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Marfa 2004 Spring Thermal & Wave Camp Report
24 sailplanes and their pilots and crews participated in this year's
Marfa Texas Soaring Camp. Luckily we were blessed with good soaring conditions during 6 of the Camp's 8 planned flying days. Spring comes early to the Big Bend area of west Texas, and we had great thermals during each of the 6 flying days. The pilots flew from 4 to 6 hours each of those days, usually landing only after they had had their fill of great soaring fun. The strong west Texas sun did not set until after 8 PM, and the thermals refused to die there much before that time. Each day we encountered 400 to 800 ft/min thermals and climbs to 8,000 to 12,000 foot MSL cloud bases. During 2 of those days we encountered cloud induced smooth waves on the cumulus clouds' windward sides that took some of us to about 14,000 ft. Many pilots flew their first cross-country flights of the year. Rolf Siebert attained the longest with a 425 km flight via Van Horn, 67 miles to the NW of Marfa. Finally, during the 6th day of the Camp the winds were right to produce true mountain-induced orographic waves above the temperature inversion level. Many of the pilots achieved Gold C (3km/9840 ft) climbs that day with Dave Raspet beating us all with a great climb to 21,600 ft MSL near Ft. Davis. The Marfa area is unique in that it is situated to the SW of the 8378 foot high Mt. Livermore peak in the Davis Mountains. Those mountains protect it from the prevalent spring thunderstorms that often arrive from the north during this time of year. During the first night of the Camp a severe rain-storm washed out a major bridge on Interstate 20, just 70 miles north of Marfa. We received only about 1 or 2 tenth of an inch of rain at Marfa that night. A number of pilots who had planned to attend this year's Camp cancelled because they believed the bad weather reports for that area, and that was disappointing for everyone. Even Bob Dittert flying his L-19 towplane in from the east was delayed for 2 days because of the bad weather over the mountains. Luckily for us, Scratch Lee anticipated the approaching storms and flew his great Agwagon towplane into Marfa a day early. Also fortunate for our Camp, Burt Compton had recently built a large hanger at the Marfa Airport and established a permanent new business there named Marfa Gliders. His 180 hp Cessna 150 towplane handily assisted our towing needs before Bob Dittert arrived. Dick Johnson – Dallas, TX |
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