Skyport Thursday 2/17/11

We are fortunate to have the Twitter feed working, of course, only if someone takes the time to tweet! Although I saw that the lapse rate was sizzlin', I assumed everybody was working. But Brendan put up a query on Twitter and soon we had Robb Milley roped in. Eagle van was already up there. We passed SA on the road and got Bob P. in drag just about to take off.
The flags were snapping and the dark cumis were streaming overhead when we launched. 4,300 at the R&R and had a seven mph tailwind to LaCumbre Peak. Strong southeast wind made the peak a turbulent place to hang out. It was dark there so I put it on full speed bar and crawled back to the R&R at 16 mph. Got up into the low 4's with a hang glider at the Thermal Factory - it got dark there, too - so I zipped out to the Rock where a mellow boomer put me back up at 4K and I headed to East Beach. It looked beautiful down range, but I found out I don't fly well now without a vario (mine kept fading and locking up) and the winds aloft sent me packing. Still, it was gorgeous over town.
Bob Hurlbett picked me up; we met Sundowner and the six of us went to Supra Rica for the Topa lunch.
One hour flight time.
The flags were snapping and the dark cumis were streaming overhead when we launched. 4,300 at the R&R and had a seven mph tailwind to LaCumbre Peak. Strong southeast wind made the peak a turbulent place to hang out. It was dark there so I put it on full speed bar and crawled back to the R&R at 16 mph. Got up into the low 4's with a hang glider at the Thermal Factory - it got dark there, too - so I zipped out to the Rock where a mellow boomer put me back up at 4K and I headed to East Beach. It looked beautiful down range, but I found out I don't fly well now without a vario (mine kept fading and locking up) and the winds aloft sent me packing. Still, it was gorgeous over town.
Bob Hurlbett picked me up; we met Sundowner and the six of us went to Supra Rica for the Topa lunch.
One hour flight time.