Saturday, September 13, 2025: Better than we expected!

WEATHER
Visibility:       10 miles in haze
Wind:
Altitudes:
Time Aloft:     3 hours
Max Lift:        10 knots plus
Temperature:  Warm
Comment:       We should have paid more attention to Morgan's Friday e-mail.
Tow pilot:       Jim R.

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President Larry and I talked on the phone Friday afternoon about what soaring might be like the following day.  I looked at the Northern California RASP, and I think Larry looked at SkySight.  They both agreed that best lift would be in the 2:00 to 3:00 PM range the next day.  We both wanted to take care of some non-flying tasks at the Gliderport.  With the lack of sign-ups and a not-too-encouraging soaring forecast, Larry and I agreed that we might as well send notice to the scheduled towpilot, and I could cover if anybody showed up and wanted a tow.  A bit later I read Morgan's e-mail encouraging people to go for it.

The RASP, SkySight, and our local expert all erred on the low side!

We puttered around and did "stuff" in the morning, then about 11:30 we went into town and grabbed lunch.  We noticed some little CUs over the hills north of Coalinga. Encouraging.  A bit later we saw attempts at CU forming just to the north of Black.  Eventually some small CU did form, and then a line of CUs eventually formed and persisted.

At about 1:30 PM Richard went first in 06.  His plan was to take a 2000' tow towards Tar Peak and see what he could find.  He didn't make it there on tow.  I had asked him if he wanted a lap around the the field to gain altitude, or just head straight towards Tar, and his decision was to take a lap.  Coming around, on the upwind leg right over the gliderport, we ran into awesome convergence.  800 to 1000 FPM (feet per minute) climb in the mighty 150 with a glider in tow.  Richard released at the north corner of the gliderport at 2000' AGL as I waa completing the 210° left 30° right turn to get back in the convergence before heading to Tar.

Darrell Eggert went next in NT.  His plan was a 4000' tow, ending up at Tar.  Once again we did the lap around the gliderport to gain a bit of altitude before heading to Tar.  But the convergence was still there and we got a lot of lift almost right over the gliderport.  Over the radio Darrell stated that he had never really experienced convergence, so I talked and showed it to him.  In the core, move left and lift falls off, go back through the core to the right (west) side , where it fell off dramatically, to the point we were descending 100 FPM on tow.  Then back to the core.

Richard reported to us that the convergence was even stronger a couple of miles north of the gliderport,  He also mentioned that his Vario had "pegged!"  Darrell still wanted to go to Tar, so we left the convergence and made a beeline to Tar  There wasn't much lift between the convergence and Tar.  I was surprised when Darrell released about 2-3 miles short of Tar, but he had already gotten the 4000' AGL he wanted.

The convergence was so close and good that as I was descending in 05U I contemplated getting the 1-26 ready and the autotow reel out to have Larry give me an autotow.  I mentioned it to Larry after landing, and he didn't seem too keen on the idea, and I figured that the convergence might have moved or dissipated by the time I got up, and I would have had to have found the convergence PDQ after takeoff. 

I don't know the details of their flights, but I did hear Richard say that he went went south of Highway 41, and he was up well over an hour. Darrell had initially wanted his 4000' tow, then a couple of pattern tows to get more familiar with NT.  About an hour and a half after liftoff, he radioed that I might as well put 05U away, as he was just going to continue riding the lift he was finding.  At about three hours after liftoff I radioed him and he said he was forcing NT down to call it a day.  He announced after landing that it was his longest flight ever in a glider, and he thought another hour would have been easy, but he wanted to not get home too late.

After Darrell was on the ground the CUs looked still workable over the hills.  The CUs were high enough that the Schweizers could have easily made it back to the gliderport from the ridge, although getting TO the lift may have been a problem without a quite high tow.

So, we missed a very good soaring day.  Larry and I should have not decided to cancel the towpilot, and I should have gone up in the 1-26.  But three tows would have been hardly worthwhile for Iceman to come all the way out to the gliderport.  For all of us, when Morgan suggests we go soar, we need to listen!

End of Summer? Who knows, but go fly!

Good WX Continues

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We've had unusual weather this summer and its continuing.  There's been some great soaring in California, and all around the West this weekend.  Just scroll through this list of flights from Sunday, August 31st

From Avenal and from elsewhere, CCSA pilots had a strong month in August.

Morgan on August 31st - 1000K out of Santa Ynez.

Earlier in the month, Morgan flew from Mammoth to Paso Robles after a several nice flights from Mammoth.  Overall, Morgan has been getting some terrific flights out of his beautiful new ship.

Elsewhere and over the summer, CCSA and its alumni are putting up some nice flights.

Ollie down in Warner Springs 

Wyll up at Truckee 

Julie earlier in the summer 

Peter in July 

Zach over in El Tiro 

So, watch the weather and plan to fly.  Here's today's Skysight picture - I hope someone is out flying right now!

 

Springtime in July

Where's the usual Avenal summer weather?

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Not that we're complaining, but so far this summer, we have had a number of days that were more like spring than summer.  All to the good, we think, and that has allowed some fine soaring at Avenal.

But first, we should note that Darrell now holds a private pilot certificate!  He studied hard and all that work paid off on his knowledge test and his practical test.  Dan was the DPE and Kevin was the recommending CFIG.  Congratulations, Darrell!

We just might have a few more initial solos and glider ratings before too much longer as several other student pilots are nearing the end of their pre-solo and post-solo training.

Part of the unseasonal weather has been higher and longer and farther flights that we would ordinarily see in July.

To start off, on July 1st, Mason had a great flight to 12,000 feet and got a lot of thermaling and speed-to-fly practice.

Mason's Flight

Then we had a day where Chris logged 24 tows for private ships and instruction!

That day saw Peter and Morgan with very nice flights along well-marked convergence.

Peter's Flight

Morgan's Flight

So, be watching the soaring forecasts.  Maybe August has some more of this springtime stuff!

Mason Banys' First Solo

Congratulations to Mason Banys who had his first solo flights today!

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A first solo is a memory that every pilot always remembers.  The weather was hot today, but Mason was cool and confident.

 

 

He's the third glider pilot in the family now, as his mother, grandmother and sister got to witness the flights, and his father, Chris, had the privilege of towing. 

 

 

 

The 45th CCSA Spring Contest

WEATHER
Visibility: 10+ miles each day
Wind: Variable
Altitudes: 8,000 msl
Time Aloft: Varies
Max Lift: 8 kts
Temperature: 75 - 85 F
Comment: See Report
Tow pilot: See Report

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The Central California Soaring Association conducted its 45^th Spring Contest from May 14 -18 at the Avenal Sailplane Facility.

Twenty-seven pilots participated in the contest that featured one practice session and four planned competition days. The competition was run on the handicapped Sport format, with the entries exhibiting a wide variation in sailplane technology. The field featured motor gliders and pure sailplane designs.

                                                             Weather at the task start

Most of the participants were from California Regions 11 and 12, with some being from Colorado and Nevada. Finnish, Italian, and German nationalities were represented.

Spring brings some of the best soaring conditions to the Avenal area. Contest tasks generally make use of the convergence lines that usually run west of the airfield from the Hollister area down to Taft. Long runs along the Temblors are possible if the pilot locates the best lift.

Tasking for the May 14 practice session and the May 15 and 16 contest days made use of the forecasted lift along the mountain range. Contestants were required to make flights to turn points in the San Benito range before running south to turns on Orchard Peak or as far as Taft Ridge before running back to northern points such as Center Peak or one of ELs located above New Coalinga. The finish for these days was a cylinder centered on the Avenal Facility.

The weather on May 17 brought lift along the mountains and east out to the San Juaquin Valley. A north wind was predicted to strengthen later in the day. The course ran from Avenal to Microwave Towers north of New Coalinga, south to Elk Hills, then east across the valley to Porterville. The valley was then crossed again to Harris Ranch before heading back to a point on Kettleman hills leading to an Avenal finish. As the pilots made their way on the first legs, the predicted wind arrived and soon the retrieve desk was receiving calls for crews or aero retrieves. Zach found himself on the ground near a cow pasture; Jenna joined a farmer plowing the field she landed in for several acres before her crew arrived. Several others made landings west of Porterville or used the onboard engine to make the return home. Five pilots managed to make their way around the course, not enough for an official task but still an impressive show of the possible.

     

                                                                    Saturday land out

One of the best features of the Spring Contest is the food prepared by Katrina and Darrell. Katrina prepared breakfast meals for all five days and assured lunch supplies and drinks were available. Darrell cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for the Friday night meal and Tri-Tip for the Saturday night BBQ. This, along with salads, vegetables, beans, and desserts donated by other contestants and families was one of the highlights of the gathering!

                                                                        Evening dining 

The weather on May 18 was forecast to be as windy as the day before, with lighter lift. Due to the effort put into the task the day before and the likelihood of retrieves, no task was assigned, and the contestants were invited to fly for fun.

The final results for the contest were: First Place: Thomas (9), Second Place: Thorsten (KD), Third Place: Jenna (IC). This is the third victory in a row for Thomas.

                                                                 Thomas preparing to launch

It takes a crew to make this event happen. Thanks to Contest Director Zach, CCSA Club President Larry, Food and Retrieve Desk operator Katrina, Cook Darrell, CCSA Finance Officer and Ground Operations Manager Richard, Ground Crew Russ, John, Gabriel, Peter, and tow pilots Dan, Jim, Theo, and Mason. 

Various photos from the contest - thanks to contributors!