Day 1 Report

Hi Race fans,
So the Mifflin Region 2 contest kicked off in Central Pennsylvania with a practice day on Saturday and a gang buster first competition day on Sunday. The practice day was very informal and not everyone flew as it was kind of dreary at grid time. About 20 people had pushed down and all were waiting for someone to be the sacrificial lamb. We tried hard to convince W3 to be first, but he just laughed at us. As I was riding the golf cart back to the ramp to get my tow plane, alas here comes SM pushing down to join the fray. I told him to stay in the middle of the runway at the front and I would get him first. His words were “oh sure, they want me to be the sniffer” Of course we did, who better to accomplish this task? He happily obliged us and soon everyone gridded up for a practice day tow. The conditions were
not very conducive to a flight anywhere except very close and soon many landed back. About half an hour after most came back; the wind kicked up and made the ridge work great. John Good and Eric Mann had very nice late afternoon flights and the rest who managed to stay up reported the same. It was a short day for sure and no one really went anywhere, but all those who did reported having a good
time.

Sunday the first day lit up early with crisp cool air, cu already popping at the 9:30 pilots meeting and northwest winds starting at the same time. The grid time was set as 12 noon and the launch started promptly at 12:15. True ridge days at Mifflin ALWAYS tax the abilities of the tow pilots and today was not an exception. Monte Sullivan, who has flown many missions on the back of the rope here, was in the
HH Pawnee and he reported to me later and I quote “if that is what every ridge day is here, you guys earn your pay” I laughed because we know what to expect, he got a new appreciation for what it takes for glider pilots to have a good day.

The classes were all tasked on the same MAT with 3 turn points then go where you wish with a maximum of 11. Most came back and stated they could have stayed up longer except they ran out of turn points. The day was won by SM John Seymour, UH Hank Nixon and XC Sean Murphy. All reported nice flights but as is the case with ridge days, they got beat around pretty good.

Today is nothing like yesterday. We are sitting under cloudy skies and light rain and after 2 pilots meetings CD Marshall Mc Clung has canned this day. All are free to visit local shops, go fishing or whatever else they please. We are back here tonight at 6:00 for an evening meal and hopefully better skies tomorrow. I will report all week on all the news that is fit to print and maybe a little that isn’t.

Brian Glick