Visibility:Unlimited
Wind: Variable from the NE
Altitudes: 4000 msl
Time Aloft: 2 hours
Max Lift: 1000 fpm
Temperature: High eighties
Comment: Blog information from Philip Gerfaud
Tow pilot: Jim Rickey
Harold, here is a write-up for
last Sunday, May 10th:
The skies looked favorable from the ground and around 1 pm we were hearing reports from the Hollister folks flying up in the mid-8000's over Black Mtn. Up there, we
experienced fairly marked downdrafts with occasional booming
thermals about the size of a quarter around.
Jeff
Richardson and Martin Caskey rotated-out all afternoon flying
the Google folks in the 2-33 with a precise flight program to teach them how to
fly using only rudder and elevator: Due to wing rigidity and weight issues,
their human powered aircraft will be built without ailerons. I heard they
did quite well thermalling even
with only two primary flight controls!
Jim Rickey was a
trooper as usual flying the towplane and
making sure everyone was taken care of. I
tried for a tow out towards Black Mtn in
the 1-26 and got beat pretty badly and had to head back towards Avenal. On a
second local flight, I was up sharing thermals with the 2-33 for
quite a while in choppy thermals that required tight spiraling, pictures
attached.
Hope
this email finds you well,
Philip
The following photos were all taken by Philip Gerfaud.
 |
| Those clouds sure looking enticing. |
 |
| Hooking up with Jeff Richardson flying from the back seat. |
 |
| A Google guy in the front seat learning the art of flying with no ailerons. |
 |
| Looks like a good takeoff for Jeff, but as we know, a bit dusty, flying IFR. |
 |
| Climbing up and keeping the cloud in sight for a release in lift. |
 |
| Big conference over the Orange Crush among pilots and passengers. |
 |
| Looking at the cloud shadows shows a lot of smaller clouds in the vicinity. |
See you all next week, and thanks to Philip Gerfaud (jer-faux) for the input and photos.
Harold Gallagher
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