Cherokee II O&R

Nice flight Tony!!!

You may beat Adam and me to diamond



On Aug 12, 1:25*pm, Tony wrote:
I had a fun time skipping work yesterday. *Declared a 300 km out and
return and took off at ~ 1PM. *I made sure to get a valid start within
1 km of the start point on the opposite side of my course. *Lift was
not as good as forecast but I was soon finding 4-5 knots up and
climbing to around 8000 feet.

I did get a little up close and personal with an Air Tractor at 4000
feet. *I was surprised to see him up there but he saw me and went
around the thermal I was working.

There were several dust devils that helped mark the way across
Kansas. *Lift was strong and often really rough. *I occasionally got
brave enough to dive at a blistering 65-70 mph between thermals. I
rounded Hays about 4:30, making sure to spend enough time on the
opposite side of the airport to get a good trace over there, then
headed back. *Things were starting to weaken and a big bunch of the
sky had gone blue. *I knew my only hope was to beeline straight home
and figured I'd go as far as I could. *Keeping a positive mental
attitude helped a lot as it really looked doubtful that I'd get very
far.

Flight home was characterized by long smooth glides followed by weak
smooth thermals. *I did get one good climb over a country airport
about halfway home. *That was my last of the 4 knot variety. *After
that it was 1-2 knots. *A couple of turky vultures marked a core for
me at one point which was most appreciated. *I had been using a bit of
mental math and figuring my glide at about 25:1 as I flew in smooth
evening air. *My last good climb had been at 6 PM. Usually I'm on the
ground by then. *I kept finding these really weak, smooth thermals
every 5 to 10 miles and was slowly closing the gap on the airport. *It
seemed like I might be able to actually make it. or at least there was
a chance.

I left the last thermal 15 or 20 miles out. *I was right on the edge
of a 25:1 glide to the airport. *Of course I had to go PAST the
airport to finish the goal flight so I knew I needed a few more bumps
to make it. *As I got lower I started to fly like Dick Wolters in The
Sunship Game. "field by field by field" *Well unfortunately this
tactic was going to require a change in tactic as all of the fields
along my course within about 4 miles of the airport were full of full
grown corn! *I started to turn a bit east to try to approach the
airport from the north but quickly realized that it was highly
doubtful I was going to make the runway, let alone get a finish for
the flight.

I was set up well as I was on an extended base leg to a private
airport. *I also had a few dirt fields around as options. *I didnt
find any more bumps so I committed to the runway and turned final. *Lo
and behold there is a Duster sitting next to the runway. Turns out my
friend Jerry had landed there as well, not having quite enough left to
get back home. *At least I'd have company.

All in all it was a great flight and I learned alot. Keep in mind that
I've never flown a real out and return beyond maybe 20 miles from home
and have flown a declared goal flight.

I should've started earlier. I screwed around for a while after
takeoff trying to find some great lift before I set out on course. Of
course I didn't want to land out immediately and waste the whole day.
However I could've used those extra minutes at the end of the day. *I
have a slow glider and have to take advantage of the entire day

Turns out this flight was my second longest distance and my longest
duration at a bit over 6.5 hours. *Not too shabby! *Here is the OLC
trace:http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0....html?flightId...

On Aug 12, 2:51*pm, Dan Wrobel wrote:
Nice flight Tony!!!

You may beat Adam and me to diamond

On Aug 12, 1:25*pm, Tony wrote:



I had a fun time skipping work yesterday. *Declared a 300 km out and
return and took off at ~ 1PM. *I made sure to get a valid start within
1 km of the start point on the opposite side of my course. *Lift was
not as good as forecast but I was soon finding 4-5 knots up and
climbing to around 8000 feet.

I did get a little up close and personal with an Air Tractor at 4000
feet. *I was surprised to see him up there but he saw me and went
around the thermal I was working.

There were several dust devils that helped mark the way across
Kansas. *Lift was strong and often really rough. *I occasionally got
brave enough to dive at a blistering 65-70 mph between thermals. I
rounded Hays about 4:30, making sure to spend enough time on the
opposite side of the airport to get a good trace over there, then
headed back. *Things were starting to weaken and a big bunch of the
sky had gone blue. *I knew my only hope was to beeline straight home
and figured I'd go as far as I could. *Keeping a positive mental
attitude helped a lot as it really looked doubtful that I'd get very
far.

Flight home was characterized by long smooth glides followed by weak
smooth thermals. *I did get one good climb over a country airport
about halfway home. *That was my last of the 4 knot variety. *After
that it was 1-2 knots. *A couple of turky vultures marked a core for
me at one point which was most appreciated. *I had been using a bit of
mental math and figuring my glide at about 25:1 as I flew in smooth
evening air. *My last good climb had been at 6 PM. Usually I'm on the
ground by then. *I kept finding these really weak, smooth thermals
every 5 to 10 miles and was slowly closing the gap on the airport. *It
seemed like I might be able to actually make it. or at least there was
a chance.

I left the last thermal 15 or 20 miles out. *I was right on the edge
of a 25:1 glide to the airport. *Of course I had to go PAST the
airport to finish the goal flight so I knew I needed a few more bumps
to make it. *As I got lower I started to fly like Dick Wolters in The
Sunship Game. "field by field by field" *Well unfortunately this
tactic was going to require a change in tactic as all of the fields
along my course within about 4 miles of the airport were full of full
grown corn! *I started to turn a bit east to try to approach the
airport from the north but quickly realized that it was highly
doubtful I was going to make the runway, let alone get a finish for
the flight.

I was set up well as I was on an extended base leg to a private
airport. *I also had a few dirt fields around as options. *I didnt
find any more bumps so I committed to the runway and turned final. *Lo
and behold there is a Duster sitting next to the runway. Turns out my
friend Jerry had landed there as well, not having quite enough left to
get back home. *At least I'd have company.

All in all it was a great flight and I learned alot. Keep in mind that
I've never flown a real out and return beyond maybe 20 miles from home
and have flown a declared goal flight.

I should've started earlier. I screwed around for a while after
takeoff trying to find some great lift before I set out on course. Of
course I didn't want to land out immediately and waste the whole day.
However I could've used those extra minutes at the end of the day. *I
have a slow glider and have to take advantage of the entire day

Turns out this flight was my second longest distance and my longest
duration at a bit over 6.5 hours. *Not too shabby! *Here is the OLC
trace:http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...l?flightId...- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

I'm trying my best! I keep rubbing it in to him that I fly further in
the Cherokee than he goes in the Jantar. I'm really hoping for a good
climb out in western KS this year and perhaps Gold Altitude so I can
beat him to Gold...