Soaring safaris

[flying_monkey[_1_]]

OK, it's the time of year to talk about soaring instead of doing it
here in the Northeast, so I'll ask this question. If a person was just
bursting to go soaring this time of year or up to the early spring,
maybe get some XC or badge legs, where would be the ideal place to go?
If it's not all the way on the other side of the country, I could take
my Jantar, or I could rent a glider if it's too far. The chance to get
diamond altitude would be nice.

Thanks in advance for a lot of advice,
Ed

[Mike the Strike]

We have done significant cross-country flights here in Arizona in every
month of the year, including over the Christmas and New Year holiday
period, although our regular season only really begins in late February
or early March. Southern California might be another good bet.

Check last year's OLC flights, they might give you some ideas.

Mike

On Dec 7, 7:06 am, "flying_monkey" >
wrote:
> OK, it's the time of year to talk about soaring instead of doing it
> here in the Northeast, so I'll ask this question. If a person was just
> bursting to go soaring this time of year or up to the early spring,
> maybe get some XC or badge legs, where would be the ideal place to go?
> If it's not all the way on the other side of the country, I could take
> my Jantar, or I could rent a glider if it's too far. The chance to get
> diamond altitude would be nice.
>
> Thanks in advance for a lot of advice,
> Ed

[flying_monkey[_1_]]

Mike the Strike wrote:
> Check last year's OLC flights, they might give you some ideas.
>

Interesting you bring that up, it's a good idea. But how do I get to
last years flights? I can't find a link, and if you change the year on
the calendar, it says that nothing is available.

Ed

[Mike the Strike]

The old data are still on the previous system.

Try:

http://www2.onlinecontest.org/olcphp/2006/ausw_verein.php?olc=olc-kna&spr=en&dclp=3e0ffcaaeb44da21e969dc822c515847

Mike


On Dec 7, 8:19 am, "flying_monkey" >
wrote:
> Mike the Strike wrote:
> > Check last year's OLC flights, they might give you some ideas.Interesting you bring that up, it's a good idea. But how do I get to
> last years flights? I can't find a link, and if you change the year on
> the calendar, it says that nothing is available.
>
> Ed

[Peter Wyld]

given the subject, I thought you would be talking about
http://www.soaring-safaris.com/ !!

It would give you the answer to your question.


At 14:12 07 December 2006, Flying_Monkey wrote:
>OK, it's the time of year to talk about soaring instead
>of doing it
>here in the Northeast, so I'll ask this question.
>If a person was just
>bursting to go soaring this time of year or up to the
>early spring,
>maybe get some XC or badge legs, where would be the
>ideal place to go?
>If it's not all the way on the other side of the country,
>I could take
>my Jantar, or I could rent a glider if it's too far.
> The chance to get
>diamond altitude would be nice.
>
>Thanks in advance for a lot of advice,
>Ed
>
>

[[email protected]]

I plan to spend spring break in Littlefield, TX doing some instructing
and hopefully finishing up silver badge.

Probably wont pull the Cherokee down there though. Gas is too
expensive, would take too long. Itll be waiting for me when I get home
so I can practice up to win Sports Class at the Region 7 Contest (har
har har)

Peter Wyld wrote:
> given the subject, I thought you would be talking about
> http://www.soaring-safaris.com/ !!
>
> It would give you the answer to your question.
>
>
> At 14:12 07 December 2006, Flying_Monkey wrote:
> >OK, it's the time of year to talk about soaring instead
> >of doing it
> >here in the Northeast, so I'll ask this question.
> >If a person was just
> >bursting to go soaring this time of year or up to the
> >early spring,
> >maybe get some XC or badge legs, where would be the
> >ideal place to go?
> >If it's not all the way on the other side of the country,
> >I could take
> >my Jantar, or I could rent a glider if it's too far.
> > The chance to get
> >diamond altitude would be nice.
> >
> >Thanks in advance for a lot of advice,
> >Ed
> >
> >

[[email protected]]

IMHO - FLORIDA is by far your best bet . Take a look at the "Seniors
" cross country results the past 10 years ( always held the second week
in March ).

ZA.




On Dec 7, 9:06*am, "flying_monkey" >
wrote:
> OK, it's the time of year to talk about soaring instead of doing it
> here in the Northeast, so I'll ask this question. *If a person was just
> bursting to go soaring this time of year or up to the early spring,
> maybe get some XC or badge legs, where would be the ideal place to go?
> If it's not all the way on the other side of the country, I could take
> my Jantar, or I could rent a glider if it's too far. *The chance to get
> diamond altitude would be nice.
>
> Thanks in advance for a lot of advice,
> Ed

[flying_monkey[_1_]]

Peter Wyld wrote:
> given the subject, I thought you would be talking about
> http://www.soaring-safaris.com/ !!
>
> It would give you the answer to your question.

I've seen that site before, sounds like fantastic soaring there. But I
guess I wasn't taking the idea of a sarari that literally. Let's see,
at least $3k airfare, probably 500 for a weeks lodging, and we haven't
even gotten to glider rental and tows yet. I don't think that's within
the budget I had in mind.

Thanks, anyway,
Ed

[Mike the Strike]

Actually, South Africa isn't as expensive as you might think, being one
of the few countries with a reasonably favorable dollar exchange rate.
It's also not as expensive to fly there as you might expect - my wife
and I return to visit family over Christmas quite often. You could do
it from the east coast for around $1,200.

The soaring will definitely be better than anywhere in the northern
hemisphere at that time.

Mike

On Dec 7, 11:21 am, "flying_monkey" >
wrote:
> Peter Wyld wrote:
> > given the subject, I thought you would be talking about
> >http://www.soaring-safaris.com/!!
>
> > It would give you the answer to your question.I've seen that site before, sounds like fantastic soaring there. But I
> guess I wasn't taking the idea of a sarari that literally. Let's see,
> at least $3k airfare, probably 500 for a weeks lodging, and we haven't
> even gotten to glider rental and tows yet. I don't think that's within
> the budget I had in mind.
>
> Thanks, anyway,
> Ed

[[email protected]]

flying_monkey wrote:
> OK, it's the time of year to talk about soaring instead of doing it
> here in the Northeast, so I'll ask this question. If a person was just
> bursting to go soaring this time of year or up to the early spring,
> maybe get some XC or badge legs, where would be the ideal place to go?
> If it's not all the way on the other side of the country, I could take
> my Jantar, or I could rent a glider if it's too far. The chance to get
> diamond altitude would be nice.
>
> Thanks in advance for a lot of advice,
> Ed

Ed....It's right under you nose!! The Northeast IS the place to fly,
(instead of talking).....Look at the OLC...I think you will find Ridge
Soaring, PA and Blairstown, NJ as the top two locations in the USA
since October......probably 4th and 5th in the world as well.

Expect great ridge flights will be made at these locations in
tomorrow's predicted NW winds!!!

Cook

[flying_monkey]

wrote:
> flying_monkey wrote:
> > OK, it's the time of year to talk about soaring instead of doing it
> > here in the Northeast, so I'll ask this question. If a person was just
> > bursting to go soaring this time of year or up to the early spring,
> > maybe get some XC or badge legs, where would be the ideal place to go?
> > If it's not all the way on the other side of the country, I could take
> > my Jantar, or I could rent a glider if it's too far. The chance to get
> > diamond altitude would be nice.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for a lot of advice,
> > Ed
>
> Ed....It's right under you nose!! The Northeast IS the place to fly,
> (instead of talking).....Look at the OLC...I think you will find Ridge
> Soaring, PA and Blairstown, NJ as the top two locations in the USA
> since October......probably 4th and 5th in the world as well.
>
> Expect great ridge flights will be made at these locations in
> tomorrow's predicted NW winds!!!
>
> Cook

Yeah, and the wind chill will be about zero. I can't even imagine
assembling the glider at that temperature. And I don't have any
electric socks, or enough battery to run them.

No thanks, I want someplace a little warmer.

[JS]

flying_monkey wrote:

> Yeah, and the wind chill will be about zero. I can't even imagine
> assembling the glider at that temperature. And I don't have any
> electric socks, or enough battery to run them.
>
> No thanks, I want someplace a little warmer.

In the Northeast at this time of year, the pre-flight decision-making
includes:

"Should I not wear gloves and lose the feeling in my fingers, or wear
gloves and drop my wing?"

But the ridge flying will be good! Buy a one-man rigger instead of the
airfare to somewhere exotic, and wear the gloves. Cheaper than fixing
the dropped wing.

Meanwhile, it's about 85 to 90 degrees F in South Africa, Argentina
and Australia.
Mid- 60s and clear in the Mojave desert the last few days, a little
cooler in the mountains, but stable. :-(
There should be some wave coming...
Jim

[Bruce Greef]

JS wrote:
> flying_monkey wrote:
>
>
>>Yeah, and the wind chill will be about zero. I can't even imagine
>>assembling the glider at that temperature. And I don't have any
>>electric socks, or enough battery to run them.
>>
>>No thanks, I want someplace a little warmer.
>
>
> In the Northeast at this time of year, the pre-flight decision-making
> includes:
>
> "Should I not wear gloves and lose the feeling in my fingers, or wear
> gloves and drop my wing?"
>
> But the ridge flying will be good! Buy a one-man rigger instead of the
> airfare to somewhere exotic, and wear the gloves. Cheaper than fixing
> the dropped wing.
>
> Meanwhile, it's about 85 to 90 degrees F in South Africa, Argentina
> and Australia.
> Mid- 60s and clear in the Mojave desert the last few days, a little
> cooler in the mountains, but stable. :-(
> There should be some wave coming...
> Jim
>
Temperature is right (25C) - but there is 8/8 low cloud in Johannesburg (South
Africa) right now. No flying, gloves or no gloves.

Funny - I tried to fly with gloves to protect my hands from the sun - and found
my flying deteriorated significantly. Maybe on a glider that has higher stick
forces than my Cirrus it is not an issue, but even soft pigskin leather was too
much for me to retain feedback.

[Tim Taylor]

Bruce Greef wrote:

> >
> Temperature is right (25C) - but there is 8/8 low cloud in Johannesburg (South
> Africa) right now. No flying, gloves or no gloves.
>
> Funny - I tried to fly with gloves to protect my hands from the sun - and found
i> my flying deteriorated significantly. Maybe on a glider that has
higher stick
> forces than my Cirrus it is not an issue, but even soft pigskin leather was too
> much for me to retain feedback.

I have been using "band" gloves, the light ones used by marching bands
for several years and they work very well. I do not notice a
difference in flying and actually now miss them if I am not wearing
them and it is sunny in the glider.

Tim

[[email protected]]

> Bruce Greef wrote:
>
> > >
> > Temperature is right (25C) - but there is 8/8 low cloud in Johannesburg (South
> > Africa) right now. No flying, gloves or no gloves.
> >
> > Funny - I tried to fly with gloves to protect my hands from the sun - and found
> i> my flying deteriorated significantly. Maybe on a glider that has
> higher stick
> > forces than my Cirrus it is not an issue, but even soft pigskin leather was too
> > much for me to retain feedback.
>

Bruce

I think your glove problem whilst flying stems from you flying skills!
If you were all over the place normally (like me) then the gloves
wouldn't bother you and you could save a bundle by flying locally in
the cold. So all you gotta do is loosen-up and fly right (wrong)!

Bob

[Sarah]

I saw some "Colorado Boys" using thin blue gloves last season. They
said they were gloves made for handling photographic film. Maybe a
camera shop.


We laughed, but later I wished I had gloves.. the sun can be intense.

Sarah

[5Z]

On Dec 8, 1:39 pm, "Sarah" > wrote:
> I saw some "Colorado Boys" using thin blue gloves last season. They
> said they were gloves made for handling photographic film. Maybe a
> camera shop.

I wear bicycling gloves, though would like to find something similar
without the padding in the palm of the hand. These have all the
fingers cut out, and the back of the hand is mesh. I use them
primarily to absorb sweaty palms (from all the low circling over rocks
:) and some to help keeping cool. Interestingly, even black gloves
keep my hands noticeably cooler than when I fly without the gloves.

-Tom

[Wayne Paul]

If you want to protect your hands from the sun, here is a link you might
want to see. http://www.coolibar.com/sungloves.html

Wayne
HP-14 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/


"5Z" > wrote in message
ups.com...
>
>
> On Dec 8, 1:39 pm, "Sarah" > wrote:
>> I saw some "Colorado Boys" using thin blue gloves last season. They
>> said they were gloves made for handling photographic film. Maybe a
>> camera shop.
>
> I wear bicycling gloves, though would like to find something similar
> without the padding in the palm of the hand. These have all the
> fingers cut out, and the back of the hand is mesh. I use them
> primarily to absorb sweaty palms (from all the low circling over rocks
> :) and some to help keeping cool. Interestingly, even black gloves
> keep my hands noticeably cooler than when I fly without the gloves.
>
> -Tom
>

[Bruce Greef]

wrote:
>>Bruce Greef wrote:
>>
>>
>>>Temperature is right (25C) - but there is 8/8 low cloud in Johannesburg (South
>>>Africa) right now. No flying, gloves or no gloves.
>>>
>>>Funny - I tried to fly with gloves to protect my hands from the sun - and found
>>
>>i> my flying deteriorated significantly. Maybe on a glider that has
>>higher stick
>>
>>>forces than my Cirrus it is not an issue, but even soft pigskin leather was too
>>>much for me to retain feedback.
>>
>
> Bruce
>
> I think your glove problem whilst flying stems from you flying skills!
> If you were all over the place normally (like me) then the gloves
> wouldn't bother you and you could save a bundle by flying locally in
> the cold. So all you gotta do is loosen-up and fly right (wrong)!
>
> Bob
>
Many a true word spoken in jest. If I want to guarantee a display of "all over
the sky" I just have to allow myself to tense up.

My friends mutter something along the lines of "what technique" when I complain
about having to improve my thermalling technique, so maybe you have a point.

On the other hand - the one with no glove on it - I can out climb just about
anything with the Std Cirrus. (I know it's the aeroplane, not the nut behind the
stick)

Thanks for the laugh.

[[email protected]]

Bruce

Here is another laugh, true story!

I am a relatively low time pilot and have the joy and priveledge to fly
in the northern Alps where the mountains are big and the landing fields
tend to be in the valley at the foot of the mountain your flying.

Well, as I usually winch launch (learned to fly at a club that only has
a winch) I needed an areotow from Kufstein in Austria back up to a peak
to catch a thermal that I shoulda caught the first time I was up there!
Oh well, what's an 80€ tow. Off we went, now you must understand, I
was checked out for areotow, as a matter of fact I had quite a few
areotows at this time, something like 22! Off we went, into the wild
blue yonder, towing straight to a spine that had been in the bright sun
for a few hours.

Well it is getting a little bumpy, I'm having a little trouble staying
behind the tug, when all of a sudden the tow plane rolls 90 degrees to
the left, and I roll 90 degrees to the right (good thing I wear a
diaper when flying). Somehow we both recover without getting slack in
the line (something I have trouble with in the best of times), now the
tow is getting rough. I called the tow pilot to ask if he wanted me to
release and he answered, with a slow Texas drawl mixed with an Austrian
accent, think Gw and Arnold, "Well you can get off if you like but your
payin for the whole ride! Wait till you see the towplane tween you and
the ground then I think you should leave"

Rode a few more minutes, kinda like areobatics on a string, relaesed
into a 6ms thermal and in 3 minute had enough height to glide home.
When I drove past Kufstein a few days later I dropped off a case of
bier for the tow pilots.

Bob

[Mark Lenox]

I concur with Cook. In fact, I fly as much or more in the winter in
Tennessee as I do in the summer. Running the ridge is nothing short of
fantastic on a good day. Chilhowee gliderport is open year-round. It's
not exactly warm, but today it's clear, sunny, calm, and 50 degrees. A
beautiful day for acro if nothing else.

Use the following link for prediction of conditions. When the wind is at
330 and the speed over 10 kts., the Chilhowee ridge is definitely working!

http://usairnet.com/cgi-bin/launch/code.cgi?sta=KCHA&model=avn&state=TN&Submit=Get+Forecast

Regards,


Mark Lenox, CFIG
Chilhowee

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>
> flying_monkey wrote:
>> OK, it's the time of year to talk about soaring instead of doing it
>> here in the Northeast, so I'll ask this question. If a person was just
>> bursting to go soaring this time of year or up to the early spring,
>> maybe get some XC or badge legs, where would be the ideal place to go?
>> If it's not all the way on the other side of the country, I could take
>> my Jantar, or I could rent a glider if it's too far. The chance to get
>> diamond altitude would be nice.
>>
>> Thanks in advance for a lot of advice,
>> Ed
>
> Ed....It's right under you nose!! The Northeast IS the place to fly,
> (instead of talking).....Look at the OLC...I think you will find Ridge
> Soaring, PA and Blairstown, NJ as the top two locations in the USA
> since October......probably 4th and 5th in the world as well.
>
> Expect great ridge flights will be made at these locations in
> tomorrow's predicted NW winds!!!
>
> Cook
>