Ridge Soaring?

[Walt Connelly]

Okay, I'm looking for a place to do some ridge soaring. Never done it, it doesn't exist where I fly. (Seminole Lake GP, Florida) Any suggestions as to the best ridge soaring and availability of instruction?

Walt

[Berry[_2_]]

In article >,
Walt Connelly > wrote:

> Okay, I'm looking for a place to do some ridge soaring. Never done it,
> it doesn't exist where I fly. (Seminole Lake GP, Florida) Any
> suggestions as to the best ridge soaring and availability of
> instruction?
>
> Walt

Hands down, you need to go to Chilhowee Gliderport, Benton, TN.
Chilhowee is a great place to get an intro to ridge flying. It is the
closest ridge site to you, the gliderport is close up against the ridge,
the ridge works well, and the surrounding terrain is landout friendly.
Instruction, rides, and tows are available. Lodging is close by and
reasonably priced. I recommend (believe it or not) the local Red Roof
Inn. They have a special rate for glider pilots ($55/night) and the
hotel is actually extremely clean, comfortable, and well run.

I'm sure you'll hear from others also suggesting Chilhowee.

[[email protected]]

On Jan 28, 11:45*pm, Berry > wrote:
> In article >,
> *Walt Connelly > wrote:
>
> > Okay, I'm looking for a place to do some ridge soaring. *Never done it,
> > it doesn't exist where I fly. (Seminole Lake GP, Florida) *Any
> > suggestions as to the best ridge soaring and availability of
> > instruction? *
>
> > Walt
>
> H
>
> I'm sure you'll hear from others also suggesting Chilhowee.

Nope! Blairstown.......far better flights....just look at OLC this
year and previous.

Operates every day all year so you can fly when the ridge is working!
Also two sided ridge....NW or SE winds work!

Note about ridge soaring...it only works when it works........you
could hang out for two weeks and have no ridge days.....or like this
year, get about 9 ridge days in a row!

Early to mid spring is typically the best time....also great thermals
and sometimes wave mixed in!

Cookie

[Mike Oliver]

Try Europe! St Auban in the French Alps has ridges in just about every
wind direction, probably the best glider fleet in the world, fantastic
instructors including at least 3 former world champions and attracts
pilots from all over the world.

See

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lo9jE9XJyek

and my other videos.

Slope soaring Mt Blanc at 12000 feet + would make the journey worthwhile!

[Mike Oliver]

PS> The instructors also speak English........not sure about american
though!

[jcarlyle]

If you're willing to travel, I recommend the most famous US site -
Ridge Soaring in Julian, PA. Tom Knauff and Doris Grove have a great
reputation in the soaring community, and will set you safely on the
right course. And I can vouch from experience that you won't forget
any day get the chance to fly along the Appalachian ridges when the
wind is higher than 15 kt from 310!

-John

[John Cochrane[_2_]]

On Jan 30, 2:37*pm, jcarlyle > wrote:
> If you're willing to travel, I recommend the most famous US site -
> Ridge Soaring in Julian, PA. Tom Knauff and Doris Grove have a great
> reputation in the soaring community, and will set you safely on the
> right course. And I can vouch from experience that you won't forget
> any day get the chance to fly along the Appalachian ridges when the
> wind is higher than 15 kt from 310!
>
> -John

For any ridge flying, google earth is a tremendous resource. Look up
the common routes, then "fly" them in the comfort of your lounge
chair. It helps enormously with orientation and gap-crossing when the
time comes to do it for real. You can even scout for fields.

John Cochrane

[Walt Connelly]

PS The instructors also speak English........not sure about american
though!

No problem with those who don't speak American. I teach American, Cracker, and Red Neck among other colloquial forms of speech. I can also give them the history of the American units whose boys died on Utah and Omaha Beach on D day. Those young men were fluent in American.

Walt

[[email protected]]

On Jan 28, 11:45*pm, Berry > wrote:
> In article >,
> *Walt Connelly > wrote:
>
> > Okay, I'm looking for a place to do some ridge soaring. *Never done it,
> > it doesn't exist where I fly. (Seminole Lake GP, Florida) *Any
> > suggestions as to the best ridge soaring and availability of
> > instruction? *
>
> > Walt
>
> Hands down, you need to go to Chilhowee Gliderport, Benton, TN.
> Chilhowee is a great place to get an intro to ridge flying. It is the
> closest ridge site to you, the gliderport is close up against the ridge,
> the ridge works well, and the surrounding terrain is landout friendly.
> Instruction, rides, and tows are available. Lodging is close by and
> reasonably priced. I recommend (believe it or not) the local Red Roof
> Inn. They have a special rate for glider pilots ($55/night) and the
> hotel is actually extremely clean, comfortable, and well run.
>
> I'm sure you'll hear from others also suggesting Chilhowee.

If you are coming from Florida, I would second Wally's recomendation.
It is really important to go to a site that is prepared to train and
mentor you. Chilwowee and Ridge Soaring are well prepared for this.
Chilhowee available all year round.
Don't be to swayed by record and OLC flying as much as training and
mentoring availability.
Good Luck
UH

[[email protected]]

On Jan 31, 9:39*am, wrote:
> On Jan 28, 11:45*pm, Berry > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > In article >,
> > *Walt Connelly > wrote:
>
> > > Okay, I'm looking for a place to do some ridge soaring. *Never done it,
> > > it doesn't exist where I fly. (Seminole Lake GP, Florida) *Any
> > > suggestions as to the best ridge soaring and availability of
> > > instruction? *
>
> > > Walt
>
> > Hands down, you need to go to Chilhowee Gliderport, Benton, TN.
> > Chilhowee is a great place to get an intro to ridge flying. It is the
> > closest ridge site to you, the gliderport is close up against the ridge,
> > the ridge works well, and the surrounding terrain is landout friendly.
> > Instruction, rides, and tows are available. Lodging is close by and
> > reasonably priced. I recommend (believe it or not) the local Red Roof
> > Inn. They have a special rate for glider pilots ($55/night) and the
> > hotel is actually extremely clean, comfortable, and well run.
>
> > I'm sure you'll hear from others also suggesting Chilhowee.
>
> If you are coming from Florida, I would second Wally's recomendation.
> It is really important to go to a site that is prepared to train and
> mentor you. Chilwowee and Ridge Soaring are well prepared for this.
> Chilhowee available all year round.
> Don't be to swayed by record and OLC flying as much as training and
> mentoring availability.
> Good Luck
> UH- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

Well I gotta laugh......of course this question comes up on this group
every so often, and of course everybody answers with "where I
fly".....you know, "my airport is better than your airport".

I'm not so sure that any particular ridge site has any better
instruction than any other. I am sure that you will find at any
ridge site some highly experienced instructor(s), willing to give you
great personalized instruction, and fly as much as your pocket book
would allow.

But here is the real problem with the "plan"......You can't learn to
ridge fly in a day, you can't learn in a week and you can't learn in a
month...........

So if you go somewhere, where there is a good ridge, and good
instruction, say for a two week vacation....you may get one day of
ridge flying, maybe two......if you are really lucky a couple of
days......

So what you are going to get, at best, is an INTRODUCTION to ridge
soaring.......lots of fun...you'll learn a lot....but you'll have a
long way to go...

For example, the local club guidelines require a min of 4 hours of
dual ridge instruction, before solo flight on the local ridge is
allowed....and additional minimum 10 flights and 6 hours of solo
flight is required before cross country ridge is allowed.....(many
pilots need more than these recommended minimuns).

So, hard to do in a week..............sure on the ridge you can easily
fly 4 hours in one flight, but doubtful the instructor would allow
solo after only one flight..........

Bottom line...If you want to *really* learn to fly ridge....you have
to MOVE to where a ridge is......and be ready to fly every day the
wind blows the right way!

If you want some intro to ridge flying, take a vacation where
something else intrests you as well, so you have something to do on
all those days when the ridge doesn't work!

Cookie

[Bart[_4_]]

On Jan 31, 4:31*pm, "
> wrote:
> So if you go somewhere, where there is a good ridge, and good
> instruction, say for a two week vacation....you may get one day of
> ridge flying, maybe two......if you are really lucky a couple of
> days......

I am told that the ridge by Dillingham Airfield (Hawaii) is very
reliable. Unfortunately, it is kind of short.

Bart

[Walt Connelly]

I am told that the ridge by Dillingham Airfield (Hawaii) is very
reliable. Unfortunately, it is kind of short.

Bart[/QUOTE]

Thanks to all for the advice. Opinions are like rear ends, everybody has one. I would definitely take a two or three week jaunt to some place good for the opportunity to ridge soar as much as possible. Just wish that Central Florida Convergence would pop up once occasionally.

On the positive side, we have had a few good days of thermal activity at Seminole Lake GP. Managed a few climbs to over 5K the other day in a 1-34. I have a lot to learn but an enjoying it thoroughly.

Walt

[[email protected]]

On Jan 31, 7:48*pm, Bart > wrote:
> On Jan 31, 4:31*pm, "
>
> > wrote:
> > So if you go somewhere, where there is a good ridge, and good
> > instruction, say for a two week vacation....you may get one day of
> > ridge flying, maybe two......if you are really lucky a couple of
> > days......
>
> I am told that the ridge by Dillingham Airfield (Hawaii) is very
> reliable. Unfortunately, it is kind of short.
>
> Bart

But Hawaii seems like a nice place for a vacation! I hear that the
glider port is in kind of a remote area though!

Cookie

[Chip Bearden[_2_]]

Of Ridge Soaring, Chilhowee, and Blairstown, I would recommend the
first two over the latter for an initial ridge "classroom" even though
I've flown out of Blairstown for years. It's not a textbook site. You
can't go north safely. Going south more than a few miles requires
traversing some dodgy terrain with limited outlanding potential.
That's mostly an issue when the ridge is weak but it adds to the
stress when learning to fly such conditions. And on most days (i.e.,
when the wind is from the NW), the airport is on the wrong (i.e., back
side) of the ridge. Therefore when the wind is marginal, one must
commit to turning downwind over the top of the ridge before falling
below it, then gliding a few miles back to Blairstown (no problem) or
else incur the risk of landing on the far side of the Delware River,
involving a retrieve and likely fine from the police. Not unsafe; it
just requires more discipline.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA

[Bob]

"and likely fine from the police"

The police can fine you for an outlanding?

Bob

[Walt Connelly]

;761248']Of Ridge Soaring, Chilhowee, and Blairstown, I would recommend the
first two over the latter for an initial ridge "classroom" even though
I've flown out of Blairstown for years. It's not a textbook site. You
can't go north safely. Going south more than a few miles requires
traversing some dodgy terrain with limited outlanding potential.
That's mostly an issue when the ridge is weak but it adds to the
stress when learning to fly such conditions. And on most days (i.e.,
when the wind is from the NW), the airport is on the wrong (i.e., back
side) of the ridge. Therefore when the wind is marginal, one must
commit to turning downwind over the top of the ridge before falling
below it, then gliding a few miles back to Blairstown (no problem) or
else incur the risk of landing on the far side of the Delware River,
involving a retrieve and likely fine from the police. Not unsafe; it
just requires more discipline.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"
USA

Thanks for the specific advice Chip. Always wondered what the police response would be to a landout. Lots of cop/deputy friends locally and they look at me like I have two heads when I ask that question. They seem unconcerned as long as there is no property damage or death/injuries.

Walt

[[email protected]]

On Feb 1, 2:38*am, Bob > wrote:
> "and likely fine from the police"
>
> The police can fine you for an outlanding?
>
> Bob

Well, first of all it's not the police, its the national park
service. That section of ridge is , of all things, a "national
recreation area"....which means: "don't be seen doing anything the
resembles fun in any way."

Although the rangers typically hand out a summons for landing in
"other than a designated area", which is a law on the
books..........they forget to read the whole law, which states "except
in circumstances beyond the control of the operator". So you don't
have to pay the fine......

Now the really funny thing is that where we do typically land in the
national recreation area, is called the "Hialeah Air Park"...."Air"
like "airplane" like model airplane, like a 500' billiard table
smooth landing strip with long approaches on either side, with a huge
farm field along side too.

Actually any out landing on private property can be considered
"trespassing" and the owner could easily press charges if he so
desired! Be real humble, polite, and thankful to the owner of
wherever you land out!

Cookie

[[email protected]]

On Feb 1, 1:00*am, Chip Bearden > wrote:
> Of Ridge Soaring, Chilhowee, and Blairstown, I would recommend the
> first two over the latter for an initial ridge "classroom" even though
> I've flown out of Blairstown for years. It's not a textbook site. You
> can't go north safely. Going south more than a few miles requires
> traversing some dodgy terrain with limited outlanding potential.
> That's mostly an issue when the ridge is weak but it adds to the
> stress when learning to fly such conditions. And on most days (i.e.,
> when the wind is from the NW), the airport is on the wrong (i.e., back
> side) of the ridge. Therefore when the wind is marginal, one must
> commit to turning downwind over the top of the ridge before falling
> below it, then gliding a few miles back to Blairstown (no problem) or
> else incur the risk of landing on the far side of the Delware River,
> involving a retrieve and likely fine from the police. Not unsafe; it
> just requires more discipline.
>
> Chip Bearden
> ASW 24 "JB"
> USA

Chip,

I see your point, but not really......We get people who come to BT who
say they have "ridge experience" but we we take them on the ridge,
they don't have a clue. Because they never really flew a "real"
ridge. I guess there is something to be said about starting out
easy........but at BT the "local" ridge is a "pussy" ridge. You can
learn what you need to know, and not get in any trouble at all. Once
you are ready for more, then you can get more advanced and learn gap
crossings etc. Sure we don't go too far north, because the ridge
doesn't go there! (we are at the end of the line) With a couple of
thermals, you can head north to more ridge, but what's the point when
you can sure go south!

I always say that ridge flying is "deceptively simple".....when it
works it is a no brainer....just point and go! Learning to fly ridge
is all about knowing what to do when things don't go well. Learing to
thermal out when you are below ridge top, how to cross gaps and
transitions, how to read changes in conditions during the day. Anybody
can fly on a "pussy" ridge and soon get a false sense of
confidence.

It's like when people say you can't really learn to fly in a 2-33
because it doesn't spin well. Learning on an "easy" ridge doesn't
really do the job.

Cookie

[[email protected]]

On Jan 31, 10:31*pm, Walt Connelly <Walt.Connelly.
> wrote:
> I am told that the ridge by Dillingham Airfield (Hawaii) is very
> reliable. Unfortunately, it is kind of short.
>
> Bart
>
> Thanks to all for the advice. *Opinions are like rear ends, everybody has
> one. *I would definitely take a two or three week jaunt to some place good
> for the opportunity to ridge soar as much as possible. *Just wish that
> Central Florida Convergence would pop up once occasionally.
>
> On the positive side, we have had a few good days of thermal activity at
> Seminole Lake GP. *Managed a few climbs to over 5K the other day in a
> 1-34. *I have a lot to learn but an enjoying it thoroughly.
>
> Walt
>
> --
> Walt Connelly

"Opinions are like rear ends, everybody has
one."

Right, but you asked! LOL

So FWIW, here's some more opinion..........It doesn't matter where you
go! Just go! If it's easiest to go to the closest place, go there.
If time and money don't matter, go somewhere that catches your fancy
(France or Hawaii). As long as you do something to expand your
horizons, you will become a better pilot! On top of that, a "soaring
road trip" is going to be a blast on any number of levels!

Cookie

[[email protected]]

FYI..While on this subject. One of the Blairstown clubs is sponsoring
an FAA WINGS seminar on "ridge flying safety". I believe the date is
sometime early in July this year. Several really top notch Ridge
"aces" are scheduled to speak.

Stay tuned...


Cookie

[Walt Connelly]

Chip,

I see your point, but not really......We get people who come to BT who
say they have "ridge experience" but we we take them on the ridge,
they don't have a clue. Because they never really flew a "real"
ridge. I guess there is something to be said about starting out
easy........but at BT the "local" ridge is a "pussy" ridge. You can
learn what you need to know, and not get in any trouble at all. Once
you are ready for more, then you can get more advanced and learn gap
crossings etc. Sure we don't go too far north, because the ridge
doesn't go there! (we are at the end of the line) With a couple of
thermals, you can head north to more ridge, but what's the point when
you can sure go south!

I always say that ridge flying is "deceptively simple".....when it
works it is a no brainer....just point and go! Learning to fly ridge
is all about knowing what to do when things don't go well. Learing to
thermal out when you are below ridge top, how to cross gaps and
transitions, how to read changes in conditions during the day. Anybody
can fly on a "pussy" ridge and soon get a false sense of
confidence.

It's like when people say you can't really learn to fly in a 2-33
because it doesn't spin well. Learning on an "easy" ridge doesn't
really do the job.

Cookie[/QUOTE]

POINT ME TO THE ''PUSSY'' RIDGE.
Walt

[Walt Connelly]

On Jan 31, 10:31*pm, Walt Connelly Walt.Connelly.
wrote:
I am told that the ridge by Dillingham Airfield (Hawaii) is very
reliable. Unfortunately, it is kind of short.

Bart

Thanks to all for the advice. *Opinions are like rear ends, everybody has
one. *I would definitely take a two or three week jaunt to some place good
for the opportunity to ridge soar as much as possible. *Just wish that
Central Florida Convergence would pop up once occasionally.

On the positive side, we have had a few good days of thermal activity at
Seminole Lake GP. *Managed a few climbs to over 5K the other day in a
1-34. *I have a lot to learn but an enjoying it thoroughly.

Walt

--
Walt Connelly

"Opinions are like rear ends, everybody has
one."

Right, but you asked! LOL

So FWIW, here's some more opinion..........It doesn't matter where you
go! Just go! If it's easiest to go to the closest place, go there.
If time and money don't matter, go somewhere that catches your fancy
(France or Hawaii). As long as you do something to expand your
horizons, you will become a better pilot! On top of that, a "soaring
road trip" is going to be a blast on any number of levels!

Cookie

Right you are Cookie. Hawaii sounds good. France not so hot. There are two types of people in this world I can't stand: 1, Those intolerant of others due to their race, religion or nationality and.....2, the French.

Walt

[Bob]

Amen brother!

I've only had wonderful experiences in France. Of course just like in
the US you have to look past the occasional snob/red neck.

Bob

[[email protected]]

On Feb 2, 6:18*am, Bob > wrote:
> Amen brother!
>
> I've only had wonderful experiences in France. Of course just like in
> the US you have to look past the occasional snob/red neck.
>
> Bob

One of my glider student pilots has the good fortune to be able to
travel the world on a fairly regular basis. He flies gliders wherever
and whenever he can. So he's flown at most of the "famous" places in
the US and several in outher countries. Last year he flew in
France. He says it was the greatest experience he's ever had. Both
the area, and the pilots were "the best". He's headed back there this
year too.

Once you have somthing in common with somebody else......like
soaring....all of the petty bulls--t is quickly forgotten. Mutual
respect and friendship comes easy.

Cookie

[Walt Connelly]

This is a bit off subject but I could not resist. Can't stand the French? I hear this a lot from other Americans and it usually turns out that the people who say this have zero direct experience with the French. I have been to France many times (while in the US Army for 12 yrs in Germany I used to go hang gliding in S. France a lot, for instance). I very rarely encountered the mythical, asshole Frenchman. I found the French to be generally a very gregarious, happy, polite people. Ok, there was the occasional impolite waiter but let's face it, they are a planetary wide phenomenon. On one HG'ing trip to Provence I drove from our base in Germany into the wee hours of the night, pulled my beat up old BMW over in some vineyard in S. France in the dark, put my sleeping bag on the ground and went to sleep. At dawn I awoke to an old guy whacking my legs with a stick and babbling in French. He made me get up and come to his farmhouse a couple of hundred meters away. I thought he was going to call the police. Turns out he led me into the massive underground storage room with huge casks of fermenting wine and told me to fill whatever containers I had with as much wine as I wanted directly from the tap. Then he fed me one of the best impromptu meals I can remember, shook my hand and wished me well. That was a very pleasant beginning to a wonderful 3 weeks of HG'ing in France! Why do Americans so dislike the French? OK, here's my theory: France is associated with what some consider the more refined aspects of life: food, wine, fashion, perfume, a certain lack of interest in the mass slaughter of other humans, etc. Insecure anglo saxon males see these as feminine interests and reject France for fear of even the most remote hint that they might be interested in something that is, well, for girls. This explains why Germany is liked so much! Why? Germany means fast cars, beer, spiked helmets, Messerschidts, rocket scientists, etc. You get it right? Real honest to goodness bad boy stuff. To sum it up, these comments about "hating" the French have become a tired cliché and have more to say about the hater than the French. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Apparently you did not see the humor in my post? However I must admit that my experience in France was not quite as was yours. I met a few nice people but for the most part I was amazed at the snobbery. Germany was not to my liking, at least not the food. Spain was great but perhaps because I had a reasonable command of the language. Portugal was a blast. Italy, now there is some great food.

Walt

[Walt Connelly]

Amen brother!

I've only had wonderful experiences in France. Of course just like in
the US you have to look past the occasional snob/red neck.

Bob

My experience in France was that the snob was more than occasional. Forget trying to speak to them in tourist French. Spain was amazing though, I can handle the language after hanging with Cubans, Puerto Ricans and Mexicans much of my life. Italy was awesome, especially the food and the women.

Red Neck? Guidos? Hicks? Good ol boys? The French have their own version as does every society, they just give them different names. For the record I speak fluent red neck, cracker and cowboy. If you ever find yourself landing out in Central Florida and encountering an irate one of the above mentioned I suggest you call me. Remember, "ya'll" is singular, "all ya'll" is plural.

Walt

[Walt Connelly]

This is a bit off subject but I could not resist. Can't stand the French? I hear this a lot from other Americans and it usually turns out that the people who say this have zero direct experience with the French. I have been to France many times (while in the US Army for 12 yrs in Germany I used to go hang gliding in S. France a lot, for instance). I very rarely encountered the mythical, asshole Frenchman. I found the French to be generally a very gregarious, happy, polite people. Ok, there was the occasional impolite waiter but let's face it, they are a planetary wide phenomenon. On one HG'ing trip to Provence I drove from our base in Germany into the wee hours of the night, pulled my beat up old BMW over in some vineyard in S. France in the dark, put my sleeping bag on the ground and went to sleep. At dawn I awoke to an old guy whacking my legs with a stick and babbling in French. He made me get up and come to his farmhouse a couple of hundred meters away. I thought he was going to call the police. Turns out he led me into the massive underground storage room with huge casks of fermenting wine and told me to fill whatever containers I had with as much wine as I wanted directly from the tap. Then he fed me one of the best impromptu meals I can remember, shook my hand and wished me well. That was a very pleasant beginning to a wonderful 3 weeks of HG'ing in France! Why do Americans so dislike the French? OK, here's my theory: France is associated with what some consider the more refined aspects of life: food, wine, fashion, perfume, a certain lack of interest in the mass slaughter of other humans, etc. Insecure anglo saxon males see these as feminine interests and reject France for fear of even the most remote hint that they might be interested in something that is, well, for girls. This explains why Germany is liked so much! Why? Germany means fast cars, beer, spiked helmets, Messerschidts, rocket scientists, etc. You get it right? Real honest to goodness bad boy stuff. To sum it up, these comments about "hating" the French have become a tired cliché and have more to say about the hater than the French. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

BTW, when I heard this joke originally, "There are two types of people in this world I can't stand: 1, Those intolerant of others due to their race, religion or nationality and.....2, the French," the punch line was "the Dutch." Lighten up.

Walt

[Jim Beckman[_2_]]

At 19:19 02 February 2011, Walt Connelly wrote:
>
>Apparently you did not see the humor in my post? However I must admit
>that my experience in France was not quite as was yours. I met a few
>nice people but for the most part I was amazed at the snobbery.

Well, I at least got a chuckle out of your original effort.

OTOH, I visited friends in Europe in October of 2011, while
the pile of rubble in downtown NYC was still smoking. The
airport in Paris (or maybe it was the train station) was the
only place where someone went out of their way to mock
me for being an American, and laughed because the WTC
was no more.

Jim Beckman

[Guy[_7_]]

I second the advice to go to France and fly at St. Auban. Very good
instructors. A fleet of sailplanes that can't be beat. Ridge soaring
for just about any wind.
Most people speak pretty good english. The costs are very reasonable.

I have been to St. Auban five times. Most days begin with thermals on
the ridges. As the surrounding mountains heat up and the local winds
pick up you fly the bulk of the day in mixed thermals and ridge
soaring. At the end of most days it is was primarily ridge soaring.
Actually, many of the ridges are limestone cliffs. It is great fun at
many locations to cruise the length of the ridge gaining altitude
until you top out at one end of the ridge. Then you do a 180, pull
the airbrakes and blow off all of your altitude as you run to the
other end of the ridge. Then you close the airbrakes, turn back into
the face of the ridge and scream back along the face gaining altitude
at 100kts. Then do it again. One day you do it in a Janus, the next
in a Discus 2, then an LS-8, then a Nimbus, then an LS-4, then an
ASW-24, and so on. How can you get bored?

That's my vote.

Guy