Boettger Glider Distance Record Attempt Sunday 5/4/14

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 he

http://scriptogr.am/wrogerswx/post/b...-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

Go men go!

Over halfway across Nevada now

On Sunday, May 4, 2014 9:52:59 AM UTC-6, Tony wrote:
Go men go!



Over halfway across Nevada now

Over Utah

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

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.

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.

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