Phillip Bloom () writes:

The Owens Valley comes to Kagel.

The forecast is for 11000' MSL, possibly the best day of the year, so the usual suspects head up to launch, Chippy, Weiner, the Seabastard, driver Pauli-ester and yours truly Filthy. The first thermal of the day at launch is 1000 up on the averager right to 12000' so we head northeast on to the back range toward Magic Mt.

Another climb of 1200 up on the averager to 12500' then continuing on to Mount Gleason (first time I've ever done this, I've been flying Kagel for twelve years). We are now out of the convergence and in search mode pushing into a northeast wind of about 10-15 mph.

Trying to wait and decide what direction to go, I move toward Chippy and Weiner who are now working 100-200 up at about 8000'. I'm at about 9000'. With about 1/2 VG and flying straight and level at 23 mph my glider "tumbles" or "tucks" straight forward without warning. I might have been reaching for my VG but I'm not sure.

No nose up motion at all just a nose down motion all the way over one complete revolution and I hit the sail breaking the control frame, keel, spar, leading edge and shredding the sail. (Guess I know where I'll be spending my winnings from the Flytec comp.)

I hucked my chute and flew the glider by the unbroken portion of the keel to help slow my decent rate. I aimed the glider toward the windward side of the mountain and a dirt road, and had a nice touch down thanks to my Lara Gold 250 parachute and Greblo's pack job. (Dinners on me, Joe.)

Now the part you've all been waiting for (the glider's stability set up). Yes, it was a little bit racey, down about 1 or 2 turns. Hey I'm no "Brazil Nut," but I do like to compete.

I can't believe any high performance glider I've been flying with or without a king post would have had any different outcome. So like the country song says, "That's my story and I'm stickin to it".

Discuss Phill at the Oz Report forum
   
 
 
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