Let's Go Drive a Tank
We are having another great morning in Uvalde Texas. Temperatures were in the low 80’s, humidity was low, but that unfortunately means lower altitudes and absolutely no cu. On the flight line this morning, we had another glider competition of sorts. Our small friend brought out two styrofoam gliders and corralled both me and Mellisa Indrebo to a flying challenge. Well Melissa did way better than me, but the young Fidler kicked both of our butts. Where do you think he got that competitive spirit?
At the pilots meeting, humor seemed to be a recurring theme. When David Greenhill got up to give his winners speech for 18 meter, he spoke about the difference in flying in England compared to Texas. The temperatures were 20C in England but 40C in Texas, cloudbase was 5k there but here they were 10k and lift was 3-4 in the UK but here it was 6-10 knots. Everything is twice as big in Texas. Jim Lee had to do the safety talk and he started off talking about his flight. Then he said, oops, wrong speech. At the end, Victoria spoke to us about the things we could do in and around Uvalde. She had been on the board for the city of Uvalde and was very knowledgeable about everything in the area. She talked about the 4 rivers where you could go rafting, but the rivers are a little low. The historical items of interest were also brought up. Then she talked about our ability to drive a tank and fire the main tank gun with live ammo. That got the pilot’s attention! Back slapping and promises to meet you at the range were heard all over the auditorium. Then she told us about the Ox Ranch. This is a place where you can hunt wild hogs from a helicopter. Only in Texas can you do this. Of course, Adam Woolley asked where he could buy an official Texas cowboy hat and Victoria gave him the name of a store that could fix him up. Adam, you must know there is a book on cowboy etiquette that discusses all the rules about owning a real cowboy hat. In Texas, if you do not follow the rules, cowboys carry guns.
The weather forecast for the day was for very blue skies and lower than normal top of lift. The eyes were rolling when Fernando broke the news. Things got even better when the task sheets went out and we found ourselves being tasked into the hill country for 20 Meter and 18 Meter Classes. The good thing was both classes got to share the first two legs so there were going to be plenty of markers. The Open Class received their task, and it was a valley mission in low, weak and severe blue conditions.
The racing task for the 18 Meter Class left from Start A, went to Toroso, Pleasanton, Rocksprings (hill country), Mafrige and then to the finish into an 18 mph wind on final glide. At the start, getting to the 6,000ft maximum start altitude was difficult. At about 1:47pm a large gaggle left the start for the first point. Even though there was very little lift in the immediate area of the start, the gaggle left fast. If you could get up to a good height, you left as soon as you could. It was impressive to see a good number of the 18-meter pilots all together and the 20 meter ships tagging along. Today was not a day to venture off on your own. Climbs were only 3-4 knot range up to 6,500ft. The second leg was still blue, but the climbs started to get better, averaging 5-6 knots to 7,000ft. Then the 18- and 20-meter classes split to different turnpoints. Going to Rocksprings some of the pilots had difficulty if you went direct. Most of the gaggle made a big deviation to a cloud field to the north. Misery loves company. That proved to be a good idea and that is what the winners did. Mafrige and the final glide was not bad at all. A few pilots got to 10,000ft which was almost final glide to Uvalde. We had one landout at an airport up in the hill country which is a smart thing to do. Off field landing opportunities in that area are tough to come by, just ask Sean Fidler. In the end, task speeds were pretty high for the conditions they were flying in. In third place was Sean Murphy with Bob Fletcher in second. Jerzy Szemplinski won the day at a speed of 78.05 over 312 miles.
The 20 meter class, our racing task went from the same start line as the 18 meter class and the first two turnpoints. The third turnpoint was Cinco B and then Rocksprings, Leona and Finish. For a description of the flight, just read the first two legs of the 18 meter class, we were right in the middle of the gaggle. After Pleasanton it got very lonely. Team 98 flew with 1 and AXC for a few miles and then split off. The run to Cinco B was a little weak but conditions got a lot better the further you went into the hill country. Climbing to 10,000ft and lift in the 6-8 knot range was common. However, if you got low, it was not a good feeling. Heading into Rocksprings we were able to climb above the inversion and nearly had final glide from a long way out. It was a great day until the score sheet came out and we were beat by .6mph. Oh well, we both had a lot of fun. In third place was Team Barry Jaeger and Dick Andrews with Team 98, Pete Alexander and some nut from Florida finished in second. In first place, again, was Adam Woolley and Pulkkinen covering the 293 miles at 69.17mph handicapped. On the bright side, the other 20 meter pilots have logged 3 more hours of flying at the contest. Just ask Adam why. 😊
In Open Class, I promised I would treat them better today. Their task went from Start E, La Esperansa, Triple B, Pasario, Chaparrosa, Anacacho and Finish. This racing task was 343 miles long and was entirely in the valley. Their first leg was very slow, into the blue and a radio call went out on task in the blind, “oh this is going to be fun”. By the second leg, wisps start to appear along the wind line and climb average increased to the 6-7 knot range. Keith Essex got ahead of everyone (imagine that), but Jim Lee was running the gang down. On the third leg, John Cockrane and his EB-29 became disconnected from the higher altitudes and got a little low. Before long he found an 11 knot thermal and he was back in the game, but Jim Lee was still coming. On the 4th leg, the three amigos (Keith, John and Jim were together and working together for the 100 mile leg in the blue. The final leg was not bad and everyone made it safely home. We should note, Jeff Banks is also part of the Open Class and has flown these monster tasks very well. Jeff is relatively new to competitive soaring and Team 98 are proud to be his mentors. In the end John Cochrane finished in third place with Keith Essex in second. Jim Lee won the day covering the 343 mile racing task at 83.64mph. Just to let you know how close all these pilots were, the speed differential from 1st to third was .37mph. All you engineers out there, tell me how much time in a thermal circle would make that difference in speed over 343 miles.
Well, tomorrow is a rest day, and I may take the day to catch up on work. Unless someone brings me a story from the tank driving adventure or hog hunting from the air, we may not have a report tomorrow. Have a good night and safe everyone.
Sincerely,
Rich Owen
Team 98 Backseater