This weekend...

Ewan · Post by **Ewan** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 10:14 am

Current forecasts look like there is a fair chance we are going to get a break from monsoon thunderstorms over the next 3 days with drier air moving in from the east at low levels and the upper high strengthening.

Is anyone around and interested in flying??? The forum has been dead for weeks!

Also I am planning to do another tandem PG tow event with Sean Buckner on the 25th and 26th, so feel free to come along and/or invite friends/family to give it a try! This time we will probably go to rainbow valley rather than san manuel.

Ewan
5202882946

John Wolfe · Post by **John Wolfe** » Thu Aug 09, 2012 4:24 pm

I'd like to fly at least one day this weekend, preferably from a cool mountain.

If we're going to Miller, it looks better (lighter winds, higher top of lift) on Sunday. We need to keep in mind the weekend closure of I-10 at AZ-90, making the trip down there and back through Sonoita the likely best bet.

Towing is always a possibility, but we need to chat with the winch operators to see if they're heading out and whether they have space.

A day trip to Mingus isn't entirely out of the question, so long as I don't have to do all the driving.

Who's available? Which days? Where do you want to go?

John Wolfe · Post by **John Wolfe** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 11:19 am

Ewan, Aaron S., Aaron C., Andy, Mike, and I are planning to fly somewhere tomorrow. Current thinking is Mt. Lemmon, towing in Rainbow Valley, or South Mountain, in descending order of preference.

Later this afternoon we'll get serious about looking at weather and make a decision this evening. I'll post here and send e-mail to those joining us when we have a plan.

John Wolfe · Post by **John Wolfe** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 6:34 pm

And, the answer is...Rainbow Valley. We're meeting at I-10 and Tangerine at 7:30 a.m. So far, we have Andy, Ewan, Mike, and me. That leaves room for one more pilot in comfort or two with a bit of squeezing or an extra seat in the back.

Ring me tonight before 10:00 p.m. or send e-mail to let me know whether you're planning to join us and whether you want to ride in my vehicle.

Whitney T · Post by **Whitney T** » Sat Aug 11, 2012 7:27 pm

Squeezing in with you pilots sounds fun, sorry can't make it. Be safe, good flights. Looks like we may be going to Miller next Saturday...

John Wolfe · Post by **John Wolfe** » Mon Aug 13, 2012 9:45 am

It was hot, like 116.

Andy, Mike, and I headed to Rainbow Valley, arriving around 10:00 a.m. with a plan of getting Mike some morning thermals before the LZ started popping, and Andy and I would then get up and away, preferably with one launch each.

Oddly it didn't work out that way. Mike had three great flights including the flight of the day (by duration and altitude), while Andy and I managed two a piece with neither of us getting up and away. I topped out around 5500 in butter-smooth but couldn't get any higher.

We called it a day around 1:30 p.m. and headed home.

Did I mention it was hot?