Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

A couple years ago, the Falcon League became a somewhat regular thing on alternate Saturdays, and I think it's high time to bring it back to life. In case the Falcon League doesn't sound familiar, the idea is to put experienced pilots on introductory gliders, and find some challenging cross-country flying right here at our home site.

A couple common criticisms of Sylmar is that there are few places to land out, and that it's a "fishbowl" where we go around and around between West Towers and Big T or thereabouts. There's an easy solution: fly a Falcon! Cross-country basically begins beyond a glide of the LZ, and one can get there pretty fast on a single surface glider. From the perspective of a Falcon, we have a great cross-country site. The mountain range is three times as big as it is on a topless glider, there are plenty of LZs, and they generally have easy retrieves.

During the Falcon League's first run, we explored several interesting launches including Mt. Lukens, the 1500, the 2200, and a road turnout or two along the way. Pilots landed back on top of Kagel and the 2200, in Sand Canyon, and in eight different LZs between West Towers and the Big T wash.

While we may be flying introductory hang gliders, venturing cross country always requires advanced skills. We are launching, landing, and scratching low in unusual places, and reliable landings are essential. If you're an H-4 pilot interested in playing this game, let's plan to meet in the LZ at 11:00 on Saturday morning. Depending on the weather, we'll decide then what our goal will be. Some possibilities include:

* Launch Towers, stay local, and land at the base of the dam for the sake of remembering how to land somewhere different on a single surface glider.

* Launch Kagel and fly open distance to the East. Land at Beehives, or the Big T Wash, or wherever we end up.

* Fly a competition task to West Towers, Lances, and back.

* Launch from Mount Lukens and land in the Big T wash.

* Curse the north wind and go explore some emergency LZs. It's still better than sitting on the couch at home.

If you have a Falcon, hopefully I can inspire you to dust it off and join in. Gliders other than Falcons are welcome, but the less performance, the better. For those without a single-surface glider, Windsports will often rent one on generous terms. By the way, it helps hugely to have a ham radio. One that works. So you can talk AND hear. With charged batteries. Seriously.

Hopefully we'll have a crowd on Saturday, November 3, at 11:00 in the LZ!

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Falcon League at 1500 is pretty cool.

I will be there, whichever way the wind blows.

Saturday's a Falcon League day, though the forecast is looking mighty dismal. Even if it's a sled-run day, there's some interesting Falcon flying to be done, so long as it isn't actually raining. Mike Lichtreman and I had a protracted discussion recently about what glide ratio a Falcon would get at high speed in still air. Here are some questions we might get to answer on Saturday:

Can a Falcon get a 1:1 glide?
Can a Falcon speed-glide from launch to the LZ faster than a topless glider can?
Maybe we'll even launch Towers for variety.
Additional suggestions are always welcome.

If you're interested in playing such games, join me, Falcon at the ready, around 11:15 in the LZ on Saturday!

Ken Andrews wrote:Saturday's a Falcon League day....

Anyone want to try for Sunday instead? Saturday looks like rain and Sunday looks post-frontal which could bring very good tidings for a straight East run.

I will be there whichever way the rain falls. As for the answers to questions 1 and 2, see below

jdevorak wrote:I will be there, whichever way the wind blows.

Jay's theme song...
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I will be there whichever way the day breaks.
I'm still looking for that woman. See song above.

We got skunked by rain last time around, so we'll try again this coming Saturday, December 1. The rain might win again, but let's hope for the best. My suggestion is that we meet at 11:00, load gliders, and go walk the bail-out LZ at the intersection of Almetz St. and Leedy Ave. If we like the way it looks, we'll launch Towers for variety, and then land in that LZ. The terrain is a little weird there, so wheels are good! Any interest?

I will be there whichever way the mud slides.

According to the current NAM forecast, it will be marginally soarable w/ cloudbase at 4K. I have often wondered what a bailout would be like on those terraces at the base of the Red Spot. If I can get over this darned cold virus in time, I may come out if it's soarable.