The Art of Combat

Today was the worst day of the East Coast Championships 2011 at Highland Aerosports in Ridgely, MD.  A stellar week of awesome technical flying, my longest distance flight yet, and a trip to the beach on a day it was 108 degrees on the heat index.  I can't complain about the East Coast Championship at all.  On the contrary, it has been an awesome meet.  Unfortunately, sometimes things happen that just ruin your day.

Today, my flight out of the park started out with a good climb heading downrange for the first leg of the task.  As Nick and I circled slowly and climbed out, I saw a gaggle under the next cloud along course, and since my climb petered out to a 50fpm, I decided to jump in under them and try to move on course while Nick stayed back.  Part of my decision was governed by my score; due to some GPS malfunctions (a fried GPS receiver), I lost some serious points.  I needed to be more aggressive today in order to make up points and knock Brian out of first place.

As I came in 50-75 feet under the gaggle, I was unable to find the climb they were in.  I scoured all over, after losing 500 ft. I decided to go back to the previous cloud where Nick was still circling, and most of the Sport class had joined him.  I came back and found a mediocre climb at best and was now stuck for the next 20 minutes circling back up in trash.  Meanwhile, the rest of the Sport Class headed downrange.  I went from first on course to last on course.

Paris setting the VG.

I finally jumped to the next cloud again and warfled in more garbage.  Not finding anything significant, I continued on downrange searching to no avail.  As I sunk lower and lower, I switched into survival mode and tried to pull off a low save at 500ft.  I tipped up on my wing tip and tried to core the thermal, or what I thought was a thermal.  It turned out to be a bubble and on one turn I came part way out and by the time I came back around, the bubble had left me behind.  I landed and called April our driver.

Nick, and Toni, were not far from my position so we headed off to pick them up.  After a long ordeal involving irate farmers with knives and shotguns, and the local sheriff, we headed back toward the airpark with some all riled up, and myself introspective and playing back the incident in my head along with all the possible outcomes that could have been much worse.

The day then started to get drastically better when we stopped for an ice cream and I was pleasantly introduced to 'Pretzel Cones', one of the best inventions to hit ice cream in years.  After consuming our cold creamy, sweet, and salty treats on a hot and tempestuous day, we arrived back at the flight park where I was greeted with the best part of the day.  Paris Williams volunteered to show me around the Aeros Combat he was demoing this season.

We spent some time going over the glider and getting the hang strap hooked up.  As we set up the gear Paris realized I was using a 3 point tow and recommended I 'pro tow' with a topless glider for better results.  I had never pro-towed before so I was a bit nervous about adding it on my first time flying a topless glider.  Sunny joined us to help out, and much discussion began over the do's and do not's.  Too many things to keep in my head.

I started to feel a bit overwhelmed so I asked them to stop and tell me the top one or two things I should be focused on so I didn't have too much to focus on at once.  Paris immediately came in step and said, "It's a hang-glider, you already know how to fly, so do what you know."  He then proceeded to narrow down two things to keep in focus as we marched the glider down the flight line.  I felt better already.  As we walked the glider on cart down the runway, we joked about the resemblance to the movie 'The Right Stuff', as they walk to the flight line.

CLEAN!!!

Sunny returned after getting April to bring the tug.  I prepped and set up on the cart.  Sunny and Paris hooked me up to April and waved the line out.  As the line became taught, I took a deep breath, soaked in the moment, then gave the launch command.  The tug engine roared up, the brakes released, and we started to roll down the runway headlong to the sky.  The glider was surprisingly smooth (due to the fin on the back) and it felt similar to flying my sport 2 but in many ways easier.

April waved me off around 3600', and like a little school boy I began to test out the capabilities of this amazing wing.  I glided around for a bit testing out the controls and the turns, then I pulled in and shot across the sky like a comet.  FAST MACHINE!!!   I flew all directions of the compass point and was still at 2500'.  I looked at the town of Ridgely 5 miles away and decided to see how the glide handled.  I made it to Ridgely and back only losing 100 or so feet.  NOTE:  the next day I tried that in my Sport 2 and as I was half way there, I turned and looked at the flight park and knew I would make Ridgely, but I would be landing there and definitely not making it back.

I continued to soak in the Combat and play with the speed and VG, then decided to try a few wing overs to test the handling.  SWEEEEEET!!!  Unfortunately my flight was coming to an end and I started thinking about landing this sleek wing.  Of course, the entire population of pilots at the comp, were now out on the field watching me and waiting to see if I screwed up.  Tom had cruely told Paris that I was known in New England as 'Pound In Randy'.  So Paris was now nervous I was going to crash his glider.  Tom only made him suffer for a few minutes I hear, before telling him the truth.

The pressure was on in front of an audience of highly skilled aviators but I nailed my landing.  As I walked the glider down the runway with a Cheshire Cat Grin on my face, Tom Lanning, Paris, and Sunny came riding up in the golf cart to greet me.  They asked how it was, to which I replied, "I have two things to say:  1. Tom, I am going to WHOOP your butt now!  2. Paris, what are you flying tomorrow?"  :-D

In conclusion, Paris needed the glider for one more comp and then was selling the glider.  I told Sunny I wanted it and let me know when it is ready.

UPDATE:  I should be picking up the glider tomorrow or Tuesday (9/26/2011)