Got Big Thermals?

[Bob D]

Our weather in central Texas is the best it's been in 10 years. I can
only hope it'll hold up through the week of the upcoming Region 10
South Soaring Championship (Aug 9-15th).

For the last 5 weeks we've had a number of members with Greater
Houston Soaring and Soaring Club of Houston (the contest sponsors)
earn their Gold and Diamond distance badges. This past Saturday Ken
Sorenson of SCOH put up an 800K-plus flight on the U.S. OLC. Yesterday
thermals around our club pushed up over 6,000ASL (our field elevation
is 125ASL). If this pattern holds up (and there's no reason to think
otherwise) we're going to have a heck of a contest.

Come on down and enjoy a first-class airport, a lot of hospitality,
and hopefully some serious racing conditions. Learn more at
www.houstonsoaring.org/2009R10. My contact info is on the site.

Just two weeks to go... I can't wait!

Bob DeLeon
Region 10 Contest Manager

[Frank Whiteley]

On Jul 27, 8:39*am, Bob D > wrote:
> Our weather in central Texas is the best it's been in 10 years. I can
> only hope it'll hold up through the week of the upcoming Region 10
> South Soaring Championship (Aug 9-15th).
>
> For the last 5 weeks we've had a number of members with Greater
> Houston Soaring and Soaring Club of Houston (the contest sponsors)
> earn their Gold and Diamond distance badges. This past Saturday Ken
> Sorenson of SCOH put up an 800K-plus flight on the U.S. OLC. Yesterday
> thermals around our club pushed up over 6,000ASL (our field elevation
> is 125ASL). If this pattern holds up (and there's no reason to think
> otherwise) we're going to have a heck of a contest.
>
> Come on down and enjoy a first-class airport, a lot of hospitality,
> and hopefully some serious racing conditions. Learn more atwww.houstonsoaring.org/2009R10. My contact info is on the site.
>
> Just two weeks to go... I can't wait!
>
> Bob DeLeon
> Region 10 Contest Manager

Clearly you are getting our Colorado weather;^(

Good luck with the contest.

Frank Whiteley

[Bob D]

On Jul 27, 10:11*am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
> On Jul 27, 8:39*am, Bob D > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Our weather in central Texas is the best it's been in 10 years. I can
> > only hope it'll hold up through the week of the upcoming Region 10
> > South Soaring Championship (Aug 9-15th).
>
> > For the last 5 weeks we've had a number of members with Greater
> > Houston Soaring and Soaring Club of Houston (the contest sponsors)
> > earn their Gold and Diamond distance badges. This past Saturday Ken
> > Sorenson of SCOH put up an 800K-plus flight on the U.S. OLC. Yesterday
> > thermals around our club pushed up over 6,000ASL (our field elevation
> > is 125ASL). If this pattern holds up (and there's no reason to think
> > otherwise) we're going to have a heck of a contest.
>
> > Come on down and enjoy a first-class airport, a lot of hospitality,
> > and hopefully some serious racing conditions. Learn more atwww.houstonsoaring.org/2009R10. My contact info is on the site.
>
> > Just two weeks to go... I can't wait!
>
> > Bob DeLeon
> > Region 10 Contest Manager
>
> Clearly you are getting our Colorado weather;^(
>
> Good luck with the contest.
>
> Frank Whiteley

Thanks Frank. While you're at it... send us your Colorado
temperatures. There are days lately when the CU bottoms start glowing
orange around 4:00P :)

[Frank Whiteley]

On Jul 27, 10:42*am, Bob D > wrote:
> On Jul 27, 10:11*am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jul 27, 8:39*am, Bob D > wrote:
>
> > > Our weather in central Texas is the best it's been in 10 years. I can
> > > only hope it'll hold up through the week of the upcoming Region 10
> > > South Soaring Championship (Aug 9-15th).
>
> > > For the last 5 weeks we've had a number of members with Greater
> > > Houston Soaring and Soaring Club of Houston (the contest sponsors)
> > > earn their Gold and Diamond distance badges. This past Saturday Ken
> > > Sorenson of SCOH put up an 800K-plus flight on the U.S. OLC. Yesterday
> > > thermals around our club pushed up over 6,000ASL (our field elevation
> > > is 125ASL). If this pattern holds up (and there's no reason to think
> > > otherwise) we're going to have a heck of a contest.
>
> > > Come on down and enjoy a first-class airport, a lot of hospitality,
> > > and hopefully some serious racing conditions. Learn more atwww.houstonsoaring.org/2009R10. My contact info is on the site.
>
> > > Just two weeks to go... I can't wait!
>
> > > Bob DeLeon
> > > Region 10 Contest Manager
>
> > Clearly you are getting our Colorado weather;^(
>
> > Good luck with the contest.
>
> > Frank Whiteley
>
> Thanks Frank. While you're at it... send us your Colorado
> temperatures. There are days lately when the CU bottoms start glowing
> orange around 4:00P :)

This season has been more like Wisconsin or Minnesota. Tomorrow's
high is forecast to be 74F and Dr Jack's is so blue, like the local
pilots. The grass is green though. I spent over 16 hours on the
tractor during our recent CAP glider academy mowing the winch area and
runways, and that was after other members had mowed for many hours.

Frank

[Frank Whiteley]

On Jul 27, 11:17*am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
> On Jul 27, 10:42*am, Bob D > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jul 27, 10:11*am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
>
> > > On Jul 27, 8:39*am, Bob D > wrote:
>
> > > > Our weather in central Texas is the best it's been in 10 years. I can
> > > > only hope it'll hold up through the week of the upcoming Region 10
> > > > South Soaring Championship (Aug 9-15th).
>
> > > > For the last 5 weeks we've had a number of members with Greater
> > > > Houston Soaring and Soaring Club of Houston (the contest sponsors)
> > > > earn their Gold and Diamond distance badges. This past Saturday Ken
> > > > Sorenson of SCOH put up an 800K-plus flight on the U.S. OLC. Yesterday
> > > > thermals around our club pushed up over 6,000ASL (our field elevation
> > > > is 125ASL). If this pattern holds up (and there's no reason to think
> > > > otherwise) we're going to have a heck of a contest.
>
> > > > Come on down and enjoy a first-class airport, a lot of hospitality,
> > > > and hopefully some serious racing conditions. Learn more atwww.houstonsoaring.org/2009R10. My contact info is on the site.
>
> > > > Just two weeks to go... I can't wait!
>
> > > > Bob DeLeon
> > > > Region 10 Contest Manager
>
> > > Clearly you are getting our Colorado weather;^(
>
> > > Good luck with the contest.
>
> > > Frank Whiteley
>
> > Thanks Frank. While you're at it... send us your Colorado
> > temperatures. There are days lately when the CU bottoms start glowing
> > orange around 4:00P :)
>
> This season has been more like Wisconsin or Minnesota. *Tomorrow's
> high is forecast to be 74F and Dr Jack's is so blue, like the local
> pilots. *The grass is green though. *I spent over 16 hours on the
> tractor during our recent CAP glider academy mowing the winch area and
> runways, and that was after other members had mowed for many hours.
>
> Frank

This was interesting. Yesterday morning I opened the glass sliding
door and leaving the screen door closed to the patio. I turned on the
house fan. When I returned to the screen door about a half hour
later, moisture had been collecting on the screen and rivulets of
water were running down it to the floor. I noted only one local
flight on OLC yesterday for all of Colorado. That's about how it's
been too many days this year.

One the other hand, normal Houston summer humidity reminds me of
Adana, Turkey, only worse;^)

Frank

[Barny]

Michigan/Ohio/Indiana had the coldest July (and crappiest Soaring) on
record. Absolute proof of Global Warming........eh, I mean the Next
Ice Age....wait that was the 1980's. Crap, how are the PhD's going to
get their grant money now? Oh I remember now, starting 2009 it's
called "Climate Change", nice and vague, no data needed for that
theory.

[Tim Taylor]

On Jul 27, 5:19*pm, Barny > wrote:
> Michigan/Ohio/Indiana had the coldest July (and crappiest Soaring) on
> record. *Absolute proof of Global Warming........eh, I mean the Next
> Ice Age....wait that was the 1980's. *Crap, how are the PhD's going to
> get their grant money now? Oh I remember now, starting 2009 it's
> called "Climate Change", nice and vague, no data needed for that
> theory.

Blame it on the Sun Spots (or lack thereof):

http://www.tgdaily.com/index2.php?option=com_content&do_pdf=1&id=42006

TT (a phud who does not get any climate change funds)

[BT]

you should have been in Nevada last week.. ye haw..
thermals to Class A, fighting to stay below 18K MSL..
Cloud bases around 20K MSL
But the ground varies between 5500 and 12K MSL

BT

"Frank Whiteley" > wrote in message
...
On Jul 27, 10:42 am, Bob D > wrote:
> On Jul 27, 10:11 am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
>
>
>
> > On Jul 27, 8:39 am, Bob D > wrote:
>
> > > Our weather in central Texas is the best it's been in 10 years. I can
> > > only hope it'll hold up through the week of the upcoming Region 10
> > > South Soaring Championship (Aug 9-15th).
>
> > > For the last 5 weeks we've had a number of members with Greater
> > > Houston Soaring and Soaring Club of Houston (the contest sponsors)
> > > earn their Gold and Diamond distance badges. This past Saturday Ken
> > > Sorenson of SCOH put up an 800K-plus flight on the U.S. OLC. Yesterday
> > > thermals around our club pushed up over 6,000ASL (our field elevation
> > > is 125ASL). If this pattern holds up (and there's no reason to think
> > > otherwise) we're going to have a heck of a contest.
>
> > > Come on down and enjoy a first-class airport, a lot of hospitality,
> > > and hopefully some serious racing conditions. Learn more
> > > atwww.houstonsoaring.org/2009R10. My contact info is on the site.
>
> > > Just two weeks to go... I can't wait!
>
> > > Bob DeLeon
> > > Region 10 Contest Manager
>
> > Clearly you are getting our Colorado weather;^(
>
> > Good luck with the contest.
>
> > Frank Whiteley
>
> Thanks Frank. While you're at it... send us your Colorado
> temperatures. There are days lately when the CU bottoms start glowing
> orange around 4:00P :)

This season has been more like Wisconsin or Minnesota. Tomorrow's
high is forecast to be 74F and Dr Jack's is so blue, like the local
pilots. The grass is green though. I spent over 16 hours on the
tractor during our recent CAP glider academy mowing the winch area and
runways, and that was after other members had mowed for many hours.

Frank

[Uncle Fuzzy]

Here's a shot in my glider at 17,200 ft, in a 10+knot thermal (the
vario on the right is not working).
http://griderpirate.smugmug.com/gallery/8856884_nuHoT#603835393_pZkNk
This was over the Monitor Range North East of Tonopah, July 15th (or
maybe 16th)

On Jul 27, 6:42*pm, "BT" > wrote:
> you should have been in Nevada last week.. ye haw..
> thermals to Class A, fighting to stay below 18K MSL..
> Cloud bases around 20K MSL
> But the ground varies between 5500 and 12K MSL
>
> BT
>
> "Frank Whiteley" > wrote in message
>
> ...
> On Jul 27, 10:42 am, Bob D > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > On Jul 27, 10:11 am, Frank Whiteley > wrote:
>
> > > On Jul 27, 8:39 am, Bob D > wrote:
>
> > > > Our weather in central Texas is the best it's been in 10 years. I can
> > > > only hope it'll hold up through the week of the upcoming Region 10
> > > > South Soaring Championship (Aug 9-15th).
>
> > > > For the last 5 weeks we've had a number of members with Greater
> > > > Houston Soaring and Soaring Club of Houston (the contest sponsors)
> > > > earn their Gold and Diamond distance badges. This past Saturday Ken
> > > > Sorenson of SCOH put up an 800K-plus flight on the U.S. OLC. Yesterday
> > > > thermals around our club pushed up over 6,000ASL (our field elevation
> > > > is 125ASL). If this pattern holds up (and there's no reason to think
> > > > otherwise) we're going to have a heck of a contest.
>
> > > > Come on down and enjoy a first-class airport, a lot of hospitality,
> > > > and hopefully some serious racing conditions. Learn more
> > > > atwww.houstonsoaring.org/2009R10. My contact info is on the site.
>
> > > > Just two weeks to go... I can't wait!
>
> > > > Bob DeLeon
> > > > Region 10 Contest Manager
>
> > > Clearly you are getting our Colorado weather;^(
>
> > > Good luck with the contest.
>
> > > Frank Whiteley
>
> > Thanks Frank. While you're at it... send us your Colorado
> > temperatures. There are days lately when the CU bottoms start glowing
> > orange around 4:00P :)
>
> This season has been more like Wisconsin or Minnesota. *Tomorrow's
> high is forecast to be 74F and Dr Jack's is so blue, like the local
> pilots. *The grass is green though. *I spent over 16 hours on the
> tractor during our recent CAP glider academy mowing the winch area and
> runways, and that was after other members had mowed for many hours.
>
> Frank- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

[rlovinggood]

Uncle Fuzzy,

Uh, gee, thanks. That's what I've always wanted. I feel so much
better now.

If I could, I would reciprocate with a photo of my panel. At 1,000'
agl. In a 0.0 "thermal". Waiting and waiting and waiting for it to
build in a crescendo to the BIG 1.5 knotter that I know is really
there. Oh yea, it's in the blue. Sun is bright. Sun is hot. Sun is
beating down and I don't know why the damned canopy just doesn't melt
away. As I said, if I could get the photo, I would. But in those
times, I'm a bit too damned occupied with flying the glider and don't
have time to find the camera and actually take a picture. But, as
they say, "you get the picture." PhotoShop not required... :-)


Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

[Uncle Fuzzy]

On Jul 27, 8:07*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
> Uncle Fuzzy,
>
> Uh, gee, thanks. *That's what I've always wanted. *I feel so much
> better now.
>
> If I could, I would reciprocate with a photo of my panel. *At 1,000'
> agl. *In a 0.0 "thermal". *Waiting and waiting and waiting for it to
> build in a crescendo to the BIG 1.5 knotter that I know is really
> there. *Oh yea, it's in the blue. *Sun is bright. *Sun is hot. *Sun is
> beating down and I don't know why the damned canopy just doesn't melt
> away. *As I said, if I could get the photo, I would. *But in those
> times, I'm a bit too damned occupied with flying the glider and don't
> have time to find the camera and actually take a picture. *But, as
> they say, "you get the picture." *PhotoShop not required... * :-)
>
> Ray Lovinggood
> Carrboro, North Carolina, USA

Got it. You have my deepest sympathy. OTOH, for the same reasons, I
don't have pics of my panel when I'm 800 AGL in 110 degree heat
working a 1/2 knot 'keep alive' thermal. Of course, the 110 degrees
is OUTSIDE my Grob Solar Sauna. Inside is another story. Another,
more typical shot from my "Ugly Duckling" Speed Astir:

http://griderpirate.smugmug.com/gallery/8856884_nuHoT#603921793_8DKrW

I do envy those who fly over green, (and land on grass strips! (one of
the things on my 'bucket list)) but I love my desert thermals.
Cheers,

[Papa3]

On Jul 28, 12:20*am, Uncle Fuzzy > wrote:
> On Jul 27, 8:07*pm, rlovinggood > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > Uncle Fuzzy,
>
> > Uh, gee, thanks. *That's what I've always wanted. *I feel so much
> > better now.
>
> > If I could, I would reciprocate with a photo of my panel. *At 1,000'
> > agl. *In a 0.0 "thermal". *Waiting and waiting and waiting for it to
> > build in a crescendo to the BIG 1.5 knotter that I know is really
> > there. *Oh yea, it's in the blue. *Sun is bright. *Sun is hot. *Sun is
> > beating down and I don't know why the damned canopy just doesn't melt
> > away. *As I said, if I could get the photo, I would. *But in those
> > times, I'm a bit too damned occupied with flying the glider and don't
> > have time to find the camera and actually take a picture. *But, as
> > they say, "you get the picture." *PhotoShop not required... * :-)
>
> > Ray Lovinggood
> > Carrboro, North Carolina, USA
>
> Got it. *You have my deepest sympathy. *OTOH, for the same reasons, I
> don't have pics of my panel when I'm 800 AGL in 110 degree heat
> working a 1/2 knot 'keep alive' thermal. *Of course, the 110 degrees
> is OUTSIDE my Grob Solar Sauna. *Inside is another story. *Another,
> more typical shot from my "Ugly Duckling" Speed Astir:
>
> http://griderpirate.smugmug.com/gallery/8856884_nuHoT#603921793_8DKrW
>
> I do envy those who fly over green, (and land on grass strips! (one of
> the things on my 'bucket list)) but I love my desert thermals.
> Cheers,- Hide quoted text -
>
> - Show quoted text -

ROFLMAO - you two made my morning :-)

BTW, I always thought the Speed Disaster was kinda cool looking...
As a former Astir CS owner, I looked up to the flappy version.

[BT]

ROFLMAO - you two made my morning :-)

BTW, I always thought the Speed Disaster was kinda cool looking...
As a former Astir CS owner, I looked up to the flappy version.

_________________________________

It's not such a "Speed Disaster" when he's already 50km down course and you
are just getting off tow 4 aircraft behind him.

That's why it's called a "Speed" Astir... LOL

BT

[Papa3]

On Jul 28, 8:01*pm, "BT" > wrote:
>
> It's not such a "Speed Disaster" when he's already 50km down course and you
> are just getting off tow 4 aircraft behind him.
>
> That's why it's called a "Speed" Astir... LOL
>
> BT

That assumes the guy who owns it knows how to put it together. I once
watched someone struggle for over two hours in the hot sun and
ultimately give up. You have to know how to line things up in the
Astirs or it truly is a Disaster.

[Uncle Fuzzy]

On Jul 28, 5:53*pm, Papa3 > wrote:
> On Jul 28, 8:01*pm, "BT" > wrote:
>
>
>
> > It's not such a "Speed Disaster" when he's already 50km down course and you
> > are just getting off tow 4 aircraft behind him.
>
> > That's why it's called a "Speed" Astir... LOL
>
> > BT
>
> That assumes the guy who owns it knows how to put it together. I once
> watched someone struggle for over two hours in the hot sun and
> ultimately give up. * You have to know how to line things up in the
> Astirs or it truly is a Disaster.

Uh, yeah. It took me a long time to rig when I first got it, but it
isn't rocket science. Now I rig more quickly than any other glider on
the field. I don't think I'd want to try it with a one man rig
though, too many things to line up at once. I need one assistant for
5 - 7 minutes. 20 minutes from opening the trailer to PCC is about
average. Add 1/2 an hour if I'm filling up the wings.