury"

I remember it like it was yesterday. As the weather moved in, I found myself huddled in my minivan watching through the occasional rain sprinkles on my windshield as Glen Phillips soared high above the ridge in his Pulse. Everyone else was blown out, but Glen's mastery of the sport was on full display.

Ever since that day, I've kept an eye on the Dockweiler forecast for such a prediction to coincide with my availability to fly. Today was that day.

Today was the Dockweiler club's "Sunday Funday" informal gathering, and I got an early start from San Diego - arriving before 10am when the wind was relatively calm. The forecast had been looking good for the past few days (see other posts), and I wanted to get set up early to be ready when it came on. As luck would have it, I got a phone call from Jeff (President of the Crestline club) and we had a good long discussion while Frank (President of the Dockweiler club) was urging me to come out an play. Jeff and I finished the conversation cordially, and already the wind was picking up.

Joe Faust showed up and we all hustled to get my Falcon 195 set up. But by then the wind was really howling, and we were having enough difficulty to put the entire effort into question. Even worse, the wind had already swung from south, through west, and was now coming from the northwest. So we began to repack the Falcon with some disappointment.

During the repack, someone made the suggestion that maybe this was a good time to practice some high wind / crosswind ground handling. Since we were already there with a half-packed Falcon, it wasn't a hard sell. So we restuffed the battens and began switching off on ground handling sessions under Greg's careful guidance. Before long, a miracle happened, and the wind switched to be almost due west again. Greg gave it a try and made the first soaring flight of the day (Greg makes flying look so easy). Max and Shelly showed up and Max made the second soaring flight ... showing off his considerable top landing skills. Eventually it was my turn, and I had my first high soaring flight in over a year. It was ... amazing.

Pictures to follow ...

[Bob Kuczewski]

Pictures ...

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[Frank Colver]

I don't want to hear anyone say that 60 feet high Dockweiler beach sand bluff flying is kid stuff. Congratulations to all who soared there yesterday and it was very much fun for me to watch and take photos and videos. I also had some very useful high wind ground handling experience under Greg's teaching and care and thanks to Bob for sharing his Falcon 195.

A good day was had by all

Links to videos to come later.

Frank Colver

[JoeF]

Frank, consider asking moderator to place something like "approximately 25 ft high slope". The number you placed is more than double what we have at Dockweiler.
Else, agree with all you noted!

[Frank Colver]

Oh, I was told it was 60 feet. So I don't know what the true height is. Someone, at the site some months ago, told me that it had been actually measured at 60 vertical feet. I also used to think it was lower than that. Maybe Greg knows something about this subject but he doesn't post on this forum.

Frank

[Bob Kuczewski]

Whatever the actual height may be, when the wind is howling ... it's NOT kid stuff!!

Super day, and great to see a good turnout from the Dockweiler club.

President Frank, you did a great job picking "Sunday Funday" this month!!!!

[Frank Colver]

Here is the link to the November 15, 2015 Dockweiler "Sunday Funday" soaring movie.

https://vimeo.com/146047471

Enjoy!

Frank

[JoeF]

Thanks, Frank, for putting up the quality video! This forum has a YouTube coding that could show a video, but not a Vimeo video.
Maybe there is some way to have direct show of the video.

My feet both were off the ground in some true hang gliding flights of the sort categorized as micro hang glides.
If in your ground handling both feet left the ground, then you too did some micro hang glides; same for Bob.
If one foot was still touching the ground then no micro hang gliding for that moment.
Notice also Max's and Greg's long hang gliding soaring flights were preambled with very distinct micro hang gliding flights as part of a launching operation; both feet were off the ground and then a touch and go again occurred. When ground handling with a foot still on the ground, then a kiting is occurring. A series of kiting and micro hang glides may form a session without intention to enter longer hang gliding flight. My words to Greg in my micro hang gliding and kiting series was, "I am going to come down now." That was to warn Greg that my gliding and kiting session was going to end with setting the wing down and taking off the tethering of my mass from the flying wing.