Iowa XC at end of October

[[email protected]]

Yesterday Matt Michael, in his Woodstock, and I, in the Cherokee, set
out downwind from Ames municipal on a pretty nice soaring day,
especially considering the time of year! we were greeted with about
300 fpm thermals, sometimes stronger, but with wide spacing. Often we
had nearly 10 mile runs between them. I ended up pushing too hard
instead of backtracking to matt who was in lift, and landed out in a
nice harveste soybean field. What a wonderful time of the year to
fly, when the landscape is littered with perfect runways in all
directions. Matt flew around for about another hour but was kind
enough to join me in the field. what a wonderful flight! pictures
are here, currently uploading so check back again:
http://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/EndOfOctoberSoaring


More to come...

Tony Condon

[Marc Ramsey]

wrote:
> Yesterday Matt Michael, in his Woodstock, and I, in the Cherokee, set
> out downwind from Ames municipal on a pretty nice soaring day,
> especially considering the time of year! we were greeted with about
> 300 fpm thermals, sometimes stronger, but with wide spacing. Often we
> had nearly 10 mile runs between them. I ended up pushing too hard
> instead of backtracking to matt who was in lift, and landed out in a
> nice harveste soybean field. What a wonderful time of the year to
> fly, when the landscape is littered with perfect runways in all
> directions. Matt flew around for about another hour but was kind
> enough to join me in the field. what a wonderful flight! pictures
> are here, currently uploading so check back again:
> http://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/EndOfOctoberSoaring

You guys are an inspiration, this is what soaring should be all about 8^)

Marc

[Mike Schumann]

So how far did you guys fly?

Mike Schumann

> wrote in message
ps.com...
> Yesterday Matt Michael, in his Woodstock, and I, in the Cherokee, set
> out downwind from Ames municipal on a pretty nice soaring day,
> especially considering the time of year! we were greeted with about
> 300 fpm thermals, sometimes stronger, but with wide spacing. Often we
> had nearly 10 mile runs between them. I ended up pushing too hard
> instead of backtracking to matt who was in lift, and landed out in a
> nice harveste soybean field. What a wonderful time of the year to
> fly, when the landscape is littered with perfect runways in all
> directions. Matt flew around for about another hour but was kind
> enough to join me in the field. what a wonderful flight! pictures
> are here, currently uploading so check back again:
> http://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/EndOfOctoberSoaring
>
>
> More to come...
>
> Tony Condon
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[Marc Ramsey]

Mike Schumann wrote:
> So how far did you guys fly?

Does it really matter if they were having a good time?

> > wrote in message
> ps.com...
>> Yesterday Matt Michael, in his Woodstock, and I, in the Cherokee, set
>> out downwind from Ames municipal on a pretty nice soaring day,
>> especially considering the time of year! we were greeted with about
>> 300 fpm thermals, sometimes stronger, but with wide spacing. Often we
>> had nearly 10 mile runs between them. I ended up pushing too hard
>> instead of backtracking to matt who was in lift, and landed out in a
>> nice harveste soybean field. What a wonderful time of the year to
>> fly, when the landscape is littered with perfect runways in all
>> directions. Matt flew around for about another hour but was kind
>> enough to join me in the field. what a wonderful flight! pictures
>> are here, currently uploading so check back again:
>> http://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/EndOfOctoberSoaring
>>
>>
>> More to come...
>>
>> Tony Condon
>>
>
>
>

[[email protected]]

On Oct 29, 4:07 pm, "Mike Schumann" <mike-nos...@traditions-
nospam.com> wrote:
> So how far did you guys fly?
>
> Mike Schumann
>
> > wrote in message
>
> ps.com...
>
>
>
> > Yesterday Matt Michael, in his Woodstock, and I, in the Cherokee, set
> > out downwind from Ames municipal on a pretty nice soaring day,
> > especially considering the time of year! we were greeted with about
> > 300 fpm thermals, sometimes stronger, but with wide spacing. Often we
> > had nearly 10 mile runs between them. I ended up pushing too hard
> > instead of backtracking to matt who was in lift, and landed out in a
> > nice harveste soybean field. What a wonderful time of the year to
> > fly, when the landscape is littered with perfect runways in all
> > directions. Matt flew around for about another hour but was kind
> > enough to join me in the field. what a wonderful flight! pictures
> > are here, currently uploading so check back again:
> >http://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/EndOfOctoberSoaring
>
> > More to come...
>
> > Tony Condon
>
> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

I landed in the field about 42 nautical miles from Ames. Matt easily
couldve gone much further with the altitude he had, plus the day was
still working at that time. sure was nice to have some company though!

[[email protected]]

On Oct 29, 3:55 pm, Marc Ramsey > wrote:
> Mike Schumann wrote:
> > So how far did you guys fly?
>
> Does it really matter if they were having a good time?
>
>
Sometimes it does matter, sometimes it doesn't so much. The main
thing is landing out, thats what really makes it a fun adventure.
Meeting all the locals is great too.

We landed about 50sm from our home airport which actually was pretty
far considering the conditions. First, it's freeking October 28th in
the upper midwest where thermals sometimes compete with blizzards and
the day length is pretty brief. Second, Tony didn't launch until
around 2pm. Third, we are flying wood and fabric ships with best L/Ds
in the mid 20s (in our dreams). I could have gone another 10 to 30
miles but Tony reminded me over the radio that it would be more fun to
land together. Our pal Matt Sawhill (Folka 4) was up in his Cessna
140 talking to us on the radio and even offered to come get me if I
landed at the next airport. So, I just gently floated around in the
late afternoon lift relaxing in the peace and beauty, munching on an
apple, seeing how far I could go into the wind without turning... It
was peculiar to intentionally head to a farm field with a nice big
paved airport just a few miles away but Tony was right, it was more
fun! I've said for years now that a day like this is like a 2 week
vacation for me and man I really needed it. Thanks for the motivation
Tony!

[[email protected]]

Oh yea, fourth... Top of the boundary layer was almost 5500 agl at the
peak of the afternoon and there were no clouds. So we didn't do too
bad all in all

MM

[Gunnar]

I always enjoy reading about your adventures. And believe me it's
having the adventure that counts!

The pictures are great!! Keep it UP!!!,,,er whatever!!!!
Just have fun doing it!!!!

Gunnar

[[email protected]]

On Oct 29, 5:57 pm, Gunnar > wrote:
> I always enjoy reading about your adventures. And believe me it's
> having the adventure that counts!
>
> The pictures are great!! Keep it UP!!!,,,er whatever!!!!
> Just have fun doing it!!!!
>
> Gunnar

It was an adventure dive bombing Flagstaff with you in the 32 back in
87 or whenever it was. Great fun for a midwestern soaring novice.
Been chased by any tornados lately Gunnar?

Matt Michael

[[email protected]]

I uploaded the video of Matt landing in the field. his first comment
"so much for boldly going where no man has gone before"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAFYVPjG3Ck

thanks for all the kind words, gives me great motivation to keep on
doing what ive been doing.

[[email protected]]

Thanks for all the kind words, here is a video of matt landing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rAFYVPjG3Ck

im afraid the Cherokee Kid's adventures may be over for the year, but
look forward to more next year, I will be in the same town as my
glider all year long!!

[[email protected]]

Thanks Tony for dithering the image to obscure my inferior technique.

Gotta love that automatic out of focus feature.


MM

[[email protected]]

> im afraid the Cherokee Kid's adventures may be over for the year, but
> look forward to more next year, I will be in the same town as my
> glider all year long!!

hopefully this proves to be wrong folks. it *appears* that saturday
could be good soaring in central and eastern iowa. we'll see...

[Mike Schumann]

It looks like the winds are going to be blowing pretty good. If there's
lift, it could be a great day for a downwind dash.

Mike Schumann

> wrote in message
ps.com...
>
>> im afraid the Cherokee Kid's adventures may be over for the year, but
>> look forward to more next year, I will be in the same town as my
>> glider all year long!!
>
> hopefully this proves to be wrong folks. it *appears* that saturday
> could be good soaring in central and eastern iowa. we'll see...
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[[email protected]]

> It looks like the winds are going to be blowing pretty good. If there's
> lift, it could be a great day for a downwind dash.

blipmaps are indicating that it should be good. boundary layer heights
in the 6000 foot range all afternoon. thermal strengths of nearly 400
fpm.

all my flights are downwind dashes :)

[Mike Schumann]

We're looking forward to your report.

Mike Schumann

> wrote in message
oups.com...
>
>> It looks like the winds are going to be blowing pretty good. If there's
>> lift, it could be a great day for a downwind dash.
>
> blipmaps are indicating that it should be good. boundary layer heights
> in the 6000 foot range all afternoon. thermal strengths of nearly 400
> fpm.
>
> all my flights are downwind dashes :)
>



--
Posted via a free Usenet account from http://www.teranews.com

[[email protected]]

On Nov 2, 4:28 pm, "Mike Schumann" >
wrote:
> We're looking forward to your report.
>
> Mike Schumann
>
> > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
> Football TFR at Ames starting 10:30am AND so far no tow pilots...

Tony is considering trailering to Farabault MN home of Cross Country
Soaring FBO (Don Ingraham Hilton Cup alum) for a sat tow.
>
> >> It looks like the winds are going to be blowing pretty good. If there's
> >> lift, it could be a great day for a downwind dash.
>
> > blipmaps are indicating that it should be good. boundary layer heights
> > in the 6000 foot range all afternoon. thermal strengths of nearly 400
> > fpm.
>
> > all my flights are downwind dashes :)
>
> --
> Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

[[email protected]]

On Nov 2, 6:39 pm, wrote:
> On Nov 2, 4:28 pm, "Mike Schumann" >
> wrote:
>
> > We're looking forward to your report.
>
> > Mike Schumann
>
> > > wrote in message
>
> oups.com...
>
> > Football TFR at Ames starting 10:30am AND so far no tow pilots...
>
> Tony is considering trailering to Farabault MN home of Cross Country
> Soaring FBO (Don Ingraham Hilton Cup alum) for a sat tow.
>
>
>
> > >> It looks like the winds are going to be blowing pretty good. If there's
> > >> lift, it could be a great day for a downwind dash.
>
> > > blipmaps are indicating that it should be good. boundary layer heights
> > > in the 6000 foot range all afternoon. thermal strengths of nearly 400
> > > fpm.
>
> > > all my flights are downwind dashes :)
>
> > --
> > Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com

well i ended up driving to Muscatine for a tow (or two) form the
Blackhawk Soaring club. While forecasts all indicated good lift for
today, they did not predict the high cirrus overcast that would move
in. On the second (high) tow, i was able to maintain altitude for a
while near the airport so i figured what the heck, might as well try,
so downwind i went. quickly cruised over the mississippi for my first
flight into another state. i was able to stay in a street of lift for
the first 5 miles or so but after that i dropped out and was unable to
connect with anytyhing, sky was fairly obscured and nothing was
working at all. landed in a beautiful pasture right next to a
farmhouse with a great driveway and a very friendly old farmer. grand
total distance was probably somewhere around 12 miles. I guess this
could qualify as flying a cross country in the midwest in november, as
I was in lift and actually did climb a little initially. a Ventus was
able to fly about 30 milels upwind and back under the overcast, but no
such luck for me. fun time anyway! and a very special thanks to Chris
Uhl who woke up at oh dark thirty this morning to come with to crew,
what dedication!

[[email protected]]

The Ventus was piloted by Don Gurnett, space scientist and long time
glider competition pilot who started out soaring in a Cherokee II 3-
plus decades ago. He managed to rack up a number of miles today in
his Ventus under the overcast but remarked to Tony that there was no
way a Cherokee could have kept going.

Don has presented at conventions I think mostly about thermal
structure. He gave a talk at our state seminar a couple years ago and
I asked him to focus on his life and how he got started in soaring.
The resulting presentation covered his championship hand launched
glider records as a teen (some still standing), his scientific career
working with James Van Allen up to the current Cassini mission, and
his Cherokee II flights and many competition victories. Fascinating
stuff and a highly recomended presentation!

Good work Tony. Folks, how many glider pilots will choose to land out
just for the experience rather than hang around the airport hoping for
better conditions or the convienience of an airport? Some might think
him nuts for doing so but he inspired local club pilots today and
promoted the sport to the general public too. My Marfa Gliders hat is
off to him.

MM
On Nov 3, 6:40 pm, wrote:
> On Nov 2, 6:39 pm, wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Nov 2, 4:28 pm, "Mike Schumann" >
> > wrote:
>
> > > We're looking forward to your report.
>
> > > Mike Schumann
>
> > > > wrote in message
>
> > oups.com...
>
> > > Football TFR at Ames starting 10:30am AND so far no tow pilots...
>
> > Tony is considering trailering to Farabault MN home of Cross Country
> > Soaring FBO (Don Ingraham Hilton Cup alum) for a sat tow.
>
> > > >> It looks like the winds are going to be blowing pretty good. If there's
> > > >> lift, it could be a great day for a downwind dash.
>
> > > > blipmaps are indicating that it should be good. boundary layer heights
> > > > in the 6000 foot range all afternoon. thermal strengths of nearly 400
> > > > fpm.
>
> > > > all my flights are downwind dashes :)
>
> > > --
> > > Posted via a free Usenet account fromhttp://www.teranews.com
>
> well i ended up driving to Muscatine for a tow (or two) form the
> Blackhawk Soaring club. While forecasts all indicated good lift for
> today, they did not predict the high cirrus overcast that would move
> in. On the second (high) tow, i was able to maintain altitude for a
> while near the airport so i figured what the heck, might as well try,
> so downwind i went. quickly cruised over the mississippi for my first
> flight into another state. i was able to stay in a street of lift for
> the first 5 miles or so but after that i dropped out and was unable to
> connect with anytyhing, sky was fairly obscured and nothing was
> working at all. landed in a beautiful pasture right next to a
> farmhouse with a great driveway and a very friendly old farmer. grand
> total distance was probably somewhere around 12 miles. I guess this
> could qualify as flying a cross country in the midwest in november, as
> I was in lift and actually did climb a little initially. a Ventus was
> able to fly about 30 milels upwind and back under the overcast, but no
> such luck for me. fun time anyway! and a very special thanks to Chris
> Uhl who woke up at oh dark thirty this morning to come with to crew,
> what dedication!- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[[email protected]]

> Folks, how many glider pilots will choose to land out
> just for the experience rather than hang around the airport hoping for
> better conditions or the convienience of an airport? Some might think
> him nuts for doing so but he inspired local club pilots today and
> promoted the sport to the general public too.

Ive told you and others many times, i often feel safer landing in a
nice field or pasture than on a runway at an airport.

[[email protected]]

On Nov 3, 10:23 pm, wrote:
> > Folks, how many glider pilots will choose to land out
> > just for the experience rather than hang around the airport hoping for
> > better conditions or the convienience of an airport? Some might think
> > him nuts for doing so but he inspired local club pilots today and
> > promoted the sport to the general public too.
>
> Ive told you and others many times, i often feel safer landing in a
> nice field or pasture than on a runway at an airport.

pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/NovemberFlying

figured out the distance at 10.4 miles!

[Bill[_12_]]

wrote:
> On Nov 3, 10:23 pm, wrote:
>
>>>Folks, how many glider pilots will choose to land out
>>>just for the experience rather than hang around the airport hoping for
>>>better conditions or the convienience of an airport? Some might think
>>>him nuts for doing so but he inspired local club pilots today and
>>>promoted the sport to the general public too.
>>
>>Ive told you and others many times, i often feel safer landing in a
>>nice field or pasture than on a runway at an airport.
>
>
> pictures at http://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/NovemberFlying
>
> figured out the distance at 10.4 miles!
>

Because you do the downwind dashes, you need to abandon that high
performance Cherokee and get a better downwind dash
X-country ship such, as a GAPA PW-2. That way you will not have to
deal with such long retrieves. I estimate that with the GAPA, on this
day you would probably have made about 3 miles. Even doing a downwind
dash, this allows you to WALK back to the aerodrome from your landout
site, get your car and trailer yourself, do your own retrieve and still
be home in time for dinner. With the advanced high performance Cherokee,
your landouts are almost guaranteed to be beyond easy walking distance
from your take off location.

[[email protected]]

We have a Superfloating in the hanger awaiting spring.

I noticed that I could carry a wing by myself when assembling it.

I figure we could land out, de-rig, and carry the glider back to the
airport 1 piece at a time WITHOUT the trailer, and still be home in
time for supper.

MM


On Nov 4, 9:21 pm, Bill > wrote:
> wrote:
> > On Nov 3, 10:23 pm, wrote:
>
> >>>Folks, how many glider pilots will choose to land out
> >>>just for the experience rather than hang around the airport hoping for
> >>>better conditions or the convienience of an airport? Some might think
> >>>him nuts for doing so but he inspired local club pilots today and
> >>>promoted the sport to the general public too.
>
> >>Ive told you and others many times, i often feel safer landing in a
> >>nice field or pasture than on a runway at an airport.
>
> > pictures athttp://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/NovemberFlying
>
> > figured out the distance at 10.4 miles!
>
> Because you do the downwind dashes, you need to abandon that high
> performance Cherokee and get a better downwind dash
> X-country ship such, as a GAPA PW-2. That way you will not have to
> deal with such long retrieves. I estimate that with the GAPA, on this
> day you would probably have made about 3 miles. Even doing a downwind
> dash, this allows you to WALK back to the aerodrome from your landout
> site, get your car and trailer yourself, do your own retrieve and still
> be home in time for dinner. With the advanced high performance Cherokee,
> your landouts are almost guaranteed to be beyond easy walking distance
> from your take off location.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[[email protected]]

On Nov 4, 9:21 pm, Bill > wrote:
> wrote:
> > On Nov 3, 10:23 pm, wrote:
>
> >>>Folks, how many glider pilots will choose to land out
> >>>just for the experience rather than hang around the airport hoping for
> >>>better conditions or the convienience of an airport? Some might think
> >>>him nuts for doing so but he inspired local club pilots today and
> >>>promoted the sport to the general public too.
>
> >>Ive told you and others many times, i often feel safer landing in a
> >>nice field or pasture than on a runway at an airport.
>
> > pictures athttp://picasaweb.google.com/cherokee373Y/NovemberFlying
>
> > figured out the distance at 10.4 miles!
>
> Because you do the downwind dashes, you need to abandon that high
> performance Cherokee and get a better downwind dash
> X-country ship such, as a GAPA PW-2. That way you will not have to
> deal with such long retrieves. I estimate that with the GAPA, on this
> day you would probably have made about 3 miles. Even doing a downwind
> dash, this allows you to WALK back to the aerodrome from your landout
> site, get your car and trailer yourself, do your own retrieve and still
> be home in time for dinner. With the advanced high performance Cherokee,
> your landouts are almost guaranteed to be beyond easy walking distance
> from your take off location.- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

a very nice thought, and quite funny! althought i dont think i have
really had a problem making it back to the airport in time for supper
on any of my flights this year.

[Bill[_12_]]

wrote:

>>Because you do the downwind dashes, you need to abandon that high
>>performance Cherokee and get a better downwind dash
>>X-country ship such, as a GAPA PW-2. That way you will not have to
>>deal with such long retrieves. I estimate that with the GAPA, on this
>>day you would probably have made about 3 miles. Even doing a downwind
>>dash, this allows you to WALK back to the aerodrome from your landout
>>site, get your car and trailer yourself, do your own retrieve and still
>>be home in time for dinner. With the advanced high performance Cherokee,
>>your landouts are almost guaranteed to be beyond easy walking distance
>>from your take off location.- Hide quoted text -
>>
>>- Show quoted text -
>
>
> a very nice thought, and quite funny! althought i dont think i have
> really had a problem making it back to the airport in time for supper
> on any of my flights this year.
>

All in fun! We have been inspired by your flights. Brings one back to
the real reasons for flying. A refreshing change from the discussions
of cylinders, rules, what type of lingus maximus glider to buy, or what
type of bluetooth or computer software/cables to get.

[[email protected]]

> All in fun! We have been inspired by your flights. Brings one back to
> the real reasons for flying. A refreshing change from the discussions
> of cylinders, rules, what type of lingus maximus glider to buy, or what
> type of bluetooth or computer software/cables to get.- Hide quoted text -

amen. incredible that a summer of 10-15 mile flights could inspire
anyone. i look forward to hearing YOUR stories in the future!