The ninth annual "Open Cockpit Regatta" provided much fun today. Of
the 37 glider tows (thanks, Ken) in Tehachapi California, 15 of them
were open cockpit.
I left the Schleicher 26 at home and instead flew a Schweizer 26 with
sport canopy. Ian Cant allowed several of us to fly his newly aquired
26, the first Schweizer I've seen with airspeed in Knots. Jeff Byard's
Bowlus Baby Albatross and Schweizer TG-2 also made multiple flights.
Unfortunately, Doug Fronius and his LK-11 couldn't make it, Raul
Blacksten couldn't rig his T-31, and Jeff's T-21 "Rhone Moose" is still
being refurbished. The lift was decent, going to about 8200' (4000 feet
AGL).
There were also four open-doors rides given by Jeff Byard in the
Legend Cub, a Piper Cub clone.
We've had every imaginable type of weather on New Year's, ranging
from snow and wind to nearly 80 degrees F. This has caused us not to
fly and other days when people would rather climb high and cruise
around with the canopy closed. Today was just sunny and in the 50s.
A sun- and wind- burned group retired to the Chinese restaurant for
more laughs.
Perhaps other soaring sites let people out of the loony bin on New
Year's too?
Jim