One Hundred MPH Again

This has been a good experience for a flat land flyer.  First, I had the opportunity to fly the 20 Meter Nationals in Montague, California to experience mountain flying.  It might not be the Alps to you but for a Floridian where the highest terrain is 309ft above sea level, this is high.

Last night Team 89 was having a few adult cocktails outside their hotel room.  A lady came up to say hello and you would not believe who it was.  The SSA bookkeeper was moving from Hobbs to Salt Lake City where she was going to work remotely.   Could you ever imagine that in the middle of a National Championship we would run into an SSA staffer!

We are in a grove with the pilot’s meeting.  Short, concise, and to the point.  We are able to get everything ready for the trip to the runway at 11am when the airport is NOTAM closed.  We do have enough time to socialize on the runway while waiting for our grid time of 12pm.  During this time, I discovered I am really old.  Our newest Standard Class National Champion does not know who Jimmy Buffett is.  All of us on the grid started singing the entire album of “Songs You Should Know by Heart”.  Can you understand how an American young adult doesn’t know this wonderful musician!  I have to give David a call and talk to him about his son.

The launch began shortly after 12:45 and by 13:40 the start gate was opened.  The big gaggle left around 14:20 with 17 ships.  I think John Seaborn has inherited the mantel from Karl Striedieck for the pilot that everyone wants to follow.  Our CD sent us on a 3:00 TAT that began at SW Start, Crispy, Drum Mountain, White Pines Peak and home.  Now the weather was not the best.  Storms started to pop up before the launch and the task zone appeared to be in jeopardy.  Once we got airborne, the task advisors recommended we continue which turned out to be the right decision.  The first leg to Crispy was fun.  A nice CU line appeared over the high terrain up to the center of the circle.  That is where the rain/hail started and the first decision point for the leaders to make.  If you went to the back of this turn, you did better overall.  By the time I got there, hail had appeared and I turned early.  ZO holds a grudge if I beat her up.  The leg to Drum Mountains makes you cross a seemingly unlandable area that terminates with some smaller ridges that normally are lift generators.  The leaders were able to string a couple of clouds together to make it to the other side higher than everyone else.  The gaggle was smaller but there were enough help along the way with markers to keep the leaders fast.  There were good clouds over the ridges and you were able to get up enough to make the trip across the sand again.  The leg to White Pine Peak is where the leader credits two 10kt thermals that were marked by other pilots.  This boost gave him a good lead on the rest.  The turnpoint was near the first and the rain was still there.  Rick Indrebo took a great line though the rain to finish really well.  The final glide was a real barn burner.  A cloud street formed that took you back home under increasing energy and happy faces.  In the end we had another day that saw winner’s speeds over 100 mph again. 

When the scores were finally revealed Rick Indrebo was in third, Sean Fidler in second and Robbin Clark finished first with a distance of 484.36km at a speed of 161.45kph (100.32mph).  Congratulations Robin for showing that flatland flyers can still win in the mountains.   We still have a long way to go and this contest can be won by almost anyone.  Stay turned and we will do our best to let you know what is going on in Nephi. 

Cheers,

Rich Owen
ZO