FlyBC "Site of the Day Archive Page" - September/2007
No flying in BC til Friday
"There is a fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness". - unknown
Aloft @ 3000' NOAA Sounding CYXX | Rate /1000' | Forecast calc using SOAR8.XLW | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Woodside Report - heavy rain all day, great for working on railings on the deck! High winds did not materialize as forecast.|
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Woodside Report - perfect training conditions until 5:00 pm when the rain came down. Good launch cycles but no lift on most flights. Thomm got above launch and squeaked out 35 minutes, but most flights were 13-15 minutes. Not many people out but the usual desperados (Andy, Thomm, Norm, and three tandems for me). Students forgot to come out, despite assuring them the weather would be fine?? They missed a great day to log 3-4 flights in mixed conditions. | Wondered where desperado Rob was mid-day, but found out later he was working up on Horsefly Launch fixing cross ditches and doing more brush clearing on the road.
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Woodside Report - I was out working on the deck and other chores when Gary K arrived to see if it was fly-able. | We eventually went up the mountain at 4:30 pm, when it calmed down on the ground for more than a few minutes, and when the windsock up top was not doing a "dance". I decided Gary should fly first to check the air, as top-landing did not look possible with the peak gusts, so off he went with Annette's Buzz S. At time he wasn't penetrating more than +4 kph, so times parked, but going up everywhere. He topped out at 925 meters, just below cloudbase. I drove down and overheard Gary say there was a cell forming up Chehalis Road near Horsefly Launch. I said "don't worry, those cells usually get blown up to Hemlock". I was wrong this time! As I got to the bottom of the road on the flats the wind had picked up to 60 kph from the North! The cell was building so fast it pushed the prevailing south wind away and created its own wind pattern. Gary was still at 900 meters trying to penetrate to the Ranch, so I suggested Harvest might be a safer choice. When I arrived at Harvest, Gary was still trying to get down to land in east winds, very buoyant air, so big ears got him down to the deck before the rain hit (just).
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Woodside Report - some blue holes opened up around 4:00 pm, but rain most of the day. |
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Woodside Report - the good thing about living in the Valley is that you don't believe the weatherman when they gove you a bad forecast, you just go fly!. | There was excellent flying had on Woodside today. I arrived at 3:30 and noticed a huge immature bald eagle sitting in the snag to the left of launch so I took my time getting my wing prepared. Sure enough the eagle took off and began circling in the gap between the main launch and the south knoll at about 3:45 as the sun became more evident. I waited for a cycle and followed our feathered friend to where patchy lift eventually developed into a nice fat thermal that took me to base at about 850 meters. I flew for a half hour before being joined by Al the Hammer and later, Bruce McQuigan. It was challenging flying if you got low. At one point, I thought it was over as I "thermal hunted" at lower launch height but I found one that took me to back to base and I played over launch til about 5:00 pm before heading out to join Al and Bruce who had landed at Abe's and Riverside respectively. Some nice lift to 4 m/s, a lovely CU to dance in and nice uncrowded skies. What a day! - Kevin A. Derek and Martina's European Report - The flying has been incredible, we've really been lucky this trip. We got to go on a breakfast flight with the locals in Lienz, meeting at the LZ at 6:30 am to drive up the mountain across the valley, have some good coffee & fly off in the smoothest air, gliding across town to land near the tram just in time for the first run of the day. Picture is me looking back at the launch after takeoff). 
Lienz alternate launch - photo by Martina We dragged Robin & Diane here from Slovenia, taking turns leading the way on the autobahn and only almost losing sight of each other once. We took a "shortcut" through a small town to avoid paying a toll (cheap paraglider pilots!) and Robin, who was a car or 2 ahead of us made a comment on the radio about wanting to buy a coffee table. We looked around & saw the billboard (see pic) and Derek must have been figuring out if the table would fit in our house because we missed the light & had a line of cars behind us! Robin & Diane kindly waited for us, and we made it to the paradise that is Lienz. 
Nice Coffee Table! - photo by Martina Robin was even considering changing their travel plans after just one flight! We have about a week til we're back home, we'll see if I can sweet talk one of the acro boys into "lending" me a speed glider to take home - they look like too much fun! - Martina. 
4 Canucks at Zettersfeld launch - photo by ??
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Vancouver Report - it actually got sunny in the late afternoon here, but no reports from the Valley. I suspect there will have to be some road-tripping this weekend if anyone wants to fly as the forecast is miserable. Hedley, Savona, Chelan WA all come to mind. |
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Woodside Report - Brad and Bernie came over to fly Woodside around 4:30 pm. Brad launched and soared in fat fall air, while Bernie drove down. I was busy with my truck when Brad landed in the parking lot at the Ranch. Ask Brad about his Tenancingo DVD, great footage from this new flying site in Mexico, two hours from Mexico City. |
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Woodside Report - just like spring all over again, after yesterday's gloom and rain! We had 8 tandems booked so we were happy to see the sun. Brad, Colleen, Kevin and I all did some tandems and landings at the Ranch were a bit bumpy but student-able most of the day despite a strong south wind that kicked in. | We had Leon, Reg and Kirill doing paramotoring most of the day, with Leon coming back from a Fraser River XC landing at Stonehenge mid-day in strong winds and he made it look like early morning, swooping the pond and training hill before he landed. Kelly was back showing us how to thermal early on the Mantra. Jeremy borrowed Kevins Mantra M2 and was showing how comfortable he was with a buzz over launch into a 180 back to top-land right on the spot. Good climbs, up to +4.5 m/s at times, I flew with Andy at 'base a few times but no gloves and it was ccccold! Estimated base at 1350 meters when it got wispy, no cloud suck just smooth climbs up there. The CUs all around us were pretty amazing! 
Towering CU over Hemlock from Eagle Ranch - photo by JPR Sometime mid-day an ambulance showed up at the HG LZ asking about a glider down in the River. I suspect a drunk fisherman saw someone land at Riverside and thought they crashed into the River and called 911. We surveyed the area from launch and the air, with Kevin and Brad heading to Harvest Market and no one saw anything and everyone was accounted for. The last flights were pretty amazing as well, you couldn't really say glassoff, strong cycles at launch up to +30 kph. Good climbs to 1100 meters within a few minutes of launching. Al, Andy, Rob, Alex W, Norm, Kevin, Colleen, Martin N, and myself all flew until we had enough and landed at the Ranch around 6:00 pm. Smooth all the way to PegLeg Island where the fishermen were casting for salmon, into nice bubbly landings at the Ranch. Slow progress out to the river, no GPS but some said they were down to 9 kph Groundspeed. Norm and I did a speed run and the Rebel M is the same trim speed as the Boom Sport M at our loadings. 
Last flights today, Al, Martin, Alex W., and Kevin - photo by JPR Pico fly-in, Sep 10-16, Milbrulong, Australia: Over 70 pilots congregated for powered paragliding, hanggliding and the chutes. Many good flights some in windy conditions. A few broken props and one incident with ambulance called for. Attended by Leon Massa and Kirill Tchimerine from Vancouver. Some of the videos are here: Aussie Video 1 Aussie Video 2 Aussie Video 3 Aussie Video 4 
Australian Paramotor accident victim, stumbled and tripped falling on his face breaking his arm (note wing is wound around the prop) - photo by Kirill
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Woodside Report - the started out okay but by 10 am, light rain so we were trying to get organized to get 9 pilots into the Van for Hedley when Thomm called to say it was sunny in Mission, so we stayed. | We had a few good flights when I mentioned that the sun was coming out and Gary K was doing okay on the hill when we rounded the corner to the telescope and I saw Gary "helicopter in" to the trees near Lower Launch. He said he was okay and secure and about 30 feet up, so we got some ropes and headed up to assess the situation. When we arrived he was in a tree right next to the road, 100 meters below Lower Launch and he was 100 feet off the ground. Fortunately, Stephen knew how to climb and rigged a climbing harness and was soon up the tree as Gary descended to Stephen with webbing and a rope kit. An hour later Gary and Stephen were safely on the ground. Post mortem: too much brake, trying to stay up in light lift and he spun it in and didn't go HANDS UP! 
Stephen climbing up to Gary, note Orange glider top of picture - photo by Kelly We got the tree down around 6:30 but the wing was wrapped around the branches where it fell and there is a lot of damage to one side, so back to Ozone for a rebuild while Gary begs a loaner from us. Very sad day for Gary, but he was uninjured. Thomm was overheard explaining that this was Gary's 90 and 1/2th flight. At the end of the day, we flew three flights, some soaring flights by Denis and Norm. No outlandings except for Gary. Horsefly Report - Rob was over at Horsefly doing some site work, so I am looking forward to seeing what he accomplished.
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Woodside Report - being a desperado paid off for Martin, Andy and Gary K. Andy flew earlier and logged over an hour ride soaring, Martin and Gary joined him for a later sled ride. Joe is back driving for $10 bucks a ride regardless of number of pilots! |
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Woodside Report - low cloudbase and drizzle all day. | Austrian Report - Hey Jim and Colleen: We had some awesome flights today! Early afternoon, after waiting for the wind to calm down a little, we flew from Stol (landing in Kobarid, picture attached shows Robin's boots and Kobarid in the distance). 
Robin's boots on the way to Kobarid - photo by Robin Diane had a personal best flight, and we were both very happy with our flights. Better yet, waiting for us in the LZ were Derek and Martina, ready to do some more flying! So, we all headed up Kobala for a late afternoon flight, which turned into an amazingly sweet, hour+ long flight, with some nice low saves, and some soaring over a 1,000 year old castle ruin, with church-bells chiming below. Priceless. 
Derek at Kobala Launch - photo by Martina Diane decided that she couldn't top her earlier flight, so she didn't fly, and instead grabbed the camera and snapped some shots with Martina's camera. We've just returned from a nice dinner, and are keeping it down to one beer, to be ready to do it all again tomorrow. Talk to you all soon, Robin (& Diane, Derek & Martina) 
Robin (left), Martina (middle), Derek (right) - photo by Diane
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Horsefly Report - I was in Edmonton for a morning meeting and as able to break away by noon, so I raced back on the earliest flight to Abbotsford. Yesterday was full on with getting to Edmonton very late last night and little sleep, so I slept on the plane after takeoff. | I was sleeping until I heard them preparing the cabin for landing and awoke to see Harrison Lake below us, and Hemlock Ski Resort to the north and looked down to see we were right over Horsefly Launch. This may be a hazard we hadn't thought of, WestJet cancelling IFR and descending through the CYA (something they claim they never do!) at 6,000 feet over Horselfy. At cloudbase we were bumping pretty good in the cabin, so I knew it was thermic. The pilot flew west until Big Nic and then headed south to the Abbotsford Airport. When we landed, I had raced to the Ranch as I knew Rob was planning an expedition to Horsefly. When I got to the Ranch it was howling out of the NE (15-25 kph). Rob, Ihor, Alex W, Lukas, Denis, Kent, Arik and Holgar were all looking up at Al and Andy at cloudbase over Sasquatch Mountain. I tried calling them for an update but they weren't answering us. We found out later that it was very busy at 'base in the turbulence! As we went up, Al headed to the Squakum Park Beach on the west end of Harrison Bay, and Andy landed at Bill Best's (the designated LZ for Horsefly), where Al's truck was driven down by Norm. I am sure Norm wished he was flying instead of driving. We arrived at Launch and set up, Rob got off first and was sinking off launch until he got to the mouth of the Pretty Creek Valley and then started climbing without turning. After 3-4 attempts I got off, not much wind at launch, and was also sinking until the ridge to the right started kicking off some lift that I "S-turned in" until I got higher over the hump where I stayed watching everyone else launch. Thermals were +2-3 m/s, sink about the same. I thought it was leeside on the cliffs, but it was just bullet thermals in the shade as the sun left the slope. 
Picture showing the landing alternatives at Horsefly; Sandpiper Airport, Bill Best's field (red dot) and Eagle Ranch (yellow dot). - photo by JPR Everyone got off after a few tries, except Kent and Ihor who volunteered to drive down. Everyone soared, including Igor who showed up late with a driver. Igor stayed on the ridge a bit long and had to land at the little beach in front of the Sasquatch Inn as we arrived there for refreshments. In the end most landed at Bill Best's, Alex and I landed at the Ranch. Nine more flights off Horsefly in perfect NE conditions, everyone soared and liked their experiences. At the end of the day Woodside was still blowing over the back. Andy commented at all the "crappy flights" he had made in leeside conditions at Woodside over the years and here we have a close alternative at Horsefly for those NE days.
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Woodside Report - I drove out to the Ranch after a meeting in Richmond to retrieve the Van off launch after it would not start last night after flying. I drove through several monsoons in Richmond, Langley and Abbotsford to arrive at the Ranch to cloudy skies and no rain. Modern Tire towed the Van down to the Ranch and still no rain. When we arrived at Launch it was prefect launching cycles but I had to show him the way to the Ranch. | I replaced the starter and worked on some other stuff until 4:00 pm and we only got a few sprinkles all day?? It was flyable all day at Woodside, while everywhere else was getting drenched.
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Mt. Baker Adventure Sept 15/07 update - Richard Teszka (Vulcan M) and Kevin Ault (Mantra II M) hiked and flew Mount Baker in NW Washington last Saturday. | Constant updates by VHF to Canadian Pilots on different Mountains confirmed it was good to fly "VFR-on-Top" as a layer of clouds was below them and covering the designated LZs. So they sidehill landed on a glacier! 
Kevin Ault after launching the summit of Mt. Baker - photo by Richard Teszka Look at the rest of Dr T's pictures at the link below. Dr T's Pictures of Mt Baker Amazing pictures and flights from two intrepid adventurers. Woodside Report - when I left for a meeting in Abbotsford at 10 am, it looked hopeless for flying . . . but by noon it was clearing and there were nice CUs everywhere. I had another meeting at 3 pm on Sumas Way and overheard folks on the radio at Bridal and Woodside so I ventured out. When I drove by Bridal, it was cloudy and Alan had just launched and was able to fight ths south winds enough to get 12 minutes. Landing was fine but a bit weird with all the south in the LZ. Strong cycles at Woodside Launch around 4:00 pm, when Al launched and he went straight up to 1000 meters. Alex R was back in town after his amazing European Adventure and brought Riis out to fly Woodside. Alex W, Thomm, Rob, Denis and I rounded out the rest of the desperados today. Everyone got high everywhere. Not much forward speed due to the South Winds. I was test flying Colleen's Mantra S and it performed beautifully even if I was 22 kgs over the top weight range! I got as high as the rest of the field and was able to go faster and managed to top-land in very strong conditions (with ears). Al toplanded first, then Thomm created a nice dust storm when he stalled it in. Alex W and I were working hard to get in but it got very gusty and strong and when I made it in I suggested a retrieve would be safer for the remaining vehicles. So Alex R and Riis went to Harvest while Alex W went to the Ranch and Rob to Riverside. Robin and Diane Sather's European Report - Hi Jim, we're currently in Salzburg, heading south to Slovenia today. Hopefully we'll be able to hook up with Derek and Martina there. We've been flying around here for the past two days. We flew Werfenweng 2 days ago, and it just so happened that the Austrian Nats were going on! There were many, many pilots, the usual gong show on launch, and mayhem in the air (a roof landing from one pilot - how did he manage that! ;-). Lots of very cool Acro as well. We have also flown Gaisberg here in Salzburg, and yesterday flew the Zwolferhorn, also very cool. You gotta love trams and cable cars, but they sure are expensive! I've attached a few pix from Werfenweng. See you guys soon! - Robin and Diane 
Werfenweng Launch - photo by Diane 
Robin in the air at Werfenweng - photo by Diane
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Woodside Report - it was flyable . . . if you got up to the mountain before 9:00 am. After that it was low cloudbases and windy for the balance of the day. We made two trips up but the rain and wind kept us grounded. Tomorrow looks similar, as winter is setting in. |
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Woodside Report - great kiting winds for new student John,
an ex-Piper pilot who wanted to return to flight without the major expense of an airplane.
Stephen was back impressing everyone with his style too.
Most everyone pulled out a wing while we waited for cloudbase to lift.
At 1:00 pm we were on the mountain for the first of many good flights, most logged three flights,
some others stayed in the air for 3+ hours! | Flight 1 was was a sledder, flight 2 had some nice thermals to play in and some developing CU (for my tandem #1) and the students too, flight 3 was either an extended sledder or a beautiful glass-off depending on when you launch. We went back up and some got off again for a late night soaring flight and a run to Harvest Market before dark for 6 pilots. Burt made out like a bandit today with 4 outlanders due to a level of wind that defied logic even later in the day, due to the front coming in. An un-named Instructor had a student hanging from a tree in Riverside as witnessed by Stephen and Monica, both very excited about it as they landed. A professional arborist was likely on scene. Many others in the Riverside LZ attended as there were wings lying unpacked for an hour or more. No other details at press time.
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Woodside Report - we arrived to see Andy and Gary K in the air.
Andy was on flight #2 and he already logged 4 hours. Gary K was proud of his 3:13 when he landed at
Harvest coming straight down. Rob launched and was flying with the other guys when we arrived and it was decided it was too strong for graduating student Ian W. Tomorrow looks better windwise, at least early. |
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Derek and Martina's European Report - We're back in Austria after winding our way thru the mountain passes of Italy & Slovenia.
| Had a wicked time in Kobarid. Drove into town & followed a glider on it's way to landing & hooked up with a parataxi/gasthaus guy at the LZ. He had a brand new house w/rooms to let and being at his house we were always near our driver. Cool! First launch we went to was Kobala. (pic 023) which was a cliff launch on both sides (yes you can see them both on the picture!). LZ was 4.5 km away, not a problem unless you launch with a tangle (like me). No one saw it, even when I was in the air. I tried to pull it out by yanking on the C's & brakes alternately but made it worse. Flying was a bit scary then so I only took a few turns in the first thermal and flew out. Made the LZ and watched Derek have a super flight of course! 
Kobarid Launch - photo by Martina Next morning to Stol launch, with an 8.5 glide to the LZ! Launch is way back under the cloud in pic below. 
Stol Launch is under the cloud on the left of this picture - photo by Martina Thermals were already blowing up launch at 11 am (another cliff launch) and claiming british students not used to anything but laminar air. Some fun dragging and smashing about was had by them and the Canadians had boring beautiful launches. Played in the thermals along the ridge towards the LZ (long strip heading to left in photo below) with huge grins all around at the LZ. Some visiting Germans were distracted by bikini-clad girls sunbathing & had interesting landings! 
Stol Landing Field - photo by Martina We got back to Lienz last night and had 3 flights already today. Just stopped for a midday break & took advantage of a wireless connection to send some pics - Martina Woodside Report - I was out working on the new Van in the morning and it was good to have the barn to protect me from the outflow winds blowing at 30+ kph. Launch was just as nasty coming directly over the back. I had a meeting in Vancouver so I didn't stick around to see if anyone flew later. Horsefly Report - Al headed up to Horsefly with Brad, Rob and Kevin. Unfortunately they were a bit late and it was wind still or over the back, despite Al's hard run he still sunk off launch and barely made the Airport due to SW winds. Not a SW site, as we guessed before.
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Horsefly Site Development Work Report - Rob, Andy and I headed up Horsefly after waiting for Andy to fly off Woodside. Andy had hiked up earlier and was waiting on top with Miguel and a group of tandems and it was lee as forecast. The flight down from Woodside was "sinky and weird". It was blowing 10 kph over the back at times and we had SW wind at the same speed on the ground. | 
Woodside Launch as viewed from Horsefly Launch - photo by JPR I got out of the truck at 4 kms, to fix a cross ditch and hiked the rest of the way up chucking rocks to reduce tire damage. With three chainsaws and a shovel we cleaned up the dead snags and rounded off the lip of launch to improve site safety. Cycles were coming in from the NE straight in at 15-20 kph, with thermals breaking off and increasing the speed at times. Laying out further back is the right method to avoid the rotor caused by the edge. I checked where the keys to Rob's Suzuki were before they setup as I volunteered to drivie down, and Rob said they were on the seat. I looked and saw the keys so I could relax. Andy launched first and was 2 meters above launch as he hit the lip. I helped Rob get setup and Rob followed after a few tries and was even higher off the edge as he launched in a thermal. I hopped in the Suzuki to drive down and no keys!! I suspected a squirrel or some other creature had taken them? I looked high and low to no avail. I called Rob on the radio and he was fortunately still high above launch and he flew back and chucked me the keys. In his pre-launch excitement he had put them in his pocket, so I would have been stuck up there with no wing and no keys and a 5 km hike down to the road. Always an adventure! 
Rob launches off Horsefly for the first time . . . with his keys - photo by JPR I found the keys and drove down to the Ranch, it takes about 20 minutes back down to the Ranch and Andy and Rob were still packing up. The official LZ from Horsefly is Bill Best's. Bailouts on the way include the airport at Sandpiper Golf Course and the river banks. Rob said he was 800 meters ASL over the airport and 300 meters over Eagle Ranch when he arrived there. Al met us at the Ranch and we headed back up for another flight at 4:30 pm, pretty late for a NE facing site but the cycles were even better. Reports from Kevin at Bridal indicated that the conditions had not improved and it took a long time to get an up cycle. The hill called George's was still in the sun and working as everyone launched and climbed out. Andy was experimenting with some flying down the gulley behind launch, Al was thermalling in the gully to the right of launch and climbing. They topped out around 1000 meters, the same height as Eagle Launch and were parked in ridge lift off George's. Remember, this is 5:30 pm now and the sun is very low so it was almost like a glassoff. Smooth and lifty. Five successful flights today and two on Sunday make this a promising site for outflow days. 
Andy, Al and Rob enjoying Horsefly - photo by JPR They all landed at the Ranch not with as much height but all easy glides today. There was a sheer layer at 300 meters where the NE upper levels and the SW lower levels hit but just a few bumps and smooth above and below.
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Grouse Report - a busy day with good cycles at 3:30 pm when Peter G took off. As the day got later the forecast west winds were coming over the back making launches interesting. Many pilots out to get their last Grouse flights (and some for their first flights too). | After watching many takeoffs all the guests were off (but Jack and Margit who decided wisely to hike down) and it was my turn. Two lame attempts with a soft wing and finally I got off in some nasty thermals that kept dropping me down the slope in strong west winds and I was parked trying to cross the trees. I kept my course and was in the gully bucking a strong SW wind with some soaring before the cliffs. The cliffs had no lift and the ridge past the tram was also very quiet. Landing was smooth but some thermal bumps were encountered in the strong south wind aloft from 300 meters above the LZ. Derek and Martina's Austria Report - Hi Jim! We finally found a place to access the internet with our laptop, we're in a cool little ski town in Slovenia. We spent the first couple of days of our trip in Munich, getting over our jetlag with big glasses of beer. Then over to Lienz, Austria for some flying! We had a TV in our hotel room that had a 24 hour channel of the TV camera panning launch with wind, temp & humidity. I was not excited by the "0" degrees at launch! 
Martina at launch at Lienz, Austria - photo by Derek We had some awesome flying before the cold front moved in on Tuesday. We took advantage of the bad weather to do our driving, and are hoping the winds won't be at Kobarid, our planned flying site today. Talk to you soon! - Martina & Derek 
Derek after launching at Lienz, Austria - photo by Martina (in air)
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Grouse Report - I figured I should fly Grouse a few times before the snow flies or we get kicked off the landing field again. Justin K and I met at the LZ at 2:30 pm and headed up. As we hiked up the Peak, a Bird Show was starting so we had to wait til 4:00 pm to launch. The First Flight truck arrived at the same time so we may have saved the hike up, but I needed some exercise anyway. Justin may disagree about him needing exercise. | 
The view from Grouse Peak Launch today - photo by JPR Perfect launch cycles from the S and SW. Nice inversion layer in the valley towards Baker. One nice thermal as you cross the trees, otherwise punchy and windy bits of lift all the way down to the Bail Out Cliffs. Nice landing conditions with no bubbles or sink and a slight SW wind. No games in progress in the regular LZ so you could land anywhere. Horsefly Report #2 - You forgot to mention why it was named Horsefly, but I guess anyone heading up there will find out soon enough. It takes a combined effort to fly off a site not yet flown. Thanks to everyone who made it happen, I had a blast ! Firstly to Jim and Colleen for providing transportation to get there. (Taylore may disagree as she was a bit spooked looking over the edge of the rock face as we were driving up) always an adventure with FlyBC! The ground reports from Alex W (at Eagle Ranch) and Alan (at Bridal) as when we left to head up it was gusty and blowing like stink at Eagle Ranch. I certainly had reservations about landing and without their reports we may not have flown. (well me maybe, Jim is another story). Last but not least, Colleen for forfeiting a first flight and allowing me the opportunity to fly. I can’t wait to fly there again. The launch is 100% committing but plenty of room on the "table" behind the cliff to get the wing solid before you push off. - Thomm McEachryn 
The view over the edge at Horsefly Launch showing what needs to be cleaned up - photo by CMV
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Woodside Report #1 - windy like mad this morning, gusting from the North at 40 kph, so we went kiting with small wings including a Gin Nano 13 meter. Only one incident as Vicki got lifted off and face planted, but she limped away gracefully. As it calmed down but didn't look promising we left the students to lunch and kiting as we headed up to the new Horsefly Launch. | Horsefly Report - Colleen, Thomm, Taylore and I headed up to the launch we scoped out 4 years ago. It is at 850 meters just to the south of Eagle Launch and it faces NE towards the back side of Hemlock Resort. 
The view from Horsefly Launch to the Harrison River - photo by CMV The road up is up the Chehalis Lake Road before the first Bridge, near the prison and it exits left off the main road. A few nasty cross ditches but we only dragged the F150 hitch a few times. Some rocks on the road could be moved aside but okay to drive around them. When you get to the top the roads are perfect for the last 2 kms. The setup area is huge, 10 HGs and 10 PGs could coexist as well as vehicles. It is perfectly flat and has some sharp rocks on it and a few snags but very nice. There is a small incline up to the edge but with any wind a PG can kite to the edge. Top landings would be totally "do-able" if you are above launch of course! Over the edge is another story. 
The setup and launch area for Horsefly Launch - photo by CMV Over the edge is a steep dropoff with much logging debris, we removed some of the sharper sticks but a cleanup would be prudent before novices fly off Horsefly too often. There are some trees below one would have to maneuver through in a sinky cycle, but they are far apart. We had little sink off launch and I even climbed a bit to the right. 
The edge of launch at Horsefly - photo by CMV 
Jim on the Mojo2 at Horsefly - photo by CMV When you launch, you have a short distance to connect to "George's", a term the HGers use to describe the cliffs east of Sasquatch Mountain. When I launched they were now in shade, but still generating lift. Many eagles soar these cliffs in the morning, so I suspect this will be a good morning site in E or NE wind. I spent a few turns at this area and then headed back north so Colleen could see me and see that the air was still smooth before heading out. After the cliffs there was an area of -2.8 m/s down, no rotor just sinky and I lost some height and was weighing my landing options if the sink continued ans headed due east to the river towards the new Eagle Point subdivision, I caught some thermals and climbed back on the ridge between Sasquatch and the River and these thermals drifted me towards the golf course airport. I arrived over the airport at 275 meters with a 45 kph groundspeed and crossed the Harrison River before heading back to the airport to land as there is food and drinks there as opposed to Bill Best's field with rotor and no restaurant (the stomach spoke and won). I landed near the river, off the airport and near the restaurant to make sure I didn't piss off the management (some years ago they said no landings for any reason, but it seems okay now). Radio transmissions between Horsefly Launch and the airport are not good as the rocks are in the way. We were able to talk to Alex at the Ranch and Alan at Bridal though for landing reports. Thomm decided it was safe to fly and took off 20 minutes after me and headed straight for the Ranch and made it with a few turns. 
Thomm on the Mantra at Horsefly - photo by CMV Thanks to Colleen for sacrificing her first launch at Horsefly for us by driving down, she gets the next flights for sure! Woodside Report #2 - we reconnected at the Ranch and there were many hopefuls waiting to go up. Wind was still over the back and when we arrived we had some cycles up so I borrowed Bev's Buzz L as I left my stuff at the bottom. I launched with no vario but climbed nicely to 1000 meters judging from the towers. Easterly drift to the leeside thermals and some trash higher up as it rotored over. I fell out and was heading to the Ranch when some Vultures joined me and showed me the way over the construction zone up and back towards launch. 
Jim on the Buzz, note the wind sock - photo by CMV Justin launched some time after me and stayed high and more east and found it smoother there, eventually Thomm, Norm, Alex, Stephen (new student), Julie, Nataliya and Colleen all launched. Some soared, some sunk. Ken drove down as he forgot his reserve at home. Nice SW landing conditions at the Ranch. Two HGers even flew after us. The next flight at Woodside brought out Andy (missing at a fishing lodge for 2 months), and Nataliya and Stephen for a nice but short glass-off flight. On the way up I found the rolled-over Cherokee that Colleen had seen from form the air, where the driver lost her brakes and drove up the bank near Lower Launch and she ended up "shiny side down". No injuries and her Dad was on the way to get it on the wheels again. Pics later. Bridal Upper Report - Rob organized a hike from Lower to Upper with Al, Arik, Lucas, Patrick and a few others. Because it was north at Lower they figured it was worth the risk to hike up and all were rewarded with at least an hour of airtime. Patrick was last seen heading into a field full of cows as he tried to XC to Elk in light or no lift??
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Woodside Report - three new students out for their first days; Jamie had one tandem at Mara in August, Stephen who had a few solos 12 years ago at King Eddie and John who is brand new to the sport. Jamie and Stephen were flying solo by 1:00 pm, testing out the new Mojo2's we added to the training fleet. John sopent most of the day ground-handling and taking a tandem with Colleen and a later tandem with me. | Good turnout at Woodside, lots of HGers and PGers, some doing both like Martin H. One unfortunate HGer planted his glider in the small trees below and north of launch destroying a leading edge 
Hangglider down below launch, no injuries - photo by JPR Vickie had three flights to top her up to 18 total now, and she was the Sky Queen climbing to 1000 meters on the last flight while other struggled to get up including hubby Gary K! 
Vickie climbing out on her XS Buzz - photo by JPR Colleen took top honours for climbing out and top-landing at 7:00 pm, in very light lift and poor cycles but she pulled it off nicely.
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Woodside Report - I was out working on the new FlyBC Van, a huge GMC Savana tour van, removing seats and working on a radio for it when Thomm arrived to help tweak the doors. We fiddled until Gary K showed up and we headed up the mountain. Claudio and Elle had flown and Martin had retrieved them and Justin and Julie were out too. When we got to launch it was blowing 10-25 kph over the back from the SE and it did not let up despite growing CUs right out to the valley. | Justin mentioned a new clearcut to the east that he saw yesterday when he was flying and we did a reconn trip up Woodside to check it out. Everywhere we stopped, the wind was upslope. We just didn't think we could make it out to land anywhere, plus the clouds were blowing over our heads from the NE (rotor up high). We headed back to launch and everyone was still sitting even though there were good cycles. I clipped into the Boom Sport and launched to the south, gaining every turn and was soon at 1000 meters tracking a thermal to the NW. So far so good waiting for the leeside crap. Derek B from Kamloops was trying to find me on the radio and I got a bit distracted talking to him and fell out of the original thermal and I was in "hunt mode". Top landing was not an option as it was very sinky near the hill and switching 180 degrees at times. I flew out under some developing CUs and got my "hell ride" going through the transitions of sink and lift, I had no idea where the glider was as I was getting banged around, no collapses but lots of noise! As I passed north of the construction zone it was still ratty but survivable so I turned a few times and over the valley it was smooth right into a NW landing at Stonehenge. Thomm eventually launched and hit the same thermal and was doing quite well until he headed north to a new CU developing over there, and he got his "hell ride" closer in to the mountain. He headed straight out to the valley and was rewarded with a 30 minute flight flying all over Harrison Mills in smooth lift also landing (?) near Stonehenge too. No one else flew until later when Colleen arrived. Bridal Report - Rob, Al, Nikolai, Ivan and Denis were heard flying at Bridal and not getting too high but climbing still. Al was asking for a retrieve from Rosedale, we saw Nikolai heading east to Cheam low early on. Rob was at launch later so I think he top-landed. Woodside Report #2 - Vickie, Colleen, Thomm and Gary K came back up to try another flight at Woodside later around 6:00 pm. Collen launched first and climbed above launch. GAry and Thom were looking for lift as Colleen headed out to test the air for Vickie. Vickie launched and was soon above launch out front thermalling her XS Buzz very nicely, small tight turns were the order of the day and the Buzz responded well to the call. Unfortunately the ride out was not as smooth as the thermalling as there were some gusty layers pass the bailout swamp but she landed smoothly in Eagle Ranch.
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Woodside Report - the Woodside Webcam showed sunny conditions and light winds.
Many locals are now on road trips to Australia and Europe. But Justin, Al and a few others flew Woodside getting very high with some gusty takeoff conditions around 2:00 pm. Justin flew to Harrison Gap and back to land near Cemetary Hill as he thought the wind might be too strong in Harrison. |
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Woodside Report - Derek was calling around 3:00 pm to say launch was clear and he was going to see if it was soarable. No pilot reports after that and he may not have gone up as Joe is not driving right now due to a sore back so retreives are tough weekdays. |
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Woodside Report - low cloudbase until 7:00 pm, no pireps received today. |
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Woodside/Bridal Report - a few Islanders dropped by in the AM, after Kirill had taken his morning motoring flight. Kirill landed after 35 minutes complaining of thermic conditions by 10:30 am, good thing as his muffler mount had cracked and he landed before it fell through the prop! | The two Van Isle pilots went up Woodside and sat for a while before flying a sled ride down to Riverside. Jan K showed up later for a tandem with his kids but no other pilots were out today. Bridal saw one pilot sledding down around 2:20 pm. Sun was coming out but too little, too late. But no rain as of 9:00 pm. That comes tomorrow as everyone heads back to work. Paul B. MacCready passes on. 1925-2007 An accomplished meteorologist, a world-class glider pilot and a respected aeronautical engineer, MacCready headed the team that designed and built the Gossamer Condor and the Gossamer Albatross -- two flimsy, awkward-looking planes powered by a furiously pedaling bicycle racer -- that won him international fame and $300,000 in prize money. He also built and flew a radio-controlled replica of a prehistoric pterodactyl, the largest creature that ever took to the air. His successes in these and other imaginative projects led to more than 30 prestigious awards, including the Collier Trophy for achievement in aeronautics and astronautics, and five honorary degrees. The slight, pale, bespectacled MacCready said it all probably stemmed from a rather nerdy childhood. "I was always the smallest kid in the class," he told the National Aviation Hall of Fame. "I was not especially coordinated -- certainly not the athletic type -- and socially immature. "And so, when I began getting into model airplanes, and getting into contests and creating new things, I probably got more psychological benefit from that than I would have from some of the other typical school things," he said. "Nobody seemed to be quite as motivated for the new and strange as I was." There were those who denigrated MacCready's efforts, saying they had no practical value. He said his critics missed the point. "Lindbergh's flight across the Atlantic did not directly advance airplane design," MacCready said. "The plane was a lousy plane. It was unstable and you couldn't see forward very well. You wouldn't want to design another like it. But it changed the world by being a catalyst for thinking about aviation." Lindbergh's plane, the Spirit of St. Louis, hangs today from a ceiling at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C. Hanging next to it is MacCready's Gossamer Condor. MacCready's foray into aviation history began as the result of a bad loan. In 1970, MacCready guaranteed a loan for a friend who wanted to start a business building fiberglass catamarans. When the company failed, MacCready found himself $100,000 in debt. Casting around for a way to deal with that problem, he recalled a cash prize offered by British industrialist Henry Kremer to anyone who built a human-powered plane capable of sustained, controlled flight. "The Kremer prize, in which I'd had no interest, was just about equal to my debt," MacCready said. "Suddenly, human-powered flight seemed important." To win the prize, he had to create an airplane that could take off on its own and fly a figure-eight, 1.15-mile course, clearing 10-foot hurdles at the beginning and end. Several people had tried; all had failed. MacCready said he studied the soaring flights of hawks and vultures, calculating the amount of lift needed to keep the birds aloft and comparing that with what he knew about gliders. He concluded that if he could triple the wingspan of a glider without increasing its weight, the power needed to keep it aloft in level flight would be only about four-tenths of one horsepower. He knew that a well-conditioned athlete could produce about that, and maybe a little more, for an extended period. The spindly, translucent Gossamer Condor that resulted was crafted of aluminum tubing, plastic sheeting, piano wire and Scotch tape. It had a wingspan of 90 feet but weighed only 70 pounds. The pilot was Bryan Allen, a strong, slender bicycle racer who powered the single propeller by pedaling a drive chain made largely of old bicycle parts. The Condor flew from the outset, but not well. However, because it flew so slowly and at such a low height -- about 10 mph and about 15 feet -- MacCready was able to improve its design through trial and error. The bizarre aircraft crashed scores of times during flight tests, but Allen always emerged relatively unscathed. MacCready noted dryly that his crash-and-rebuild system worked all right for the Condor, "but it is not the way to develop airliners." Finally, on Aug. 23, 1977, the Condor made a successful seven-minute flight over a figure-eight course laid out around the airport in the dusty San Joaquin Valley farming town of Shafter. MacCready claimed the Kremer prize and was celebrated as the father of human-powered flight. "We're at last achieving a goal that man has had for thousands of years," he said. Within months, Kremer had offered a prize of about $213,000 for the first human-powered flight across the English Channel. MacCready immediately began improving the Condor. What emerged was the Gossamer Albatross, which he described as a "next-step clone." The biggest difference was its stronger, lighter frame, made of carbon fiber tubing instead of aluminum. On June 12, 1979, with Allen at the pedals, the Albatross took off from Folkestone, England, and headed east. Fighting head winds and turbulence for the better part of three hours, Allen overcame cramps and exhaustion to land successfully on the beach at Cap Gris-Nez, France. Kremer called it a "splendid achievement" and handed over the prize money. Six months later, MacCready's ultralight Gossamer Penguin, powered by a 2.75-horsepower motor that ran on electricity generated by solar panels atop the fuselage, skimmed over the Arizona desert in the first climbing flight powered by sunlight. In 1981, a similar plane, MacCready's Solar Challenger, flew 180 miles from Paris, France, to Kent, England. A few years later, another of his human-powered aircraft, the Bionic Bat, won two more Kremer prizes. In one of his greatest flights of fancy, MacCready then enlisted the help of engineer Henry Jax to create and fly a wing-flapping, radio-controlled, half-scale replica of a pterodactyl, a creature with a 36-foot wingspan that last soared over Mesozoic landscapes more than 60 million years ago. "If you can make something that moves around but gives you the feeling of a prehistoric creature, then people experience it; they feel it much better," MacCready said in a magazine interview. In 1987, his GM Sunraycer, a streamlined vehicle the size of a soapbox derby entry, easily won a 1,867-mile race in Australia against other, larger, solar-powered cars. Some of his later creations were big, like the Helios, an unmanned, solar-powered plane with 14 electric motors and a 200-foot wingspan that climbed to more than 96,000 feet. It was the highest altitude ever achieved by a propeller-driven aircraft. Some were small, like his surveillance planes, the size of a man's hand, that carried tiny television cameras. Some didn't work, like a little plane powered by a hamster. "Hamsters are lazy," he lamented. The son of a prosperous physician, Paul Beattie MacCready was born in New Haven, Conn., on Sept. 29, 1925. By the time he was 14, he had designed and built a number of unconventional model planes, including an autogyro that flew for more than 12 minutes, outlasting the best efforts of adults entered in the same competition. Two years later, he tried his hand in real airplanes, earning a pilot's license. He entered Yale in 1943, at the same time signing up for training as a Navy pilot. His studies were interrupted occasionally by flight training, but World War II ended before he graduated; he never saw combat. In 1947, MacCready bought an Army surplus glider and, combining his Navy flight skills with his Yale training in meteorology, he soon became an expert glider pilot. He invented a system that is still used to calculate optimum flight speeds between thermal air currents. A year later, MacCready earned a master's degree in physics at Caltech and won the first of three national soaring championships. In 1951, he founded Meteorology Research Inc., which quickly became a leader in weather modification technology and the manufacture of remote-controlled aircraft for atmospheric research. MacCready received a doctorate in aeronautics from Caltech in 1952, and in 1956, he became the first American to win the World Champion Soaring Contest. Several years later, he founded AeroVironment, which produces electronic systems, surveillance aircraft and experimental, energy-efficient cars and boats. The firm also builds systems to monitor and reduce air pollution and hazardous waste. MacCready often stressed the importance of independent thought. "You will find that your teachers are sometimes wrong," he told a group of Santa Monica schoolchildren in 1998. "Your parents will be wrong. Your schools will be wrong. If you look for the answers yourself, you will find that you can do better." Nobel laureate Murray Gell-Mann, a close friend, attributed MacCready's creativity to his outlook. "He approaches nature and daily life with an innocent sense of wonder," Gell-Mann told Time magazine in 1990. "He approaches problems and learning about new things in the same way: without strongly held, preconceived notions. When he sees something, he takes a fresh view of it." MacCready is survived by his wife, Judy; three sons, Parker, Tyler and Marshall; and two grandchildren. Plans for a private memorial service are pending.
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Woodside Report - a strong NW wind blew through the Ranch most of the day. Good kiting for Colleen, Annette and Thomm, while I was painting the Barn roof. Kiting looked like more fun and safer too. | Rik B from Wisconsin hiked up while we worked and decided not to fly as it was light and cross and he has little experience at Woodside. We arrived at the bottom of the hill as he hiked down and we made him come back to fly with us. All light to no wind launches into smooth air with no lift. Annette, Colleen, Miguel (his sign-off flight!), Thomm, and Rik all flew off before 6:00 pm. No trips to Bridal today for us as it looked really lame.
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Woodside Report - my first tandem with Diane, a pre-school teacher from SeaBird Island,
arrived at noon and we were on launch by 12:30 pm. One tandem launched in front of us and was soon in the
HG LZ with only a few turns. We set up and launched less than 5 minutes later as they were on final,
and hooked a thermal right off launch and we were soaring nicely at 750 meters. Annette launched
and was staying up well too, getting above us. Another tandem launched and had an extended sledder
as Diane and I headed out to land. Nice landing conditions with 10 kph east wind and 30 minutes
airtime with a perfect "in-the-circle" spot-landing. Others who launched later stayed up for up to 2 hours (Alex). | Some interested guys showed up to watch the action at Eagle Ranch and Michael decided to go tandem and we had a repeat flight at 1:45 pm. Good thermals all over the mountain with about 15 gliders in the air all around 750 meters. Michael flew the last 10 minutes doing well. Our landing was not pretty as we got dumped from the last 5 meters, as did Norm prior to our landing. Switchy winds and a but thermic at 2:45 pm. So off to Bridal to meet our next 2 tandems. Bridal Report - Chiera and Kevin were celebrating their 2 year anniversary and she suprised Kevin with a tandem paragliding adventure. The setup was perfect, take him to Bridal Falls Golf Club to perfect his swing at the driving range and then off to the patio for a drink. We walked in to meet him and explained golf was not the activity for the day as they watched Shane soaring the "knob" above them. He was in the truck before he could say anything. Up top, very light cycles as we got ready. A forward launch was called for, and Kevin and I launched right after Gabe and Chiera. GOod day to be lightly loaded, which we weren't but we soared for 20 minutes before Kevin flew us into the LZ. No wind in the LZ at all, but we hooked a turn onto final to build energy and landed running it out right in the middle of the mowed section. As we were packing up, Gabe landed Chiera nicely on her feet too. They were heading back to Vancouver for a night on the town as we headed back to Woodside. During our flights, Nataliya got ready and launched forward and soared the "knob" for sometime before a perfect touchdown, with a huge grin. Woodside Report #2 - Norm was just landing on flight #2 as we arrived back at the Ranch. We expected at least a sled ride; but Alex, Nataliya, Bev, Norm, Colleen, Carl, Annette and I all headed up anyway. Norm offered to drive and left his Rebel on the ground. His mistake! It glassed off into a perfect soaring flight. Nice launch winds 10-15 kph. Immediate climbs to the north. Colleen topped out at 850 meters. I was flying the Mojo2 Medium and despite being 8 kgs over the top, I was soaring with everyone easily - nice wing for a DHV I. I top-landed to let Norm fly, but he had his flip-flops on and no boots so back to flying for me. We flew til 8 pm, and Bev said to fly to Harvest but Norm had no radio so the call was to fly to the Ranch. It was lifty all the way out. Nataliya was the first out and the lowest and she hit a wall of wind at 300 meters that slowed her down to -5 kph. On the bar and she just made it with a short aircraft approach to a smooth touchdown. I followed her in with a standard approach over the west field and was busy keeping the Mojo inflated! But a nice spot landing after the crappy layer. Alex and Colleen hit the same crap coming over high and circling in over the barn. Bev ran to Bill Best's early and made it while Annette got behind the Maple tree and was rotored into Duncan's $20 field. Nice flight but the call for Harvest was a good one. No one had a camera so no pics, sorry. |
FlyBC Paragliding Past Site of the Day Reports
July 2007 Site of the Day archives - good flights at Bridal, some mayhem at Woodside from visiting pilots.
June 2007 Site of the Day archives - more crappy weather on the weekends. Some awesome flights between showers as Norm and Thomm flew to Mission on the last day of the month.
May 2007 Site of the Day archives - flyable every weekday, but the Fraser Valley XC Comp got crappy weather on the weekends, although it was student flyable.
April 2007 Site of the Day archives - good flights are starting. Some complete triangles from Woodside to Bridal and back, some "musical triangles" from others.
March 2007 Site of the Day archives - fifth month of crappy weather on the Coast. We went to Santa Barbara for some flights, and to dry out. Some good days were also recorded locally.
Febuary 2007 Site of the Day archives - fourth month of crappy weather on the Coast. So we stayed in Mexico.
January 2007 Site of the Day archives - third month of crappy weather on the Coast. So we went to Mexico to fly Colima, Tapalpa, and San Marcos, while Brad and gang headed to Tenacingo, Mexico.
December 2006 Site of the Day archives - more ugly weather on the Coast. Severe winds damaged trees and property so not much flying happened. Some good flight reports from local PGers travelling world-wide.
November 2006 Site of the Day archives - the wettest November on record. We flew a few good flights but mostly we were rained out.
October 2006 Site of the Day archives - lots of good days with 3-4 hours airtime. The Women's Fly-In was on again in Chelan with about 18 Canucks, and a good day Saturday with 85 registered pilots.
September 2006 Site of the Day archives - still soarable in the Fraser Valley, little or no rain. Colleen is back flying! Some mayhem in the valley.
August 2006 Site of the Day archives - a great flying month everywhere, we had a super successful SIV clinic at Mara Lake with everyone SAT-ing and heli-ing.
July 2006 Site of the Day archives - road trip to Lumby, then on the 8th Colleen spun in below Gloria cancelling her summer plans (but she is recuperating well).
June 2006 Site of the Day archives - the Valley dried out, and we flew most days and every weekend.
May 2006 Site of the Day archives - more rain that ever imagined in the Fraser Valley. Very few soaring flights and even less XC.
April 2006 Site of the Day archives - the Easter Bunny was "run over" on Kilby Road, plus the train wreck on April 1.
March 2006 Site of the Day archives - a new pilot was born, Chloe. We also flew a few days between showers, some long flights up to 4 hours. A few Out & Return Flights to Deroche and Bear.
February 2006 Site of the Day archives - another wet month with some soarable days (2).
January 2006 Site of the Day archives - some flying on Elk and Woodside, smart pilots headed South for great Mexican or Chilean flying.
December 2005 Site of the Day archives - some flying on Elk and Woodside, smart pilots headed South.
November 2005 Site of the Day archives - rain, snow and not much flying.
October 2005 Site of the Day archives - Women's Fly In in Chelan yielded two soarable days before the snows hit.
September 2005 Site of the Day archives - dry most of the month. Some great 4 hour flights at Woodside getting to cloudbase most days. Three crash-landings in the same clearcut by pilots scratching too low, but no injuries.
August 2005 Site of the Day archives - road trips to the Interior gave us an opportunity to rag out some gliders at FlyBC SIV 2005 (Part II). Also a great road trip to Savona.
July 2005 Site of the Day archives - good flying all month, no rain but some windy days shut us down. The Willi started in Golden with a few good days, but one tragedy as Charles Warren perished in a crash near Harrogate.
June 2005 Site of the Day archives - too much rain, but good days to fly between showers.
May 2005 Site of the Day archives - our Instructor/Tandem seminar yielded some good flying. Our May 2005 SIV Clinic had a good turnout, with many wet wings/pilots! Many nice flights at Woodside and Bridal, with some long "out & returns" at Bridal.
April 2005 Site of the Day archives - some great soaring at Woodside and Bridal. Sad news from the US Hanggliding Nationals as Chris Muller crashes at goal.
March 2005 Site of the Day archives - we had to head out of town to Savona a few weekends due to wet weather on the Coast. Wetter than normal according to Environment Canada.
February 2005 Site of the Day archives - some good soaring despite early time of year. Flights as long as 3 hours at Woodside, some good flights at Whidbey Island for first timers, too!
January 2005 Site of the Day archives road trips to Mexico, not much flying locally due to strong north winds and rain. Record rain kept Eagle Ranch quite wet for kiting.
December 2004 Site of the Day archives a dry month with some good soaring including a fantastic day on Dec. 11 where we thermalled for 2+ hours!
November 2004 Site of the Day archives more record rain. We installed a fireplace in the barn to keep pilots warm between winter flights.
October 2004 Site of the Day archives more record rain, but sweet soaring between showers. Many new students signed up and making quick progress. We missed the Women's Fly In for the first time in 9 years, and there was some interesting flying on the Sunday!
September 2004 Site of the Day archives rainiest September on record for the first 3 weeks, made flying difficult. But Alan and others logged some pretty nice flights later in the month. Lots of student tandems for both Colleen and Jim.
August 2004 Site of the Day archives Great Maneuver/SIV/ACRO course at Mara. Jack got wet! Some great soaring at Woodside. Norm made it 68 km from Mara to King Eddie, Derek made it from Lumby to Enderby the opposite direction for 67 kms. We also did our BC roadtrip from Ashcroft to New Denver, and flew everyday.
July 2004 Site of the Day archives the Willi was on at Golden. We missed the mayhem due to work and school commitments but Norm did a great job representing the West Coast.
June 2004 Site of the Day archives Canadian Nationals came off with many great rounds. Pemberton-Whistler Championships were blown out most days so we headed to Cornwall.
May 2004 Site of the Day archives great flying at Woodside and Bridal. We held a very successful SIV Course at Mara Lake, and hope to run another one in August if they keep the forests open.
April 2004 Site of the Day archives good flying in the Valley. The Fraser Valley Cross Country PG Series was successssful.
March 2004 Site of the Day archives Nicole won in Brazil, otherwise the month sucked for flying time.
February 2004 Site of the Day archives some local flights extended to an hour with vigourous scratching above the trees. Good paramotor month.
January 2004 Site of the Day archives Mexican road trip yielded 20 hours of flight and a wet Canadian January kept most local pilots on the ground.
December 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew a few times but it got really cold at the end of the month as we prepared for a gala New Year's Party for 40 of our close personal friends and neighbours.
November 2003 Site of the Day archives windy and wet with the odd good soaring day, not many pilots out these days.
October 2003 Site of the Day archives Women's Fly In was great fun, some good soaring days mid-month, most of the students are signed off.
September 2003 Site of the Day archives good conditions until the last days of the month when it got stable. Most days were flyable at Woodside or Bridal.
August 2003 Site of the Day archives Forest closures made the end of the month a non-flying period unless you headed to Blanchard. FlyBC SIV 2003 was a great success with 9 stunt pilots and no deployments or crashes.
July 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew most days early at Woodside until it got windy, then over to Bridal. Good Golden flying reports from the "Willi".
June 2003 Site of the Day archives we flew most weekdays at Bridal, Woodside worked most weekends. Bridal Air Races had one great day with only two tree landings!
May 2003 Site of the Day archives not a great weather month on the coast, especially on the weekends but a few pilots managed to get some great airtime at Bridal. The Nationals were held in Lumby and it didn't rain!
April 2003 Site of the Day archives rain for 28 of 30 April days, but we managed to get a few flights in between showers. Even the golfers were complaining!
March 2003 Site of the Day archives some high spring flights in early March, but not a great weather month. Still no HPAC Insurance!
February 2003 Site of the Day archives some nice long spring flights in late February. HPAC Insurance expired on Feb 14, so many pilots stayed home instead of getting USHGA coverage.
January 2003 Site of the Day archives lots of rain all month in BC so we bailed and headed to Tapalpa Mexico for three weeks. Norm and Lucille had a great XC flight the first day we arrived.
December 2002 Site of the Day archives lots of rain all month.
November 2002 Site of the Day archives not a great flying month, lots of rain in the beginning and then super stable and inverted for the balance of the month. Even the Savona Road Trip wasn't that great. Looking forward to Mexico!
October 2002 Site of the Day archives Still soarable some days, great fun at the Women's Fly In 2002 in Chelan. Allan logged 15 hours and only flew a few days. Most of the students are ready for signoff soon to get ready for Mexico trips!
September 2002 Site of the Day archives Still soarable most everyday! Some scary incidents at Woodside. Fun flying at Ashcroft.
August 2002 Site of the Day archives More spring-like days with super lapse rates, great fun up-country at Revelstoke and Mara, with some good XCs for all.
July 2002 Site of the Day archives Some spring-like days with super lapse rates, but still rather wet at times.
June 2002 Site of the Day archives another rainy and windy month with great lapse rates, some great flights at Bridal with some getting above Cheam Peak. The Club Cup was nearly rained out but they got one valid task in on Sunday June 30.
May 2002 Site of the Day archives an extremely rainy month with the more spring mayhem, another reserve deployment at Lil Nick and a pilot crashed at the top of Deroche Mountain, uninjured but with a ripped glider and long hike down the mountain. Colleen placed 5th place at the Canadian PG Nationals in rainy Lumby!
April 2002 Site of the Day archives a rainy month with the usual spring mayhem, one reserve deployment at Woodside and a pilot hit a parked car at Bridal LZ, fracturing his leg.
March 2002 Site of the Day archives a few great days days with lots of snow and rain mixed in.
February 2002 Site of the Day archives two epic days already (4.5 hours and 2.5 hours!).
January 2002 Site of the Day archives Mexico vacation shots, some local flying but it was wet on the coast.
December 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, wettest December on record, some good days sprinkled thru the month.
November 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, had some good days at Woodside +2 hours, lots of rain later in the month.
October 2001 Site of the Day archives pretty stable locally, but great flying at Chelan at the Women's Fly In.
September 2001 Site of the Day archives starting to get pretty stable, more sled rides forecast for October.
Aug 2001 Site of the Day archives Mara, Bridal, till some great flights locally
July 2001 Site of the Day archives Road Trip Month, Golden, Mara, points east!
June 2001 Site of the Day archives Great Month, 3 hours of airtime for some pilots every time they flew Bridal Lower! Some getting up to 6 hours in a single flight!
May 2001 Site of the Day archives Unstable Month, 2-3 hours of airtime for some pilots every time they flew Bridal Lower!
April 2001 Site of the Day archives Rainy Month, not as much airtime for some pilots
March 2001 Site of the Day archives Spring has Sprung!
February 2001 Site of the Day archives Spring is in the Air!
January 2001 Site of the Day archives - Mexico Flying Trip
December 2000 Site of the Day archives
November 2000 Site of the Day archives (great month for airtime!)
October 2000 Site of the Day archives
September 2000 Site of the Day archives
July - August 2000 Site of the Day archives
June 2000 Site of the Day archives
March - May 2000 Site of the Day archives
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