SCPA & SBSA Discussion Board

I'll let others fill in the details but we had Brendan, Randall, Robin, Bart, Jeff, and I up at Pine this evening for the glass off. Launched around 4:45 into lightish and very smooth launch conditions, no appreciable wind down low, and the kind of climbs that put a HUGE grin on your face. Brendan probably had the top altitude for the day with 12,800k but almost everyone got reasonably close to that, including Robin and Bart getting their first real big altitude days. Did I mention the climbs were ABSURDLY smooth, usually between 50 and 200 fpm though apparently I got a spike to 700. All but Jeff took 14 mile glide out to Nordhoff in hands-off conditions with a bit of a North wind push, making for ridiculous glides. You could see from Santa Paula to Goleta as we crossed Nordhoff with ~9k. OJ could see us from Ventura. Spectacular way to beat the heat and a great end to an amazing weekend in Ojai. Definitely going to dress warmer next time!

Wish y'all coulda been there!

Tracklog is here:
http://parapente.syride.com/compte_ajxD ... ssion=3095

Not much to add to Chris's post. This was my fourth try for the fabled Pine glass-off and I finally nailed it. Launch conditions were absolutely perfect: about 5 to 8 mph straight in, smooth and consistent. Lift was abundant and light (with occasional spikes to 800 fpm), and I followed Brendan's lead up to 12,750, where it was pleasantly chilly.

Ground speed out toward the high school ranged from 35 to 40 mph, which was interesting because there was very little wind above the mountain, but I've noticed this phenomenon before. I also noticed that Brendan was pulling ahead of me and seemed to be rising above me at a ridiculous rate, and I probably lost about 1500 feet of altitude on him by the time I got over the high school. May be time to retire the old Tequila and spring for a new wing?

I'll try to post some video of the flight if I can figure out how. Props to all the pilots who made it out to the high school, and to Chris G for introducing a new crop of pilots to Pine Mtn!