2006 Hangglider Logs

Flight 2006-38
Date: Sunday, December 17, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Airtime: 6 Minutes
Launch Time: 16:30
Landing Time: 16:36
Highest Altitude: 1270 Feet
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
LZ: Florida Field
Launch Condition: Windy enough to be soarable. A little cross out of the West
Overview: Thanks to Tony Middleton who gave me a ride up the mountain. He wanted to fly also but considered the conditions to be too windy to bother setting up. By the time I launched though, the wind had backed off a lot. My launch was not too good. The glider yawed towards the wind as soon as I jumped into the glider. I should have run longer to get flying speed before jumping into the glider.
Flight 2006-37
Date: Friday, December 15, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Airtime: 25 Minutes
Launch Time: 16:10
Landing Time: 16:40
Highest Altitude: 1570 Feet
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
LZ: Florida Field
Launch Condition: Straight in and Soarable
Overview: Thanks to Butch Tatum for helping me launch in the somewhat windy conditions and then driving my car down for me. I could have flown for 15 or 20 minutes before darkness set in but 25 minutes was long enough.
Flight 2006-36
Date: Friday, September 1, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Airtime: 4 Minutes
Launch Time: 19:00
Launch: Petit-Jean
LZ: Ernie Davis's North Field
Launch Condition: Almost soarable but getting lighter
Overview: Steve Prater arrived late and launched into what I hoped would be soarable conditions. He sank out though so I had to launch again to try to prove that PJ could be soared. I did gain altitude while flying towards the grave site and was above launch when I flew back by but lost everything flying to the North. My launch was notable in that I drifted to the right soon after becoming airborne and was uncomfortably close to the trees on the right. John Jenkins vowed to cut down the offending trees soon. I did begin my takeoff run as high as possible which could have contributed to the erratic launch.
Flight 2006-35
Date: Friday, September 1, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Airtime: 20 Minutes
Launch Time: 16:40
Landing Time: 17:00
Highest Altitude: 1100 Feet
Launch: Petit-Jean
LZ: Ernie Davis's South Field
Launch Condition: Thermal blowing straight in
Overview: John Jenkins was right behind me; hooked in and ready to go. As soon as I saw a decent cycle, I launched and began S turns straight in front of launch. I was too low for circling. I got up and eventially found a good thermal near the power lines to the South-East. Unfortunately, John couldn't get up...possibly because the thermal was short lived and it took me a couple of minutes to get out of the way.

My landing field was not my first choice. I made the mistake of trying to ridge soar the north ridge and found no lift there. I was too low to make it back to where John had landed so ended up landing by the other road which goes into the gate.

I certainly need to thank Earl Anderson for picking me up as I was walking along the road and taking me back to John's truck at the gate. He then drove along the other road to pick up John and gave him a ride back. We then met the land owner, Ernie Davis, who agreed to place Steve Prater's lock on the chain for us to use. Yeah! Now we can drive in to get our gliders if we sink out. We still need to be careful to protect his land. We don't want to lose this privilege.
Flight 2006-34
Date: Thursday, August 31, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Airtime: 4 minutes
Launch: Petit-Jean
LZ: Ernie Davis's North Field
Launch Condition: not quite soarable
Overview: I finally took a flight after waiting all day for it to wonder off.
Flight 2006-33
Date: Sunday, August 27, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
LZ: Kevin and Melinda's Field
Airtime: 10 Minutes
Launch Condition: Straight in.
Overview: This was an easy launch off the south side of Mt. Nebo and I was hoping to get up and thermal. There was a family eating lunch and offered to call 911 for me if I crashed. There were no hangglider pilots there. It was fairly buoyant going out towards the spine but I didn't hit any real lift until I was about half way out there. The lift was so strong that I was sure that I would get up to cloud base. Unfortunately, I lost it and was afraid to look too long with my poor performing glider. I tried to make it to Weslies but the glider was too slow to progress through the sink. The family was very friendly and I hope to land there again soon.

Email: I had three flights this weekend. I am getting a little more comfortable flying my glider. Perhaps too comfortable. In the latest flight for instance, I couldn't glide to one of the more familiar fields because of the conditions. So far I have alwasys made it to the field but I am afraid that that might not alwasys be the case. This was the weekend of the Nebo fly-in. Very few people showed up. This could be because of the forcast of 50% rain or it could be that there was just no activity planned to attract pilots. Anyway, I hope that the Mag flyin goes better

Flight 2006-32
Date: Saturday, August 26, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo North East Launch
LZ: North East field
Airtime: 6 Minutes
Launch Condition: Straight in.
Overview: I had a good launch but could not work the broken thermals on the way out to the field. I didn't even try to ridge soar. Dave Dunning launched from the east launch and made his way to the north east launch along the ridge. Eventually he sank out too and got less than 20 minutes.
Flight 2006-31
Date: Thursday, August 24, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
LZ: Florida Field
Airtime: 7 Minutes
Launch Condition: Almost soarable.
Overview: Butch Tatum helped me off then came out to get me after I sank out. I couldn't have flown for more than 30 minutes anyway because of how late I launched. It was buoyant all the way out and I was very happy with my flight.
Flight 2006-30
Date: Saturday, August 19, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
LZ: Florida Field
Airtime: 12 Minutes
Launch Condition: Soarable.
Overview: After I rode my bike up the mountain from the first flight of the day, I noticed that it was soarable. There were several other people there with an interest in flying so I went back down the mountain to retrieve my glider. I took my time getting back up because I was certain that it would stay soarable until dark. It was still looking good by the time I got back up but a little less soarable than at 4 PM. By the time I was ready to go, the wind had dropped off considerably and Chris Price was ahead of me and reluctant to find out how soarable it really was. I agreed with Chris that there was a good chance of sinking out even though Tony Middleton was soaring a couple of hundred feet up. Chris let me launch ahead of him and I promptly got up and to the top of the towers. Chris launched next and was not so lucky. He soared the headwall some but soon had to head out to the landing field. I soon followed because the wind was getting so light that I couldn't stay up even with my good position above the ridge. Message to Region6: These are two entries from my log book. It is unfortunate that we can't put up a good show for the public at the once per year fly in here on Mt. Nebo. The turnout next weekend for the unadvertised flyin may be better but it is doubtful that the press and large number of spectators will be there.
Flight 2006-29
Date: Saturday, August 19, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
LZ: Florida Field
Airtime: 4 Minutes
Launch Condition: Light wind
Overview: I was the only one set up for the Nebo fly-in so when 2 PM rolled around, I got ready to fly even though conditions did not look promising for a soaring flight. I had been on launch for several hours to answer questions and whenever the question of when I would be flying came up, I always answered between two and three o'clock. The good thing about waiting until then is that a reporter from the Russellville Courier was on hand to take photos so at least we will have some coverage in the newspaper.
Flight 2006-28
Date: Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Magazine
LZ: Mt. Nebo Florida Field
Airtime: 1 hour 35 Minutes
Launch Condition: Good thermal just out front. Wind predominately out of the west.
Launch Time: 15:05
Landing Time: 16:40
Highest Altitude: Between 7000 and 8000 Feet
Overview: Thanks Butch Tatum for offering to drive for me. I still do not have very good radio communication and didn't give him nearly as much information as he needed so he was a real trooper for not complaining. I need to add a radio head set to my christmas wish list for sure. My flight path, to the best of my recollection was from launch to Rick's to Phil Woodson's air field to the south side of Chiquilah Mountain to the north side of Chiquilah mountain to the Mt. Nebo pool and finally to the Florida Field which is right next to my house. I was worried about sinking out when I was headed out into the blue above Phil Woodson's air field and again when I aborted a crossing of Chiquilah mountain due to heavy sink and ended up about 1300 Feet but I lucked out both times.

I think that I am entitled to some points for this flight. How about it Task Master Mike??? I guess that I am fully back into flying now that I have a cross country flight under my belt. See you guys at the mountain.

Flight 2006-27
Date: Wednesday, August 9, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
LZ: Florida Field
Airtime: 4 Minutes
Launch Condition: Light west wind
Overview: Morning flight just to build confidence in my ability to make it to the Florida Field. I am thankful that Dave dunning cleared some trees on the south launch because otherwise, I might have clipped one of the taller ones.
Flight 2006-25 and 2006-26
Date: Wednesday, August 2, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Short Mountain
Airtime: 4 Minutes
Launch time: 10 AM and 1PM
Launch Condition: Light Wind but straight in.
Overview: This was a discovery flight to see if Short Mountain is really a hang 2 site. I don't think that it is based on my second flight where I had to constantly evaluate my glide to see if I could clear the power lines. I really wish that they didn't put power lines near so many of our hanggliding sites.
Flight 2006-23 and 2006-24
Date: Monday, July 31, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: Training Hill Harness
Launch: Danville Training Hill
Airtime: 30 Seconds
Launch time: 7:30 PM
Launch Condition: Windy but smooth
Flight 2006-22
Date: Sunday, July 30, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Magazine
LZ: Rick's Field
Airtime: 1 hour 45 Minutes
Launch Condition: Straight in
Launch Time: 15:20
Landing Time: 17:05
Highest Altitude: 6920 Feet
Overview: Thanks Jim Kerns for stopping by my house and asking me if I wanted to go with you to Mag. This flight was very enjoyable! It is obvious though that I will have to be careful with my Falcon because the ground speed is very low and it is difficult to fly fast due to the bar pressure.
Flight 2006-21
Date: Sunday, July 23, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo East Launch
LZ: Florida Field
Airtime: 4 Minutes
Launch Condition: Light wind
Overview: Morning flight just to build confidence in my ability to make it to the Florida Field.
Flight 2006-20
Date:
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
Airtime: 4 Minutes
Launch Condition: Light wind
Flight 2006-19
Date:
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
Airtime: 4 Minutes
Launch Condition: Light wind
Flight 2006-18
Date: Thursday, June 22, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: Training Hill Harness
Launch: Danville Training Hill
Airtime: 15 Seconds
Launch time: 8 AM
Launch Condition: No Wind at all
Flight 2006-17
Date: Saturday, June 10, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Butch's backyard launch near Red Oak Oklahoma
LZ: The LZ Closest to takeoff
Airtime: 5 minutes
Launch time: 12:50
Launch Condition: Strong and cross out of the west somewhat.
Flight 2006-16
Date: Saurday, June 10, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Danville Training Hill
Airtime: 15 Seconds
Launch time: 7 AM
Launch Condition: No Wind at all
Flight 2006-15
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Nebo South Launch
LZ: Florida Field
Airtime: 1 hour
Launch time: 19:10
Highest Altitude: 1530 Feet AGL
Launch Condition: Straight in and Soarable
Flight 2006-14
Date: Sunday, May 21, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Mt. Magazine
LZ: Mrs. Albright's
Airtime: 1 hour 3 minutes
Launch time: 14:30
Highest Altitude: 3200 Feet AGL
Launch Condition: Straight in and Soarable
Flight 2006-13
Date: Saturday, May 13, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: High Energy Sports Tracer
Launch: Secret Site
LZ: Secret Site LZ
Airtime: 1 Minute
Launch Condition: Straight in but not quite Soarable
Flight 2006-12
Date: Sunday, April 16, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: Training Hill Harness
Launch: Heavener
LZ: Heavener LZ
Airtime: 30 Minutes
Launch Condition: Straight in and Soarable
Flight 2006-11
Date: Sunday, April 16, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: Training Hill Harness
Launch: Heavener
LZ: Heavener LZ
Airtime: 10 Minutes
Launch Condition: Straight in and Nearly Soarable
Flight 2006-10
Date: Saturday, April 1, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: Training Hill Harness
Launch: Jasper
LZ: Jasper Powerline LZ
Airtime: 6 Minutes
Launch Condition: Straight in and Light
Flight 2006-9
Date: March 26, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: Training Hill Harness
Launch: Jasper
LZ: Jasper Powerline LZ
Airtime: 15 Minutes
Launch Condition: Ridge Soarable
Flights 2006-6 through 2006-8
Date: Friday, March 24, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: Training Hill Harness
Launch: Lookout Mountain Large Hill
Number of flights: 3
Launch Conditions: Straight in, Light and COLD!
Flights 2006-1 through 2006-5
Date: March 23, 2006
Glider: WW Falcon
Harness: Training Hill Harness
Launch: Lookout Mountain Large Hill
Number of flights: 5
Launch Conditions: Straight in, Light and COLD!