- Thu Jan 03, 2019 12:58 am
#406035
Hi all you Krazy Krazy Hangglider Dudes and Dudettes!
My goal was:
100 flights
50 hours
2 inland sites
What I actually achieved:
106 flights
36.25 hours
23 flying days: 15 at the cliff, 8 at the training hill
6 no-fly days
Only coastal soaring sites, Funston & Waddell
Freedom, Sport2, T2C
Most of my flights were at the Tres Pinos training-hill/winch tow. So I had about 40 1/2-minute flights, an equal number of 5 to 10 minute flights (since I top-land on the training hill after winching up), and most of my hours were at the cliff. I really wanted to improve my launch and landing technique, and I think all the training hill days really helped. I will continue doing this next year. I was at 92 flights by December, and didn't think I'd get to 100. But nature gave us one last flying day on 12/30, a joyful way to close out the year. I got more hours than 2017, but didn't hit 50. I was some what timid on launch, waiting for better conditions and landing early if it got light or rough. I sat out a couple of days when others were flying due to non-ideal conditions. So next year I think I could hit 50 hours with the same number of flying days if I'm a bit more agressive. I did pretty well as far as getting to fly when I took my glider out. Modern weather technology really helps reduce the number of skunk days. I didn't do any high altitude or XC flights, but I had many great days whale watching from the sky, flying with birds, skirting fog banks.
I blew one down-tube as a result of stalling my turn onto final at Funston. When I turned, my inside wing dipped deeper into the gradient and I was swung into a sudden steep bank. I nearly straightened out, but not quite. I had a similar crash the year before. Be careful out there kids, keep your speed up during landing approach!
What a great sport, hang gliding! Next year I have the same goals as last year. Some day I hope to get another 100 hour season, like I used to when I was young, energetic, and carefree. I hope you all also had a great flying year, and I look forward to soaring with you at Funston, Dunlap, Andy Jackson, or wherever the wind blows up! Push out, /jd
My goal was:
100 flights
50 hours
2 inland sites
What I actually achieved:
106 flights
36.25 hours
23 flying days: 15 at the cliff, 8 at the training hill
6 no-fly days
Only coastal soaring sites, Funston & Waddell
Freedom, Sport2, T2C
Most of my flights were at the Tres Pinos training-hill/winch tow. So I had about 40 1/2-minute flights, an equal number of 5 to 10 minute flights (since I top-land on the training hill after winching up), and most of my hours were at the cliff. I really wanted to improve my launch and landing technique, and I think all the training hill days really helped. I will continue doing this next year. I was at 92 flights by December, and didn't think I'd get to 100. But nature gave us one last flying day on 12/30, a joyful way to close out the year. I got more hours than 2017, but didn't hit 50. I was some what timid on launch, waiting for better conditions and landing early if it got light or rough. I sat out a couple of days when others were flying due to non-ideal conditions. So next year I think I could hit 50 hours with the same number of flying days if I'm a bit more agressive. I did pretty well as far as getting to fly when I took my glider out. Modern weather technology really helps reduce the number of skunk days. I didn't do any high altitude or XC flights, but I had many great days whale watching from the sky, flying with birds, skirting fog banks.
I blew one down-tube as a result of stalling my turn onto final at Funston. When I turned, my inside wing dipped deeper into the gradient and I was swung into a sudden steep bank. I nearly straightened out, but not quite. I had a similar crash the year before. Be careful out there kids, keep your speed up during landing approach!
What a great sport, hang gliding! Next year I have the same goals as last year. Some day I hope to get another 100 hour season, like I used to when I was young, energetic, and carefree. I hope you all also had a great flying year, and I look forward to soaring with you at Funston, Dunlap, Andy Jackson, or wherever the wind blows up! Push out, /jd
Last edited by waltspoint on Thu Jan 03, 2019 1:16 am, edited 2 times in total.