Santa Cruz Day 2 - A towplane does touch and goes

A towplane does a touch and go on a couple of gliders.

The morning was busy. Davis had complained that his glider's VG wasn't working properly and it had a turn. Rob Kells asked Jeff and I to work on the glider and test fly it. Before the pilot's meeting, we went out to the tow field and set up the glider. Tweaked it for the turn, and worked on the VG a bit. We quickly stopped at the meeting, then brought our own gliders out to the paddock. I helped Jeff suit up for a test flight which went well. Soon we were calling the girls to come out to the tow field to prepare for our noon launch.

Out on course. Photo by Jonny.

The launch lines have been long, and I've been keen to get in the air early. As soon as the rigid pilots were towed up, I was the first flex wing in line. Got a tow to 2000ft., and pinned off in what I thought was lift. (turned out to be very light) I spent a while just boating around not gaining or loosing too much hoping that other pilots in the air would show me where better lift was.

Photo by Jonny.

Soon I was down to 500ft. over the paddock and working very hard to make sure I didn't have to land and endure a long wait in line. Eventually Mark Dowsett, Raul, and I worked a light thermal low until it finally turned on and got us up again. Once we topped out, there was still over thirty minutes until the first start, so we all just milled around.

Jonny slides up a bit closer. Photo by Jonny.

Near the first start time, I hooked up with Nene and Jonny along with a couple of other pilots. Although we were in good position, not many people took the first start time, so we hung out high. Most of the other pilots in the area were groveling pretty low, so I was feeling fortunate to be boating above.

As the second start ticked over, NeNe Jonny and I took off together. We were high and took a long glide toward the first turnpoint eventually getting somewhat low. We went into survival mode searching for lift above a small dust devil first, then going over to a slowly climbing glider. Eventually after a lot of searching the lift turned on and we topped out then got back in the game. Some pilots had caught up and passed us, but they were lower and we glided over them searching for the best core.

The Red Bull girls came out a couple of days. Photo by Jonny.

The three of us worked well together, and were flying a bit cautious as the lift wasn't brainless and strong. Good cores were pretty elusive. As we neared the second turnpoint, I missed a climb that Jonny and NeNe got, and soon I was 500ft. or more below them. I decided the only way I was going to get back in the game was to lead out and find a stronger climb, so I headed off toward the turnpoint. As we neared Piccacio peak, I spotted a fighter jet streak beneath us, then make a steep turn over the peak just in front of me. The sound of his afterburner came in a few seconds after he passed, and he rocketed toward the south disappearing. Although he was several thousand feet away, it scared the piss out of me. If he was at our level, we'd be a bug squished on his windshield.

(Mike McFadden coined the term "bromance" during our stay. It isn't a derogatory term, just a descriptor for the type of bonding that occurs at the comps.:) Shapiro and Dustin. Photo by Jonny.

Near the second turnpoint, I did find a strong climb and was able to gain some ground back on Jonny and NeNe. About this time, Davis got on the radio and said we'd soon be flying into a 15+mph wind and he didn't think anyone would be making it to goal. At this point, I should have realized that slowing down and tanking up on altitude would be the best thing to do. Jonny and NeNe weren't slowing down though, and there wasn't a well defined core in our area, so I got the second turnpoint and headed into the wind. Despite being pretty high, I didn't really find any core worth turning in. When I was around a thousand feet, Jonny and Nene found something worthwhile, but I was either too low or not in the right position to climb with them. I got as far as I could, and landed in a desolate cow pasture with zero ground speed.

My landing paddock behind Picacho Peak. I was eventually joined by six other pilots.

After being on the ground for thirty minutes, Belinda found me and I heard Jeff on the radio giving his position. His position was very near us, and I looked up to see half a dozen gliders almost directly overhead. I encouraged Jeff to keep working against the wind, but it was a battle, and soon he and five other pilots landed next to me in the same field.

Fifteen minutes later, we saw two gliders up high passing overhead. It was Andre Wolf and Derrik. They would get first and second for the day. I think Nene and Jonny were next, then our group maybe. Some of the guys in my field will likely be in the top ten. Overall, I was pleased with my performance. While I didn't stay with Jonny and Nene the entire time, we did work closely together for 1/2 the course. I could have slowed down and conserved my altitude just before the second turnpoint as well.

The reasons for our success. Photo by Jonny.

When I got back home, I'd heard that Rhett hit two gliders with his towplane. He was cutting it close on landing as he always does and got hit with significant turbulence. He grazed Davis' glider, then smacked Larry Bunner's breaking his crossbar. Jeff's glider was next in line, and Rhett's wheel missed Jeff's glider by inches. Rob Kells ran for a replacement glider for Larry and a new crossbar will show up today from WW. It was lucky there were no injuries. We ended the day with dinner in town with Fillippo (Italy) and Alex "warm butter" (Brazil)

Photo by Jonny.

The resort reward after a long flight.

Airtime: 3:30. Flights: 1. Miles: 49

[Jeff O'Brien]