Let's Go Gliding with the SSA

[Frank Whiteley]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeOKjjaMCP0

[C-FFKQ (42)]

On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 4:33:09 PM UTC-4, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeOKjjaMCP0

Dumb question for today:
At around 2 minutes, there are rectangular fields with green circles... why are the crops planted in circles instead of using the full field?

-John (who's only ever seen crops filling the field area)

[Tony[_5_]]

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:36:02 AM UTC-5, C-FFKQ (42) wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 4:33:09 PM UTC-4, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeOKjjaMCP0
>
> Dumb question for today:
> At around 2 minutes, there are rectangular fields with green circles... why are the crops planted in circles instead of using the full field?
>
> -John (who's only ever seen crops filling the field area)

Most of the farmland in the US west of the Mississippi requires irrigation in order to be able to grow much at all. The most common type of irrigation is a center pivot arm that rotates around the middle of the field, hence the circular shape. Of course the land was divided up in most places on 1 mile grids back in the Pioneer days so the corners have gone unused. In some places the corners are still planted with some crops, although further west and south the corners are just left to die since it is not economical to grow anything on non-irrigated land. Generally the corners are the preferred landing spots unless they have been left for wild for a long time, in which case you want to land tangent to the circle and avoid the deep ruts that the tires from the center pivot leave.

[Darryl Ramm]

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 9:36:02 AM UTC-7, C-FFKQ (42) wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 4:33:09 PM UTC-4, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeOKjjaMCP0
>
> Dumb question for today:
> At around 2 minutes, there are rectangular fields with green circles... why are the crops planted in circles instead of using the full field?
>
> -John (who's only ever seen crops filling the field area)

They are round because the irrigation sprinklers roll around in circles. As with many types of fields well worth walking and looking at and talking a farmer about these - including how to stop the irrigator should it be about to roll over your glider. Depending on the crop, crop height and surface it may be better to land in the corners, especially to avoid deep ruts from the irrigator wheels. With crops like a short alfalfa the round surface can be billiard table smooth (if you miss the ruts).

Darryl

[soartech[_2_]]

On May 30, 12:36*pm, "C-FFKQ (42)" > wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 4:33:09 PM UTC-4, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeOKjjaMCP0
>
> Dumb question for today:
> At around 2 minutes, there are rectangular fields with green circles... why are the crops planted in circles instead of using the full field?
>
> -John (who's only ever seen crops filling the field area)

In the more arid areas of the US, long sprinkler pipes on wheels very
slowly roll around the field in a huge circle.
They are anchored at the middle of the circle and the water is pumped
in at that point. I'm not sure,
but I think maybe the water flow drives the wheels through some kind
of turbine and gearbox. I always
wondered about that part.

[Bill D]

On May 30, 10:36*am, "C-FFKQ (42)" > wrote:
> On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 4:33:09 PM UTC-4, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeOKjjaMCP0
>
> Dumb question for today:
> At around 2 minutes, there are rectangular fields with green circles... why are the crops planted in circles instead of using the full field?
>
> -John (who's only ever seen crops filling the field area)

US farmers were impressed by the UK "UFO Crop Circles" and, being
inventive types, figured out a way to make circles automatically thus
leaving them with time to go to tractor races.

Seriously, it's an irrigation system with a well at the center and a
rotating sprinkler pipe up to half a mile long. An irrigated circle
produces more crop than a square relying on rainfall. It's probably a
transient phenomena given the rate at which aquifers are being
depleted.

[Tony[_5_]]

> US farmers were impressed by the UK "UFO Crop Circles" and, being
> inventive types, figured out a way to make circles automatically thus
> leaving them with time to go to tractor races.
>
> Seriously, it's an irrigation system with a well at the center and a
> rotating sprinkler pipe up to half a mile long. An irrigated circle
> produces more crop than a square relying on rainfall. It's probably a
> transient phenomena given the rate at which aquifers are being
> depleted.

Dalhart, TX area corn farmers were turning off the outside sprinklers last summer in an attempt to save the inside of the circle. Even the irrigation couldn't keep up with the dry heat.

Low Aquifers are definitely a problem for farmers, espeically when those states upstream (cough cough wink wink) take all the water! :D

[Frank Whiteley]

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:20:37 AM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
> > US farmers were impressed by the UK "UFO Crop Circles" and, being
> > inventive types, figured out a way to make circles automatically thus
> > leaving them with time to go to tractor races.
> >
> > Seriously, it's an irrigation system with a well at the center and a
> > rotating sprinkler pipe up to half a mile long. An irrigated circle
> > produces more crop than a square relying on rainfall. It's probably a
> > transient phenomena given the rate at which aquifers are being
> > depleted.
>
> Dalhart, TX area corn farmers were turning off the outside sprinklers last summer in an attempt to save the inside of the circle. Even the irrigation couldn't keep up with the dry heat.
>
> Low Aquifers are definitely a problem for farmers, espeically when those states upstream (cough cough wink wink) take all the water! :D

Actually, here in Colorado, the farmers have had to turn off their irrigation wells in the South Platte River basin owing to senior water rights down stream. The result is that farm houses in the basin now have flooded basements and fields too soggy to work in some cases.

[Frank Whiteley]

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 10:47:20 AM UTC-6, soartech wrote:
> On May 30, 12:36*pm, "C-FFKQ (42)" > wrote:
> > On Tuesday, May 29, 2012 4:33:09 PM UTC-4, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aeOKjjaMCP0
> >
> > Dumb question for today:
> > At around 2 minutes, there are rectangular fields with green circles... why are the crops planted in circles instead of using the full field?
> >
> > -John (who's only ever seen crops filling the field area)
>
> In the more arid areas of the US, long sprinkler pipes on wheels very
> slowly roll around the field in a huge circle.
> They are anchored at the middle of the circle and the water is pumped
> in at that point. I'm not sure,
> but I think maybe the water flow drives the wheels through some kind
> of turbine and gearbox. I always
> wondered about that part.

The wheels are electric and start and stop often to keep it aligned. I was talking with a share cropping farmer recently and he said the electric bill for his center pivot system from REA last year was $6600.

Seemed to me that the current draw from frequent starting was likely half of that cost. I'm told more effective systems are being developed.

Not all systems are on wells as some use river water shares. Last year a share meant you could pump all the water you wanted. This year may be different. For several years farmers only got 35-50% of their share. I always wondered why they irrigated when it was raining, but if that was your day, you took it.

A late dairy farmer, pilot, friend used river shares. He pumped using Ford 427cid engines. He got pretty good at rebuilding them. At times they'd run 24/7 for long periods.

[Tony[_5_]]

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 1:39:47 PM UTC-5, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 11:20:37 AM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
> > > US farmers were impressed by the UK "UFO Crop Circles" and, being
> > > inventive types, figured out a way to make circles automatically thus
> > > leaving them with time to go to tractor races.
> > >
> > > Seriously, it's an irrigation system with a well at the center and a
> > > rotating sprinkler pipe up to half a mile long. An irrigated circle
> > > produces more crop than a square relying on rainfall. It's probably a
> > > transient phenomena given the rate at which aquifers are being
> > > depleted.
> >
> > Dalhart, TX area corn farmers were turning off the outside sprinklers last summer in an attempt to save the inside of the circle. Even the irrigation couldn't keep up with the dry heat.
> >
> > Low Aquifers are definitely a problem for farmers, espeically when those states upstream (cough cough wink wink) take all the water! :D
>
> Actually, here in Colorado, the farmers have had to turn off their irrigation wells in the South Platte River basin owing to senior water rights down stream. The result is that farm houses in the basin now have flooded basements and fields too soggy to work in some cases.

we refer to that as the Splat River. Very few flights north make it past the Splat River Valley.

[C-FFKQ (42)]

Thanks to all for the replies. The round irrigation makes some sense.
I'm in southern Ontario, Canada, where there's usually plenty of rain for the crops and the irrigation systems are linear.

-John

[Frank Whiteley]

On Wednesday, May 30, 2012 7:38:31 PM UTC-6, C-FFKQ (42) wrote:
> Thanks to all for the replies. The round irrigation makes some sense.
> I'm in southern Ontario, Canada, where there's usually plenty of rain for the crops and the irrigation systems are linear.
>
> -John

My wife's uncle and cousins are dry land wheat and beef farmers. The high plains of eastern Colorado are officially desert, at least in large areas. That type of farmer needs to bring in one harvest in four years to survive.. Those with center pivot type irrigation must bring in a crop every year or they are likely bankrupt. There are other irrigation methods here. I have a customer that farms 62 acres of corn and they seem to do just fine with the simple life; nice house, nice people. I have another customer that lost his large farm in Iowa during the corporate takeovers of the 1980's. He's now in a game foundation that awards are large number hunting rifles to youth and is also in a large motorcycle club. He is no friend of ADM or Cargill.

When my wife's uncle put 2500 acres in set aside several years ago (native grass land banking) he bought his first Mercedes. His upfront cost was $32,000 for a drill seeder to plant Buffalo Grass, which he did for a number of other farmers.

[Fox Two[_2_]]

You mean like this one?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZIILtI2I

Chris Fleming
F2

[Brad[_2_]]

On Jun 1, 9:04*am, Fox Two > wrote:
> You mean like this one?
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZIILtI2I
>
> Chris Fleming
> F2

High Speed passes and hot chicks at the
airport.........................not in the U.S.

Brad

[C-FFKQ (42)]

On Friday, June 1, 2012 12:04:42 PM UTC-4, Fox Two wrote:
> You mean like this one?
>
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZIILtI2I
>
> Chris Fleming
> F2

Well, the "hot chicks" were on the ground... the "old farts" were still in the aircraft. I thought the intention was to have the ladies in the aircraft?

[Fox Two[_2_]]

On Saturday, June 2, 2012 3:42:53 AM UTC+2, gotovkotzepkoi wrote:
> 'Fox Two[_2_ Wrote:
> > ;815691']You mean like this one?
> >
> > http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZIILtI2I
> >
> > Chris Fleming
> > F2
>
> Yes Chris, like that one. Except that the flying scenes in that video
> aren't that inspiring.
>
>


Who cares about the flying... GIRLS!!!!!!

But, if you must have gliders, have you seen this one?

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

Actually listen to the introduction: I think that having a prefessionally-made video for the SSA, and put on the SSA home page is the best thing that we could do to get people out to the club.

The SSA needs to focus on this, and the SSA website is where they need to 'sell' gliding. If potential members are not sold from the home page, the site fails the test. When I go to the SSA site and look at it through the eyes of a potential member, I'm not 'sold.' Second gripe, finding a club is too difficult. After finding the 'Where to Fly' button, it takes five clicks to see the clubs in one's area. The map of where to fly should be easily visible on the home page.

Chris Fleming
F2

[Bill D]

On Jun 2, 3:03*am, gotovkotzepkoi
> wrote:
> 'Fox Two[_2_ Wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> > ;815765']On Saturday, June 2, 2012 3:42:53 AM UTC+2, gotovkotzepkoi
> > wrote:-
> > 'Fox Two[_2_ Wrote: -
> > ;815691']You mean like this one?
>
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZIILtI2I
>
> > Chris Fleming
> > F2-
>
> > Yes Chris, like that one. Except that the flying scenes in that video
> > aren't that inspiring.
>
> > -
>
> > Who cares about the flying... GIRLS!!!!!!
>
> > But, if you must have gliders, have you seen this one?
>
> >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyaMcMzDkFM
>
> > Actually listen to the introduction: I think that having a
> > prefessionally-made video for the SSA, and put on the SSA home page is
> > the best thing that we could do to get people out to the club.
>
> > The SSA needs to focus on this, and the SSA website is where they need
> > to 'sell' gliding. *If potential members are not sold from the home
> > page, the site fails the test. *When I go to the SSA site and look at it
> > through the eyes of a potential member, I'm not 'sold.' *Second gripe,
> > finding a club is too difficult. *After finding the 'Where to Fly'
> > button, it takes five clicks to see the clubs in one's area. *The map of
> > where to fly should be easily visible on the home page.
>
> > Chris Fleming
> > F2
>
> Yeah Chris, something like that with an American twist is what's needed.
> Most of the films done in the US about gliding are on the corny side.
> There were some guys in New Mexico working on a film called Cloudstreet;
> looked quite good from the few clips I saw but seems like the project is
> dead. Too bad.
>
> --
> gotovkotzepkoi

"Cloudstreet" is a production by Public Television which still needs
funding. The SSA has set aside significant funding to help but the
producers still need to raise about a half million. Since you standup
guys have volunteered to provide the remaining funds, production
should start soon.

If you want "hot chicks" in the cockpit, flying over Bryce Canyon, or
soaring up the face of Mt. Timpanogos, figure out who they are,
convince them to do it and provide the glider. The SSA would LOVE to
run that video.

I have introduced Planetaire who produced the Chilean Grand Prix video
to the producers of "Epic Conditions" running on the Weather Channel.
They are talking to each other now about running a soaring special on
US TV.

Bruno provided his videos to the SSA without charge. The SSA had a
professional edit them into the video you saw. It it perfect? No,
but it's pretty darn good for what it cost to make.

[son_of_flubber]

It's spelled D I S C U S, not D I S C O.

[Frank Whiteley]

On Saturday, June 2, 2012 8:56:06 AM UTC-6, Bill D wrote:
> On Jun 2, 3:03*am, gotovkotzepkoi
> > wrote:
> > 'Fox Two[_2_ Wrote:
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > > ;815765']On Saturday, June 2, 2012 3:42:53 AM UTC+2, gotovkotzepkoi
> > > wrote:-
> > > 'Fox Two[_2_ Wrote: -
> > > ;815691']You mean like this one?
> >
> > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dD-ZIILtI2I
> >
> > > Chris Fleming
> > > F2-
> >
> > > Yes Chris, like that one. Except that the flying scenes in that video
> > > aren't that inspiring.
> >
> > > -
> >
> > > Who cares about the flying... GIRLS!!!!!!
> >
> > > But, if you must have gliders, have you seen this one?
> >
> > >http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kyaMcMzDkFM
> >
> > > Actually listen to the introduction: I think that having a
> > > prefessionally-made video for the SSA, and put on the SSA home page is
> > > the best thing that we could do to get people out to the club.
> >
> > > The SSA needs to focus on this, and the SSA website is where they need
> > > to 'sell' gliding. *If potential members are not sold from the home
> > > page, the site fails the test. *When I go to the SSA site and look at it
> > > through the eyes of a potential member, I'm not 'sold.' *Second gripe,
> > > finding a club is too difficult. *After finding the 'Where to Fly'
> > > button, it takes five clicks to see the clubs in one's area. *The map of
> > > where to fly should be easily visible on the home page.
> >
> > > Chris Fleming
> > > F2
> >
> > Yeah Chris, something like that with an American twist is what's needed..
> > Most of the films done in the US about gliding are on the corny side.
> > There were some guys in New Mexico working on a film called Cloudstreet;
> > looked quite good from the few clips I saw but seems like the project is
> > dead. Too bad.
> >
> > --
> > gotovkotzepkoi
>
> "Cloudstreet" is a production by Public Television which still needs
> funding. The SSA has set aside significant funding to help but the
> producers still need to raise about a half million. Since you standup
> guys have volunteered to provide the remaining funds, production
> should start soon.
>
> If you want "hot chicks" in the cockpit, flying over Bryce Canyon, or
> soaring up the face of Mt. Timpanogos, figure out who they are,
> convince them to do it and provide the glider. The SSA would LOVE to
> run that video.
>
> I have introduced Planetaire who produced the Chilean Grand Prix video
> to the producers of "Epic Conditions" running on the Weather Channel.
> They are talking to each other now about running a soaring special on
> US TV.
>
> Bruno provided his videos to the SSA without charge. The SSA had a
> professional edit them into the video you saw. It it perfect? No,
> but it's pretty darn good for what it cost to make.

'Cloudstreet' is not dead, but it does have a deadline of sorts. The SSA pledged support if additional funding could be secured and if presented with a satisfactory business plan. That would be closer to $125,000 or so than $500,000. http://www.cloudstreethd.org for samples.

Frank Whiteley