Ken Howells describes approaches to the newly fenced Elsinore LZ. Attached are several useful GPS tracks, including a depiction of the scrape-the-SE-hill approach recommended for north winds
http://www.kenvective.com/images/flight ... 0Spike.png
Following copied form the Crestline Forum:
At 10 AM there wasn't much wind in the LZ, and it was a beautiful
warmish November morning. We surveyed the landing direction options
and noted the horizontal state of the fence in a few places. The
downslope 'runway' to the South of the big tree and parking area
is nicely cleared, though I find that approach direction at the
bottom of my list for most conditions.
Launched an Eagle 180 at 10:46 and climbed right by launch to 300 over
with a pair of Redtails. I went left, saw the point flag pointing right
across the canyon, and felt the jumble of a couple of thermalettes mixing
with light rotor. Wind in the LZ was light N so I did the 'practically
scrape a wingtip on the SE hillside and land in the nicely cleared area
just S of the big tree and parking area. the 40 degree crosswind was
no problem.
Launched a Falcon 2 195 at 11:49 and soared the slope near launch in
close for a few passes before heading to the S spine. Got there above
2 gliders in a thermal and drifted a little back over the flats with it and them,
climbing to 3200 MSL. At straight up Noon I noticed my vario sounding funny,
like a digital call to an off-shore outsourced call center. Then the screen
went blank. Moseyed back out front a little and caught another core to
3700 MSL (the GPS in my harness pocket later told me). Headed to the
LZ with the others to land. The flag and streamers went limp, so I
spiralled down quickly and did the same approach again - cake in a Falcon.
Launched a Sport 2 155 at 13:14. Where'd the lift go?!? Total sledder
getting a good look at the rocks and bushes along the top of the S spine.
A small bump at the A-frame had so much sink around it I was losing net
altitude trying to center in the core, so I bailed and did the same
approach one more time, with a N breeze of about 12 MPH. More exciting
doing that diving slipping turn with a Sport 2, but got down and flared
well short of the ditch.
Unbeknownst to me, my Visor PDA, which I log my flights on, had fallen from
my harness at launch - it's black, just like the inside of my harness,
and I hadn't stuffed it into my vario bag with the other gadgets from
my pockets. Our driver for the day, Trish told me about this when she arrived,
and handed me her phone, with a pilot at launch on the other end. He
was hanging around to point out the spot where it fell onto the hillside
for me in case it had been something important, like my wallet. I told him
I'd probably be up there shortly, but don't wait around on my account (I've
been mulling over buying a new PDA, but I just unexpectedly picked up a used notebook PC).
I was folding my glider and he phoned to say he was going to go look for
it, and shortly called back to say he'd found it! I hopped in my truck
and sped up to launch, where he handed me my still-working PDA, and the
test tag from the previous flight, which had been tucked under the cover.
He refused offers of beer or money as a reward.
This guy's name is J.R., from San Clemente (I think), and I'm really
really grateful for his efforts! Hang glider pilots are sooo cool.
Good Flying,
Ken Howells
Images of GPS Flight Tracks:
http://www.kenvective.com/images/flights/
Approach to Elsinore LZ
Moderator: Chip
