Midwest Straight Soaring Season Underway!

While not with as big a spalsh or fanfare as a Hugh and Gordo trek, KSA's Tony Condon (now changing over to The Cirrus Kid?) is off on a free distance run today. Cold front came blasting through yesterday afternoon, and with warm ground and cold air, thermals were predicted to be good. This, along with a good tailwind, makes long distance flights possible.

Tony departed from the Wellington airport at about 12:20 today. If you want to see how far he goes, you can watch the flight unfold he

http://share.findmespot.com/shared/f...08EyO4mMDp hc

Steve Leonard

Oops. Straight Out. Can't edit the subject via google groups on the initial post, but I can on this one. Go figure.

I've often seen cu fields that go from Kansas to the East Coast from the work plane and wondered if anybody was flying a long glider flight under them. Go Tony!

Jim Dingess

On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 2:25:08 PM UTC-5, Steve Leonard wrote:
While not with as big a spalsh or fanfare as a Hugh and Gordo trek...


Wichita to Paris! Just like Lindy! Er...Paris, Texas.

On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 2:25:08 PM UTC-5, Steve Leonard wrote:
While not with as big a spalsh or fanfare as a Hugh and Gordo trek, KSA's Tony Condon (now changing over to The Cirrus Kid?) is off on a free distance run today. Cold front came blasting through yesterday afternoon, and with warm ground and cold air, thermals were predicted to be good. This, along with a good tailwind, makes long distance flights possible.



Tony departed from the Wellington airport at about 12:20 today. If you want to see how far he goes, you can watch the flight unfold he



http://share.findmespot.com/shared/f...08EyO4mMDp hc



Steve Leonard

Looks like he is on the Kiamichi Ridge ! Is it possible to see his altitude ?

On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 4:36:54 PM UTC-5, wrote:
Looks like he is on the Kiamichi Ridge ! Is it possible to see his altitude ?

Unfortunately, not with SPOT.

On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 4:41:39 PM UTC-5, Steve Leonard wrote:
On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 4:36:54 PM UTC-5, wrote:

Looks like he is on the Kiamichi Ridge ! Is it possible to see his altitude ?



Unfortunately, not with SPOT.

He has landed at De Queen, Arkansas at an airport.

Had a nice long reply but its gone. Flight was pretty awesome and a good way to start then season. Took off as the first wisps arrived at wellington. First hour I took it really slow to let the clouds develop ahead of me and for most of the flight in didn't push real hard. Clouds ended at interstate 40 as forecast but a couple fires gave me confidence in the blue. They delivered and I found a few more good climbs in pure blue near McAlester which for me comfortably around my first turn point and onto the ridges. Ran up to Sardis Lake and then the familiar ole Kiamichi past Talihina.

Second turn point was Three Sticks on the Kiamichi with a goal of Texarkana.. DeQueen is about half way between. There was a nice thermal off the ridge and then in found another half way to DeQueen. Land out options are slim in this area so I took anything going up or holding zero for as long as I could.

Landed at DeQueen after 5.5 hrs. Dogleg distance is 317 miles. Straight line is 288 I think.

It was a great flight. KC and John are just leaving Talihina and should be here in a few hours.

On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 6:42:04 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Had a nice long reply but its gone. Flight was pretty awesome and a good way to start then season. Took off as the first wisps arrived at wellington.. First hour I took it really slow to let the clouds develop ahead of me and for most of the flight in didn't push real hard. Clouds ended at interstate 40 as forecast but a couple fires gave me confidence in the blue. They delivered and I found a few more good climbs in pure blue near McAlester which for me comfortably around my first turn point and onto the ridges. Ran up to Sardis Lake and then the familiar ole Kiamichi past Talihina.



Second turn point was Three Sticks on the Kiamichi with a goal of Texarkana. DeQueen is about half way between. There was a nice thermal off the ridge and then in found another half way to DeQueen. Land out options are slim in this area so I took anything going up or holding zero for as long as I could.



Landed at DeQueen after 5.5 hrs. Dogleg distance is 317 miles. Straight line is 288 I think.



It was a great flight. KC and John are just leaving Talihina and should be here in a few hours.

We made it home. Good morning RAS. Flight is up on the OLC: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...l?dsId=3486851

On 03/13/2014 5:31 AM, Tony wrote:
On Wednesday, March 12, 2014 6:42:04 PM UTC-5, Tony wrote:
Had a nice long reply but its gone. Flight was pretty awesome and a good way to start then season. Took off as the first wisps arrived at wellington. First hour I took it really slow to let the clouds develop ahead of me and for most of the flight in didn't push real hard. Clouds ended at interstate 40 as forecast but a couple fires gave me confidence in the blue. They delivered and I found a few more good climbs in pure blue near McAlester which for me comfortably around my first turn point and onto the ridges. Ran up to Sardis Lake and then the familiar ole Kiamichi past Talihina.



Second turn point was Three Sticks on the Kiamichi with a goal of Texarkana. DeQueen is about half way between. There was a nice thermal off the ridge and then in found another half way to DeQueen. Land out options are slim in this area so I took anything going up or holding zero for as long as I could.



Landed at DeQueen after 5.5 hrs. Dogleg distance is 317 miles. Straight line is 288 I think.



It was a great flight. KC and John are just leaving Talihina and should be here in a few hours.

We made it home. Good morning RAS. Flight is up on the OLC: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0...l?dsId=3486851

Congratulations Tony, outstanding flight!

Luke