[Amigo] > [yna's flight index]
Bob Anderson (aka yna / Cougie / BobA)
Sunday, 3/19/06
Bates to Ventura Harbor
Here's a few in-air photos of flying Rincon to Ventura yesterday: http://spaces.msn.com/bob-shots/?_c02_owner=1
Greg Brown, the anxious pony, was first off after running around madly to get in the air. Jim Wickstrom was next off, more nervous than a whore in church, dragged a wingtip thru a bush while flying away from launch. I squashed the bush just after. Greg was held up by DD after Hammer said you got enough altitude for the transition to go. The anxious pony was rearing to face the challenge and go !!!
Turning back, he got a few more hundred before making the leap of faith over the 101. Arron and Hammer were soon in the air. Dave and I worked thru our distractions and gear issues, while Hammer and Arron flew around and around thru the transition zone three times... it was on! The anxious pony wanted others to join him down range and came up with classic radio lines "I don't know where I am... it all looks unfamiliar to me, I don't know where to go, I wish you guys would come down here to show me where I'm at," etc. I barked back to to "tell him to chill out and park it in some lift somewhere." Hammer held him up somewhere unknown, but described to no end.
Eventually, Greg and Jim where lead to Ventura Harbor, making the long extended high anxiety glide across the ocean, landing on the beach next to Phoenix, wishing she had a tape recorder. I had a fabulous elevator style launch nearly straight up and an equally fabulous elevator landing hovering straight down, Hammer grabbing my nose wires upon touchdown.
Thanks to Tom Pipkin and Dave Teal for helping me launch, with Jim Maddox taking launch photos. (Jim said he was waiting for it to get stronger, 26 mph wind speed on launch, 25-30 at the LZ.) Celebratory drinks at Hornblowers were the call. Congratulations to Jim and Greg for making one of our most cherished local flights.