The soaring weather has been outstanding here in Santa Barbara. Last week in turbulent lift pilots got to 6,000'. I got to 5,000' before bailing out of the turbulence (the pilots who got above that said it smoothed out over 5,000'). Last Thursday, the winds were non existent and we cruised up to 4,000' (from the launch at 3,000'). The winds had caused the turbulence on the previous flight (measured 17 mph).

On Sunday we were just joking around and having a great time at launch with the tourists. The rising air was very light at launch but as we soon saw enough to keep us up if not over launch. It was like summer time flying in Santa Barbara with a hard inversion.

The lift was gentle and so pleasant to fly in. We all hung out at about 500' below launch and couldn't get through the inversion. The lift was also way out away from the hill and over the LZ at Parma. Tony de Groot was flying a borrowed Wills Wing Sport 2. He was loving it (he normally flies a Falcon).

Tony de Groot <> writes:

That was one of the low days. It's a bit more fun if you can get up to about 2600 feet and you can get around a bit more. The peak to our east works and with a bit more altitude you can get over across the canyon to the west. The Riviera has light lift sometimes as well. This is more of what summer is like here with a steep inversion but very fun flying under the inversion in the marine layer from the Monastary to Parma. It's usually very consistent and you can fly in it for hours.

The Sport 2 was very docile and easy to fly and was fun to use the VG again after several years layoff. I was flying with about 2/3 to 3/4 VG and it was very manageable and pleasant. This would be a very nice glider for around here. I think I'll get one.

The Sport 2 would be very fun to fly at Big Springs as well at the Sport Competition.

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