Thursday looks like a good day for flying in Santa Barbara, certainly better than here. Apparently, you launch the Alternator and land at Elings training hill lz.
January 1, 2015
Training hill fly-in and New Years Day get together!
New Year's Day Fly-In, Santa Barbara
Moderator: Chip
New Year's Day Fly-In, Santa Barbara
janyce
"You HAVE to make it..."
"You HAVE to make it..."
Looks like the prediction is pretty good, look at this synopsis from Tom Truax (sundowner)
http://scpa.info/bb/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3119
I'm in, but need a ride.
http://scpa.info/bb/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=3119
I'm in, but need a ride.
Was another nice day in Santa Barbara. Altitudes topped out at 4300' and change. We waffled a few times on where to launch. Most locals were headed to LaCumbre peak to launch to ensure the glide to Elings park (their training hill).
We declined the hike up after carrying our harnesses to the top (about 1/8 a mile I suspect). Then we went to the alternator, then to EJ Bowl, but eventually settled on good ol Eliminator.
Even though we gave up the altitude for familiarity, in the end it didn't matter because Rob and I beemed out of the R&R (to the right of the eliminator) up over 4200 and then took a losing pass over to LaCumbre peak launch. That place was sinky everywhere.
I left and immediately resumed climbing at the R&R and then headed to the thermal factory (behind the antenna farm, that is behind the round house). There I met up with DQ and Southside (John Scott) and climbed over 4200 and proceeded east to Montecito where DQ and I caught a good one that boosted us upward for points east once again. Rob came in while I was spinning up through 4100 at Montecito and we left Southside and DQ, as we glided to Romero saddle and eventually Romero peak before succumbing to beer suck on east beach (about 6.5 miles to our southwest). From our altitude, the glide was assured.
DQ and Southside would continue east to escort the paragliders coming from Ojai as they made it through Casitas pass earlier on Sundowners (Tom Truax) weather prediction.
Lynn had already made the beach, but just barely as she had just enough altitude to make one turn into the wind and land.
After packing up on the beach we headed over to Elings park to socialize with the SB crew and listen to the circumstances that led Little John (John Greynald) to huck his laundry over LaCumbre earlier in the day. LJ was fine and didn't have a scratch on him. He had quite the audience when he began telling the story. I believe he and Hammer (Robert Millington) will retrieve the glider today. Everyone was relived that he was OK. Apparently he went inverted or at least close to inverted too close to the ground. Chris (coonass) from Malibu was right there and observed everything from close up.
We topped off the day by having dinner at a local restaurant near the training hill. I think we were back by 8pm
Heard it was good here in Sylmar too.
I had a good time catching up with more than a few people that I know.
Gilbert Roberts (the inventor and creator of the Roberts bread pan vario, that I still proudly own) showed up on his bicycle. If there is testament to how staying healthy will carry you into your golden ages, it shows in him
Was also great to meet up with Sundowner again, I've been hearing him on the radio since we've switched frequencies over to 46.460. I flew with him and Team Topa a lot during the late 80's and early 90's before going back to Hawaii for the Navy.
Others that I socialized with and have known for a while
Hammer
Little John
Roland Angel
Southside
Tony Degroot
Anne-Odile (Skippy)
I think I'll be going back again before the winter is over. We should get a bigger crowd next time.
We declined the hike up after carrying our harnesses to the top (about 1/8 a mile I suspect). Then we went to the alternator, then to EJ Bowl, but eventually settled on good ol Eliminator.
Even though we gave up the altitude for familiarity, in the end it didn't matter because Rob and I beemed out of the R&R (to the right of the eliminator) up over 4200 and then took a losing pass over to LaCumbre peak launch. That place was sinky everywhere.
I left and immediately resumed climbing at the R&R and then headed to the thermal factory (behind the antenna farm, that is behind the round house). There I met up with DQ and Southside (John Scott) and climbed over 4200 and proceeded east to Montecito where DQ and I caught a good one that boosted us upward for points east once again. Rob came in while I was spinning up through 4100 at Montecito and we left Southside and DQ, as we glided to Romero saddle and eventually Romero peak before succumbing to beer suck on east beach (about 6.5 miles to our southwest). From our altitude, the glide was assured.
DQ and Southside would continue east to escort the paragliders coming from Ojai as they made it through Casitas pass earlier on Sundowners (Tom Truax) weather prediction.
Lynn had already made the beach, but just barely as she had just enough altitude to make one turn into the wind and land.
After packing up on the beach we headed over to Elings park to socialize with the SB crew and listen to the circumstances that led Little John (John Greynald) to huck his laundry over LaCumbre earlier in the day. LJ was fine and didn't have a scratch on him. He had quite the audience when he began telling the story. I believe he and Hammer (Robert Millington) will retrieve the glider today. Everyone was relived that he was OK. Apparently he went inverted or at least close to inverted too close to the ground. Chris (coonass) from Malibu was right there and observed everything from close up.
We topped off the day by having dinner at a local restaurant near the training hill. I think we were back by 8pm
Heard it was good here in Sylmar too.
I had a good time catching up with more than a few people that I know.
Gilbert Roberts (the inventor and creator of the Roberts bread pan vario, that I still proudly own) showed up on his bicycle. If there is testament to how staying healthy will carry you into your golden ages, it shows in him
Was also great to meet up with Sundowner again, I've been hearing him on the radio since we've switched frequencies over to 46.460. I flew with him and Team Topa a lot during the late 80's and early 90's before going back to Hawaii for the Navy.
Others that I socialized with and have known for a while
Hammer
Little John
Roland Angel
Southside
Tony Degroot
Anne-Odile (Skippy)
I think I'll be going back again before the winter is over. We should get a bigger crowd next time.
Thanks for the well-written report Chip. Little John (AKA: Flyer Tuck)'s descent was recorded and posted to a local SB news page: http://www.edhat.com/site/tidbit.cfm?nid=145857
For new pilots to Santa Barbara, please study their visiting pilots page: http://sbsa.info/visit/ Please get a site intro from Willie or John and follow protocol.
The club has gone through great lengths to secure permission to use a section of beach for H4 landings. I have heard the club has gotten some serious heat from the USFS during 2014 about gliders blocking the road when too many are trying to set up.
The last thing we want to do is trigger loss of launch access and another chapter's flying site.
Thanks!
DQ
For new pilots to Santa Barbara, please study their visiting pilots page: http://sbsa.info/visit/ Please get a site intro from Willie or John and follow protocol.
The club has gone through great lengths to secure permission to use a section of beach for H4 landings. I have heard the club has gotten some serious heat from the USFS during 2014 about gliders blocking the road when too many are trying to set up.
The last thing we want to do is trigger loss of launch access and another chapter's flying site.
Thanks!
DQ
Thanks Jonathan,
Little John's story was pretty scary. (So was the condition of his Litespeed S sail, when I saw it before his launch.) Let that be a lesson to us all to maintain the quality of our equipment. It's so important to not fly with old, worn-out, unravelling, what-used-to-be high performance sails. The condition of his sail could have had a part to play in the mishap. It was such a relief to hear him announce on radio that he not only survived, but was completely unhurt! He's a legend.
Nice looking out for SBHGA / SBSA about site rules and intro. You must make the beach. If there's any doubt, land at Parma.
All in all, it's an awesome site, and I'm so glad to have had a chance to fly there and land in that wonderfully laminar beach air.
Little John's story was pretty scary. (So was the condition of his Litespeed S sail, when I saw it before his launch.) Let that be a lesson to us all to maintain the quality of our equipment. It's so important to not fly with old, worn-out, unravelling, what-used-to-be high performance sails. The condition of his sail could have had a part to play in the mishap. It was such a relief to hear him announce on radio that he not only survived, but was completely unhurt! He's a legend.
Nice looking out for SBHGA / SBSA about site rules and intro. You must make the beach. If there's any doubt, land at Parma.
All in all, it's an awesome site, and I'm so glad to have had a chance to fly there and land in that wonderfully laminar beach air.
janyce
"You HAVE to make it..."
"You HAVE to make it..."
