Last day of August at 47N- pt 1
Posted: Sun Aug 31, 2008 9:49 pmThere was a blustery NE wind early this afternoon, so we were staging at the approach end of 07; a first for me. Unlike at the other end, the arriving traffic (although known) seems to come out of nowhere over the much-closer trees. At one point I thought to myself "what's that on final? sounds like a freight train..."
It was a freight train...
A big plus to staging here is that the RC/ultralight/banner ops field is right next door. Here's a husky turning final for a pick up...
An instant away from snagging the banner- Full power and stick all the way back, rather abruptly. There's a reason why they do this...
...here's what the banner does when it finally comes off the ground. You can't level off low and/or early, or it'll drag and get snagged, maybe. The best way is to drag it straight up by leveling off quite high, but not far away.
This Bird Dog sports a more manageable rigid boom instead of a hook and line... note the cable for hauling it back against the fuselage when not in use.
A textbook pickup... This is part of why banner-towing can be dangerous work, and also why banner-tow pilots like this part the most.
Quite a show they put on while one is waiting to go up in the glider! 8-)
I got up just once today; a challenging takeoff and tow, but a good hour or so hunting some strong but devilish thermals. Newcomer Jeremy, 14, arrives after a lesson (last of the day, so they landed to the west) - note the full rudder to keep the glider from weathervaning (wind was from the glider's right).
next: part 2-visitors
It was a freight train...
A big plus to staging here is that the RC/ultralight/banner ops field is right next door. Here's a husky turning final for a pick up...
An instant away from snagging the banner- Full power and stick all the way back, rather abruptly. There's a reason why they do this...
...here's what the banner does when it finally comes off the ground. You can't level off low and/or early, or it'll drag and get snagged, maybe. The best way is to drag it straight up by leveling off quite high, but not far away.
This Bird Dog sports a more manageable rigid boom instead of a hook and line... note the cable for hauling it back against the fuselage when not in use.
A textbook pickup... This is part of why banner-towing can be dangerous work, and also why banner-tow pilots like this part the most.
Quite a show they put on while one is waiting to go up in the glider! 8-)
I got up just once today; a challenging takeoff and tow, but a good hour or so hunting some strong but devilish thermals. Newcomer Jeremy, 14, arrives after a lesson (last of the day, so they landed to the west) - note the full rudder to keep the glider from weathervaning (wind was from the glider's right).
next: part 2-visitors