HIGHLIGHTS:
 

1. As the photo caption says, everyone had a really good flight today. The thermals were cracking-strong, the visibility was excellent, the clouds marked the lift which was often above 1000 feet per minute, and one could travel almost anywhere. A really great fun soaring day.

2. Morgan flew the ASW-20 for several hours, then turned it over to me for a nice flight, interrupted by having a student waiting on the ground. As I flew, Morgan and Julie took the Blanik and had fun as a couple, trading flying and photographing, going up above Castle Peak, then northwest of Coalinga, and just wandering around 15-20 miles from Avenal giving Julie an idea of what it is like to be that far away from the gliderport. They took most of the photos at the end of this story from the Blanik.

3. Early on, Julie went aloft in the 2-33 and after thermaling for awhile, and getting low, she headed back to the field. Entering the pattern, she snagged a thermal and went right back up out of sight. That was a great save and probably the first time she did that so successfully. From then on, she thermalled at will, and finally landed thinking that someone else might want to fly the 2-33. Great flight, Julie!!

4. We had a motor glider visit today. Actually is was the second time it showed up. Called a Lambada, it has a nice L/D, a quiet engine and might be a nice craft to have if one isn't interested in learning to go cross country via Mother Nature.

5. Our great friend, club member, corporate stockholder, and all-around superb soaring pilot over the years, Al Leffler, visited with his BRAND NEW Cubcrafter S2, the light sport version of Piper's venerable Cub. He was on his way home from the factory after having just purchased it. Wow, what a difference from the original Piper Cub.

6. This from Rich Miller:

Hi Harold,

Thursday, went north in narrow convergence over Reef ridge.  Avoided the trap of my previous Avenal visit when I followed the ridge north from Black Mtn to Priest Valley, saw clouds over the next ridge to the east, couldn't get to them.  Meanwhile, the convergence on my ridge evaporated,  and I landed in field a lovely Steinbeckian landscape.  Alex Caldwell and Joe Anastasio came and got me, then.  This time I went to the more easterly ridge, but again the convergence disappeared.  Had the Coalinga basin in glide.  But, couldn't make New Coalinga, then couldn't make Old Coalinga (lots of sink), and landed in a BIG greenish field (8" winter wheat, it turns out).  The retrieve was easier than from Priest Valley, but, on balance, I liked the Steinbeck country with  its nice fields better than the awful prospect of all the square miles of oil wells, pipes, and power lines around Coalinga.  Thanks to Richard Walker and Loyal Savaria for the retrieve.

Friday,  some high overcast, then overdeveloped.  Lots of lift in convergence lines that pointed every which way.  Stayed up quite a while, but never did figure out what was going on.  To 6.3K.

Saturday, towed to Black Mtn.  As usual, nothing there, returned to Tar Pk, where there had been some bumps.  Found lift E of the peak just S of Tar Canyon (Tar Pk South?).  Up and down a number of times, but couldn't leave the area.  Finally got to 6K.  By that time there were a few CU's north, east of Reef Ridge.  Got there against quite a bit of headwind, and got lift.  Then there were more CU's to the north, in a line to N of New Coalinga, ending in a big one.  Following this line generally worked, but the lift was never just where the CU's were, and the clouds changed their form seemingly with each circle of the plane.  Topped out at 8K.  Went to Harris Ranch, sink the whole way, and back to the wonderfully named Pleasant Valley State Prison,  still in moderate to severe sink.  Thought New Coalinga is looking better and better.  But, good lift at the prison, and all that tailwind, got me back to Avenal easily.  For the hell of it, went to S. Tar Peak, and once again got into the reliable elevator.  But, having convinced myself I could do it all again, went home and had a cup of coffee.  Total 3 hrs, quite pleasant flying.

Sunday there was much less lift, although on the ground we had a nice south wind and saw lots and lots of dust devils running through the fields to the west of the glider port, speeding to the north.  In the air, all this activity seemed to concentrate into one very reliable thermal to 5.3K half way between the big barn and the big tank.  This thermal DIDN'T MOVE, and in fact, hardly even seemed to lean downwind.  I rode this 4 times, and got bored.  Does anyone have a convincing picture of how the numerous fast-running dust devils become one very stationary thermal?

Best, Rich

7. Frank Owen and his fellow Engineering Prof from Cal Poly, Hemanth  Porumamilla, better known as HP, were flying the Blanik and took a great shot of Jerry Smeltzer in the same thermal. At least, Frank thinks it was Jerry, although it may have been Jeff Lowe, or, someone else. Anyway the shot is excellent, thanks to a timely action.