February 2002
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February 2002
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Plan On It!By Dennis Cavagnaro On Saturday, March 9th we will be holding our annual XC Dinner Party. Last year we had a record crowd of pilots and their families come to renew contacts, catch up on stories, plan Gliding trips and share in the celebrations of last years flying fun. The event will be at Angelos Restaurant (see directions below). The night begins at 6:00 for cocktails with food at 7:00. We have changed the menu this year to include Chicken Marcella and Bake Stuffed Haddock the cost is $16 per person includes tax and tip Contact John Arrison or Dennis Cavagnaro for reservations and pay at the door. Please reserve for rough count for restaurant. Directions to Angelos Restaurant, 1037 Hanover Street, Manchester, NH (603-623-9255) From the North: Route 93 south to the Hookset tollbooth, Take Route 93 south/101 west. Exit 6 (Hanover St. /Candia Rd) Turn right off exit onto Hanover Street. Go 0.2 miles on left is Angelos Restaurant. From the South: Route 93 north to exit 6 (Candia Rd/Hanover St). Off exit go straight to next light. Turn Left on to Hanover Street. Go 0.2 miles on left is Angelos Restaurant. From Portsmouth: Route 93 north to exit 8 (Bridge Street) Then Route 93 south/ 101 west to Boston. Exit 6 (Hanover Street/Candia Road). Turn right off the exit to Hanover Street. Go 0.2 miles on left is Angelos Restaurant Apostle List 2002
Greetings from the PresidentBy John Arrison The long New England winter drags on. I was fortunate enough to get in a couple of soaring flights at Morningside January 26th. And I have been taking powered flying lessons that have been quite interesting. Getting a little air time in the winter really helps the mental health. News of club interest, the winter party will be held at Angelo's restaurant March 9th. Drinks and socializing at 6:30 dinner will be at 7:30. The menu has been upgraded this year the price will be $16.00 per person. The awards this year will a lot of fun with many new names on the list. Next years X-C contest will see many pilots bumped up in to the open class and the 50 mile class. It is really great to see newer pilots heading out on long X-C flights Note that one of the rules of the X-C contest is that club dues must be up to date and proper waivers be signed for a flight to be counted. Since the best X-C weather is early in the season get your dues paid early. This rule has not been strictly enforced in the past but this year it will be. Another note of club news is that Mt. Ascutney will have new rangers this year. The park does not officially open until Memorial Day. Plan on the special use permit and the apostle system being in use until Memorial Day. Also lets all be on our best behavior while the new people get their feet on the ground. Club meeting schedule for the coming year is 4-20 at 7PM, 7-20 at 8PM and 10-19 at 7 PM all meeting will be at the Ascutney fire station. Hope to see you all at the party March 9th! Sectional UpdateBy Gary Trudeau Last year, some of our members brought up an issue that was a concern of theirs. This concern was our members safety due to the lack of hang gliding activity symbols on the Sectional Aeronautical Charts. This subject was discussed at the October 2001 VHGA meeting. At the meeting I volunteered to tackle the task of trying to get these symbols added to the charts for the VHGA flying sites. It took a few months to track down the correct person to talk to get these changes made to the sectional maps. After talking to him, I now knew how they wanted the change request submitted and who to submit it to. I started to get the information together to submit this request. I was also in contact with Morningside Flight Park and members of the MHGA and the CHGA to include their flying sites in this request. In January all the paperwork was submitted and the changes should take place in future maps. These sectional maps only come out twice a year. The next one is due out in March. I don’t believe I submitted the changes early enough to get the changes on the March maps but should be on the ones to follow. Wanted; Greatest Sport in the World Looking for Local Leadership!…By Dennis Cavagnaro Those who Feel Privileged to Participate and Desire to Make a Difference in the Future of Hang Gliding Please Apply. I’ve never written and article that was two lines long before but this one could have been it. But, let me fill in the blanks for those of you who aren’t aware. We happen to exist at a time that has both exposed us to, and allowed us to develop with, the adventure sport of Hang Gliding. That, in such a litigious, wimpy society where people live in fear of their lives, cry for seat belts, in some areas ban skate boards, demand shoe inspection at airports and sue the living’ hell out of anyone they can shift blame to rather then take personal responsibility for their own lives. That Hang Gliding still is alive and well is just a miracle. It really is. We are very vulnerable. You only have to look at the banning of flight during the 9/11 aftermath to realize that at anytime our beloved sport can be eliminated or modified beyond recognition. My point. Doug Sharpe has served us well as our Regional Director for the past five plus years. He has expressed a desire to pass on the privilege of representing us to USHGA. He looking for a few (no make that one) good people to step up and be mentored to succeed him. Yes, it will take some time and money and Heart to except this challenge. NO, no one has stepped up to the plate, we are all hiding under our beds or in the back of the class like we did in High School when we forgot our homework, hoping that no one called on us. Randy Adams was a great pilot but that is not a necessary requirement. What he, Bud Brown and Doug had was the heart and desire to help our sport navigate its future through smooth and rough air. For Hang Gliding to survive (it’s not in great shape fellas), we all must give back to the activity that has given so much to us. Many of you weren’t around to cut those launches, test those gliders (the HGMA wasn’t always around!), and get permission to land in those LZ’s. Most of you show up, walk up, set up, go up (or down-L) land break down and go home. You think just sending a check to VHGA or USHGA is all the dues required? Look around. On a local level neither John, Gary, Niece or myself had to raise soft money for our campaigns to get reelected. Currently, Doug is going around asking for interested parties to come forward to take over region leadership. There are contests to run, events to manage and many tasks to get done. Hang Gliding is surreal, its majestic, it’s a special relationship with nature and places you among the most fortunate on the planet. It puts you in a most exclusive group that Bill Gates, Presidents, Movie and NBA stars don’t get to play. It’s time, people, to come big or stay home… For those of you, who are interested, please call Doug at (978) 318-9714. Take care, 2002 Region 8 MeetingBy Doug Sharpe You all are involved in our various USHGA regional clubs. You and your chapter club members are all encouraged and invited to come to this annual Regional USHGA Meeting for 2002. Please can you help me get the word out in your club newsletters etc. or by word of mouth that this meeting is happening? Please forward this to others. A Region wide mail has been done also that should have arrived last week notifying pilots of this. Also, If any of you have suggestions for guess speakers please call me. What has so far been requested is:
If you have any contacts in any of these areas or have other suggestions please email or call me. See you at the meeting. The meeting is Sat. March 2nd, from 10:00AM till 4:00PM at the Westford VFW Hall. The Agenda is:
LOCATION: Directions to the Westford VFW meeting site: Get to Rt 495 Beltway around Boston. Take Exit 31 in Littleton. Head west toward Groton. Go 3 miles on RT 119 till you come to the Four Corners Chinese Restaurant in Groton. Take a right there onto RT 225 heading toward Westford. Go approx. 2 miles, look for the VFW Hall on the right, VFW Post 6539, 67 Prescott St. (RT 225), Westford MA (978) 692-7015. This is the same as last year. I am still finalizing a speaker, so I don’t have details on that yet Thanksgiving VacationBy Tom Lanning Rob (Jacobs) and Mark (Vaughn) had been twisting my arm to join the flock of pilots migrating to Wallaby after Thanksgiving for almost a month. However, after spending many weekends away from my family chasing thermals during the summer, I felt guilty running off again. Instead, I decided to hunker down for a long winter’s hibernation. After a nice Thanksgiving dinner with my family, I turned on the computer to check my email and without forethought checked the weather. I noticed that a bubble of high pressure was setting up and the weather was going to be good in Florida for a few days. I casually asked my family what they wanted to do for the upcoming weekend and soon discovered that both my son and wife had things planned that didn’t include me. Well I know an opening when I see one! Since I had all summer to perfect the “pack to go flying” routine, I was able to load the truck and get ready to roll in less than an hour. At 4am the next morning (Friday) I was backing out of my garage headed to Florida. I was driving through New York City around 7am when I got a call from my wife Amy. Mark had just called and told her “to kick Tom out of bed” because he was stopping by to pick me up on his way to Greylock. Moments later Mark called. I guess my arrival wasn’t going to be a surprise. I was driving through Maryland when I got a call from Peter (Kelly). He asked if I was going flying. I said “yes”. “Where?” he asked. I said “Florida”. After a long pause, Peter repeated “Florida?” and started laughing. Peter also decided to visit Florida and was looking for more information. A little after midnight, 20 hours later almost to the minute, I was at Wallaby Ranch talking with Ken (Rosenberg) and Steve (Prepost). They were excited because the next day looked good. I said, “Why do you think I am here?” I crawled into the back of my truck and quickly fell asleep. I love waking to the sound of tugs in the morning. I crawled out of my truck, grabbed a much-needed shower, enjoyed a great breakfast, changed into shorts, greeted many old friends and setup my glider. Ah, I was already in “Wallaby mode”. Since nice clouds were forming, it was time to fly. Soon the tug was powering up in front of me and away we went. I released and had my shortest flight ever at Wallaby; drilled right to the deck with serious, but smooth, sink. Once on the ground I could see that a big blue hole opened up over the ranch and I flew right through it. Oh well, “may I have another please?” This time I made sure to avoid the blue areas and I was soon on my way downwind. Somewhere over the “too blue to be natural” ponds to the northwest of the ranch, I started giggling. I was at cloud base going XC at the end of November; the flying year wasn’t over yet. Yee haw! I continued to goof off on a broken line of clouds until they started drying out. I had Quest (21 miles) on glide, but wanted more. I dove across the blue to another line of clouds forming to the west. I did make it across the blue, but too low and too far into the woods to make a triumphant climb out. I carefully picked my way back to the east and landed a mile south of Quest. I had to choose between a pasture filled with cows and irrigation sprinklers or a pasture with 2 large bulls. I chose the bulls since I liked the odds better. After a nice chat with the neighbor, I walked down the lane to the road and purchased some grapefruit from a friendly guy at a roadside stand. Nancy (Smith), who was in the air at the time, helped Ken and Steve find me. After a brief visit at Quest with old friends we headed back. I was up early the next day (Sunday) to get a calm air flight to fine-tune the polar in my flight computer. At breakfast we learned the forecast was the same as yesterday, a light to moderate SE wind with cloud base around 3500. Ken and Steve were interested in taking one of Mike Barber’s flying clinics and were looking for another person to help share the cost. After some serious monetary “reality distorting” I signed on as well. The tug pilots did an excellent job of dumping all four of us off in the same thermal. We were soon together at cloud base getting expert evaluations and tips from Mike. We drove upwind towards the SE. Even with Mike’s expert advice, it was tough keeping all of us together. I was amazed at how a little change in course line can change your time to the next cloud. One minute, for example, Steve and I would be gliding side-by-side and the next minute we would be several hundred vertical feet apart. We continued working upwind even though Ken’s radio failed. Eventually, Mike decided it was time to turn around, but since Ken was slightly lower and out of radio contact he did notice until he was further out and much lower. Meanwhile the wind was becoming more easterly and the ranch was no longer downwind of us. Steve and I floated around at cloud base while Mike spiraled down to help Ken who was amazingly still in the air working brushy areas around a large lake. Since we were planning to return to Wallaby, I kept favoring the north side of the clouds while we were waiting. Mike finally said that we should return if possible, so I dove into the blue heading for a little wispy cloud that dissipated as I approached. I got low and was checking out LZs when I found very light and broken lift over some scrubland. I worked that lovely crap for a long time before it turned on and I started climbing with confidence. Meanwhile, Ken managed to climb back up only to join Mike and Steve drifting away from the ranch. They started plowing back while I floated into the ranch’s airspace to complete a 29-mile triangle. Mike made it back to the ranch while Ken and Steve landed in a large pasture along the highway south of the ranch. I returned the favor from the previous day and picked them up before heading back to the roost. Since the weekend was over I had to decide to stay or return home. The forecast for Monday was not impressive, but the following days looked better. I decided to stay. I would use my notebook computer to continue my job search online in the mornings and fly during the afternoons. After some heavy clouds passed overhead in the early afternoon, some of us decided to fly. Jen (Mills) showed this old dog a few new tricks as she out climbed me in a weak thermal over the ranch. I managed to head down Dean Still road a short ways and returned back to the ranch. Before sunset I watched Steve, Chris (Wells), and others play with their RC toys. It wasn’t an impressive day, but it was better than being stuck on the ground back home. Tuesday looked like a good day and with Rob and Mark arriving soon it might have been the last good day. I was ready for XC and so were Ken and Steve. The three of us lined up together so we could be in the air at the same time. I immediately climbed to cloud base and headed to the next cloud as the sky above the ranch was drying out. I soon discovered that my radio was not working. Oh well, I still had my cell phone that I could use after I landed. I hung around until the cloud started dying but still didn’t see any one following me so I pressed on. While climbing in that next thermal I spotted Steve with his distinctive winglets approaching me. Great, a flying buddy to share the day! We drifted due west down Dean Still road without too much trouble until we encountered the great swamp. I was flying close to cloud base with Steve to the left and slightly behind. I was checking out the situation ahead looking for the best place to cross. When I finally looked back I couldn’t find Steve. I found a little thermal to park in and started looking more carefully. I finally found Steve about 1200 feet below me and about a mile back. I kept climbing and slowly drifting out into the swamp, but kept within a safe glide back, waiting on Steve. I finally lost sight of Steve and decided to move on. I used my altitude to glide across the swamp, but ended up low over the desolate cattle ranches on the other side when a bald eagle marked a thermal for me. It wasn’t much of a thermal, but it allowed me to slowly climb and drift to more reasonable LZs. Once I got back over comfortable terrain the lift also improved and began to line up in streets. I did a little cloud street jumping to work my way north to avoid the controlled airspace around Tampa before letting loose and running along a very nice cloud street. It felt like I had a motor! I was cruising across the countryside sightseeing at cloud base. Before long I could see the coastline with the mangrove swamps and development. It was clear that I wouldn’t be landing on the beach since there wasn’t any. However, I did want to fly out over the water. I took some time and came up with a game plan. I had to be sure that I had an LZ and that I could make it back upwind once out over the water. I also had to make sure there was not an onshore breeze blowing in the opposite direction. I finally spotted a golf course reasonably close to the shore. The winds were still out of the southeast on the coast and they seemed strong. I decided to stay at cloud base, drift out over the water and then work back under the clouds. I ventured out over the water, took in the views, and then turned back upwind. The wind was stronger then I expected and it took a long time to make any progress. As I plowed upwind I had plenty of time to notice the turbulence around the golf course where I planned to land. I could land there, but would rather not. I noticed another field further inland that had power lines around it, but it was bigger and I could setup a larger approach. After reaching the field with the power lines, I noticed an even bigger field ahead that was along a highway. There was also a tollbooth on that highway that might make a good LZ. So I continued to plow upwind complete with a couple of nail-biting moments sitting in strong sink. It became clear that I could make the large field but not the tollbooths. After a “hover down” landing (62 miles straight distance, 73 with the return) and a short walk to the fence line along the highway I noticed the fence was 6 feet tall. I would have to find a gate or someway under the fence. I left a message for Steve and Ken using my cell phone and started packing up. I was just about finished packing up with I saw a pickup truck driving across the field towards me. A gentleman stepped out of the truck and demanded to know what I was doing in his field. I explained that I did not intend to land in his field but could not make the tollbooth area. I apologized and let him know that I would leave as soon as possible. He immediately told me that I could not leave and that we would have to wait for the sheriff to arrive. At this point I began to get a little worried. This was the first time that a landowner was upset that I landed on their property. I was also concerned that I might spend the evening in a local jail cell. Mr. Bowman wanted to know if I had a telephone and if I would call the sheriff’s office. I cooperated and called the sheriff, but was put on hold several times as they answered more critical 911 calls. I finally talked to the dispatcher and had a tough time telling them where we were. The highway I landed next to had just opened. The dispatcher could not send out a sheriff unless a house number was used. Mr. Bowman’s house was several miles away on the other side of the new highway. Finally the dispatcher said someone would be there soon. Meanwhile Mr. Bowman and I began discussing cattle ranching, how his family homesteaded most of the local land, and state-of-the-art hay stacking equipment. It turned out that Mr. Bowman had many unpleasant encounters with trespassers that cut and left his fences open. A balloon chase-crew had cut his fences and drove into the field, mushroom hunters had repeatedly cut fences at night, and a helicopter school used his field as a practice landing area. As we talked the sun was began to set and I suggested we call the sheriff again. This time Mr. Bowman gave them directions to his place. He now felt comfortable enough with me at this point that he took my word that I would not leave. He drove out and met the sheriff and they both drove back to where I was waiting in the dark. The officer was polite and was genuinely surprised when I told him I flew in from Orlando with no motor. The real moment of truth came when the sheriff deputy asked Mr. Bowman if he wanted to press charges. Mr. Bowman said that if the deputy could give him a paper record that he responded to the call and that I was indeed trespassing, he would be satisfied. The deputy asked if Mr. Bowman would give my glider and me a lift to the gate and he agreed. After a long ride out Mr. Bowman even offered to take me to an intersection down the road that had a convenience store nearby. I thanked and apologized to Mr. Bowman and promised to tell others to avoid his fields. Meanwhile, Steve and Ken were looking all over the place for a way to get to my previous position using the GPS coordinates I gave them. The maps in my truck didn’t have the new limited-access road on them. After some adventuresome off-road trekking, they figured out the road situation and showed up where I used to me. “Where’s Tom?” the asked each other. In the rush to leave the ranch, they left their cell phones behind. Mark, who was at the ranch, knew my situation. Rob, who was still in New England and laughing just a little too much, knew my situation. However, Ken and Steve didn’t. Finally Steve remembered he could listen to his cell phone messages from any telephone. After a stop at a payphone, they soon arrived to save the day. We swapped flying stories and had a seafood dinner at a nice restaurant where the help is a lot younger than they look. ;-) The next day, Wednesday, was a reasonable day, but the lift was strong down low and weaker above. I broke a weak-link at around 500 feet and managed to get up for stimulating ride in moderate winds and turbulent thermals. I managed a couple low saves but could not make it to back to the ranch and landed a couple of miles down Dean Still road. Steve picked me up but not before I found a hammer lying along the road. It was a good discovery, but not as good as the towing release that Steve found a few days earlier along the highway! As I got back to the ranch, I got word that Peter had arrived at the ranch, took off, and landed partway to Quest. I hoped back into my truck and fetched another smiling wayward pilot. Another day, the same forecast. On Thursday, Mike, Mark, and I headed downwind to Quest. Mike quickly left us slugs behind. Mark and I took a more leisurely cruise flying alongside clouds and just enjoying the flight. Mark was kind enough to point out some birds downwind of me at one point when I was beginning to wonder if landing was in my future. After a quick climb back to cloud base at 800 fpm I continued downwind. I saw Mark land at Quest but I wasn’t ready to land just yet. I hung around at cloud base for a short while, explored the area to the northwest of the airfield, and then finally headed back to the cloud that I was previously working. At that point I heard Peter on the radio asking where Quest was. I informed him that he was almost directly above it! I tried to climb back up to him but didn’t make it. I landed at Quest (21 miles) and spent the rest of the afternoon visiting with Bo, Bob, Paris, and Ron. Ken brought the truck over and Ken, Mark, Mike, Peter, and I had some good Thai food at an interesting restaurant that requires reservations before returning to the ranch. I guess Rob’s curse was broken. Both Rob and Mark were together and the weather continued to remain good. Something cosmic had happened. Another day, the same forecast. I launched early and quickly headed upwind to the southeast. I flew along Route 27 to Haines City before turning back to fly through the drying sky. I made it back to the ranch, but could not reach the tall column of gliders slowly climbing to the northwest of the ranch. I landed at the ranch (20 miles out and back), got a drink of water, and then got back in line for another tow. The clouds were drying out and the lift was weak. However, patience was rewarded as we took our time climbing in the weak lift. Eventually gliders began to slowly sink out leaving only Mark and I working the high ground to the southeast of the ranch in very weak scattered lift. After circling above the same place for a very long time, Mark headed into the sun towards the southwest and I lost him. I continued to slowly climb as the pilots releasing off of tow continued to slowly sink out. I shifted my attention to the orange orchards to the west of the ranch and started sharing the air with vultures. After I saw Mark return and land, I decided to stay in the air longer than anyone else. I went from working light lift to simply seeking areas of light sink. It was rewarding to extend my flight in glassy smooth conditions and I got to practice very slow and smooth flying. I managed to land after everyone else, even those that released later that evening. I landed and decided that after 4 hours of airtime that I really should head home. I packed up my glider before the sun set and headed out to a local restaurant with a dozen other pilots. I got up at 4:00am Saturday morning, left Wallaby, and headed north. I had managed to sneak in a unplanned November flying vacation where I flew 7 days in a row, grabbed another 14 hours of airtime, flew another 170 miles, flew in shorts, hung out with my buddies, ate and drank too much, and had many adventures. I was satisfied. I now needed to get back home and remind my family what I looked like. ClassifiedsFOR SALE: Wills Wing FUSION 150 Glider has Approximately 70 hours of airtime.
2000 FUSION SP Modification for improved handling, Comes with a Wing Camera
Mount and a 2001 Calendar. Folding WW speed bar: Brand new with corner brackets fits most Ultrasports and other Wills gliders. $100.00 Gary Trudeau, (413) 743-0147 or GTET595@AOL.COM Note from the SecretaryThe VHGA had a general meeting of its members on 10-31-01. This is a summary of that meeting Officer Attendance- John Arrison, Dennis Cavagnaro, Gary Trudeau, Niece Miller, Colin Fay Membership Attendance- 16 members Meeting called to order- 7.35 PM at Morningside Flight Park Former minutes- Former minutes read and vote to be accepted. Treasurer report- Read and voted to be accepted. See attached form. Site Report: Rutland- Money for Jake was discussed. A vote was passed for $1000.00. Peter Kelly and Jim Bulno arranged roadwork. The road is finished with swales built to get the water of the road. Special thanks to Peter and Jim for all their hard work. The windsock was take down and given to Marylin to be repaired. Peter Kelly email to Dennis Cavagnaro was discussed. Some of Peters concerns were to do more for the landowners and getting up a new windsock. Ascutney- Most likely we will loose our regular rangers after the park closes. Park is scheduled to close this weekend. The apostle list was adjusted to include a paraglider pilot. Niece Miller is the newest apostle and we had to remove Scott Leonard. After this weekend we must call an apostle for access to the park. New windsocks are needed at both launches. John Arrison to take care of in the spring. The landing field known as Africa. We are now to exit the field from the southwest corner. No longer can we leave the field by the pond at Daves house. Remember Africa is a bailout landing field and not the main LZ. If you can carry your glider into launch, you can carry your glider out of Africa the long way. Burke- John to try to arrange a way for our members to try to access the park during the off season like we do with Mt. Ascutney. The VHGA to add the landing fields to our insurance policy. Washington-Not getting flown much but we should still plan on following the official rules Club Vote- The club to raise dues in 2002. The new dues are going to be as follows. Full Membership increase to $40.00 per year. Associate members (non flying but get the newsletters) to $20.00 and infrequent flying must live out of Region 8 to $20.00. Colin Fay stepped down as Flight director. Tom Lanning is replacing Colin as flight director. The rest of the club officers are to remain the same. $250.00 was approved to buy some of our landowners of launches and landing zones a turkey for Christmas to show the clubs appreciation for letting us use their land. A vote was passed to have members interested in running for an officer must let the current officers know before the publication of the newsletter announcing the October meetings when elections are held. New Business- The Labor day party has to be moved to another location. Anyone interested please contact the club officers. One of our members brought up a concern about updating the sectional maps to include hang gliding symbols. Gary Trudeau to take care of this. John Arrison to make arrangements for the winter XC dinner. Mark Vaughn is going to run the regional competition in 2002. Pilot Training–There are some new rules that our members must be aware of due to the events of September 11, 2001. Class B air space now goes all the way to the ground. We are no longer able to fly over any public event or nuclear plant. Know the rules before flying. The information can be found on the web or by calling flight service. Meeting called to a close- 8:35 PM |
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