Hunting with Red Tails @ Plymouth Rock

Today was a perfect day for a hang-glider at White Peaks in Plymouth, MA. This was a new site for me and, an infrequent occasion where I can squeeze in a flight on a work day. Being only 1.5 hours away, makes it very easy to take a flight and make it back in time for work.  A healthy spirit  helps keep me motivated in the other things I do, and, flying gives me a healthy spirit.

I showed up at Plymouth and met with Matt Melvin, who I had not previously met. Nick Caci who I had also never met, showed up 30 minutes later. After we hiked in and set up, Matt found out his down tube, ate his VG cord and would not give it back. He opted out of flying, and when I was ready, he and Nick helped me to launch. 

Things were on the upper end of the wind graph that day.  When picked up the glider to carry to launch, I needed the assistance of Matt and Nick on my wires.  As we traversed to launch, Nick tripped while holding with nose.  This caused my glider to pop up and we almost lost control of my wing.  To be claimed by the brush behind launch, or rt 3A, or wherever it decided to come down.

Luckily we managed to get the glider under control - thanks to Matt quickly moving to the nose wires. Nick recovered and continued to assist Matt and I to the cliff edge.  Once on launch we were holding the wing down with all we could.  The glider wanted to fly and there was no stopping it.  When the wings were level, I rocketed off launch, with a loud TWANG!!! as Nick and Matt let go of my wires.  I shot like a bullet up off the cliff.

I immediately began exploring the ridge line after making a few passes over launch.  I followed the ridge to the North, hitting 700' over launch at one point.   Nick joined me in the air soon after and we flew up and down the coast.  At one point in the flight, I was flying along and I spied a pair of Red Tail Hawks flying below me.  They were preoccupied searching for lunch to pay any mind too me.

As we patrolled the cliffs along the ocean, one of the hawks finally spotted some small game in the brush below.  He immediately tucked his wings and tore into a steep dive.  I watched his hunting prowess from above with amazement.  He struck like lightning, piercing his talons into the animal below, unaware of the impending doom.  I'd flown with hawks on many occasions, having experienced unique and beautiful sites, but never before had I witnessed their hunting practices from 150' over their heads.

I continued on with my flying, coming across the occasional falcon, and dogs, that would bark at me and chase me along the ridge from below.  As the day wore on I had a reminder in the back of my head that I had to leave for work.  I was having a hard time putting the glider on the beach as I was having so much fun, and the conditions were perfect for hours and hours of flying.  Eventually my responsible side took over and I came in for a smooth landing.  Nick joined me shortly thereafter and we broke down and headed out.

I made it back in time for work and had an excellent feeling the entire night. 

Total Airtime: 1hr 42 min.

Day of the Black Swallowtail

The weather has been all over the map as of late.  Upon checking yesterday morning, things did not look great for hang-gliding no matter where you went. I spoke with Tom, he was heading to West Rutland, I wasn't buying it after being disappointed there 2 weeks prior.

A little background on West Rutland: this site is a great site to fly but, by far one of our clubs worst flying sites to get to. The road to the summit is 4 wheel drive only, full of switch backs, steep rocking inclines, and precariously situated on the side of cliffs at times.  It is a daunting feat to get to the top after driving 3.5 hours to get to the site.

The road usually wreaks havoc on a vehicles suspension system, brakes, and transmission.  Many an automobile has needed serious repairs after trekking up and down that mountain. If you don't have a ride back up when you land, you have to hike around the mountain, 30 minutes.  Then up to the summit, another 35 minutes, to get your vehicle. Occasionally one has to pick corn or huck hay to pay the land owners for using their fields as an LZ. Once you commit to flying this site, it is difficult to back out and go to an alternative site with better conditions.

Needless to say - not having a vehicle that can make that climb, and having a poor experience there 2 weeks prior, I was in no hurry to go back without some assurance it was going to be soarable.  So I chose to go to Morningside in NH, and do a few Aerotows.  Knowing I could log 1 to 1.5 hours in sled runs at least, versus sitting on top of Rutland twiddling my thumbs all day.

Rebecca, Cooper, and Joanna joined me for the day.  Once we hit Morningside Tom sent me a text saying that Rutland was soarable, and he was looking at a good day of flying.  DRAT!  About this time, Pete W. drove in from Maine, looking to fly West Rutland.  I quickly asked him for a ride, said to Rebecca and Joanna that I would meet up with them later.  They were off to hike Mt. Ascutney for the day.

Pete and I arrived at launch around 3:20pm.  There were 4 or 5 hang-gliders in the air, and 3 para-gliders as well.  Pete and I wasted no time setting up, and he raced to the launch to jump off. Ryan helped us launch before taking off to chase Dennis, Tom, Greg, etc. who had left the mountain attempting to go X-C. Thanks Ryan!

I took off a bit after 4pm, soon after my pre-flight was completed.  I quickly ascended to 2500', which seemed to be the height of the ridge lift that day.  I soared the ridge for hours, working on dialing into my glider as I still had a relatively low amount of airtime since returning to the sport.  I spent a good portion of my flight, training in various techniques/tactics.  Occasionally I ventured out from the ridge seeing how far I could go without sinking.

After a few hours the sun was beginning to get lower on the horizon but there was still another hour or two of sunlight.  I could here my phone beeping, I pulled it from my harness and saw that  Rebecca and Joanna had arrived in Rutland, and could not find the LZ.  I called Rebecca and told her I was still flying and could not talk because I had my helmet on.  I told her "other pilots had landed and are heading out through town, see if they can flag one of them down as they pass through".

We were all supposed to meet back up and head to the Old Home Day fireworks in Bellow's Falls, VT.  Bellow's Falls has the best fireworks display I have seen in my entire life.  I have wanted to go back for years but missed it time and again.  Tom and Amy were going to try and meet us there. 

Time was getting short if we were going to make it.  It was now 7pm and I still had to land, breakdown, pack up, and then drive almost an hour to Bellow's Falls.  I decided I better head out and get on the ground.  As I left the mountain, I climbed over the valley below, gaining altitude as I moved further and further from launch.  I travelled roughly 7 miles to the W in sheer joy.  The valley had begun to 'wonder' - a rare event where the valley gives off heat at the end of the day and you can fly without thermals or ridge lift.  It is an amazing experience.  Which made it all the more difficult to go in and land.

There were still two para-gliders in the air, and I decided I was going to be last on the ground.  Kathleen was in her PG, lingering and not making a commitment to go in.  I waited and waited and she finally spiraled down and went in, unable to hold off the call of mother nature any longer.

As I was breaking down, Rebecca, Joanna, and Cooper strolled in and watched me pack up.  Bianca, Kathleen, and John S. hung out in the LZ for a bit while we tore off for the fireworks.  We made it with 20 minutes to spare, but unfortunately, due to the crowds, we were unable to meet up with Tom, Amy, and company.  A great end to a bang of a day.

Flight Time: 3 hours and 16 minutes

Ascutney Birthday Flight

MFP (Morningside Flight Park) was blown out when I arrived today. The pilots wanted to gaggle at 4pm to consider flying Ascutney. When 4pm hit, word was, launch was blown out on Ascutney. Rebecca, Cooper, and I were up for a hike, and a view, so we decided to head over to Mt. Ascutney with Alan Stanish and wife Tawny.

We drove to the top, and just in case, I loaded my wing on my shoulder and we ventured toward launch. The launch is 1/4 mile through rugged dense terrain and with a 65lbs glider on your shoulder, and 35 to 40lbs of other gear, it can be a hike that deters many pilots from even flying here.  When we arrived at launch, the wind was strong (20 gusting to 30) but mellowing a bit. Forecast said it was supposed to calm down, so I setup just in case.

We snagged a couple of late day hikers to assist as a wire crew, and then I proceeded to launch with Allen on nose and Tawny and an unknown hiker, on my wings.  We managed the glider onto launch and once I had the nose under control Allen went to the wing and Tawny went to the tail.  I sat on launch for a good half hour; watching the cycles, timing the lulls in the wind, and waiting.

I launched at 6:45pm.  At this point I would not have been able to pack in and get the glider to the base of the mountain before the gate closed at 7pm.  I watched the wind die down a bit, but not much.  It was now blowing about 20 to 25 mph and dipping from there. I waited for a real calm lull (18 to 20mph) that lasted about 20 seconds, and went for it!  I had almost decided to call it quits after 30 minutes of hanging out in my wing on launch with full wire crew. When all was said and done, I lifted off with one step and hit the ELEVATOR TO THE STARS!  I made a few passes over launch before I quickly climbed to 4000' with a huge grin on my face.

The winds were stronger up above and at one point I was sitting still with no ground speed whatsoever, just going straight up. That was a rush. The winds were getting stronger and stronger the higher I went, and began pushing me backwards, leaving me with a feeling of discomfort in my stomach. I became a little concerned, pulled the bar in, and headed out into the valley with full VG (Variable Geometry) in order to make headway.  My intent now was to get lower and head in. 

I was past the ski slope out front and still level with launch. It was tough making headway out to the LZ (landing zone). Afterwards I was glad that I went when I did; as you will see in the photos, it was dark in the field by the time we were finished bagging my glider up.

Once I was below 1500', the air was like glass, or so it appeared after being in all the wind up above.  I had one of the smoothest approaches I've experienced in hang-gliding.  The sun was setting, the air was still and cool, the wing cut through the air like a razor blade through butter.  The scenery is permanently etched in my brain. This was an approach I will relive over and over again for years to come.

30 minutes of Ascutney flying and a landing smoother than glass! Can you ask for more on your birthday?