Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

Friday was a funny day. The forecast for Crestline was epic with the models showing climbs to 12K and lift all the way South to the Mexican border. Me, Jason and Dizzy met up early and arrived at Marshall launch by 11AM and sure enough, there were nicely formed cumulus cloud streets for 150 miles w/ bases between 12 and 14K. Not only that but the entire LA basin was filled with haze and smog that was cleanly capped at 4K, thus killing any chance of climbing above that height until the marine layer and inversion lifted.

When we arrived at the LZ, John Wright showed us the "Big O Loop" glider conveyance vehicle which only needed a few minor tweaks before it would be ready to haul two assembled gliders up the road to the 400' launch (which I later measured at 420'). So, 1 PM rolls around and we've all been standing on launch dressed for high altitudes for the past hour. Cycles start coming in more regularly and at 1:19 PM I launch, just barely, as you'll see in the video.

Eleven minutes and twenty two seconds later I'm on the deck and John is motioning me toward the cart where he's about to load his U2 160 one one other glider. Mine. Can you say, "YES!" I get to help beta test the "Big O Loop".

KLH takes the first flight on John's U2 then it's my turn. I wait for just the right cycle and boogey down the ramp for a 9 minute flight with an 85' maximum altitude gain. I get in lots of swooping over KK and the cart but am unable to climb out beyond 85' over. I get in an nice landing and soon we're going back up for round 2. The conditions weren't as robust so this time I just wait for a good enough cycle to launch safely and land in a little under 5 minutes.

If anyone wants my honest opinion, this setup is a real gem! I know, I'll be buying my tickets to ride. It's obvious an excellent resource for novice and intermediate pilots on Falcons. But I find that it's a tremendous resource for advanced pilots on topless gliders. By being able to launch, fly, land and repeat in sort order, it's great for working out the kinks in one's launch technique, landing patterns and landings themselves. I know I learn a lot more when I can practice things repeatedly in a reasonably short time.

As you'll see from the video I was interested in a lot more than my take-offs and touchdowns. Can you say,"Scratch In Close?"

I offer a huge, "Thank You!" to John Wright and all the volunteers from the Crestline Soaring Society who had labored at this noble project and made it a reality.

Enjoy! Jonathan

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uqBn7H2qN-I[/youtube]
http://bigoloop.com

Looks like a nice system.

What's the maximum wind speed that they'll use the system?
(Seems like too much wind and it could cause some problems taking an assembled glider up.)


Allen

abinder wrote:Looks like a nice system.

What's the maximum wind speed that they'll use the system?..........

A good question which needs to be worked out along w/ other as-yet-to-be-discovered unknowns.

NMERider wrote:

abinder wrote:Looks like a nice system.

What's the maximum wind speed that they'll use the system?..........

A good question which needs to be worked out along w/ other as-yet-to-be-discovered unknowns.

It will be interesting as to what they feel is safe as far as the max windspeed would be.

Thanks again for the report.


Allen

abinder wrote:.............It will be interesting as to what they feel is safe as far as the max windspeed would be.............

I'll drop John Wright a note about this question. It's certainly an important one.

Meanwhile, I did complete video re-edit and narration to emphasize the Big O Loop experience.

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G5hZJAkWHpE[/youtube]

I got my first introduction to Crestline/Marshall when one of Joe's instructors (Kevin Coltrane?) took a bunch of us hang 2's over there for a field trip. I think it would be good for some of the Sylmar instructors to check out the Big O loop as another potential asset in their training program.

By the way, I'm forever grateful to Kevin for taking us on that field trip and for Joe doing the same (Big Sur, La Salina, Soboba, ...). Windsports has a great training program, and I recommend it highly whenever I can. Thanks Joe!!

Once the wings are on the cart, wind doesn't matter...

Loading them on the LZ is not a problem (grass).

The wind speed limits will be "how comfortable do you feel unloading?". That will be pilot choice. It is more a question of ground handling skills. My first breakout flight was in 15 mph slightly cross winds with gusts higher... the kind where you take two steps and you are off the hill.

AJX gets blown out a few afternoons a year... sometimes when the seabreeze or a gust front comes through on top of that.

http://bigoloop.com for more and updates. Make sure we know you are coming, right now I am arranging access somewhat manually, but the system is live and operational. $5/wing/trip, tickets to be purchased before driving up (if just seconds before).

I've gotten 5 flights: 2 sledders, a 40 minute flight to above Marshall, a 1:10 flight to Sugarpine (6 miles and 7K MSL), and a :40 minute flight to above regionals (3K).

Thanks for the help beta testing and for the videos, Jonathan!

Hey Jonathan,

Great to see the video of the Big O Loop. Alvaro and I plan to head down there this weekend to give it a try. I wa splanning on Sunday, but that may change to Saturday and I will know soon. So anybody else want to go. If there were 3 of us, we could take turns driving and flying..

Marc