Yabadabado

Going to any glider contest, pilots and crews know they will make multiple trips to Walmart, Home Depot, Lowes, and before they went out of business, Radio Shack.  The fiscal impact on these stores can be seen in the jump in their stock prices after a national soaring contest.  But few folks know the kindness of the crews that go to Walmart while the pilots are flying.  Today, we had a crew member walking to do some shopping for her husband when an older lady was bending down under her car.  She soon found out that a kitten was hiding under the car and would not come out.  So, our intrepid crew member went in to the store and bought a blanket and some cat food.  She was able to lure the cat out from under the car and it was rescued. 

At the pilots meeting, our weatherman Richard Kellerman told of another great day of flying but also gave us a warning that it may be a totally blue day.  Some of the locals didn’t believe him based on their knowledge of the area.  Too often we ask people to be the weatherman without having the local knowledge of the site.  Luckily, Richard is a great weatherman and gave us all the information we needed to fly a fantastic flight.  His warning of the possibility of a blue day was the only error in the forecast.  After 12pm cloud bases were expected to be 11-12,000ft with lift in the 5-6kt range.  Up to the north where the CD was sending us, the cloud bases were expected to rise to 14,000ft and lift increasing to 6-8kts. 

Everyone left the pilots meeting, which is held in the local Junior College, in a happy mood.  How many times do you attend a soaring event where the meeting is indoors and in air-conditioning? We were lucky to have that in Kansas but I’ll trade an air-conditioned room for 14,000ft cloud bases.  But no one could beat the cinnamon rolls from the Carriage Crossing Restaurant and Bakery that the Kansas Soaring Association provided every day.  Pete and I decided to visit Walmart to increase the fiscal impact on the local economy.  Since Starbucks was almost in the same parking lot, I had to get a cappuccino and a cheese danish to complete my Friday ritual.

After the ships were gridded, the pilots and crews were trying to stay cool and finish their pre-flight tasks.  Besides the human element, we do have a number of dogs on the property.  These four-legged family members are as much a part of a soaring contest as the pilots.  At the pilot meetings in Perry when a pilot wins and is announced, Heinz Weissenbuehler’s dog Curtis barks to show his approval.  At the Seniors for several years my Jack Russell Skipper would stand over the cash box during registration to guard the money.  Well Tony Smolder’s dog Bella always wants to see her master and best friend.  Much to the surprise of Edy, who was walking down the RV line, she saw Bella behind the wheel of Tony’s RV.  She took a picture and I hope it makes it on the contest Facebook page.

Our CD, Marshall McClung, was sending the pilots of both classes on roughly the same task.  The 15-meter kids were sent on a TAT from Start A, Littlefield, Caprock Station, Portales, and Finish.  They had circles of 20, 20 and 30km’s around the turnpoints.  Open class had an assigned task.  Once the launch began, the Cu started to appear in the distance.  One of the first to launch was Dick Butler and Concordia.  It wasn’t too long after that we saw this big winged beauty in the landing pattern for a relight.  Dick took a page out of Jae Walker’s playbook but more on that latter.  Rich Sheppe jumped in the DB crew van and speedily made his way to help Dick get launched again.  For all the classes, the first leg proved to be the difference between the podium and somewhere else.  The direct line had some Cu but they were widely separated.  If one or two of them did not work, you risked getting low.  The other choice was to deviate well to the left of course to the cloud field.  That was the safe bet but all the winners chose the risker course and the Cu worked fine.  However, there were some pilots who got caught on this leg. 

The second leg to Caprock Station was a little slow until you were within 30km of the turnpoint.  There the cloudbase went back up and the lift was better. Going to Portales and home was like a drag race.  Many who thermaled in less than 7-9kts were passed.  Lift was so strong, everyone was cinching down their shoulder harness to keep from hitting the canopy!!

You would never know that the skies over Hobbs could be dangerous, but they were today.  With most of the pilots recently watching the movie Top Gun Maverick, the fighter pilots in the contest reverted back to the old days.  While in a thermal, Danny Sorenson an ex Air Force F-16 pilot, was in the unenviable position of being right in front of a Navy F-18 pilot in the Team 98 ship.  A guns tracking call was made over the contest frequency.  Danny was very gracious in acknowledging the kill when on the ground.  I’m sure that got some chuckles from the pilots.

Final glide was very easy for most pilots.  We did have a couple of landouts without any damage.  I should mention that we have a Libelle flying along in the 15-meter class.  Tony Turiano from my home area is here to gain some experience.  We do not have conditions like this in Florida and he is trying to get his 500k flight in this contest.

In 15-meter class, Rick Indrebo won the day flying 165kph over 578km’s.  Second place was Ken Sorenson with Erik Nelson in third.  Open class was led by Dick Butler proving that if you want to win a class, just relight.  Jae Walker and Dick both won days after a relight.  Dick flew 512km’s at 166kph.  In second place was Dan Mockler, continuing his fine flying after winning the first day.  In third place was Jim Lee.  There is still a lot of flying to be had in this historic soaring site.  It is still anyone’s contest.

Tonight, the SSA office staff sponsored a dinner and deserts.  The green chili enchilada, Mexican rice, beans, salad and desert were are prepared by the SSA staff.  It was wonderful dinner and it was nice to renew friendships with the folks we only talk to on the phone.  P7 Taproom was on the premises with Gary’s famous Miss Turnpoint Pale Ale on tap.  His wheat beer was also available but Miss Turnpoint is my favorite.

Well, it is late again.  Tomorrow is expected to be another rocking flying day and some are looking at the rules to see when a rest day must be called.  Quite a difference from most contests we fly in.  We will see you later.  Good night and have a super weekend.

Cheers,

Rich Owen
Team 98 Backseater