Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

The Problem:

We currently launch from a knob less than a wingspan wide. This leaves our wingtips especially vulnerable to being lifted by turbulence. Pilots rather often lose control of their gliders while standing on launch, and if a wing is lifted during the launch run, one can easily be turned back into the hill for a crash landing.

The Goal:

The intent of this work party is to widen the launch ramp so that it is a full wingspan wide, thus reducing the number of pilots flipped upside down while standing on launch, and improving safety during launch. We'll do this by widening the railroad tie wall by 12 feet to the east, and then by back-filling it with dirt and widening the entire dirt launch ramp to match. On Saturday, we'll work on the railroad tie wall and clear the dead bush skeletons on the hill below launch. On Sunday or a subsequent weekend, we'll rent a bulldozer and do the earth-moving work.

Saturday's task list:

Eat pancakes. BJ Strand will be providing a pancake breakfast starting at 8:00 for all comers. Thanks, BJ!

Build the new wall. With pickaxes and shovels, clear a little dirt away to lay the first tier of railroad ties. Drill 1/2" holes in the ties, and stake them into the ground with pieces of re-bar. Cut and install five more tiers of railroad ties, each nailed to the tier below with re-bar. Teams required:
- People to move dirt with picks and shovels
- People to saw railroad ties with chainsaws
- People to drill 1/2" holes in railroad ties with heavy-duty drills
- People to cut re-bar with grinders
- People to install the ties and re-bar with sledge hammers

Lower the existing wall by one tier of railroad ties. This is a compromise. It will make the ramp a little steeper, and hence better for now. However, it means that in the future, we will have to keep the inevitable bushes in front of launch cleared a little lower than in the past. Required:
- People with shovels to clear dirt and steepen the ramp
- People with pry-bars to remove the ties

Repair the existing wall's fire damage. A few railroad ties were burned in the fires last fall. The teams above will get to repair these.

Clear dead manzanita skeletons. The fires last fall did an almost perfect job of clearing the bushes below launch. However, a few burned stumps are left behind, and they're looking to grab wingtips or wires, and they could really hurt in a crash landing. If we can reduce their threat with chainsaws, dig them out with a mattock, or pull them out with a truck and chain, that would be good.

LZ maintenance. If we have a good turnout, there is some work that needs to be done in the LZ, especially weed-whacking.

Please bring tools if you have them:

Here's what's needed:
- Work gloves.
- Hat, water, sunscreen. It will be hot and sunny on Saturday.
- Picks and/or mattocks. SHGA has none, and we will need them!
- Sledge hammers. SHGA has two heavy ones, another one or two might help.
- Chain saws. Mike Moacanin will bring one, another one or two would be good.
- Grinder for cutting re-bar. I think BJ Strand and Fred Ballard have this covered.
- Shovels. SHGA has several, but they're old and tired. Bring your own if you have a favorite.
- Electric generator. I think Rob Burgis and Jim Thompson are managing this.
- Pickup trucks. We need to transport 16 railroad ties and a small pile of rebar from the LZ to launch. This will require two pickup trucks, or one really big honkin' one. We also need to transport people and gliders and flying gear, of course.
- Weed-whackers. The LZ needs some clearing if we've got the pilot-power to do it on Saturday.

Thanks, everyone!

Hmmm...all day at launch doing work and then flying might require a honey bucket? Or just feed us meat and cheese for breakfast and we will not have that need for a week!

I will bring a sledgehammer and shovel, but do not have a honey bucket!

Mike Moacanin may not be able to be at the work party with his chainsaw. If someone could bring one in his place, that would be very helpful. Otherwise, brace yourself for cutting railroad ties with hand saws. Just think what good exercise that will be.

A mid-weight sledge hammer or two would also be a useful addition.

Beyond that, I think we're good to go! See you tomorrow.