Search found 674 matches

by stebbins
Fri May 25, 2007 7:46 pm
Forum: Club Projects / Volunteer Opportunities
Topic: The SHGA Gazebo Renovation Project is open for Comment
Replies: 44
Views: 53012

1. Circumstances (permit, zoning and such) are not favorable for ambitious projects. We can vote for the most ambitious design, no harm is done. But chances of getting it approved are next to none. Let’s face it, even if the club can lobby it now trough influential politicians, the next guy in th...
by stebbins
Tue May 15, 2007 7:37 pm
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: coming in to land and thermaling back up again
Replies: 6
Views: 3659

Good job. Knowing the rules is important so that you don't break them. BUT, it is also important to know them well. That way, you don't give up a flight (or part of one) because you THINK you MIGHT be breaking a rule. If you know the exact rule, you can be confident about making your decision. I kno...
by stebbins
Tue May 15, 2007 3:03 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Coyote Howl at McClure, May 19 & 20
Replies: 2
Views: 2576

Jim Mercadante, J Stebbins and I will be going. My truck is full (those darned children...) but Jim might (or might not) have room. Oh, and rumor has it that Lynn McLaughlin will be there too. Jim is leaving Friday AM and returning Monday AM, I believe. J and I are leaving Thursday PM (We have busin...
by stebbins
Tue May 15, 2007 2:56 pm
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: coming in to land and thermaling back up again
Replies: 6
Views: 3659

Lucky 13 did say he took the thermal to 3000'. That means he was right on the edge of violation, unless he was north of the bridge. When I did it, I didn't violate the airspace. And almost as important, I didn't violate the "don't fly over the houses West of the LZ" rule. That's actually t...
by stebbins
Sun May 13, 2007 7:09 pm
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: coming in to land and thermaling back up again
Replies: 6
Views: 3659

Most days, if you can get back up from the LZ, you end up at or near Locals, not near Kagel. There are, of course, exceptions. ;-)

Nice job!
by stebbins
Thu May 10, 2007 10:32 am
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: What have been the best flights from Kagel?
Replies: 11
Views: 6470

Re: Sebastian Barstow flight

Went to the East side of El Mirage re-fueled, Little Lake re-fueled, now I had to cross a large airport that stores old airliners I do not no the name but it is N/E of Little Lake, I made shure I crossed the runway very high even though there was not any activity to be seen, I had a easy glide to B...
by stebbins
Wed May 09, 2007 8:28 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Glider tumbles behind Kagel
Replies: 4
Views: 5534

PHILL,

I'm glad you are ok. Good job throwing the chute. Sorry about your glider, though. I hope it all works out for you.

By the way, where were your sprogs set? Inquiring minds want to know!
by stebbins
Wed May 09, 2007 8:26 am
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: What have been the best flights from Kagel?
Replies: 11
Views: 6470

Thanks for the update on the distances. Over the back altitude? It depends on glider, location and windspeed. I have gone over the back at the 22 with essentially no altitude (There is a notch in the hills right there and I went through it). BUT, the winds were light, and that was before they put ho...
by stebbins
Wed May 09, 2007 8:11 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: launch from back of kagel
Replies: 8
Views: 4479

There is also a good NW site in Tehachapi, but it is inside the Bear Valley private community. You need to be an owner or be a guest of an owner to even enter there. The locals are friendly, so one could get in with a bit of friendly talk. They are, however, a bit cautious about outsiders because of...
by stebbins
Mon May 07, 2007 11:24 am
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: What have been the best flights from Kagel?
Replies: 11
Views: 6470

Greg Kendall went over the back to Avenue I or so in Lancaster. On another day he flew to El Mirage dry lake. Weiner and I have made it to Santa Paula. Weiner went a bit farther than I did and landed at the airport there. Juan Coral went to Lake Piru and back. Dino Dinaso landed in Santa Monica. At ...
by stebbins
Mon May 07, 2007 11:17 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: launch from back of kagel
Replies: 8
Views: 4479

My comments only applied to NW. NE is different. Still H4, but with some judgement and care, and attention to Larry's points, doable. NW is a whole different thing, and is just not safe there. When I was a H2, I thought it looked safer in NW than a NE, but it just isn't so. There is a sailplane sayi...
by stebbins
Sat May 05, 2007 11:47 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: launch from back of kagel
Replies: 8
Views: 4479

Because you will crash. Seriously, experience has shown that it is very dangerous to fly the back side in a NW. The way the wind comes through the pass or over towers or whatever really messes up the flow. Just ask Sebastian. ;-) He flew his rigid wing and still didn't make it past the dam. Ouch. On...
by stebbins
Fri Apr 27, 2007 12:00 pm
Forum: Comp Discussion
Topic: Phill Bloom wins Flytec Race of Champions
Replies: 7
Views: 5890

Yea, thanks Larry. I know you know it. But some out there might have assumed you meant that they left the last lift just as the machine said they'd make it. That isn't the normal situation. Normally (as you know) there is margin, which you burn off as you get closer to goal. Do the burn off right, a...
by stebbins
Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:18 pm
Forum: Comp Discussion
Topic: New East Coast (and Florida State) record of 283 miles!
Replies: 0
Views: 2701

New East Coast (and Florida State) record of 283 miles!

Jonny Durand Jr. (Aus) and Dustin Martin (US) just set a new Florida State and East Coast distance record for flex wings (old was218 mi). They stattered the old one, and broke the rigid wing record (old was 234 mi) too. They landed together just a few miles from the South Carolina border. Wow. The n...
by stebbins
Thu Apr 26, 2007 7:13 pm
Forum: Comp Discussion
Topic: Phill Bloom wins Flytec Race of Champions
Replies: 7
Views: 5890

Note the windsock in the photo. I sure hope he is going as fast as it looks, 'cause he'll need the speed to turn around. Or he'll have to run very fast. ;-) I agree. I don't think that's Phill in the photo. Oh, and Larry, the way they do it is allow extra altitude and then as they get closer, go ver...
by stebbins
Wed Apr 25, 2007 7:56 pm
Forum: Comp Discussion
Topic: Phill Bloom wins Flytec Race of Champions
Replies: 7
Views: 5890

Phill Bloom wins Flytec Race of Champions

Our own Phill Bloom beat the best to win this elimination round type tournament. He survived three days of elimination and kicked butt on the third day.

Way to go Phill!

http://ozreport.com/blog.php#2007-4-25_11:04:37pm_EDT

http://flytec.com/race
by stebbins
Tue Apr 24, 2007 8:17 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Don't wait until the last minute to set up your approach!
Replies: 0
Views: 2101

Don't wait until the last minute to set up your approach!

Some of you may know that I injured my knee a few weeks ago during the Florida Ridge Nationals. This injury caused me to take a "minimum-distance" one day, and bail on another. It also caused me to leave the Flytec Championships after 1 flight. And yes, I missed the epic day, where 93% of ...
by stebbins
Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:33 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Springtime spells changes in turbulence
Replies: 20
Views: 11818

Greg is right. Your glider won't accelerate instantaneously. That's physics 101. Can you say "Inertia"? And the increase in speed you need has to come from somewhere. Can you say "Conservation of Energy?" The energy comes from a decrease in altitude. A quick, unpleasant one, if y...
by stebbins
Sun Apr 15, 2007 4:08 pm
Forum: Club Projects / Volunteer Opportunities
Topic: The View from Santiago Estates
Replies: 5
Views: 10071

I agree that spiffing up the top/side of the containers would help a lot. But I think planting vines of any kind on the containers would be a horrible mistake. They are invasive. In the long run, we would regret the damage they will do. I don't know much about netting, but if it won't degrade too qu...
by stebbins
Sat Apr 07, 2007 6:03 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Springtime spells changes in turbulence
Replies: 20
Views: 11818

"Wind speed doesn't drop off that fast, hence the term Gradient". Well, that's usually true. But it only takes once to ruin your day. My experience is that there are quite a few times that the wind will drop at lest 10 mph in a couple of seconds on final. Gradient, wind shadow, turbulence,...