Personal best at Mustang today!

azwyatt · Post by **azwyatt** » Tue Dec 29, 2009 8:09 pm

I did my personal best at Mustang today! 1 hr 55 min. Highest altitude was 7500 feet. I would have posted but considering the forecast called for a 20% chance of rain I didn't think anyone else would have been up for it. But I haven't had a free flight since my last Mustang adventure so I figured I'd at least see the weather there for myself. I brought my RC plane out just in case I didn't want to put my body in the air.

Weather Underground called for 8-10 mph SW winds between 8 and 11 so I showed up at around 8:30. There was a serious inversion, fog everywhere in the valley, and the wind was SSE and weak. So I waited until eleven when it seemed the wind was starting to shift W like it was supposed to and hiked up. The inversion burned off quickly, at least around the mountains I was planning to fly. The sky was totally clear. I figured the weather man must have been off by a few hours, remembering that it was supposed to clear up at dusk. Just after noon I hucked off and hit sink, barely made the LZ. There were SSW and W cycles on launch and I chose a W cycle. Bad decision, because it was followed by a SSW cycle which came over the southern spur and created sink on my side. I was pissed. A thousand foot climb for a four-minute sledder!

When I was packing up my wing I was blasted by two strong thermals,

which told me I should go ahead and eat lunch before continuing.

When I got back from lunch at 2 the sky was overcast with about 80-90% cloud cover and the wind was NW at about 8 mph at the LZ. Well, at least there were no wicked thermals to look out for. I guess the wind just wanted to skip right over the W direction that the forecast called for. I hiked up, knowing that I could use the north launch if it hadn't turned too north. Sure enough, it was perfect for a north launch. I wasn't too thrilled though, as it seemed the winds were too light to ridge soar.

I went ahead and launched anyway and was surprised to find my vario beeping at a decent rate. And then the BIG surprise came. I got away from the mountain, and it just kept beeping! I was getting gentle pockets of lift everywhere! Nothing at all alarming, and it never got me too close to cloudbase, but it was just magic! Pretty smooth, too. It lasted for probably forty minutes and got me a good 1500 over launch, then I was left with ridge lift which carried me for a little more than an hour after that. I finally got a chance to hit up Bruno. What a delight!

I can still feel myself floating around.

Here's a video.

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Scott · Post by **Scott** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:13 pm

Sweet. You just need to add a country western soundtrack.

Irina · Post by **Irina** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 7:35 pm

I just realized how selfish and self-centered you both are! Happy New Year! Have fun with your toys!

azwyatt · Post by **azwyatt** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 8:16 pm

Sorry I didn't invite you, Irina. I really didn't think anyone else would be up for it considering the forecast. That and I'm just a P2 and only had 11 hrs flight time and have only flown Mustang a handful of times--I'm not even close to being qualified to show anyone the site. You should fly it with at least a P3 and preferably someone who has flown there a lot more than me.

Irina · Post by **Irina** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:29 pm

I think you should post it before going there anyway then as everybody knows then that at least somebody flying at the site... I would go and even I have no car right now I have a friend who would drive me there... I can't do it alone and I know this site very much as I did flight there before... If you go to fly to the site it would be the best if you post it before going there even if you go there alone... I am kind of little negative here may be because I have a jalousie that you got such a nice flight... sorry... Happy New Year anyway!

morey · Post by **morey** » Wed Dec 30, 2009 9:54 pm

I've gotta side with Irina on this one.

We have a very small flying community in SoAZ. Always a good idea to post where you're going and when.

Both from a potential camaraderie point of view, and perhaps more importantly, a safety point of view.

azwyatt · Post by **azwyatt** » Thu Dec 31, 2009 12:08 pm

Yep, you guys are right. I hadn't thought about that--the fact that most people down south might like to take the opportunity to tag along for safety's sake. I'm just used to flying South Mtn, where there's always people around and quick medical response, so it didn't occur to me that most people in the SAHGA really try to avoid flying alone. As for my own safety, my girlfriend (in Tucson) knew where I was and when I was supposed to be back, and I have great cell phone reception all over that area. I appreciate everyone's concern and I'll definitely post before going next time.

azwyatt · Post by **azwyatt** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 8:46 pm

Hey Scott, I finally figured out how to put some music to it, so here goes:

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I'm fresh out of country/western though.

KenS · Post by **KenS** » Wed Jan 06, 2010 9:44 pm

...as Brad would say.

Another award.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zhJZXOWNdMM

Personal best at Mustang today!

Bitch'n...