Pizza in the Parking Lot
The first contest day of a National Championship is always a mixture of anxious anticipation, weather anxiety, joy, fear and a combination of all four. Today our Airbnb coven (sorry we are watching the Acolyte on Disney Plus), went to the airport armed with the knowledge that we were well prepared for the day. Strategy was discussed, ships prepared over the last 3 days and spirits were high. Soon as we walked out of the door, all that dissipated. Overcast skies and blowing winds put a damper on our happiness. Water was put in our ships expecting the winds to die down slightly and the cloud bases to gain some height. Soon it was off to the Mandatory Safety meeting in the Cowboy Museum auditorium.
Our CD John Lubon started the presentation going over all the items that we need to do to be safe. We also had the FAA from the local tower stop by and give us an explanation on the procedures to follow within the Class D airspace surrounding the Hobbs Municipal Airport. They do have commercial traffic going into this airport, so we have to be extra careful. Our contest staff did find a very satisfactory answer to the dilemma and all the pilots were briefed on the process. Many questions were answered, and that meeting was concluded.
Now we have the normal pilots meeting touching base with all the staff members. Operations (Melissa Indrebo) went over how well the new kids were doing and that their learning curve was sharply going up. The tow pilots briefed the planned flight path and told us of some changes to the procedures that were well received by the pilots. In high density altitude environments, heavy gliders and tow pilots need to be on the same page of flying procedures. Luckily, we have a great team and I’m sure we will have a very successful contest. Retrieve thanked all the folks that helped return all the ships that landed out the other day back to Hobbs. Kerry Huffstutler thanked Chris Carter and her team for their involvement in the registration process. Richard Kellerman started the weather brief, but no one could hear him. In some regards, that was a blessing. Soon as we sorted out the technical difficulties, his presentation did not bring confidence in the day. Our Scorer was the best. He relayed that we did a good job getting all the logs in timely with the proper logging interval. You have to understand, this brief was via Zoom and it was a video of Tom Pressley’s office. In the background was another desk that was totally covered in papers and books. Someone mentioned about the mess and Tom responded that the desk was his wife’s. We expect Tom will be delivering his scorer’s brief from the hospital tomorrow.
Soon we left the Cowboy Museum which highlights the cowboys from the Hobbs area and their accomplishments. You should stop by and visit when in Hobbs. On the grid, gliders were positioned, and the wait began. Someone compared the grid process as a pixie dust spreader on a tilt-a-whirl. Just ask AG what that meant. However, the process was complete, and everyone returned to shade to wait for the CD’s orders. First launch was expected by 12:30 but the weather folks did not get the memo. It wasn’t until 1:15 before the 15-Meter Class was sent into the air. The takeoffs did not exude confidence in the pilots left on the ground. High winds around 20mph gusting to 29mph were common but they were right down the runway heading.
One of our young adults suffered a rolled ankle on the first launch and was expertly taken care of by Laura Lubon. Poor “Mini” Cooper may be out for the rest of the contest. He was really bummed; we will miss his help. We will just give him a Jolly Rancher and hope that he will recover quickly.
With the 15 Meter Class airborne, the rest of the fleet awaited the signal to launch. Communication with the ships airborne soon brought word that the criteria that the CD set to have a safe contest day was not going to be met, so the day was cancelled for all classes. The temperature of the ramp was reduced by at least 20 degrees with all the water being dumped on the concrete as the ships were being returned to parking.
Soon, the Papa 7 Brewery was opened on the ramp and Josh was playing a mix of 80’s and 90’s music. Melissa was giving out bags of very delicious, but very bad for you, potato chips and crackers. Gary tapped his Vienna Lager (my favorite), and the party had commenced. Tomorrow has been declared a no-fly day so we will have a rules input meeting at the Cowboy Museum at 9:30am conducted by the Rules Committee Chairman, Andy Blackburn.
Since there were no social plans for the night, the contest pilots decided to go to the “Wood Fire Pizza’s” truck location and have a genuine craft pizza. Alexa Owen is well known by all the contest pilots. She previously worked in the SSA home office and took great care of all of us in membership and contest support. She and her husband opened a truck pizza business and has made plans to open a brick-and-mortar pizza restaurant in Hobbs. Everyone really enjoyed the variety of the offerings and Alexa dropped by to give us some personal attention. Sitting around the parking lot enjoying our pizza, I asked some of the folks what they thought of the day. You know you are talking to crew when the comments begin with “perfect temperature for the contest” when the reason for the cooler temperatures was the sky was completely overcast. “Best day ever!” since the temperature was under 100 degrees for the first time in the last 4 days. The pilots knew this is a marathon and not a sprint. Days will come with speeds in the high 90’s or over 100mph. Our CD will give us challenging tasks and the Club Class folks will enjoy the experience. For me, I’m happy to be around some of the finest pilots in the US, to share in an experience that no matter how we do, it is supremely satisfying. Right now, we are all happy to be tied for first place and look forward to the next 9 days.
That is all I have for tonight. Team 98 and AG are going to pop a beer and watch the latest episode of the Acolyte before getting some rest in preparation for the rules meeting tomorrow.
Cheers,
Rich Owen
ZO, former Team 98 Backseater