Downwind Landing

From: diablo
Activity_Date: 05/04/02
Remote Name: 198.81.16.172

Comments

A little clarification about my landing "down wind" in Dry Canyon. After taking off the audio on my vario was not on after monkeying with it while climbing out in house thermal it came on although it raised questions in my mind regarding I had inadvertently altered the readings on my altimeter. In the mean time I had entered "the chute" where I climbed to 10,300 and with clouds forming on The Tehacapis I was headed northeast to Guiermo in 1000' per minute down/sink. At that point I was on final for Grade Valley maybe.

At the back of the chute 1 mile southwest of Guiermo is was apparent that I might not make the first landable area Grade Valley. I turned 180 degrees and flew up wind west to the plateau behind the ranch where I thought I might have to land. Making the ranch, I had a chance of making the field across from Dry Canyon, clearing the ridge that separated the ranch and Dry Canyon with 200' I was now on my down wind leg. At 300 agl I turned base, came upright, and deployed the flaps. I then turned on final towards the west to come into the generally prevailing wind, and proceeded to land down hill with a quartering tail wind from the northeast. I was on final from the back of the chute.

Glider goes to shop Thursday for inspection and hopefully minor repairs.