Incredible wave flight in progress right now

[Fred[_5_]]

Gordo Boettger and Hugh Bennett launched out of Minden this morning to
see if they could make a high-speed dash south along the Sierras and
then back to Susanville. Start just south of Susanville at around
eight, turned north of Inyokern at around 11:30. Visit SoaringNV's
Facebook page for tracking info as it is received <http://
www.facebook.com/soaringnv?ref=ts#!/soaringnv> Fred

[Tony[_5_]]

On Feb 15, 1:56*pm, Fred > wrote:
> Gordo Boettger and Hugh Bennett launched out of Minden this morning to
> see if they could make a high-speed dash south along the Sierras and
> then back to Susanville. *Start just south of Susanville at around
> eight, turned north of Inyokern at around 11:30. *Visit SoaringNV's
> Facebook page for tracking info as it is received <http://www.facebook.com/soaringnv?ref=ts#!/soaringnv> * *Fred

nice! go man go!

[Fred[_5_]]

Gordo and Hugh landed back at Minden around 4:00 after an 11 hour
flight. Preliminary reports are of a total distance over 1,000 NM,
but because of the way the wave shifted during their flight south and
return, and the lack of cloud markers, they had a hard time finding
wave to close the course. At one point over Air Sailing Gordo said
they were standing still above the ground while indicating 80 kts
airspeed, and he wanted to avoid landing out at Reno International
again so he headed back to Minden. This is Hugh's longest flight yet
and he said he was ready for more! We'll post more on the SoaringNV
web site when we get photos and traces. Fred

[Tony[_5_]]

On Feb 15, 7:10*pm, Fred > wrote:
> Gordo and Hugh landed back at Minden around 4:00 after an 11 hour
> flight. *Preliminary reports are of a total distance over 1,000 NM,
> but because of the way the wave shifted during their flight south and
> return, and the lack of cloud markers, they had a hard time finding
> wave to close the course. *At one point over Air Sailing Gordo said
> they were standing still above the ground while indicating 80 kts
> airspeed, and he wanted to avoid landing out at Reno International
> again so he headed back to Minden. *This is Hugh's longest flight yet
> and he said he was ready for more! *We'll post more on the SoaringNV
> web site when we get photos and traces. *Fred

wow astounding. should be good for demolishing a few multiplace
natrional records then?

[[email protected]]

On Feb 15, 9:34*pm, Tony > wrote:
> On Feb 15, 7:10*pm, Fred > wrote:
>
> > Gordo and Hugh landed back at Minden around 4:00 after an 11 hour
> > flight. *Preliminary reports are of a total distance over 1,000 NM,
> > but because of the way the wave shifted during their flight south and
> > return, and the lack of cloud markers, they had a hard time finding
> > wave to close the course. *At one point over Air Sailing Gordo said
> > they were standing still above the ground while indicating 80 kts
> > airspeed, and he wanted to avoid landing out at Reno International
> > again so he headed back to Minden. *This is Hugh's longest flight yet
> > and he said he was ready for more! *We'll post more on the SoaringNV
> > web site when we get photos and traces. *Fred
>
> wow astounding. *should be good for demolishing a few multiplace
> natrional records then?

Awesome flight!!!

I just checked it out on OLC / SeeYou.......Looks like they got gyped
out of the first three or four hours of the flight!! I see what looks
like a notch after tow at 14:55...but SeeYou says soaring began at
19:19 ...It also did not pick up the start sector, although you can
see they clearly went throught he start sector....I think most flight
recorders are looking for a sharp turn or a couple of circles to start
the flight....in wave or ridge there is no need to turn so the flight
recorder thinks you are still climbing on tow!!

Also ...pilot comment on OLC says OK for class A airspace....and OK
for night flight......Looks like thay landed well ahead of sunset, but
took off a couple of minutes before sunrise.....Release from tow was
after sunrise.....I guess the towplane gave the necessary lighting?

I hope they notified OLC to get full credit for distance, also hope
the OO and tow pilot give the correct "soaring began" time so they
qualify for any records....

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