Crestline Soaring Society

http://youtube.com/watch?v=dtv4MprXzsE

4 of us flew Blackhawk yesterday with varying results. Bruce graciously turned around and landed in Barstow next to Scott, rather than continuing on to Baker, which he had on glide. This allowed us time to to make it back to the fly-in BBQ and introduce our new XC driver to the club and to AJX. My flight was not very far but did give me over 2 hours marginal lift, flatland thermal practice which I am in need of.

Here is a video from chelan. that was one mean Dust Devil.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_FDJTApk5Hw

Hitched a ride up to the 750 with Mark and DxD and watched them maintain decent altitude. Finished setup and preflight, then prepared to launch. The wind was a bit cross, from the right. Rather than concentrating on a good launch, I was paying too much attention to the cycles, and allowed the wing to vane into the wind as I began my run. The wing lifted, but was already in a slipping turn. The uphill tip dragged the brush, and we spun in flat.

Anyone I can hitch a ride up with Weds, Thurs, Fri, Sat, Sun,?? Got a couple days off, and no shuttle. Bloody Hell!! 760-684-9057 Joel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dyrCsoT8atI

Some video highlights of 2-1/2 hours of soaring from Blackhawk to Daggett yesterday. Thanks to an invite from Rebardan who flew ~4 hours to a dry lake a few miles North of Dunn. O.k. it's not for everyone but enjoy the show. Somewhere I have video of Dan and I meeting up in the air mid-way but I did a QAD edit in the wee hours or I'll never get it done.

Across the valley from Blackhawk 4/14/2010.

A few miles West of Blackhawk launch 4/14/2010

Full-On Marcus caught this nice image of the hawk that was trying to show me the door on Wednesday after I dug out from the BOL (Big O Loop)

At 17:21 PDT I arrived at the Big-O Loop and shot some nice video while setting up my landing approach following a 3-hour, 48.4-mile free triangle flight: Crestline/Keller/Cajon/Little Mtn/Crestline. My battery ran out and I found some workable lift. I dropped to 256' above the LZ before I was able to really work it effectively which took 10-15 minutes. Eventually I worked my way along the Marshall spine and over Marshall where the Canuck PG pilots were enjoying the evening conditions. I couldn't get any higher than 4,200' so I headed along Hwy 18 and then down to Billboard spine. From 4,100' I worked against a setting sun until I got up to the billboard. Next I headed East and eventually tagged the rock slide beyond Strawberry Peak. Then I headed back to the LZ and landed at 18:54 PDT. 3,600' altitude gain. 15.35 mile free triangle. KMZ file attached.

Frame still from 2-1/2 hours of HD chin-cam video.

Kenny Packs it up Yosemite style.

Anyone get any air today?

I just read this morning that our dear friend and fellow pilot, Haim Amir died from a crash of his Doodlebug powered harness on Saturday. http://www.hanggliding.org/viewtopic.php?t=15765

Haim was a really pleasant and upbeat pilot who I always looked forward to seeing in the McBus and watching him float around his Sport 2 135 with his 110# bare weight.

My sympathies go out to Haim's family and friends. If anyone has any stories they'd like to share please post them here.

Fresh Snow at Big Bear.

Today was forecast to be pretty darned good along the Crestline Ridge. It started out looking like it too. It was warm and the there were light SW surface winds. Many of us reserved spaces on the noon McBus. Around 11:30 AM the wind started blowing from the NW around 10-15 MPH. Rob arrived and acquiesced that it was unlikely to switch up-slope. Rebardan, Dusty and me headed for Mentone, 14 miles East of AJX. We took the 210 East and exited at 5th Street then headed East until we were directly across from the service entrance to the Seven Oaks Dam and just shy of the bridge. Parking was by the locked gate to the entrance to the big R/C field. We loaded up on Rebar's truck and headed up the nicely groomed gravel road that runs just behind the Calvary Church property a few hundred yards West of the LZ.

Screen print of a short flight at Mentone 1/10/2010.
Linked image shows a panoramic view from the LZ.
Panoramic view of Mentone bail-out LZ South of Seven Oaks Dam.

Here is a couple reports with pics of a gust front the comp pilots went through at Forbes. Doesn't look like fun.

http://jonnydurand.blogspot.com/2010/01/forbes-day-3.html

http://naughtylawyertravels.blogspot.com/2010/01/wild-day-at-goal.html

Above Ave S launch 10-31-2009 .NW 12-15 knots smooth Ridge lift it was a wonderfull day.

I wonder who gets the piloting role for this!!

http://www.newsinfilm.com/2009/10/20/airman-focuses-on-unsung-hang-glider-heroes/

Soaring Dockweiler state beach 2008