Dashing downwind

Congrads tony, as a 1-26 flyer where theres nothing volger about running downwind lol its great to see someone else making a free run. You modern glass winnys need to buck up and make the run!
Dan 1-26 #225

Tony,

Congratulations on a fine winter flight! Will be interested in hearing the story ... and comparison between TopMeteo, DrJack and XCSkies forecasts if you get to it.

Walt Rogers WX

On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 5:25:33 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Made it to declared goal of Talihina, OK with not much trouble. Spent a little more time below 5500 msl than I'd have liked in the last 40 miles there.


Truly amazing! That's farther than I ever flew in a POWERED airplane.

Thank you all for explaining. There's a lot to learn in this sport!

We're forecast to get 5k' in Central Virginia on Saturday. Maybe I should give this "downwind dash" a try in the club 2-33.

Chris,

My personal best is 525 miles. That may be farther than I've ever flown in a powered aircraft too. The US National free distance record is just a hair over 900 miles. Something to strive for

Walt,

TopeMeteo was showing the cu field (and higher PFD associated with that to be further east. In fact until I saw the cu develop at the airport I was planning to angle North of Tulsa towards Ft Smaith Arkansas based in that forecast.

The Dr. Jack RAP was also showing that I would be in dry air. The NAM however seems to have reflected the cu reality the best.

Forecasting is tricky as you know. I did not spend a lot of time looking at the forecast due to time constraints. I was pretty busy the day before the flight getting the little things in order like charging batteries and figuring out where I put the total energy tube! Due to the early start we had a really early departure time from home so I only spent 15 minutes or so scanning the forecasts in the morning. By that point I already had everything in place to make the flight so I would just fly whatever weather presented itself.

On 2/26/2016 6:36 AM, Chris Snyder wrote:
On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 5:25:33 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Made it to declared goal of Talihina, OK with not much trouble. Spent a
little more time below 5500 msl than I'd have liked in the last 40 miles
there.


Truly amazing! That's farther than I ever flew in a POWERED airplane.

Thank you all for explaining. There's a lot to learn in this sport!

We're forecast to get 5k' in Central Virginia on Saturday. Maybe I should
give this "downwind dash" a try in the club 2-33.


Here, now - don't be dissing the 2-33! The first guy in the world to ever soar
farther than 1000km, got his Gold distance and Diamond goal in the 2-33's
predecessor, the 2-22. (Exceeded 200 miles! Vulgar downwind dash! A claimed
17:1 [on a good day?].) Guy by the name of Al Parker - you can read all about
some of his more major exploits in "Soaring" mag's archives (great resource
for SSA members!).

Bob W.

Ya, Al Parker was a STUD!

I suppose i should mention that I flew this flight with a Bumper MkIV yaw string and without it I would've never known what direction inwas pointed.

On Friday, February 26, 2016 at 7:41:16 PM UTC-5, BobW wrote:
On 2/26/2016 6:36 AM, Chris Snyder wrote:
On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 5:25:33 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Made it to declared goal of Talihina, OK with not much trouble. Spent a
little more time below 5500 msl than I'd have liked in the last 40 miles
there.


Truly amazing! That's farther than I ever flew in a POWERED airplane.

Thank you all for explaining. There's a lot to learn in this sport!

We're forecast to get 5k' in Central Virginia on Saturday. Maybe I should
give this "downwind dash" a try in the club 2-33.


Here, now - don't be dissing the 2-33! The first guy in the world to ever soar
farther than 1000km, got his Gold distance and Diamond goal in the 2-33's
predecessor, the 2-22. (Exceeded 200 miles! Vulgar downwind dash! A claimed
17:1 [on a good day?].) Guy by the name of Al Parker - you can read all about
some of his more major exploits in "Soaring" mag's archives (great resource
for SSA members!).

Bob W.

Wow, that does deserve respect! I meant no slight to the venerable 2-33. I was however being a little tongue-in-cheek since it seems like it could be a beast to retrieve and I'm still only a solo student.

The TopMetro forecast is still looking good for tomorrow, so fingers crossed that I can find some lift.

On Friday, February 26, 2016 at 7:41:16 PM UTC-5, BobW wrote:
On 2/26/2016 6:36 AM, Chris Snyder wrote:
On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 5:25:33 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Made it to declared goal of Talihina, OK with not much trouble. Spent a
little more time below 5500 msl than I'd have liked in the last 40 miles
there.


Truly amazing! That's farther than I ever flew in a POWERED airplane.

Thank you all for explaining. There's a lot to learn in this sport!

We're forecast to get 5k' in Central Virginia on Saturday. Maybe I should
give this "downwind dash" a try in the club 2-33.


Here, now - don't be dissing the 2-33! The first guy in the world to ever soar
farther than 1000km, got his Gold distance and Diamond goal in the 2-33's
predecessor, the 2-22. (Exceeded 200 miles! Vulgar downwind dash! A claimed
17:1 [on a good day?].) Guy by the name of Al Parker - you can read all about
some of his more major exploits in "Soaring" mag's archives (great resource
for SSA members!).

Bob W.

17 to 1 ? Now there are hang glider performance levels that equal that! And much easier assembly and transport!

On Saturday, February 27, 2016 at 11:03:12 AM UTC-5, Soartech wrote:
On Friday, February 26, 2016 at 7:41:16 PM UTC-5, BobW wrote:
On 2/26/2016 6:36 AM, Chris Snyder wrote:
On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 5:25:33 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Made it to declared goal of Talihina, OK with not much trouble. Spent a
little more time below 5500 msl than I'd have liked in the last 40 miles
there.


Truly amazing! That's farther than I ever flew in a POWERED airplane.

Thank you all for explaining. There's a lot to learn in this sport!

We're forecast to get 5k' in Central Virginia on Saturday. Maybe I should
give this "downwind dash" a try in the club 2-33.


Here, now - don't be dissing the 2-33! The first guy in the world to ever soar
farther than 1000km, got his Gold distance and Diamond goal in the 2-33's
predecessor, the 2-22. (Exceeded 200 miles! Vulgar downwind dash! A claimed
17:1 [on a good day?].) Guy by the name of Al Parker - you can read all about
some of his more major exploits in "Soaring" mag's archives (great resource
for SSA members!).

Bob W.

17 to 1 ? Now there are hang glider performance levels that equal that! And much easier assembly and transport!

It is called a "SGU-2-22" for a reason, the "U" is for utility (based on L/D) vs. a SGS-2-33 which has the 2nd "S" for sailplane (also based on L/D).

IIRC, the split was 20:1, below that it's a "U", above that it's a "S".

And yes, modern "lots of things" do better than 17:1. Although "powered aircraft" don't usually get that far (engine off glide).

[old trivia.....]