First Cross-Country of 2004 in Arizona

On New Year's Day, five Arizona Soaring Association pilots completed
cross-country flights from Pleasant Valley airport (home of Turf Soaring).
Tony (you can stay but you have to race) Smolder completed 160 km in his
Ventus, while Kirk Stant in ASA's Grob 102, Nigel Cripps in his Ventus 2 and
Bob Thompson in his Ventus flew between 120 and 150 km. Cliff Hilty (flying
a Turf 1-26) managed a very creditable 95 km.

Thermal lift of 3 to 5 knots was reported in cool (for us) air, heated by a
rather weak sun - typical of our occasional winter soaring opportunities.
Cumulus clouds with bases around 6,000 feet MSL formed streets that made
these flights possible.

Both our Turf Blipspot and Blipmaps failed to forecast this opportunity, but
it was predicted by FSL soundings.

Check out our websites: http://www.asa-soaring.org/ and my Arizona soaring
forecasts at http://www.mike-the-strike.net/Soaring_Forecast/SFINDEX

Mike the Strike