Saturday, 2/14/2015 [Weather] and [Flight Articles] by [Jonathan] [gracecab] [flychild] & [Sundowner]
SD's [KMZ] & [IGC] Comb Tom and Neal [KMZ] plus Neal's [KMZ] & [IGC] and [Photos]

Jonathan Dietch (aka NMERider or JD) Crestline Saturday, 2/14/2015

1st Article Copied from email

I did a 52.8-mile racing task at Crestline.  It was all in a 12-mile by 7 mile area.  There was a convergence line that allowed climbs into the high 7s locally if you got on the step and rode it.

A large group of of PGs went 15 miles East to Keller Peak but could not get high enough to make the jump to Big Bear so they all flew out of Redlands Airport and Hangar 24 brewery for an additional 14 miles.  Based on the reports I got for Sylmar, I believe I could have gone 38 miles East from Sylmar today and landed at San Dimas golf course.  The racing task however was very technical and challenging and gave me a good and well-needed workout.  My flying strategy and tactics need work.  It should help me with free distance flying.

2nd Article Copied from: http://www.crestlinesoaring.org/node/1056
Submitted by NMERider on Sat, 02/14/2015 - 21:51

Flying-wise it was a very varied day that was both much better and much worse than forecast.  Some pilots sledded while other hit the convergence and climbed into the mid-7s.  Randy was one of the blessed pilots.  A group of PGs flew from Marshall to Keller Peak then debated on radio whether to try and make the jump to Big Bear.  The consensus in the end was to head for the brewery which most made.  One landed out and another announced that he could not afford to land out lest he be throttled by his Valentine and so he turned back.

At least that's the way I recall it.  Please don't lump me with Brian Williams.  Although an Ercoupe monoplane did cross right across my trajectory just 1/4-mile from me.  I haven't seen an Ercoupe in decades.  How cool was that?  Near the end of my racing task I hooked up with Mitchell giving a tandem and we thermalled up wing-in-wing.  His student really enjoyed that.

A little after sunset a flock of about 100 or so geese came by in a large V formation.  We had beautiful weather today but pretty cold at the top.  Hope everyone had Valentine's of fun!  Speaking of which, I was lingering around Regionals where Ken had launched and left his truck along with his Valentine.  I buzzed her and she really enjoyed the pass.  Later Ken came whizzing by on his tandem Falcon as I watched from above.  I wished I’d had a good camera it was a really pretty sight with Ken right on his shadow and his lady enjoying the show.

Anyhow, for the morbidly curious here’s what our 52.8-mile task looked like.

click on image for full size