Search found 674 matches

by stebbins
Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:08 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The SHGA Adventure Pass
Replies: 24
Views: 13843

Vrezh is mistaken about several things. I was NOT talking about him. I had forgotten that he was even flying that day, although I remember it now. There were at least three other pilots who I talked to that day who told me that they landed because they thought the rule was 5 miles . One said that th...
by stebbins
Fri Oct 06, 2006 11:20 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Hard wack on east wind landing damages Eagle 180
Replies: 5
Views: 4318

Christian has a point. On lower end gliders especially, just come in a bit higher. Then you can also fly a bit faster. Speed is safe. Safe is good. Thus, speed is good. Also, think of this. IF your landing spot is in the H2 area, landing short can be an issue. However, landing a bit long is not a bi...
by stebbins
Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:59 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The SHGA Adventure Pass
Replies: 24
Views: 13843

The "Adventure Pass" sounds like a good idea. The suggestions for improvement on it are also on the mark. I had a small thought to add: A review of the "Fire rule" and possibly other parts of the rules would also be good before getting the Adventure Pass. Monday, I flew with a fe...
by stebbins
Fri Oct 06, 2006 10:47 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Big T and Lukens as Launchable Sites
Replies: 11
Views: 5868

There are two real launches for the Kagel LZ. The "Normal" launch on top of Kagel Mountain, and the Towers. It is also possible to launch from the "2200", but you have to hike up, it is a long glide for low-end gliders to the LZ, and you have to drive through Camp 9 to get there....
by stebbins
Mon Sep 25, 2006 12:02 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Greblo on Launching Unhooked, What to Do If
Replies: 3
Views: 3823

Perhaps it is clearance. But I think of it as chest because: a) I need to check my chest buckles too b) For me, checking the chest includes checking clearance Thanks for the clarification. I learned to fly long before Greblo came up with the 5 Cs, so I had to pick it up by watching others. I clearly...
by stebbins
Fri Sep 22, 2006 10:21 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Greblo on Launching Unhooked, What to Do If
Replies: 3
Views: 3823

Just for information to all club members. On the very day that Joe was teaching folks what to do if you don't hook in, I was flying the Condor at the beach. Trying to soar, I let myself get distracted and started my launch run unhooked. Because I was letting the glider float over my shoulders, I imm...
by stebbins
Sun Sep 17, 2006 1:47 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: My First Tumble In The Owens; Have You Had Yours (Yet)?
Replies: 12
Views: 8568

Thank you Vrezh! All information about these things is helpful, and appreciated. I once had my luff lines broken in the Owens, due to a sudden large ROLL (not pitch). It happened twice in 10 minutes, then everything was fine. The only warning was a bit of extra turbulence. The roll didn't feel sharp...
by stebbins
Thu Sep 14, 2006 3:05 pm
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: My First Tumble In The Owens; Have You Had Yours (Yet)?
Replies: 12
Views: 8568

Don't short-change your friends, Vrezh. Never mind their morbid curiosity. Never mind the ribbing. Think about their safety. Any information can help others avoid similar problems, or survive them if it happens to them. I wrote up my harness failure, surely you can write up your tumble, eh?
by stebbins
Wed Sep 13, 2006 7:49 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Cloudsuck, a beast within the cloud? More newbish questions.
Replies: 1
Views: 1585

Hey, Specks! Well, let's see. First one should note that flying inside a cloud is unlawful. It is also not very bright. Other flying objects can be inside of clouds. You cannot see them. They can hurt you. Heck, it is even worse if the mountain is in the cloud with you. Ouch! Getting too close is al...
by stebbins
Fri Sep 08, 2006 6:23 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Access to Launch During Forest Service Closure
Replies: 25
Views: 12981

We (via the club Forest Service Committee) have indeed had discussions with the FS about preserving the road. At first they thought that the damaged section wasn't on FS land. Between Ken Andrews and Fred Weinmann, though we got enought info to convince them that it was indeed on their property. Now...
by stebbins
Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:39 am
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: Labor Day Weekend XC
Replies: 4
Views: 3613

DID ANYONE GO FAR LABOR DAY WEEKEND????

I heard rumors that Sebastian went to the Owens from Pine.

Did anyone of Hungary Joe's group in the Owens get a good one?

Let's hear it! Somebody had to go farther than I did.... It looked just too good in the desert!
by stebbins
Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:38 am
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: Labor Day Weekend XC
Replies: 4
Views: 3613

Labor Day Weekend XC

On Saturday, September 2nd, I flew over the back at the Crestline stie. I launched at Crestline, flew to the billboard and got to 6k. Then I went on glide to Devore, where I got to 8.5k. I tried to go West, but got the sink from hell, so I turned around at the West Tower in the Cajon Pass. Back at D...
by stebbins
Wed Sep 06, 2006 11:28 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: The newb with newbish questions
Replies: 4
Views: 2662

Jamie, I am happy to see that newbie pilots are thinking along safety lines. (At least you are!) And none of your questions and comments are dumb. Just a few notes from my admittedly biased perspective: 1) Enjoy your early flights now. Trust me, you will remember your first time soaring above Kagel ...
by stebbins
Wed Sep 06, 2006 7:07 am
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Club love
Replies: 5
Views: 2965

Freddy, Hang in there. Yes, we often get this kind of stuff. Then a few months later, we often get comments from members in the LZ like: "I appreciate you guys" or "I'm glad you are doing this so I don't have to" or "I may disagree, but I sure don't envy you. Thanks for the ...
by stebbins
Fri Sep 01, 2006 9:25 am
Forum: Club Projects / Volunteer Opportunities
Topic: Oleanders/Trees Project
Replies: 22
Views: 34287

OK, I'm not arguing either way, BUT, I do want to set the record straight: Shade from trees on the fenceline will cover cars in the late afternoon. Isn't that the time of day when it matters most? Isn't that when we actually get into our cars? Who cares about shade at noon? I'm going up the mountain...
by stebbins
Thu Aug 31, 2006 12:17 pm
Forum: Club Projects / Volunteer Opportunities
Topic: Oleanders/Trees Project
Replies: 22
Views: 34287

I am of two minds about this. First, shade trees sound nice, and where these would be shouldn't cause any air-turbulence problems. Second, if we put in trees like what we have already, we are unlikely to have the same privacy that the bushes gave us. Which matters most, shade or privacy? I don't rea...
by stebbins
Wed Aug 30, 2006 7:21 am
Forum: Safety and Incidents in flight
Topic: Midair collision: Sailplane and Jet
Replies: 0
Views: 2213

Midair collision: Sailplane and Jet

A sailplane and a small jet collided near Minden, NV about 30-40 miles south of Reno. Minor injuries, but as far as we can tell now, no deaths or serious injuries. It appears to be an amazing stroke of luck that the sailplane pilot survived. He had to hike out of the Sierras, as his plane was demoli...
by stebbins
Tue Aug 29, 2006 3:54 pm
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: Comparision of Glider Performance, Kagel, Sat. Aug 26
Replies: 3
Views: 2859

I think that curved tips make the ride a bit smoother in the smaller bumps, (as in off-loading some gusts). If the hit is large, however, I'm not sure they make more than a tiny bit of difference. Just my opinion though. As for wing loading, it is true that higher wing loading gives more control, bu...
by stebbins
Mon Aug 28, 2006 1:06 pm
Forum: Flight Discussion
Topic: Comparision of Glider Performance, Kagel, Sat. Aug 26
Replies: 3
Views: 2859

I think that we have more than impressions, but I doubt that we have any definitive answers. My opinion is that there are conditions that we sometimes fly in that will overpower any (and I mean any) pilot. However, technique and preparedness can make a big difference. Unfortunately, many of the tech...
by stebbins
Fri Aug 18, 2006 2:05 pm
Forum: General Discussion
Topic: Access to Launch During Forest Service Closure
Replies: 25
Views: 12981

Kagel road washout

We all know that unless we do something, the Kagel road will wash out eventually. That ravine that is forming isn't going to go away by itself. I keep hearing people say that the "hole" or "ravine" or whatever is too big for us to do anything about. Maybe. But nobody has really r...