Soaring @ Blackhawk - July 4, 2009
Bruce B. and his Atos, Full-on Marcus w/ T2 154, Scott S. w/ Talon 140 and yours truly w/ T2 144. I recruited A+ rated, Sylmar driver, Erwin to drive for us. Erwin proudly shows off his lower anatomy in the launch segment. Forecast was for climbs to 11K and S/SW winds at 10kts. Marcus launched first and easily climbed out to 9K. I take off 5 minutes after him and you can just see his shadow as I complete a turn in front of launch. I found a different core while Marcus headed due North, got dome lift then eventually sank out and landed at the Park in Lucerne.
Bruce and Scott launched but Bruce sank out even with the ridge in front while Scott got up and joined me. Bruce clawed his way back up and Scott headed North w/ Bruce while I hung back waiting for the day to turn on better. I hung around launch and headed East while the boys went North about 5 miles. I couldn't get higher than 8,800' and headed NE toward the little hills near the 247 and sank out to 4,400'. I finally hooked something between the hills and the hwy that got me up to 6,000' as Scott joined me and Bruce followed overhead. We topped out about 6,100' and I headed for the tiny dry lake North of 247 and sank out and landed in a slight downwind, due to a thermal.
Scott hooked another column and joined Bruce and off they went to Lucerne where Scott circled over the market for 20 minues at 4,500' before calling it a day and landing next to his truck. Bruce finally caught the convergence and hit 11,600' before gliding 20+ miles upwind and landed at the soccer field on Bear Valley Rd in Victorville. It was gusting 15-25 MPH where Bruce touched down and that humongous, groomed sports field.
Nothing epic, but a really fun day and good practice for me in desert flying. On my way home through Los Angeles, I captured some fireworks action off of the freeways. Here's an older site guide to Blackhawk: http://expandingknowledge.com/...
Channel: Sports
Uploaded: November 30, 1999 at 12:00 am
Author: NMERider
Length: 10:00
Rating: 5.0
Views: 935
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Tags: AIR Atos VR Hang Glider Wills Wing T2 144
Video Comments
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NMERider (July 25, 2009 at 6:19 am)
Bummer about the shoulder, Bill. I eat gin-soaked raisins everyday for my arthritis and the old folk remedy really works and helps keep me airborne. Most of our XC drivers in SoCal are in the same boat as you. I still have a bunch of XC footage needing editing, as well as dozens of older videos I took down.
wrcummings (July 25, 2009 at 6:05 am)
Fun watching! Do it now while you can. I screwed up again J. I was working out getting ready for the Memorial Day fly-In at Dry Canyon, Alamogordo New Mexico and I aggravated an old shoulder injury (HG) and didn't get to fly at the fly-in. Just sleeping on the shoulder is making it worse. 60 years old and still hoping to get back up there again. So now I'm, once again, living vicariously through your flying videos. I was a driver at Chelan Butte WA (go there.) Then was a driver at King Mt. ID.
NMERider (July 24, 2009 at 10:44 pm)
Congratulations on your forthcoming license. I'd be happy to give give you my autograph if I see you. I usually fly at Sylmar or Crestline/Marshall.
tschüss - Jonathan
rodlbahnwof (July 24, 2009 at 10:33 pm)
great. howdi, nme. i am between the 6. and the 20 augus in california. if i see you, you have to give me an autogramm for my friends in bavaria, ok.? i am just a small step before the license. your vids are perfect.
NMERider (July 12, 2009 at 9:18 am)
That's hysterical. How did It miss your comment?
NMERider (July 12, 2009 at 9:18 am)
The beeping indicates the rate of climb. The device itself tells my altitude, airspeed and full GPS data too.
pjotr320 (July 11, 2009 at 1:46 pm)
Isn't it some kind of altitude thing? I've been wondering a long time what the beeping indicates...
SpecksUSA (July 6, 2009 at 10:47 pm)
NME kicks his feet like he's swimming in order to get higher in the air. :)
NMERider (July 6, 2009 at 6:46 pm)
That beeping is my bomb detector. You see I have this desire to be BLOWN UP. :-)
brangerm (July 6, 2009 at 6:39 pm)
Pretty cool! Is that little beeping sound some type of motor that keeps the thing flying? You're the BOMB!
NMERider (July 5, 2009 at 7:59 pm)
Well, you're very photogenic, Scott and the world has been missing out!
scotlicks (July 5, 2009 at 7:35 pm)
Thanks Jonathan! In 36 years of hang gliding, that's the 1st in air video I've ever had taken of me! Fun... (my wife Julia appreciated it!!)
Scott Smith
MaartenSpoek (July 5, 2009 at 7:05 pm)
Nice landing! Big brakes. Did you land with the wind in the back? You went so fast! Ah nice scenery.
DeltaGerard (July 5, 2009 at 5:38 pm)
Nice vid again! 5 stars.
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