John Scott (aka South Side)

Saturday, 4/16/05
Crestline OTB into the desert
70.4 miles

Crew opted for Crestline instead of Garlock or Blackhawk.  Met early in the morning at Crystal Air before making the final decision.  The road to Crestline is open from the desert side so we headed up there rather than go up the front to Marshall.

Forger launched first in his PG followed by Diablo soon after.  Neither pilot did all that great at first.  Didn't want to waste non-airsick time on the front side so I decided to wait a bit.  Forger and Tony launched around noon; Herb and I waited until 1:00.  Tony had already gone OTB by that time -- a bit too soon as it turned out.

By the time that I got in the air the pulses were getting us to near 7k.  Herb told us that we needed at least 8k.  He got it and left Forger and me behind.  I ended up leaving with 6500.  I didn't want to do it but Forger left even lower and then gets on the radio to tell me to fly downwind because had connected with something OTB.  Made a 180 and headed in his direction.  Didn't find his thermal, but found something just short of the lake that got me up to 8K.  Then I just basically flew down wind from there.  Took 3500 ft to find my next thermal, but once I got established in the desert I was able to stay for the most part between 7500 and 9500 ft. until final glide.  Did reach close to 12k at the 23 mile mark.

Straight line distance: 70.4 miles (apparently a new site Flex Wing record)
Duration: About 3 1/2 hours

John

Editors notes:  The old HG flex wing record from Crestline was about 62 miles.  The current PG record is about 69 miles, and the rigid wing record is about 150ish miles.

John landed alongside Hwy 395.  The wind was picking up with a component from the west which was drifting him away from the road.  He was getting low and had been airsick for about an hour.  Knowing he had broken the record, his motivation to continue was diminished and he threw in the towel.  Herb landed near the 4 corners.  Mark and Tony didn't reach the desert.

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