Finally made it out to the field for an afternoon of weekday flying and conditions were less than desirable!
Forecast was an estimated cloud base of 6700' with possible lift up to 4200' winds from 115 degrees at 3 knots. In actuality there were no clouds, the winds were from the southwest, and we had a huge temperature inversion at 2500' that was three to four hundred feet thick that could only be seen from altitude. Oh yeah, and lift? Everyone was scratching at 1500'. Ken Woodard and I had, considering the conditions, a very successful 25 minute flight in the Blanik. From 3k to 1500' there was nothing up or down and we scratched from 1200 to 1500 near the IP.
Other members at the field: Mike Pitoniak had about an hour in his new SGS 1-35.
Joe Schena flew the 2-33.
Bob Salvo took several flights in his Genesis.
Jim Emkin & Bill ? in the Janus.
Bob Boyd in 317.
Several MITSA members.
Special thanks to Peter Stauble for towing.
Forecast -- Cloud base 9300 AGL, winds 175 degrees at 14 knots.
Wind forecast was about right. No clouds until about one, blown in from the south/southwest at about 3K to 3500'. Sled rides were the rule until about one. Then the mad rush started. I took the Blanik ( I think I like that ship) up at 2:45 and released at 2700' to stay clear of the clouds. Nothing happened until I got to 1500' then I took a weak thermal over my "saving spot" (only Ken knows) up to 3k in blue sky then back down to 1500 . Flew over to a thermal that the 1-26 was working up to 3300'. I couldn't believe that I outclimed the 1-26 by over 300 feet in the same thermal! For a small fee I'll tell you who the pilot was. For a larger fee from him I won't! My passenger was a thirteen year old with an interest in aviation on his first flight in a small aircraft. He stated it was the most fun he has ever had! I still feel that way on every flight, and hope it never goes away.
Our two tow planes and the Citabria keep busy all day. Instructor of the Day was Dave Batson, some of the tow pilots were Shawn Brown, Jim David, Ritts Howard, and John McCoy. Ted Boileau was SFO and Herb Weiss worked very hard all day at his first shot as FO.
Nancy and Jeff stayed at the airport in their RV Saturday night and entertained the airport management (Sean B.) and the treasurer of a local soaring club (john B) with burgers, beans and beer late into the evening. We woke up at about 7 to find low wispy clouds moving in from the southeast which got heavier as 10 am approached. A short hop in the Bird dog and Jeff confirmed an 800 foot ceiling at opening time, so we all flew the lawn chairs instead for a while with the early birds. After an hour or so, the clouds went all the way to 1400 feet with some breaks. A brief flurry of activity put 6 flights into the air through some pretty big holes in the clouds, which by now were organizing into individual cells and dropping rain around us but not on us.
Bob Salvo took Sean Brodeurs' dad for his first glider ride, and Gerry Bell took honors for the longest flight and best gain for the day. Oreo was glad to see all her old friends.
3 weeks ago, I started (for the third year) nibbling on real cross-country flights, pushing the envelope and being willing to land somewhere other than Sterling if that was the only safe option. The first two years, something happened to interrupt my "sticking a toe in the water" process. Murphy's law has taken a couple shots already this year: some minor landing gear damage, and a wedding to go to on the only really good soaring day in May; but I'm trying to perservere...)
I decided that since my aircraft is difficult, expensive, and time-consuming to repair, but has good performance, a reasonable strategy was to stay within a safe glide of local airports. In early May I made it to Gardner, Fitchburg, Shirley, Minuteman, and back, all in one flight, so I made Pepperell airport my first serious goal. I chose it because I definitely know how to soar around there and land there, having done both over 100 times. My first try was on May 21st; I made it to the radomes in Groton before determining that I didn't think I could go any further and still expect pattern height at Pepperell. I looked for local lift there and then over Devens, and got up to 2500 AGL, but never high enough (3k AGL) to be confident of a glide back to Sterling, so I radioed Jan Z that if I didn't make it back to Sterling in 30 minutes he could come and get me at Shirley. Of course, that was the kiss of death, and I landed at Shirley about 10 minutes later. I happen to be familiar with their airport and owners, so I received a nice friendly reception when I rolled to a stop a few yards from where they were fiddling with some ultralight radios. They were surprised to see me, even though I tested my spoilers on crosswind right over their heads in an effort to get their attention. Gliders are just not noisy enough, I guess. One of the two brothers that own and run the airport ran my wing, and Jan towed me out a little while later. I can't think of anything I could have done to make this flight more successful, except maybe that if I had turned back earlier, I might have made it back to Sterling. But Sterling wasn't the goal; Pepperell was!
My second try was the next day. I made it to Pepperell easily, as there was lift to 4500 AGL around the Groton radomes this time. But lift around Pepperell peaked around 1500 AGL, and weakened rapidly due to a thunderstorm building over Nashua that would soak the entire area a few hours later. So I landed at Pepperell, and was warmly greeted by our old friends there. Relatively few of the old jump crowd are still there, but the same folks are in charge, and the same Otter is still roaring around. The grass field, frankly, is in better shape than I've ever seen it. I phoned Sterling, and two hours later John arrived in the Bird Dog, Eddie ran my wing, and soon I was back over Sterling, watching the thunderstorm roll south toward us. I think I could have improved my chances of making it back to Sterling on this flight if I had immediately started a serious search for lift west of Pepperell; I arrived at 3500 AGL and there were signs of unstable air over Brookline. But I was so delighted about making it there (22 miles from Sterling!), and so over-confident about knowing the local lift sources, that I ignored what the weather was obviously doing around me. Land and learn! (Also, I learned that it's a good idea to carry $; I had to mooch the phone call at Pepperell).
A week later I had time to fly again, and since the wind was from the south, I headed for Spencer, made it there in good shape though it took longer than I thought it would, did some climbing over the lift sources in the Rutland area, then made it back easily.
If we ever get a good northwest soaring day again, I'll take another shot at Pepperell, then maybe Jaffrey. West, there's Orange; South- west, Tanner-Hiller. Wish me good luck... or better, good lift!
End of the Soaring Report