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The Oz Report Volume 5, Number 148 US
Nationals – it tightens up With the weather a tough call, the task committee calls a 107-kilometer FAI triangle to the east. The rigids get outvoted by the flexies on the task committee (I'm the only one there) and they get to take the triangle counter clockwise. We'll start earlier with a final start gate at 1:30 so that it is easier to get everyone out of the airport. The flexies have a final start gate at 2:15. Given that we are going in opposite directions (and therefore there is no advantage to the flex wing pilots to go early and use the rigids as thermal markers), pilots will most likely wait for the last start time. The cu's start early but the winds are out of the east-northeast. We aren't sure if it will over develop. There is rain in much of Texas, but it looks like we will be in the one clear area without too many clouds. Cirrus could come in later. The rigids have an upwind leg to start with to the silos, 20 miles (minus 7 for the start circle). Then 26 miles cross wind to the south to Coulter field airport northeast of Bryan. The last leg is 20 miles to the north northwest back to the airport at Hearne. The flexies reverse this task.
We launch early and wait for an hour above the airfield under 4,000' cu's, a low cloud base. It will rise slowly to 6,000' later in the day. The cu's will be with us throughout our task. Can't say what happened with the sailplanes, as I never saw Brian or Robin. I misidentified Brian as Robin yesterday. I was actually flying with Brian. He had changed helmets from a white one to a blue one and I just assumed that Robin was wearing a blue helmet. Robin flew off on his on getting the last start gate time. The start circle really spreads everyone out, so I really didn't see many pilots at 7 miles out at 1:30 PM. Brian got the previous start time at 1:15 PM. Bruce Barmakian got the 1 PM start time. The rest of us started at 1:30 PM. Meanwhile back at the field the tugs were now pulling up the flex wing pilots who didn't want to start too early. Of course, it was very pleasant up above, so they should have towed up as soon as possible to get out of the heat. I got to keep cool because I screwed up and locked my zipper string down in my harness. I could only zip up about a quarter of the way. After coming down last time to land to fix my zipper and thereby breaking my keel, I wasn't about to land, so I just flew with the bomb bay doors open. Some folks struggled on the first leg, but others just motored to the turnpoint and then got stuck going toward Coulter field. Plenty of low saves as we had to dive a long ways to get to the next clouds. By the time I got to Coulter field, I was able to see a few flex wings. I hadn't seen any before and I began to wonder what the problem was. It was easy from there getting back to Hearne. The flex wing pilots were still on course so the early rigid wing finishers got to put their gliders in the choice tie down spots. I landed at 4 PM, and the flex wing guys would start coming in a little before 5 PM. The lead flex wing gaggle had a tough time at the Silos, their second turnpoint. Jim Lee almost landed. Everyone in the gaggle was very low. Bo and Chris Zimmerman who were just behind the lead gaggle, saw the line that they flew, decided that that was bad news, went way off to the right, got stinking high and made it around the turnpoint in fine shape while the lead guys were groveling. They were happy. Given their high altitude Bo and Chris were able to get into goal much before everyone else. The former lead gaggle came into together later with Paris in about sixth or so and behind him a few pilots, Gerolf. This should really tighten up the top ten standings, although it keeps Paris in the lead. This is getting very competitive. The results are up on the Austin Airsports web site (http://www.austinairsports.com/).
To view the Oz Report on the web go to http://www.davisstraub.com/OZ/. To view this issue of the Oz Report on the web go to http://www.davisstraub.com/OZ/Ozv5n148.htm. Davis Straub | |
