Friday, 5/3/13 [Weather] and [Flight Articles] by [Tom Pipkin] [Ron Faoro] & [Sundowner]

Tom Pipkin
Friday, 5/3/13

Chiefs Peak to Ramero to Padero Beach

Article Copied from http://scpa.info/bb/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2811#p8457

Posted by Pipkin_Tom » Sat May 04, 2013 8:48 am

Seems like this year we’ve had more east wind in Ojai producing trashier air and turb. Friday was no exception. When heading west, I usually take the high back route behind White Ledge to stay above the midday onshore winds. The last couple of flights I’ve witnessed Andy and Marty work around the front of bump 2 past White Ledge for an easier flight through the Pass with much less drama. This route has greater terrain clearance as well as much better land out options. The deal breaker for the front route is the building onshore winds later in the day. We needed to get on course westbound early.

I was 4th off launch at Chiefs and westbound with 6k. I had my heart set on landing at East Beach. Caught Ron F. at bump 2 and transitioned out front. Watching Ron getting worked over the back ridge confirmed that I took a good line. West from WL with 7k.

The west headwind became a factor as I dropped through 5k just past Noon Pk. Ron, Sundowner and an out of towner (Travis) were a couple of miles behind and talking about turning around at Noon. I was on a mission to East Beach until the plan began to unravel at the Powerlines. Trapped for a time on the east side of the lines until a boomer shot me to 5.2 k. Headwind and turbulence only increased all the way to Romero when, as OJ used to say, “the fun meter was pegged”. At 3.5k turning back was an option but a beach landing sounded so much better.

The glide to Padaro Grill with a quartering tail wind was icing on the cake. Flying over the ocean with tons of altitude followed by a soft sandy beach landing was a mellow ending to the day. I hitched a ride back to Ojai from an employee coming back from Santa Barbara. The timing was perfect as I was back in time to see Ron land at Nordhoff.

Congrats to the new pilot, (Travis) for tagging Noon Pk. and flying back to Nordhoff HS. for his first flight from Chiefs. Also to SD for having the intestinal fortitude for another spectacular flight to Fillmore.