From: ojai john
Activity_Date: 3/30/02
Remote Name: 198.81.16.161
I've logged about 140 hours on the X-Act and felt like I needed a new perspective. Dan was gracious enough to offer his Sigma 5 for a demo while he's on the mend. Got to launch with enough butterflies in my stomach to thermal on and punched off sixth after one blown launch. Everything was cool for the first sixty seconds or so, then I hit the first thermal and was overloaded with sensory inputs. I'm used to that kinda fuzzy filtered stuff that photographers use when their doing a glamour shot. The S5 is an in-your-face closeup. Lift was strong so I wanted to bank it over and keep the energy up to minimize any chance of a deflation. Figured once I had some altitude then I could relax a little. The most noticeable thing right away was the wingtips tend to race each other to the thermal. I was really working the toggles to make sure it was a tie.
Took the drift East of launch and found very smooth convergence type lift to around 10k then hooked a fast one to 11900. Jim, Tom P ,Bob, & Ron had already made the glide into Ojai so I headed out. The glide to town was as smooth as it gets. Plenty of time to stare up at the S5 and watch it work. Over the H.S. with 6K and feeling like I could glide to the Avenue in Ventura. Pulled alternate brakes to swing around a bit and was pleased to find the wing was willing to go but not about to do anything on its own. Made a soft landing on the grass (thanks for the wind reports Bob) and watched Chris, Tom T, and Tom B cruise in soon after. My first flight on something other than the Nova was a success. Other than a minor tip tuck I felt the S5 was more stable. Thanks Dan for letting me try your wing and thanks to Christian for acting as a last minute driver. I owe you both.
John
(vario log-1120fpm up.840 down. 80 minutes)