Flight Articles from Friday, 3/15/2002 [Weather Archive] [Craig Warren] [Sundowner] [Diablo]
[Chris Grantham] [Chris Paul] [Kristy Becchtold] [Ron Faoro] [Casey Rodgers] [Tom Beidler] [Tom Sorce] [Tom Pipkin] [Brendan] [Mike]

Tony Deleo (El Diablo)
Friday, 3/15/2002
Eliminator to 5 miles past Piru

Windy

And I thought it was windy!  I had an appointment at 9 so could not make the meet time.  Takeoff at noon in ATOS into 15 mph winds literally go straight up 300' feet at takeoff I am now ridge soaring takeoff.  Climb to 8K at the thermal factory-my next turn was at The Power Line Crossing.  4500' hundred at Divide flush off the front of White Ledge to the rose colored sand stone hills at that point I was in the lee side of the Casitas Pass in major league turbulence-it felt as if I was at the leading edge of the wind as it pushed through.  Climbing to 3500 gave me a play for the Nut House.  I arrive at 2200 knowing that if I don't get up it going to be ugly landing.

Climb to 5K glide to Twin Peaks arrive with 4500 with Tom P. at 8k.  On to Boyd's unable to climb out.  I flush to upper Ojai 3 times before low save takes me to 7k and Santa Paula Peak. Iit is 3 o'clock with nothing but "Blue Hole" between San Cayatano and Highway 5.  At one peak west of San Cayetano I go on final with the remaining thermals weak and broken I land 5 miles east of Piru.  I was thinking of you paraglider pilots a lot of the time-I thought it was windy.  Good luck and good flying!

Diablo