Over two hundred miles on November 15th.

The sailplane pilot writes:

We launched at the bottom of the Sequatchie from Marion County Airport at Jasper behind a Piper Pawnee belonging to the Huntsville, AL, glider club. Made roundtrip from Jasper up to Black Mtn. (north of Hinch Mt. VOR) and back to Jasper. Twice. Total distance about 250 miles and was done in just over three hours. This was three days ago on Thursday the 15th. Average speed, including a couple of thermals ended up being 116kph. As you can see, we were smoking, and the conditions were great, with winds perpendicular to ridge at 20-25 knots at ridge top. Lift was 10-15 kts. Normal minimum sink speed on my glider is 47 knots, and I was holding zero sink between 80-110 kts! Only stopped flying because it was starting to get dark. Was rough, but my glider's rough airspeed is 120kts, same as red line. The bouncing was hard on me, so I didn't want to go any faster because it got painful(grin). Glider had no problem. Was a real rush!

Realized my small digital camera had video option just before launch. Thought I'd give it a try. The video you saw is the result. First time I had ever used iMovie on my Mac. Was easy to splice the clips together and lay in a sound track. The music is from a professional entertainer in the Carolina's, who also happens to be a top notch glider pilot. He has put out several soaring related CD's. Songs about different phases of soaring and various well known pilots. This song was about Karl Striedecks record breaking ridge flight from PA to Knoxville and return back in the '70's. Then, they said such a flight couldn't be done. Now, it's fairly commonplace, but still considered to be somewhat on the edge. I'm planning to do the same trip in reverse, sometime this winter or spring, when the perfect front comes through. When that is done, I will have completed my diamond badge, the highest award in soaring.

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