Alternator Monday

[Marty DeVietti]

Jim M. tweeted a 10:30 meet at the T and it was just Doug, Jim and Danielle (tandem passenger) with driver (name escapes me now) and myself with a last minute arrival by Cort. We were feeling unsure as everything looked like a great day on paper, and a call to Kabir confirmed the temp/lapse rate and calm conditions on top...so who knew, it was really great!

Doug started the fun with a nice climb before the slide and Jim got high with Danielle aboard as well. I was off, then Cort and we three played tag on all the high points along the ridge as the tandem headed out for the T and eventually Doug and I went west and topped out a sweeeet climb to 5300 msl over the VOR and did a fly-by near Kabir and Cory's place on the way out to the T which was super buoyant. Cort must have hung out over the LZ for 40 minutes or more. 1.5 hours with some high pressure thermals, turbulent inversion on top and an occasional nice climb and smooth glides. John G was 'hangin' over the R and R and think I saw him gliding over the bumper to bumper traffic (including me) on the 101 driving back to Ventura.

Just like the good old days!?

[JimmyZ]

It WAS a fun day! Couldn't rally any other HG pilots other than Little John to head up to the mountains (I had family in tow to check out the view in the mountains).

John and I set up and launched around 12:45. I quickly got over launch and left to head over to the Antennae Farm to see if I could bench up to Thermal Factory. John took off over to the Tit and the R&R. I made the improper decision as I was stuck beating my head around 3k and couldn't bench up to the top of Thermal Factory while John was over the R&R.

BEAUTIFUL DAY TO FLY! The conditions were very much like March vs. End of May/June. Flew for about an hour and had a nice glide to the beach for a smooth landing in tropical conditions. What a great way to end the Memorial Day weekend....

[Tony de Groot]

James, since I fly that route in my falcon and sometimes get stuck over there at the Antanae farm with not quite enough altitude to make the jump to the Thermal Factory what you can do is jump over to the power of prayer or power lines on the R&R side and bench your way up to the R&R from there. Much easier to get through a 3000 inversion on the R&R side so if you are getting stuck make a play over to the lower part of the R&R spine and you'll eventually bench your way up to the top!!!
Tony dg

[JimmyZ]

Good call Tony. Sometimes I get so fucussed on "beating" that inversion layer, I don't think about making that track... Gracias!

[Tony de Groot]

No prob. I've done that too. A lot more than once that's for sure. Some times patience is needed to get the strong thermal that will punch you through the inversion or for the day to change and or heat up and some times you just need a whole new plan. I like to have around 3200 or 3300 to make the jump from Antanae farm to the Factory so getting to 3000 is so close and it's such a tease it's no wonder you kept at it. And...it is VERYcommon to have the inversion at that heighth. Just check the lapse rate and you'll see it all the time, especially this time of year. If you see it on the lapse rate page the 3 best things to are get up in the house thermal if possible, glide to the R&R side and work your way up from there or the easiest is to drive up to a higher launch.