Pine Sunday 8/28

[Robb]

Current plan is to meet at NHS at 9:30 for Pine. We have some pilots on the way from down south, so we're giving an early warning on the meet time. Come out, and bring lots and lots of water, and boots with really sturdy soles.

[Robb]

I've already recieved two reminders that 9:30 is the departure time from NHS, not meet time. Ya snooze, ya loose!

[NMERider]

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[Marty DeVietti]

Pine was on! Lots of folks in OJs rig today including a driver as we got the early start to the top. As we arrived at launch it was pretty blue but the last turn revealed some cumulus among-us!

Bob A and Brendan punched off early as did Alex who was first I think. It wasn't looking easy to get up at first but eventually most of us made our way towards the 50/50 and beyond. I took a line more south to stay under the street of clouds leading to Frazier Mountain which was building a doozy of a cumulus over it...I figured it would OD so I stayed more on the south edge under the shade of it, but still got rained, sleeted and hailed on as I made my way. Bob A did a better job of staying clear of the precip than I did. My speed bar broke on the way there, so I took the slow and easy route today.

Meanwhile, those that tried to brave the shade of the Frazier cloud got drilled, rained on and ultimately denied. A hang pilot got sucked up, disoriented, started to G-out and hucked, landing under reserve in 100' trees, according to the helicopter pilots who plucked him out, thanks to Fast Eddy calling 911. Nice work Eddie.

As I left Frazier, I was near 14k and cold, wet and took a minute to wipe the droplets from glasses, flight deck and go pro. I was contemplating the heat of getting lower at the 5, but managed to stay high enough to watch a sailplane core out from the lake on the East side of the 5. I slowed down and tried to get back to base as the sailplane exited, Bob A arrived and went as well. I was unable to keep up, got low and around 5k managed to get some love from the foothills near the 14.

Bob specked and left at 13k to the north towards Mojave. It took a long time to get back to base, but when I did, I was coasting past the race track on my way to more clouds when Bob reported landing just north of the race track. The clouds streeted up on the way to the windmills and when finally at base, it was an easy cloud hop to Mojave where the rig was waiting with Chris Paul, Andy D, Roger Marsh, our driver Ryan who did a great job today! I tried to core some sink and spiral away the hard earned altitude as I had my fun and wanted to get home at a decent hour.... Thanks to Topa chase for making sure I didn't get drug into traffic on my windy landing (15+ mph) next to the road.

We made a quick stop and did something you don't see every day, we retrieved Fast Eddie, who was waiting at Mark Stuckey's house in Lancaster.

4.5 hours in the air, 14K+ max altitude, 1200up. 72.1 miles

Hopefully OJ will take off the probation for my lack of posting and grant me lurking rights once again!?

[NMERider]

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[Southside]

Unfortunately the memory in the GoPro ran out before most of the ride down was over, but you'll get the idea.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JAVTy5xy0w

It looks like I have full control of the glider before I deploy, but Marty's description is pretty much spot on -- although, the tree I landed next to was about 20' high.

[JimmyZ]

Glad you are ok John. Scary video. Did you make it back on top of your glider before you made it to terra firma?

[andy dainsberg]

huge lightning bolt a few minutes after landing @ chuchupate/frasier

[Marty DeVietti]

Actually Johnathan, the photo shows Bob Anderson on the blue Niviuk, and I am still working my way up from below HIM!

Cheers,

Marty

[NMERider]

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[Tony Deleo]

Southside's video needs to be "taken down" before some "authority" familiar with flying views same. The FAA regulations regarding cloud clearances-horizontal and vertical are both being violated. This area is a "major" airway for various airports ie. LAX, Burbank, Ontario, etc.

[NMERider]

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[Forger]

I disagree with DD and think John's video should remain. John did not set out to violate the FARs by flying in a cloud, he tried to dive beneath it. It didn't work and became an emergency (the video clearly shows the emergency situation). The FAA won't be thrilled by it but understands that emergencies happen. I feel the benefits of having the video outweigh the negatives. The issue with cloud suck is it's easy for a pilot to think of cloud base as another object, like a flying glider. XC pilots normally have a lot of time flying with gaggles and know they could dive beneath a glider that is at that location (cloudbase ahead) and in the same lifting air as he is in. What's easy to forget is that the base of the cloud is rising at over 1000 fpm and what appears to be stationary is NEW cloud being generated as the rising air reaches the dew point. So it's basically an optical illusion that is easy to misjudge. Having video and such discussions will help the community become safer.

[Lew Riffle]

Forger....for the record Tony Deleo is not DD...he has gone by the handle Diablo in the past. DD is another crusty character admidst the sweat and lore of Pine seasons past.
So what about John's wreckage?

"everything is under control....everything is under control" Lew Riffle

[Tony Deleo]

Hello Forger, the FAA is "not" going to understand hanggliders flying around in clouds, for any reason, let alone a "heavily" trafficed area ie. Lockwood Valley. I think that we "all" could agree that the consequences of a "mid-air"collision' between a hanglider and commercial/military aircraft would be "catostrophic". All it would take would be one incident and the "whole" soaring community could suffer ie. more stringent regulations, closing of flying sites/areas, more equipment, etc.

From the inception of the video it is clear that the pilot is in "violation" of the FARS regarding the clearance between himself and the cloud(s), furthermore he "continues" to glide deeper into the cloud(s). As you well know hanggliders do not fly with "transponders" and the accompanying avionics, consequently this makes them invisible to other aircraft.

This video is nothing more than a documentary on "poor" judgement and pilotage and l should be labeled as such. Fortunately know one was hurt.