Region 1 Sugarbush Updates??

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...D=200880617031

Two sailplanes forced down in Warren, Vermont
Pilot Rick Roelke of Bedford, N.H., looks at his sailplane in
Blueberry Lake in Warren after landed short of Sugarbush Warren
Airport on Tuesday. He and pilot John Dezzuitti of Lakeside, Conn.,
were competing in a week-long soaring competition when both pilots
landed short of the runway when heavy rain and downdrafts hit their
aircrafts. Both pilots were unhurt, but while Roelke was able to
retrieve his glider undamaged, Dezzuitti's plane was estimated by him
as a total loss.

On Jun 18, 5:02 am, Tim Hanke wrote:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...e?AID=20088061...

Two sailplanes forced down in Warren, Vermont
Pilot Rick Roelke of Bedford, N.H., looks at his sailplane in
Blueberry Lake in Warren after landed short of Sugarbush Warren
Airport on Tuesday. He and pilot John Dezzuitti of Lakeside, Conn.,
were competing in a week-long soaring competition when both pilots
landed short of the runway when heavy rain and downdrafts hit their
aircrafts. Both pilots were unhurt, but while Roelke was able to
retrieve his glider undamaged, Dezzuitti's plane was estimated by him
as a total loss.

"Short of the runway" seems to be a bit of an understatement!

Mike

On Jun 18, 8:32*am, Mike the Strike wrote:
On Jun 18, 5:02 am, Tim Hanke wrote:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...e?AID=20088061....

Two sailplanes forced down in Warren, Vermont
Pilot Rick Roelke of Bedford, N.H., looks at his sailplane in
Blueberry Lake in Warren after landed short of Sugarbush Warren
Airport on Tuesday. He and pilot John Dezzuitti of Lakeside, Conn.,
were competing in a week-long soaring competition when both pilots
landed short of the runway when heavy rain and downdrafts hit their
aircrafts. Both pilots were unhurt, but while Roelke was able to
retrieve his glider undamaged, Dezzuitti's plane was estimated by him
as a total loss.

"Short of the runway" seems to be a bit of an understatement!

Mike

Where is the lake in reference to the gliderport? Want to look with
Google Earth.

On Jun 18, 1:35 pm, Fred wrote:
On Jun 18, 8:32 am, Mike the Strike wrote:



On Jun 18, 5:02 am, Tim Hanke wrote:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...e?AID=20088061...

Two sailplanes forced down in Warren, Vermont
Pilot Rick Roelke of Bedford, N.H., looks at his sailplane in
Blueberry Lake in Warren after landed short of Sugarbush Warren
Airport on Tuesday. He and pilot John Dezzuitti of Lakeside, Conn.,
were competing in a week-long soaring competition when both pilots
landed short of the runway when heavy rain and downdrafts hit their
aircrafts. Both pilots were unhurt, but while Roelke was able to
retrieve his glider undamaged, Dezzuitti's plane was estimated by him
as a total loss.

"Short of the runway" seems to be a bit of an understatement!

Mike

Where is the lake in reference to the gliderport? Want to look with
Google Earth.

south-east maybe 1.5 mile IIRC.
In any case its the closest lake to the airport (and not real big)...

On Jun 18, 1:35 pm, Fred wrote:
On Jun 18, 8:32 am, Mike the Strike wrote:



On Jun 18, 5:02 am, Tim Hanke wrote:

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...e?AID=20088061...

Two sailplanes forced down in Warren, Vermont
Pilot Rick Roelke of Bedford, N.H., looks at his sailplane in
Blueberry Lake in Warren after landed short of Sugarbush Warren
Airport on Tuesday. He and pilot John Dezzuitti of Lakeside, Conn.,
were competing in a week-long soaring competition when both pilots
landed short of the runway when heavy rain and downdrafts hit their
aircrafts. Both pilots were unhurt, but while Roelke was able to
retrieve his glider undamaged, Dezzuitti's plane was estimated by him
as a total loss.

"Short of the runway" seems to be a bit of an understatement!

Mike

Where is the lake in reference to the gliderport? Want to look with
Google Earth.

Airport at top, lake at bottom of this image:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...=14&iwloc=addr

Fred wrote:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...e?AID=20088061...

[quoted text clipped - 11 lines]

Mike

Where is the lake in reference to the gliderport? Want to look with
Google Earth.

http://www.airnav.com/airport/0B7

Looks like ~2.5sm South of the airport.
Also looks like the guy in the water was shooting for Blueberry Lake Rd on a
northern peninsula jutting into the lake.

Bummer.

Glad everyone's alive tho'

--
Message posted via AviationKB.com
http://www.aviationkb.com/Uwe/Forums...aring/200806/1

Also looks like the guy in the water was shooting for Blueberry Lake Rd on a
northern peninsula jutting into the lake.

That was the original plan, . But the little spit was so short, and
it would have been down wind that I opted for a safe landing on the
water into the wind. Later walking that ramp there were large
boulders behind the tall grass to keep cars from using it. An
overshoot would have been very bad.

It all worked out fine after a big splash, and did it mostly correct
(no flaps, no spoilers, gear down, but I forgot to close the vent).
After it was over the glider was floating well (as I had be briefed it
would) and I got out and swam it to the nearest downwind shore.
Secured it so it would not sink, and walked up this little path to
assess my situation. I was rather dismayed when I found I had towed
it to an island!!!

Very quickly contest personnel arrived at the far shore after a radio
call from another pilot who had seen the landing. But I explained
that I was fine, and they needed to look for John in the trees. We
finally got the glider to shore with inner tubes under the wings and
tail boom. I don’t have an electronic copy of that yet, but that is a
funny picture…

The only damage to the ship was a bent gear door. The radio was not
working after the landing but all other electronics were. After a
night at 30,000 ft in a barograph calibration vacuum chamber it was
working fine the next morning. I flew the ship by 5:00 the next
day.

While I don’t recommend practicing this (the retrieves are a bitch) it
turned out to be a good option in a bad situation…

BTW it was decided that there can only be one Admiral (Nixon) so I
have been dubbed Commodore…

RR
Commodore, Bota Blanca Yacht Club

RR....turning this event into a learning tool....why was it best to
leave the gear down? You point it out with conviction, there must be a
good reason. Also, about how far did you slide,plow,then cruise thru
the water before all ahead stop?
R

Hi, (Commodore) Rick,

Glad it all turned out OK for you and John. It must have been scary
for both of you on flare!

Just out of curiosity, what make and model is your radio?

-John

On Jun 19, 11:07 pm, av8 wrote:
The radio was not
working after the landing but all other electronics were. After a
night at 30,000 ft in a barograph calibration vacuum chamber it was
working fine the next morning. I flew the ship by 5:00 the next
day.

On Jun 18, 8:02*am, Tim Hanke wrote:
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/a...e?AID=20088061....

Two sailplanes forced down in Warren, Vermont
Pilot Rick Roelke of Bedford, N.H., looks at his sailplane in
Blueberry Lake in Warren after landed short of Sugarbush Warren
Airport on Tuesday. He and pilot John Dezzuitti of Lakeside, Conn.,
were competing in a week-long soaring competition when both pilots
landed short of the runway when heavy rain and downdrafts hit their
aircrafts. Both pilots were unhurt, but while Roelke was able to
retrieve his glider undamaged, Dezzuitti's plane was estimated by him
as a total loss.

Any news about what happened to John (7K)? Is he OK physically?

Frank (TA)