Super Chief

From: Dan
Activity_Date: 11-5-01
Remote Name: 24.8.188.224

Comments

By the time I got home from taking my daughter, Catie, to school this morning I had two calls telling me that it was the beginning of a spectacular day in Ojai. I had really considered staying home, but after the Big Sur bust this weekend the possibility of a good day flying made me reconsider being productive at home.

Jill Nephew also called and asked me to sponsor two pilots from out of town she met at Big Sur. Jack from NYC, and Paul from SLO. I gave them to Eddie who gave a min thermaling course which they were much appreciative and they had some of their best flights.

Tom P was first off, then Chris, then Zvi and finally me. John K missed the bus and did the hike-up. Twice at launch I pulled up my wing only to have the cycle stop, forcing me to sit my wing down. Finally a robust cycle came in and I was able to get off. Ridge soaring across the launch face was easy and at the intersection of the spine with the face of launch was where the elevator was waiting. There I took the ride up without so much as missing a beat. The air was smooth and not so much as a ripple in turbulence all the way up to 7452'. I took the height and went west to 3 stooges.

Not much more than a minute after I left the lift I hit some of the strongest sink I ever encountered leaving Chief's. 1003'/min according to the gps. Must have been the draw of the thermals pumping over Chief's. Fortunately, it was not much of a hole in the sky as I was able to get through it relatively quick. After the sink the air was very forgiving. I came in over 3 Stooges with 6100' and found a source of lift that was very mello 200'-250'/min up. If I could have tied off my brake handle it could not have been any more simple staying in the lift. I topped out at 7486' and took the altitude over to Nordoff.

I went all the way to pyramid peak without so much as a ruffle of lift on my wing. By that time I was down to 5400' so I took the remaining height to go to the field next to NHS.

One of the smoothest days I have had at Chief's since I could remember. Thanks to Bill B who came to round up Tom P and I while Eddie was on the ride down after spending a generous amount of time with the visiting pilots.