WEATHER
Visibility: Great above the haze, lousy below 3000'
Wind: Calm
Altitudes: As high as the towplane got you.
Time Aloft: Max 40 minutes
Max Lift: Zero Sink
Temperature: Max. 63°
Comment: Smooth & Hazy
Tow pilot: Bill in the Pawnee
Several of Saturday's participants sent out emails to all members of the club. I
have simply brought them all together into one blog, edited a little to make
them flow, then posted them here--Jim.
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There
were a handful of us flying on Saturday. It was glassy smooth, and foggy over
toward the Paso Robles area. I released over Tar and trimmed up for some slow
flight in the zero sink that was there. Absolutely smooth, and quiet. I think
I was doing just under 50.
The zero sink gave way to 2-400fpm down, and
as I headed back for Avenal I ran into a tiny little 200fpm thermal near the old
house. I was able to loiter in that thermal for about 15 minutes and basically
just hold my altitude. It too diminished and I headed back in.
Here is a
YouTube link to a short version of the full video so you can see how it
looked:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xcQxfnYW-nE
Jan Zanutto
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* * * * * *
As Jan reported, those of us that flew on Saturday experienced
little, if any, lift and lots of haze. Nevertheless, it was a most enjoyable
day at Avenal. Those of us that are working toward a license were able to get
in as many training flights as we wanted. In part, this was due to the limited
number of folks flying. But in larger measure, it was due to the efficient
manner in which the launches and retrievals were organized and the quick
turnaround time afforded by the Pawnee towplane. As usual, the best part of
being at Avenal (aside from the moment we pull the red handle) was the sense of
camaraderie, support, and helpfulness that seems to define the sport of soaring
at Avenal.
So, thanks, Morgan, for arranging the tows, to
Bill for flying them, and to Dan and Alex for sharing their extensive experience
and wisdom with all of us.
Mike Paoli
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*
The air was still, the views were awesome. I took two 3k tows. Well
worth it. One note, it appears that we had burst pipes on the irrigation
system--we had a mudpit from the clubhouse extending about 80 feet onto the
runway. The water was off when I got there. I opened the valve at the meter
and isolated the irrigation back to the in-ground gate valve. We left the water
in service to the clubhouse. The irrigation and overhead spray will need
work.
Joe Anastasio
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Nice video
Jan! From the ground, we saw a big red-tailed hawk soaring in the same area
where you found the thermal. Looked like he or she was maybe 1500 ft. AGL. It
was making these long flat straight in approaches to landings in the scrubby
tree just off the approach end of runway 31. It's the tree Morgan cut the top
off of a while back, but it's now growing back.
Those were great comments
Mike. It was a fun day even though I never actually flew, it was great hanging
out with everybody.
Alex Caldwell
* * * * * *
* * * * * *
I am deep in prep for my Single Engine Land checkride and
couldn't make it out. Being a glider pilot before going for my power add-on has
been a huge advantage, but I am having to fly a number of hours just to have
the hours logged doing certain activities to satisfy all the applicable FARs. Too bad, because
I also need to take 3 flights with Harold and Alex to get my Commercial glider
checkride endorsement.
The haze pouring over into the coastal valleys
from the Central Valley was really thick and a sharp inversion at around 3500
was just about everywhere. I am amazed that Jan found even 15 minutes of
soarable air in that thick stuff.
Great to hear that you guys were
running fun and efficient.
Morgan Hall
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*
As I drove over the hill separating Avenal from the main San Joaquin
Valley, one look at the low haze layer in the Avenal valley told me I not going
to be soaring today, just gliding. I took 3 tows to 3000'. On the first ascent there were
some bumps that made me think I might be able to find some lift, but by 1800'
MSL it was smooth as glass.
Spent most of my time practicing 720° steep
turns, or more often, just the entry to and exit from the steep turn, and maybe
a 360°. In my power plane world I have never come close to using every bit of
control travel to start and stop a steep turn. Neither have I in a power plane ever had to use
any noticeable opposite aileron to keep the steep turn from getting steeper. Of course, at
twice the speed the turn radius is 4 times greater, so the velocity difference
between the inside wing and the outside is not nearly as dramatic.
At
3800' I could see the peaks around Gorman and Tehachapi and the snow on the
Sierras. Picked a distant peak to sight on for a 720° turn, but with the
altitude lost during the turn, the landmark disappeared into the haze. Picked a
much closer peak for the next 720°, and even it looked much different though the
thickening haze as I completed the turn.
Coming back down to 1800' MSL
the sink rate almost went to zero, most of the time, with an occasional small
bubble of weak lift.
No complaints about lack of lift--it is mid-December, look at the rest of the country.
Jim Rickey
