T8 and X at New Castle

If you want to see a classic ridge run, including an upwind transition, click here. This is Evan's flight on the first day of the Region 4 contest at New Castle, Virginia. He finished fourth for the day in the 15m Class with 819 points, only 54 points behind the winner. John Good was second in the Standard Class. The results are on the SSA website.

Weekend Report September 13 - 14

Another crummy weekend. In fact, both days were called off due to weather. Despite this, Skip Pete, and Thomas gave it a try during the late afternoon on Saturday. They didn't stay up. David had a couple of good lessons in the Blanik. Andy worked on the 2-33 and did the towing. Steve showed up on his bicycle, but didn't fly.

Andy is about to send out a survey regarding the Gorham encampment. Please respond - it makes planning so much easier.

Weekend Report September 6 - 7

Welcome to foggy, dewy, harvest, foliage, early-sunset, hurricane season!

Saturday was washed out by the residuum of a storm named Hannah. Sunday featured both sunshine and clouds, the latter behaving somewhat deceptively toward glider pilots. Skip had the highest flight, but Sam claims the best flight of the day: his first in which the instructor never touched the controls. The last flight of the day introduced Jon to the mysteries of katabatic lift.

The lift ended early, we quit early, and the party started early. It was a well-attended and well-supplied cookout, due to the presence of our member-of-honor, Petey. She and Peter aren't planning to fly gliders on September 27, despite my forecast of perfect weather for that day.

Tows will be available this week, abecedarian tempests permitting.

Labor Day

Technically, we flew all three days of the long weekend. Saturday was a bit of a bust, but Jon managed two or three lessons under the overcast - good for landing practice, but not much else. On Sunday Evan made a terrific flight, in difficult conditions, to Morrisville and back. Everyone else flew locally, including our newest member David Gaiser (welcome, David!). Thomas finally has his instruments sorted out (Tony will be next). We had our largest cookout ever - 36 - Sunday evening, rivaling the LumRuss record of 40.


I don't remember much about Monday (probably due to the after-effects of the party). If you were there, please add your recollections in the comments.

Lap racing

Tim and Rick enjoyed a pair of local flights on a day when 4000 feet seemed like outer space. The day was interesting in that it matched the forecast exactly: 2 hours of weak thermals to modest altitudes, with no chance of clouds. Kevin and the kids helped us assemble, and we practiced Kevin's "tiny triangles."

Weekday Desperadoes

Tony, Tim, Kevin, Rick, and Pete mustered on a beautiful sunny Friday. We launched five gliders (7H, PM, 6Q, S2, 3J) during the course of the day and discovered the hard way that Tony's pessimistic forecast was actually true. We made a total of ten flights, and not one of them found a thermal worth talking about.

Despite this, much discussion, cooperation, flight testing, and practice were in evidence. Five guys hanging out at the aerodrome helping each other pursue our manic-depressive avocation. There are a lot worse ways to spend a sunny summer day in Vermont.

It was bound to happen

Tony experienced his first actual field landing today. After a bold flight to the east, he did a fine job of putting 7H down in a hayfield in the river valley. Tim and I went to fetch him and we both forgot our cameras!

Just HOW much has it rained, lately?

Depends where you live, obviously.

Determine your bragging rights, right here.

Over 2B9 at 1145, today...

Through the magic of the internet, you can also HEAR the towplane as it actually was at the moment this photo was taken. Just follow these simple steps:

1. Cover your ears

2. Close your eyes

3. Hold your breath

4. And listen.

Name that club member

On the road again

For the next nine days, I will be crewing at a contest in Uvalde, Texas. I will check PMSC News for updates about the club.

Weekend Report August 2 - 3

Both days were lost to intermittent thunderstorms, heat, summer vacations, and apathy. We were able to get some trailer washing done, and Pete organized the 1-23 toolbox. Check it out next time you get a chance; it is a thing of beauty.

The seat back has been found.