Krzysztof Grzyb <<doitkg>>
writes:

We have had a very cold spring here in the Midwest this year but
lately every couple days good flying conditions are showing up.

Last Wednesday top of the lift was up to 10K, thermals around 1000 fpm with 20
mph NW wind encouraged us to fly a challenging 90+ miles triangle from
Whitewater WI. Two days later (Friday) the sky was covered with very high
Cumulus clouds from Wisconsin to Kentucky with straight north wind. The problem
was the forecasted extremely low temperatures (3.0 F) under cloud base so Larry
Bunner, Greg Dinauer and I gave up on flying that day.

Instead we focused on Saturday with higher temperature but lower cloud base,
weaker thermals with 12-15 mph west wind. Our choice went to Cullom with a
static tow system to be able flying cross country straight to the East. Late
Friday afternoon we found out that Enjoy Field would start their weekend only
aerotowing season. Laura confirmed that a tow plane was ready to tow us.

Our plan was to take off at 11.00 am and get in the air as close together as
possible. Larry, John Enrietti (who was driving for us) and I came around 9:00
am to the airport. It was cold, a little above 40° F, and less windy than we
expected. Around 10:00 am the first cu showed up 10-15 miles east of us. After
setting up our gliders and gear, wearing ski masks, we were ready on the east
side E-W runway at 11:00 am and waiting for our tow plane. After 15 minutes I
was able to take off first, Larry was second. More pilots were arriving to the
airport at this time.

Laura towed me straight into the wind without any turns, exactly what we need
from a tow pilot in this windy condition. During tow we hit lift around 200-300
fpm so I stayed in it. Larry took off 15 minutes later. He released very low
having some towing issue mixed with low thermal. Finally, he was able survive
without landing and climb to be in our game.

We flew straight east with predefined waypoints to avoid airspaces around
Kokomo, Fort Wayne, Dayton and Columbus. Sounds optimistic, does it not?

We had a perfectly clear blue sky above our head and we saw also some cu's down
wind. The goal was to catch these clouds. It was not easy; these clouds were
moving away from us as we flew toward them. To catch them we needed to increase
our average speed but in the conditions it was difficult. The air was turbulent
(wind) with lot of broken thermal bubbles. In this roller coaster, time to time
we were able to find a tight strong thermal up to 500 fpm and climb to 4.5-6K
but this was not enough to speed up. I did not have an idea on what strategy I
should fly.

I did not want to fall out at noon. Going below 2500 ft in these conditions was
very risky. The distance between any active air was long enough to easily make a
mistake. I was a little frustrated that in such bright sun I was fighting to
survive and flying slow. Larry had the same feelings. We were flying very
conservatively.

When we passed I-65 I get low at 1500 ft. Larry was 2-3 miles south of me with
better altitude. Luckily I found a bubble which extended later to a strong tight
thermal.

From this point (after around 2 hrs from takeoff) we began flying in friendlier
conditions with solid thermals up to 8K with 700-800 fpm and cu's closer and
closer to us. Average cu life time was not more than 5 minutes, so many times we
started turning in the blue sky, but when we reach 7.5-8.0 K cumulus started
showing overhead.

Finally, the fun began.

Watching for airspaces we were cruising to the East. We did fly together, but we
did not see each other. I was flying on Larry’s south side. A couple miles north
of Kokomo a majestic C-17 flew below me not more than 200 ft. I hope the pilots
were not texting on their smart phones and that they saw me above their heads.

I had a camelbac but it was useless, the pipe was frozen so no drinking during
the whole flight. I had forgotten to push water back from the pipe before
takeoff. At top of the lift it was 24-28 F. Only energizer gel was keeping me
“alive”. The tail wind at the top of the lift was mostly 20 mph but sometimes
more, but at lower altitudes it was slower, so the best thing was to stay high
and try not to be frozen.

Passing the Indiana/Ohio border around 200 miles from Enjoy Field Larry suddenly
“fell from the sky”. Leaving his last thermal he sank all the way to the ground.
Bad luck. John reported that he was on his way to pick him up.

I was still going straight to the east passing Dayton airspace and Columbus air
space on North side. Conditions began slowing down, the sun was getting lower.
Around 7:00 pm I hit my last thermal which gave me a climb rate of 200-400 fpm.
Now, I was afraid of not landing after the sunset, so gliding straight to the
ground and not hitting any bumps I landed 5 minutes before sunset 283.8 miles
from Enjoy Field in Centerburg, OH.

I was able to break my glider down before dusk, but my remaining gear I packed
in flashlight beams. John with Larry came to pick me up 25 minutes later. Now we
have 5.5 hr drive to Enjoy Field. I finally got to bed around 4 am.

This flight is my longest cross country flight ever and 0.8 miles longer than
the previous US East Coast Record set by Jonny Durand and Dustin Martin from the
Quest Air/Sheets Fields in Groveland, Florida almost to South Carolina.

It was great to see again Sandy, Joe, Laura, Danny and John Licada. Huge thanks
to John Enrietti for helping us make our dreams come true.

Tired but happy Kris

Flight data: 
https://www.xcontest.org/world/en/flights/detail:grzybk/9.5.2020/16:16

455.66 km or 283.134 miles.