Second day of the comp.
Route 3 was called again today because there was a good chance of thunderstorms developing. Route 3 is the safest route in this type of weather because it gets away from the mountain ranges and out into the flats where less nasty weather develops, and it is easier to avoid.
However, after setting up, suiting up, and getting ready to launch, I decided to set my glider back down and pack up. Thunder clouds were developing to the West and North, and I did not want to regret being in the air. Powerful gust fronts can develop when a thunder cloud suddenly drops it's moisture, and the unwary pilot can find himself caught in 40-70mph winds.
It was tough to break down and skip a day of the comp, but it was the right decision. The rest of the weeks is forecast for better weather, and I still have 3 days to compete.
About Me
Definitions You Will Need to Know
Hang Glider. This is what I fly. Not to be confused with a Paraglider, which is something entirely different. A Hang Glider (as you can see in the photos) looks like a wing. A Paraglider looks like a parachute
Launch – the point on the mountain where we leave the ground and take to the air.
Blown Out - When the wind switches to a direction that prohibits us from launching. We need the wind to be up launch. To much to either side, or blowing down from behind us, and we can not launch.
LZ – Landing Zone. This is wherever we land.
Thermal – A rising column of air. It rises because it is warmer than the air surrounding it. It is these columns of rising air that provide lift and allow us to soar thousands of feet up.
Sled Run – This is a short flight where there was no lift to be found.
Sink Out – If you are trying to stay up in the air, but you cant find lift, you “sink out” and are forced to land
XC – Cross Country. This is flying where you are trying to go far. Rather than just boating around and landing at the bottom of the hill, in XC flying we try to get high and go far. You fly without knowing where you are going to land ahead of time. It requires good conditions with lots of lift. It can involve flying over mountain ranges, valleys, towns, etc. The challenges include picking out suitable LZ’s from the air, judging changing weather and terrain, and being able to find the thermals.
Soarable – Conditions that allow us to stay up. In other words, there is rising air.
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