H3 Meteorologist here

Talk about anything hang gliding.

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Spitfire
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H3 Meteorologist here

Post by Spitfire »

So it looks like we have an incredible heatwave coming up followed by a switch to S winds on Friday. I know this is hard to predict accurately since it's still far out, but given the intensity of the upcoming Santa Ana event, are we headed for an epic switch day on Friday?

Do strong Santa Ana events like these (I'm going off the temp change here) make for great soaring days after? If that's the case Joe save me the Sport 2, I'm renting it!
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dhmartens
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Post by dhmartens »

I wonder if you could use the Santa Ana wind to set a distance record by possibly launching with a hot air balloon and using it as a tail wind.
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Dizzy
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Post by Dizzy »

Do strong Santa Ana events like these (I'm going off the temp change here) make for great soaring days after?
Always. The only variable is how fast SW breeze will kick in, could be half day or 2-3 hours, after it arrives it kill all greatness. Marshall is further from ocean, so its normally hold good soaring conditions longer then Kagel. And since it shifts from NE to SE and then to SW, the best option is to start from Marshall and fly as far as possible before breeze will kick in on front or back range or out and return.

PS: Elsinore to the beach looks doable tomorrow (Monday).
skydizzy.blogspot.com
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Spitfire
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Post by Spitfire »

Interesting. Why is SW so much worse than SE?
MikeL
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Post by MikeL »

thursday looking to be the switch day, right now.
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Dizzy
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Post by Dizzy »

Why is SW so much worse than SE?
Look at the map to see which air-mass will bring SW versus SE winds.

Here is 2 wiki articles, which maybe helpful to understand why sea breeze develops and how it affect our soaring:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_breeze
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_(meteorology)

PS: It seems that forum does not like links with brackets, so need to copy+paste entire link to browser.
skydizzy.blogspot.com
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Spitfire
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Post by Spitfire »

Dizzy wrote:
Why is SW so much worse than SE?
Look at the map to see which air-mass will bring SW versus SE winds.

Here is 2 wiki articles, which maybe helpful to understand why sea breeze develops and how it affect our soaring:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_breeze
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Inversion_(meteorology)

PS: It seems that forum does not like links with brackets, so need to copy+paste entire link to browser.
Got it. SW = cooler air from the ocean.
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Jim
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Post by Jim »

The models are showing Thursday as the turn day to south-southwest and thermals topping out 9000-10000 feet by 2PM. The winds behind the mountain remain northeasterly.

But don't take my word for it. Better predictors will call the day that morning.
dteal
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Post by dteal »

Anyone chasing it on Thursday? It's almost too hot to fly...
DT
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nzlinus
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Post by nzlinus »

dteal wrote:Anyone chasing it on Thursday? It's almost too hot to fly...
DT
805-795-7979
It'll be cooler at 10k... :D
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dhmartens
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Post by dhmartens »

Before Convergence Day
Image


After Convergence Day
Image



Unable to fly due to work or membership suspension from cow tipping
Image
nzlinus
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Post by nzlinus »

Hopefully we get to live vicariously through others' flight reports and videos... Put us ground-bound gawkers out of our misery, someone...?
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Spitfire
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Post by Spitfire »

nzlinus wrote:
dteal wrote:Anyone chasing it on Thursday? It's almost too hot to fly...
DT
805-795-7979
It'll be cooler at 10k... :D
It was 8)
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OP
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Post by OP »

did you really make 10k?

post that biz, on youtube or something.

Image
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Spitfire
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Post by Spitfire »

I sheet you not. I'll post my track log tonight and you can make a fancy video or something. When I landed the summary showed 9.7k but it showed just over 10 when I was up there and I didn't have hypoxia either. (I did a mini fist pump to celebrate). It could be the two different ways the 6015 measures altitude.

There was at least one other pilot up there with me and Rob hit 10,300.

It wasn't all fun and games. A few more observations from yesterday:

- One a-hole pilot (me) and another pilot keyed our mics. My bluetooth setup has issues but at least now I know when it's happening and how to stop it.
- I think some pilots sunk out who launched earliest. There was lots of sink and if you didn't get into a good cycle from the start it made it hard. By the end it was hard to get down, spiral dives and my vario was still chirping.
- I always laughed at the people who put on lip balm with SPF until yesterday. As I tend to my sunburnt lips, I am now a convert.
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Spitfire
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Post by Spitfire »

Finally got my 6015 to talk to my PC again, here's the track log OP. Can you make one of those fancy videos, would appreciate it!

Thanks,
Mike


https://www.dropbox.com/s/q26b618jji8of ... .15.14.igc
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