Catching Up

This year has been great at Villa. There have been a few times I've driven up to launch and didn't fly. But everytime I ran off that rock this year I've soared. It's been a great spring and early summer and Villa has delivered BIG!

Did a short XC almost to Crestone but couldn't get around the corner at MT Gibson to the Crestone Bowl. After flying back several miles it was clear I wasn't going to make it back to Villa and comitted to landing out. I came out over the San Luis Valley to what looked like a road from above but turned out to be two tire tracks through the desert. Landing conditions were good and I landed and parked my glider on a nice flat spot near the "road." The sun had set and I couldn't raise anyone on the radio and started to prepare a camp site under my glider when Grant F. saved the day. He responded to my radio transmissions and relayed my landing position to Larry at Villa who came and saved me from a long night in the desert. Sweeeeet!!

Villa Opener March 18 2011

First flights of 2011 at Villa - Matt, Dean and myself. The road was mostly dry with a short section of snow near the top. Launch was dry. Perfect! Especially for March. Conditions were good although it got pretty strong after we were up. Wind velocity picked up and large areas of moderate lift made for a fun but sometimes "exciting" day. Two F-16 fighters flew by us. Don't know who was more surprised, us or them. Dean took some video.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niJA5MXN7bc

My Time Is My Own - NOT

After 30 years with NOAA I finally left and moved to So Central Colorado. Larry Smith (Villa Grove - http://www.rmhpa.org/site_guide/villa.htm) is keeping me busy. We gotta get his rigid back together so he can get back into flying... and get ME back into flying ;-)

Benching Up at Williams

Catching up on video editing. Here's one from Williams last summer.
http://vimeo.com/13140207

Still hungry for more

Got some nice rides this summer but not enough. Lookout, Williams, Steamboat, Willow and Crawfords all delivered on the occasions that I was there. Villa, not so. And I spent a lot of time at Villa. Hopefully October will be big. ;-)

Williams June 2010

Nice day at Williams - Little over 2 hours between 11,000ft - 14,200ft. Matt, Steve, Rick, and Alex on his new T2. Matt got to over 17,000ft. I think he's one of the best mountain hang glider pilots around. Short Video

First flight at Williams 2010

It was a great day. First flight on my new to me U2-145 and was real happy with it's performance. I would have had some great video if I had remembered to turn the camera on :-(

Trashy air right after take off turned me into the Aspen trees near launch. Almost needed a new pair of underwear for the ride home. Had trouble zipping up my harness - probably had tree branches stuck in the zipper. Air was smooth from 11,000ft and above. Steve F, Rick M, John C, Tim S, Leif and myself all had great flights. I think Tim made it to 16,000ft and Leif stayed up the longest. A fun day :-)