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First Friday

From: Ron Faoro
Activity_Date: 01/04/02
Remote Name: 165.247.246.250

Comments

The expected lapse rate didn't promise much, but several hang-gliders and a half dozen paragliders gave it a whirl at Skyport today. We launched the first time at 11:30 AM. My cycle wasn't much and I ended up falling off all the way to the Rock before I held on long enough in weak lift to climb back to the Antenna Farm. Other pilots (Greg and Dan) behind me got several hundred over launch and went to the Thermal Factory where long flights and an altitude of about 3,600 was possible. Lift at the AF was active enough that we could have stayed up for over an hour, but Bob Hurlbett and Benson were coming to Parma, so Sharon and Dan Keyser and I decided to boost back up with them.

On the second flight, about 1 PM, Dan let me fly his Advance Sigma. I soared well over launch, getting about 600 over and tried my luck at the R&R. After 15 minutes there I flew back to Skyport and out to the friendly Antenna Farm where most pilots were soaring. We were getting to about 3,000 feet at that time. The Genie harness of Dan's was a little loose on me and I had some difficulty finessing the wing. Anyway, something went wrong; I lost energy and looked up to see the back third of the wing folded under. There was a big surge and the wing got out in front and a little below me. I only gave it a little brake as the wing seemed to want to correct itself. It went behind me again and on the next surge I got a small (about 4-5 foot) cravatte on the right side. The wing stabilized overhead pretty much by itself and one long pull on the right brake, as I leaned left, unfolded the cravatte. That was my first maneuver in over 18 months; I was grateful the glider flew itself out of trouble without me voiding my bowels. Actually, it wasn't very frightening.

Bob sailed off to the beach and the rest of us took it to Parma. Everyone flew about one to two hours total. I hope tomorrow does as well.

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