Category: Uncategorized

756 through 759

A few flights at Shell Creek. Solo with no drama or anything of note.

There was however a notable event this week.  Bruce and Diana Budy stopped in Punta Gorda while on their way to spend a few days in the keys.  Graham Pryce rallied the SW Florida Chapter of the Colorado Sail and Yacht Club to have an impromptu dinner party.  After stopping at Chris Heelis’s house the came to our new home to check it out.  I popped a bottle of Champagne and while we were toasting the new digs, Bruce surprised me with a trophy for the 2014 Spring series.  Nobody could explain how or why a trophy had been commissioned.   I had not raced with the CSYC in two years but there it was a 2nd place B Fleet trophy.  According to Bruce, they were totally surprised when the Commodore announced my name during the award ceremony.   I was equally surprised to receive the award in Florida.  Later we went to Lashley’s Crab House for dinner.  It was excellent.  The Snow Crab was available and for 25 bucks we all had our fill.

755 Shell Creek

First flight since returning from Monument Valley.  No Drama.  The only real notable fact was the temperature was 60 degrees which is the lowest it has been since I’ve moved here.  On landing Frank Moss’s sons were pulling up to his hut.  We chatted for a few minutes about my machine and the DC-3 that they are prepping for paint.  When Frank called in to talk with his son I spoke with him briefly about some complaints from local ranchers. I assured him that I fly a PPG rather than a PPC and I’m not the culprit.  I don’t know who the PPCs are since I have never been at the field when they were around.

Note to self….. Like the landing at Monument I was a little late with the flare.

Cloud Flight 751 Arcadia

Met up with Bob and Mike O at 7:00.  The Arcadia Airport is mid sized with a large nicely mowed grass field.  There was thick ground fog and a lite 5 mph breeze from the north.  As the fog started to burn off we set up and Mike launched right away.  Bob set up and blew his first attempt.  I was hoping to get good video and attached the Go Pro to the right side of the wing.   Mike was out of sight almost as soon as he took off. We could hear him buzzing around and I assumed he had gotten above it very quickly. 

My first launch was a bust.  The wing came up crooked and I tried to save it to no avail.  The Go Pro was dragged and swung up over the lines just as I aborted.  Here is where it got interesting.  The wing was thoroughly soaked during the first attempt.  While I was setting up for another, I kited it to build a wall and was amazed by the crisp inflation.  WOW, What a difference!  I’d forgotten how a theEden III used to feel, this was definitely not the wing I had been flying the last several months.  It was very responsive ground handling and once up it just felt different… better.  I’m guessing that soaking the wing gave it almost zero porosity and dry it would not pass that test.  I think it’s time to get a new wing.




#750 Shell Creek Air Park

Mike O and I were greeted at the field with a magnificent Sunrise.  The grass was wet and there was standing water all over the place.  I watched an armadillo amble past us on his way to Frank’s hanger.  Cute little fella reminded me of a puppy the way he moved.  I brought my chase cam and was hoping to get some good video of our flight.

Mike launched while I fussed around with the camera and set up.  It looked like strong wind aloft with Mike was barely penetrating as he loitered over the field.  Surprisingly, once up, there was very little wind.  Maybe 8-10mph from the East South East.  We flew east at 1200 MSL 4 miles and played around the phosphorus mine.  Good flight with no drama.

Over the last few weeks I’ve become convinced that my Eden III is ready to be retired.  It’s sluggish and the turns are flat.  In order to get a hard banking turn I have to lay on the throttle and really pull some brake.  I bought the wing from Mike Benett who flew it for about a year.  I’m guessing it has 400 hours of heavy use.  The last inspection was 18 months ago and it passed but I’m not so sure it would pass today.

Recent maintenance:
Mike Lange welded a break in the cage where it attaches to the frame bottom left.
Repainted the previous repairs to prevent rust
Replaced the line holders
Replaced two outside D main lines
Maintenance Due:
Replace all fuel lines
Change oil and filters

748 Shell Creek

Awoke early when my wife’s alarm went off.  Thought what the heck.  Just before leaving I got a Facebook message from a new guy … Mike Otten.  We met up at SC and set up.  There was just the slightest hint of a breeze from the NE.  I took off downwind and loitered while Mike set up.  He had a couple of failed launches but got off even though his wing was soaked.  Very impressive no wind launch with a wet wing.  Cruised a few miles east.  Saw a runway cut into one guys property and spiralled down to check it out.  Also chased down a fire only to find it was somebody burning trash.

The FlySkyHy app was having trouble doing accurate altitude calculations.  It was strange that it’s bad at SC but good at Placida.  It might be a cell phone vs. GPS thing.

747 Placida high Flight

 

Sunrise was at 7:08 Bob and I launched about same.  He stayed low and practiced several touch and goes while I went for altitude and took in the view.  Bob is a natural.  He is currently learning the difference between flying a DC -3 and a paraglider.  It’s fun watching him shake off old techniques.  I’ve heard it argued both ways, that being a GA Pilot makes it harder to learn to PPG.  Bob is living proof that both sides are right and wrong.  

The air was very rowdy below 250 feet where he spent the entire hour.  I got above layer and into the breeze where it was smooth as butter and climbed to 4000+ ft? AGL.  Even with trimmers out, the best I could do was 5mph into the wind.  While coming down I watched him practice, once he came in under power with brakes, slightly crosswind.  I could see it was bumpy … And sure as hell, he fought it down, landed on his feet, kited the wing, turned back into the wind and launched.  It was very impressive piloting skills and athleticism.

If I were feeling poetic I would write a tome.  Suffice to say.  It was a very enjoyable flight.