The Ventus was piloted by Don Gurnett, space scientist and long time
glider competition pilot who started out soaring in a Cherokee II 3-
plus decades ago. He managed to rack up a number of miles today in
his Ventus under the overcast but remarked to Tony that there was no
way a Cherokee could have kept going.

Don has presented at conventions I think mostly about thermal
structure. He gave a talk at our state seminar a couple years ago and
I asked him to focus on his life and how he got started in soaring.
The resulting presentation covered his championship hand launched
glider records as a teen (some still standing), his scientific career
working with James Van Allen up to the current Cassini mission, and
his Cherokee II flights and many competition victories. Fascinating
stuff and a highly recomended presentation!

Good work Tony. Folks, how many glider pilots will choose to land out
just for the experience rather than hang around the airport hoping for
better conditions or the convienience of an airport? Some might think
him nuts for doing so but he inspired local club pilots today and
promoted the sport to the general public too. My Marfa Gliders hat is
off to him.

MM
On Nov 3, 6:40 pm, wrote:
On Nov 2, 6:39 pm, wrote:





On Nov 2, 4:28 pm, "Mike Schumann"
wrote:

We're looking forward to your report.

Mike Schumann

wrote in message

roups.com...

Football TFR at Ames starting 10:30am AND so far no tow pilots...

Tony is considering trailering to Farabault MN home of Cross Country
Soaring FBO (Don Ingraham Hilton Cup alum) for a sat tow.

It looks like the winds are going to be blowing pretty good. If there's
lift, it could be a great day for a downwind dash.

blipmaps are indicating that it should be good. boundary layer heights
in the 6000 foot range all afternoon. thermal strengths of nearly 400
fpm.

all my flights are downwind dashes

--
Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

well i ended up driving to Muscatine for a tow (or two) form the
Blackhawk Soaring club. While forecasts all indicated good lift for
today, they did not predict the high cirrus overcast that would move
in. On the second (high) tow, i was able to maintain altitude for a
while near the airport so i figured what the heck, might as well try,
so downwind i went. quickly cruised over the mississippi for my first
flight into another state. i was able to stay in a street of lift for
the first 5 miles or so but after that i dropped out and was unable to
connect with anytyhing, sky was fairly obscured and nothing was
working at all. landed in a beautiful pasture right next to a
farmhouse with a great driveway and a very friendly old farmer. grand
total distance was probably somewhere around 12 miles. I guess this
could qualify as flying a cross country in the midwest in november, as
I was in lift and actually did climb a little initially. a Ventus was
able to fly about 30 milels upwind and back under the overcast, but no
such luck for me. fun time anyway! and a very special thanks to Chris
Uhl who woke up at oh dark thirty this morning to come with to crew,
what dedication!- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -