Sylmar Hang Gliding Association

HERE'S MITCHELL MCALEER'S REPORT TO THE CSS FORUM RE: HIS WAVE LIFT FLIGHT TO 11,000+ ft. on what other people called a crappy, blown-out, ne day:

"Arrived on launch about 1 pm, strong N wind, obvious shadow and rotor from south face of Edwards bowl. Went to north launch and hung out, for a bit, then it dropped off. Went back to regular launch to find varialble SE, N, E up to about 15, dropping off to almost 0.
Set up T2 144 C, Mike Estrada launched into variable, plummeted and got worked hard all the way to the stables short of the hwy 74.
I launched around 2:30 into 10 east in variable cycles, the lake showing 15+ NNE with evident gusts. Got worked all the way through the bowl couldn't get into the harness until I got over into the sun below the N face. Worked strong small thermals up over the N face and was drilled every time I tried to make passes on the N face.
On the 3rd thermal climb out in front of the N face about half way out the bowl, turned into the wind a couple hundred over launch and climbed in wave lift to 11,000 asl. Moved from the bowl out to about half way from the LZ to Grand Ave, and from over the S face to just S of the A frame, climbing steady 3-40 fpm, somewhere about the time I started climbing in the wave, the lake went from ruffled with gusts, to large whitecaps, and stayed that way."

Then, as he flew out over the houses and the L/Z, he did the most amazing display of maneuvers (including twisties and barrel rolls, spins, and about 20 loops!) He decided that, as the trees in the L/Z seemed to be blowing sideways, it might be better to land at the beach. So he did. However, a woman called 911 saying that she witnessed a hang glider "falling out of the sky. it was twisting and turning and went into the lake!"

The sheriff's helicopter boys made a low pass on downwind but were kind enough to land in such a way as to not rotor the glider into the lake. When they, the two firetrucks and the ambulance were informed as to the true state of things, they all packed up and went away, leaving us to commune with a large dead carp, and a few locals. Our conversing with the local residents (on the county side of the beach) DID result in making some sympathetic new friends...

now that it's test flown, the T2 C 144 is available for demo. (will trade for litespeed or atos flights!) contact mitchell mcaleer @ 951 674 8844

That is a text book Mitch story. Thanks for sharing.