Today, for reasons unknown, Moshe tried it in the 12-meter Russia, and he came very close to making it! He landed on the way back in a farm in Fairlee, after a flight of 272 kilometers.
The farm is the one across the street from the Fairlee Drive-In. His crew got there as the light was fading and the movie was just getting started.
Congratulations to Moshe for choosing such an ambitious task and for proving that you don't need a 17.4 meter wingspan to do the White Mountain run.
9 comments:
You don't need those long wings, but you do need enough daytime. So I've learnt that starting at 2pm on a blue (slower) day in early May does not provide enough time. Almost, though. Had I gotten another 300 feet in one last thermal (at 7pm) I would have made it back to Post Mills, but as it was it seemed safer to land in the river valley than try to make it in over the ridge.
- Moshe
All club members take note of Moshe's last sentence. Great flight and very wise choice at the end. Fine job Moshe!
Lane
Moshe,
That is a nice looking field. Everyone should also know of the airstrip at Greg's neighbors. The drive is a little further because you have to cross a bridge but it could come in handy if you can't make over the ridge to PM.
https://www.google.com/maps/@43.8484352,-72.1827316,1643m/data=!3m1!1e3
Land in dirt...never get hurt.
Maximum altitutde of 11,500'? How did you do that?
All club members take note of the outlanding trace. Take particular note of the 360° circuit inspection of the field followed by a nice long downwind and a loooong final. Perfect.
Lane
If his wings were a half meter longer he would have made it. Size does mater.
Or had I started half an hour earlier. Or had I not hit that sinkhole at Gorham which took a half hour to climb out of.
Yes longer wings = higher performance. So be unhappy with your 15 meter wings, be jealous of the 18 meter chaps. And if you have 18 meters, wish you had a Concordia. Don't be happy, worry! :-)
Actually with the 16.5 meter wings I used to have I was much more reluctant to go far, since the de-rigging was much harder on my back.
I propose a new dimensionless measure of accomplishment: distance flown divided by wingspan. We can call it the "Sheppe Performance Index."
Moshe gets a 22.7 for this flight, not bad.
Post a Comment