Dashing downwind

On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 2:38:49 PM UTC-5, Chris Snyder wrote:
On Thursday, February 25, 2016 at 11:35:36 AM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Making a run southeast from Sunflower in Kansas. Hoping to launch at 11 central. Follow on SSA Tracker or glideport.aero

Newbie question: Downwind? Is this a one-way trip to maximize ground covered?

Yes. He's flying to maximize distance. He did a 750 km Diplome flight a year or two ago this way ( see write-up at http://soaringcafe.com/2014/03/spring-go-south/ ; actually 844 km ). At 2:50 Eastern time, he's already past 300 km. He's working a band 5-6000, occasionally to 6500' (you see this on the tracker at glideport.aero - the "K" tracker, not "YYY"). About 70 mph/112 kph achieved spped so far - which is very good... probably the Cirrus (first flight in March 1969; very nice, but not state of the art now). Best L/D of 36:1.

Now over 325 km in 2 hrs 53 mins; excellent! Looks like a cross-wind, then turning east for a tailwind at the end of the flight ( https://www.windyty..com/?850h,2016-....952,-89.187,6 ). Select 5,000' for the wind he's in. You can also see some clouds up ahead (but there are ridges down there to run).

Always on a weekday...

Go Tony!