View Full Version : Boettger Glider Distance Record Attempt Sunday 5/4/14
WaltWX[_2_]
May 3rd 14, 09:34 PM
The following announcement was made 1:25pm Fri 05/02 from Gordon Boettger regarding his next attempt at a Downwind Record Glider Flight.
As the meteorologist and flight dispatcher you can follow here on this blog and see more timely updates on my twitter feed @wrogerswx
Blog updates will occur less frequently and can be seen here:
http://scriptogr.am/wrogerswx/post/boettger-downwind-record-flight-minden-to-rapid-city-sd-05-04-2014
bit.ly/BoettgerFlight20140504_WXBlog
Walt Rogers "WX"
__________________________________________________ ____________________________
On Sunday, May 4, I will be making another distance record attempt along with Hugh Bennett in the Duo Discus sailplane. Our intention is to be towed up by a towplane shortly before sunrise around 0530 PDT from the Minden Tahoe airport NV (KMEV), release and head in the direction of Rapid City, SD (KRAP), landing near sunset after flying over 850 miles. If we can go beyond that, we obviously will. As most know, we will be making this attempt in an unmotorized sailplane utilizing mountain wave updrafts to stay aloft. The weather is favorable for this intended direction but weaker forecast winds might make slow going. If the flight is aborted due to technicalities or unfavorable weather, Walt Rogers will post on his twitter account (below). We intend to climb up to 28,000 feet before proceeding east. As most know, there's no way to tell how far we end up going. It will depend on what the weather allows. It will be cold as the cockpit is unheated and unpressurized. There are too many factors involved to tell how far we end up, which also makes it quite fun to watch from the sidelines on the ground. Our call sign for the flight will be N55LK.
I will also be posting live pictures and video feed (workload permitting) and be in satellite communication with Walt Rogers, our meteorologist and dispatcher. You can follow his excellent twitter feeds with weather updates and our progress and inflight pictures by going to:
https://twitter.com/wrogerswx
You can join us during the flight by following our track which gives position, altitude, speed, and heading. Updates occur every 5 minutes. Click on the blue dots to see our position, speed, altitude, and heading. Click on the following link to access the site on Saturday, 3/29 (be advised that you will have to select "map filters" on the map page and then on the "date and time range" choose "currently tracking" in order to see only our position points for THIS flight).
https://share.delorme.com/GordonBoettger
Also, we can be tracked on:
www.flightaware.com (might not be accurate)
One can also follow our live communications with Air Traffic Control by going to:
http://www.liveatc.net (I believe our first frequency will be Norcal Approach on 119.2 and then for OAK center 128.8)
My goal is to share this wonderful adventure and beauty of unpowered flight with the rest of the world. Without being in the cockpit, this is the best way we know how to share it. Feel free to share this with your friends.
Enjoy the ride,
Gordon Boettger
N55LK
Tony[_5_]
May 4th 14, 04:52 PM
Go men go!
Over halfway across Nevada now
Frank Whiteley
May 4th 14, 06:44 PM
On Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:52:59 AM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
> Go men go!
>
>
>
> Over halfway across Nevada now
Over Utah
Tim Taylor
May 4th 14, 07:24 PM
On Sunday, May 4, 2014 11:44:03 AM UTC-6, Frank Whiteley wrote:
> On Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:52:59 AM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
>
> > Go men go!
>
> >
>
> >
>
> >
>
> > Over halfway across Nevada now
>
>
>
> Over Utah
They just passed Logan and are near the north end of Bear Lake. Two to three well defined linnies now in front of them if they can get a good climb in the next few miles it looks great ahead.
A superb day! And well deserved if they make it, which is looking ever more likely.
Coincidentally, I've been traveling the southern route from the bottom of the Owens eastward today during their flight. The lennies have been stacked and regular downwind all along. This was the route Dr. Kuettner originally visualized for this type of flight so many years ago.
Here's hoping they succeed grandly!
Best Regards,
Gary Osoba
Steve Townsend
May 4th 14, 11:59 PM
At 18:24 04 May 2014, Tim Taylor wrote:
>On Sunday, May 4, 2014 11:44:03 AM UTC-6, Frank Whiteley wrote:
>> On Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:52:59 AM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
>>
>> > Go men go!
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Over halfway across Nevada now
>>
>>
>>
>> Over Utah
>
>They just passed Logan and are near the north end of Bear Lake. Two to
>three well defined linnies now in front of them if they can get a good
>climb in the next few miles it looks great ahead.
>
>
@ 7PM EDT I see N55LK on regional radar NNW of Kaycee, WY at 19,300.
Steve Townsend
May 5th 14, 12:00 AM
At 18:24 04 May 2014, Tim Taylor wrote:
>On Sunday, May 4, 2014 11:44:03 AM UTC-6, Frank Whiteley wrote:
>> On Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:52:59 AM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
>>
>> > Go men go!
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Over halfway across Nevada now
>>
>>
>>
>> Over Utah
>
>They just passed Logan and are near the north end of Bear Lake. Two to
>three well defined linnies now in front of them if they can get a good
>climb in the next few miles it looks great ahead.
>
>
@ 7PM EDT I see N55LK on regional radar NNW of Kaycee, WY at 19,300.
Steve Townsend
May 5th 14, 12:01 AM
At 18:24 04 May 2014, Tim Taylor wrote:
>On Sunday, May 4, 2014 11:44:03 AM UTC-6, Frank Whiteley wrote:
>> On Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:52:59 AM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
>>
>> > Go men go!
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> >
>>
>> > Over halfway across Nevada now
>>
>>
>>
>> Over Utah
>
>They just passed Logan and are near the north end of Bear Lake. Two to
>three well defined linnies now in front of them if they can get a good
>climb in the next few miles it looks great ahead.
>
>
@ 7PM EDT I see N55LK on regional radar NNW of Kaycee, WY at 19,300.
Looks like they've connected with lift after a long search at the south end of the Big Horns! 240fpm through 13500 at 5:48 local time. Go man go!!!
Up to 19000 now! Looks like they've turned east
Not looking good. Way too north of track, with a clear sw wind bias. Nevertheless, a wonderful straight or free distance!
Gary Osoba
Dave Nadler
May 5th 14, 02:30 AM
Looks like they've got HULETT, WY
Almost to South Dakota!!
I think/I hope I spoke too soon. They might have it, and so well deserved!
Gary Osoba
Linwood Stevenson
May 5th 14, 02:41 AM
Looks like Hulett, WY in a few minutes.
Linwood
Flight aware suggest they are holding altitude at 8600. Is there a chance they might get another small climb in that area? Maybe their transponder dropped out or they fell below radar service
Rapid City sunset 7:59 mountain time. Field elevation about 3000
Delorme Shows them at the airport. Flightawhere's not updating. I think they're down
Linwood Stevenson
May 5th 14, 02:56 AM
On the ground at Hulett, WY, municipal airport.
Mike Koerner
May 5th 14, 03:02 AM
Looks like about 880 miles! Congratulations to Gordon and Hugh for a Fabulous flight. Very exciting to watch. Thanks for posting.
Mike Koerner
Roy Clark, \B6\
May 5th 14, 03:05 AM
On Sunday, May 4, 2014 6:56:57 PM UTC-7, Linwood Stevenson wrote:
> On the ground at Hulett, WY, municipal airport.
Google Map estimates: 1,382 km 858.7m.
Wow, what an effort - Gordie & Hugh, thanks for letting us follow along.
WaltWX[_2_]
May 6th 14, 06:21 PM
Here's a Dropbox folder containing many if not most of Gordo's photos, my weather graphics and satellite photos. Something to browse before my blog is updated with more analysis:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/g0jt1r58zq04wm6/nQvvPEUKhz
Walt Rogers WX
Another great flight. Hoping there isn't trouble with the igc logs again.
Jim
On Saturday, May 3, 2014 1:34:17 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:
> The following announcement was made 1:25pm Fri 05/02 from Gordon Boettger regarding his next attempt at a Downwind Record Glider Flight.
>
>
>
> As the meteorologist and flight dispatcher you can follow here on this blog and see more timely updates on my twitter feed @wrogerswx
>
>
>
> Blog updates will occur less frequently and can be seen here:
>
>
>
> http://scriptogr.am/wrogerswx/post/boettger-downwind-record-flight-minden-to-rapid-city-sd-05-04-2014
>
>
>
> bit.ly/BoettgerFlight20140504_WXBlog
>
>
>
> Walt Rogers "WX"
>
>
>
> __________________________________________________ ____________________________
>
> On Sunday, May 4, I will be making another distance record attempt along with Hugh Bennett in the Duo Discus sailplane. Our intention is to be towed up by a towplane shortly before sunrise around 0530 PDT from the Minden Tahoe airport NV (KMEV), release and head in the direction of Rapid City, SD (KRAP), landing near sunset after flying over 850 miles. If we can go beyond that, we obviously will. As most know, we will be making this attempt in an unmotorized sailplane utilizing mountain wave updrafts to stay aloft.. The weather is favorable for this intended direction but weaker forecast winds might make slow going. If the flight is aborted due to technicalities or unfavorable weather, Walt Rogers will post on his twitter account (below). We intend to climb up to 28,000 feet before proceeding east. As most know, there's no way to tell how far we end up going. It will depend on what the weather allows. It will be cold as the cockpit is unheated and unpressurized. There are too many factors involved to tell how far we end up, which also makes it quite fun to watch from the sidelines on the ground. Our call sign for the flight will be N55LK.
>
>
>
> I will also be posting live pictures and video feed (workload permitting) and be in satellite communication with Walt Rogers, our meteorologist and dispatcher. You can follow his excellent twitter feeds with weather updates and our progress and inflight pictures by going to:
>
>
>
> https://twitter.com/wrogerswx
>
>
>
> You can join us during the flight by following our track which gives position, altitude, speed, and heading. Updates occur every 5 minutes. Click on the blue dots to see our position, speed, altitude, and heading. Click on the following link to access the site on Saturday, 3/29 (be advised that you will have to select "map filters" on the map page and then on the "date and time range" choose "currently tracking" in order to see only our position points for THIS flight).
>
>
>
> https://share.delorme.com/GordonBoettger
>
>
>
> Also, we can be tracked on:
>
>
>
> www.flightaware.com (might not be accurate)
>
>
>
> One can also follow our live communications with Air Traffic Control by going to:
>
>
>
> http://www.liveatc.net (I believe our first frequency will be Norcal Approach on 119.2 and then for OAK center 128.8)
>
>
>
> My goal is to share this wonderful adventure and beauty of unpowered flight with the rest of the world. Without being in the cockpit, this is the best way we know how to share it. Feel free to share this with your friends.
>
> Enjoy the ride,
>
>
>
> Gordon Boettger
>
> N55LK
I recently spoke to Gordon on his drive back to Nevada and he asked me to post a link to his flight at:
https://www.skylines.aero/flights/31356/
He said this is an easy-to-use site and I believe you can obtain his igc file from it.
He should be home this evening.
Mitch Polinsky
Darryl Ramm
May 7th 14, 06:40 PM
> wrote:
> On Saturday, May 3, 2014 1:34:17 PM UTC-7, WaltWX wrote:
>> The following announcement was made 1:25pm Fri 05/02 from Gordon
>> Boettger regarding his next attempt at a Downwind Record Glider Flight.
>>
>>
>>
>> As the meteorologist and flight dispatcher you can follow here on this
>> blog and see more timely updates on my twitter feed @wrogerswx
>>
>>
>>
>> Blog updates will occur less frequently and can be seen here:
>>
>>
>>
>> http://scriptogr.am/wrogerswx/post/boettger-downwind-record-flight-minden-to-rapid-city-sd-05-04-2014
>>
>>
>>
>> bit.ly/BoettgerFlight20140504_WXBlog
>>
>>
>>
>> Walt Rogers "WX"
>>
>>
>>
>> __________________________________________________ ____________________________
>>
>> On Sunday, May 4, I will be making another distance record attempt
>> along with Hugh Bennett in the Duo Discus sailplane. Our intention is
>> to be towed up by a towplane shortly before sunrise around 0530 PDT from
>> the Minden Tahoe airport NV (KMEV), release and head in the direction of
>> Rapid City, SD (KRAP), landing near sunset after flying over 850 miles.
>> If we can go beyond that, we obviously will. As most know, we will be
>> making this attempt in an unmotorized sailplane utilizing mountain wave
>> updrafts to stay aloft. The weather is favorable for this intended
>> direction but weaker forecast winds might make slow going. If the flight
>> is aborted due to technicalities or unfavorable weather, Walt Rogers
>> will post on his twitter account (below). We intend to climb up to
>> 28,000 feet before proceeding east. As most know, there's no way to
>> tell how far we end up going. It will depend on what the weather
>> allows. It will be cold as the cockpit is unheated and unpressurized.
>> There are too many factors involved to tell how far we end up, which
>> also makes it quite fun to watch from the sidelines on the ground. Our
>> call sign for the flight will be N55LK.
>>
>>
>>
>> I will also be posting live pictures and video feed (workload
>> permitting) and be in satellite communication with Walt Rogers, our
>> meteorologist and dispatcher. You can follow his excellent twitter
>> feeds with weather updates and our progress and inflight pictures by going to:
>>
>>
>>
>> https://twitter.com/wrogerswx
>>
>>
>>
>> You can join us during the flight by following our track which gives
>> position, altitude, speed, and heading. Updates occur every 5 minutes.
>> Click on the blue dots to see our position, speed, altitude, and
>> heading. Click on the following link to access the site on Saturday,
>> 3/29 (be advised that you will have to select "map filters" on the map
>> page and then on the "date and time range" choose "currently tracking"
>> in order to see only our position points for THIS flight).
>>
>>
>>
>> https://share.delorme.com/GordonBoettger
>>
>>
>>
>> Also, we can be tracked on:
>>
>>
>>
>> www.flightaware.com (might not be accurate)
>>
>>
>>
>> One can also follow our live communications with Air Traffic Control by going to:
>>
>>
>>
>> http://www.liveatc.net (I believe our first frequency will be Norcal
>> Approach on 119.2 and then for OAK center 128.8)
>>
>>
>>
>> My goal is to share this wonderful adventure and beauty of unpowered
>> flight with the rest of the world. Without being in the cockpit, this
>> is the best way we know how to share it. Feel free to share this with your friends.
>>
>> Enjoy the ride,
>>
>>
>>
>> Gordon Boettger
>>
>> N55LK
>
> I recently spoke to Gordon on his drive back to Nevada and he asked me to
> post a link to his flight at:
>
> https://www.skylines.aero/flights/31356/
>
> He said this is an easy-to-use site and I believe you can obtain his igc file from it.
>
> He should be home this evening.
>
> Mitch Polinsky
Another impressive just fantastic flight. And so interesting to follow
along the live InReach tracking and keep up with Walt's blog and twitter
feed. And now photos and an IGC file. Thanks so much to the whole team that
makes this possible. It must feel like they can just about reach out and
touch Rapid City, it is going to be great when that happens.
Darryl
Thanks to all viewers for the support. I'd like to give a HUGE thanks to Walt Rogers and Rick Walters for their unbelievable support before, during, and after the flight. Also a big thanks to Tim Gardner for the 0530 tow. Without these guys this flight would not have been possible. Walt's an unreal meteorologist and getting his weather updates via sat phone during some pretty critical weather areas during the flights is comforting. Also, getting a very speedy retrieve from Rick (arrived 0930 the next morning after dragging the trailer for over 1100 miles)was phenomenal.
These guys deserve all the credit!!! A true class act!!
Gordon Boettger
May 8th 14, 11:43 AM
I'd like to thank all for the positive feedback and watching this fun flight. I'd especially like all to know that this flight would not have been possible without the help of three gracious individuals. Walt Rogers, who's incredible weather knowledge helped lead the way and superb live updates via twitter so that all could ride along was invaluable. It was comforting hearing his voice on the sat phone several times during critical weather phases. Rick Walters, who's not only an incredible sailplane racer, is also an incredible crew who arrived at 0930 the next morning after driving over 1100 miles. Talk about expeditious. Tim Gardner, who woke early enough to tow us at 0530 through rough air was awesome. These guys all lost a lot of sleep. These gracious team members that made this flight possible get my hearfelt THANK YOU. Thank you gents for making this possible!! We could not have done it without you.
Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett
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