Marshall 4/28

From: Brendan
Activity_Date: 04/28/01
Remote Name: 207.178.212.114

Comments

Kristi and I drove out to the Marshall Fly-In on Saturday morning. Conditions were foggy for the whole drive, but it was more like smog/haze at Marshall.

We arrived at the LZ around noon. Lots of people on the ground, and every so often a glider would come through the haze on its sled ride from launch. But conditions seemed to be improving.

Nobody was heading up so we volunteered to drive and a couple from Alaska (Jack and Sue), jumped in with us, anxious to get to launch ahead of the crowd. Two "detours" later (that damn turn-off is so hard to find), we arrived at launch behind the crowd and parked in a line of about 15-20 cars.

The haze persisted, wind was light, it was a time to sit and a time to chat. But half an hour or so in, a few wind dummies went off. Sled, sled, sled, HE'S UP! And that's all it took for us to start unpacking.

Similar to last year, there was a large line of spectators sitting at the top of this 150 foot long and 40 foot wide launch. Customary launch technique seems to be to set up as far back as possible, pull up a little cross, front-tuck, deflate, run, recover, run, wander into the bushes, abort, do a mock bow to the jeering crowd and then start over. We watched several people complete this performance before we decided against it.

Maybe it's because we are used to Skyport, or maybe we just aren't following etiquet, but Kristi and I (and Jack) all opted to set up about 20 feet from the front of launch and just pull up and go. Seemed to work fine every time.

Jack got off first, a bit too early, and became a member of Team Sled. I was next, and found consistent lift at the house thermal and over launch. Kristi and probably about 20 others joined in. The haze and somewhat weak conditions were keeping most of us from skying out, but there were some exceptional pilots there who climbed out and made the connections.

Kristi decided to work the less crowded ridge to the west. I stayed in the gaggle around launch, concerned that if I didn't top-land and drive down it might be too much of a delay getting to the cooler of beer in my truck.

After an hour of bobbing and weaving in the gaggle, I decided to land and join the festivities at the LZ. My first pass of the launch had me about 15 feet above it, so I went out wide and turned back to make my downwind leg over the spectators. Came in a little lower than anticipated and buzzed 'em pretty good. At the end of the row I was layed out sideways about 18 inches above the ground and moving fast. But the launch slope is good, so I cranked into the wind (a little crossed at launch), pulled up nice and landed in the best grass next to the launch. (Hopefully it all looked intentional.)

The bar-b-que was good, the raffle lasted way too long, and the video was entertaining, just like last year. There was one deployment from someone trying to show off for the crowd over the LZ. He took a thump into the bushes right next to the spot landing, but he was okay.

In all it turned out to be a good day for the event. There were over 100 people enjoying the party at the end.

Brendan