Flight report, Labelle: Arrived 10 AM to find Federico towing Rodrigo already. Tent set up, cones on mowed grass, mostly clear skies and wind up to 10 mph at ground level. I observed another tow and watched Rodrigo drop vertically while facing into high winds aloft. I set up for a similar elevator flight, but in focusing on my equipment I failed to notice the cumulus clouds that suddenly filled the sky. As and Cs for high wind reverse launch, then up, up and away. At 600 feet i hit 1000 ft per minute up and glanced up to see a rapidly expanding cummie right overhead. Release, release, release. Turn quickly for a run back to lift…there it is…but only 100fpm and ratty. Already past the power lines and canal in the 20mph+ winds and flying over the orange grove, where Federico would soon go to pick up Rodrigo a second time…and now maybe me. No, stay with lift, commit to XC. So what if i have to walk out. Finally 200fpm and regular…at 800 feet altitude I breath, now at 1000 ft altitude, i relax. I am not going down in the orange trees. When I spun out of the paddock I must of looked pitiful, broken,desperate…but now 2 miles down wind and 1000 feet higher I was an eagle on course, flying with a destination. Circling south of hwy 80 while drifting at 20 mph west, I fluctuated from between 2000 and 3000 as I found lift then speed barred ahead to the next cloud. Followed Cowboy Way around south of Labelle. A bit of south- east wind aloft pushed me close to the river. Here last year a Bald eagle showed me lift then departed. On my own today. I had left my winter gloves and balaclava in the car and was feeling some chill above 3 K. Weight shift turned in light lift while I removed each glove, in turn, to deploy the hand sleeves built into my flight suit. Actually considered removing my helmet to secure the built in hoodie. Not necessary yet. Warmer now. Wham 1000ftpm up and nasty. Plenty of altitude, no collapses soride em cowboy. Use the lift to fight south to an oncoming cloud. Each cloud jump loses 1000 ft. Each new cloud brings me back to cloud base. Hit one thermal of smooth 800fpm with my average pegging 6.9. lost lift under a large dark cloud and 2 vultures guided me to a sweet spot. Applied Burts Bees lip balm and sipped often on my dromedary tube. Glanced around for general aviation planes at my level…but none. Got in a cloud street and finally did not need to circle to maintain. As i approached the 75 interchange I took a 360 degree I phone video. I looked south to see if SW Regional airport was visible…but no. There was a field where I landed once, spooking 3 sandhill cranes. I thought about trying a run up 31 north to Arcadia or jump the river and run North up 75, but i really had done what i wanted. Nice 30 mile XC. Looked at the cloud street east and thought about trying to fly back. Even with full speed bar i was not penetrating so i set up to land just east of the Fort Myers Power Plant in the last big field. Came straight down facing the wind, had a collapse at 100 ft, but it shook out. Landed. Roland called and offered to pick me up. Abel was somewhere on route following me. I packed up, hiked across 80 to the Moose Lodge and was accepted as a guest for a beer and got to show off my iPhone flight video. Roland thank you for the retrieve. Abel had a flight just a few miles short of mine. Luiss boy, Patrick, flew with us for the first time in 2 years.Welcome back. When we got back, the winds were gusting to 16 and the paddock was in a blue hole. Flight operations were cancelled. Photo of the group posted by Federico. Thanks Federico for the Tow. What a great day. There is a certain commitment to XC. Committing to walk our miles if you must. Commit to finding and letting go of dozens of safe landing fields as you find lift again and again. Commit to go with the wind as far as you can. Commit to hitch hike back or take a taxi if your buddies are busy flying themselves. Committing to unknown adventures on a flight of discovery. Commit to trusting your equipment to perform as it did in the SIV, when necessary. Commit to trusting your judgements as circumstances warrant. Commitment is everything in XC.
Posted on: Mon, 01 Dec 2014 04:22:21 +0000
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