St. Helena

We had an exceptionally good day for this late in the year. Clouds forming and 350 fpm up to cloudbase. I should have taken some pictures near the clouds. Leo Jones I believe on his T2 154

Kurt flew in from Cloverdale and hung out with us for awhile before motoring back.

St Helena

Kurt on VX heading for the south knob. Can I catch him?

You bet. My T2C 144 has good speed and great performance. Can't wait for primetime next year, some site records will be broken!! Flew for 1:35 mns then landed at Janes. She came out and chatted with us for awhile What a pleasant person she is.

The Grade

Justin Miller gets his first Grade flight. Wills Wing T2C

A fun flight.

Mosquito Landing

Kurt Bainum coming in to land at Cloverdale airport on VX

Nice flare in light winds.

Mingus Mt.

This was my first time at Mingus. It is a great site. The AHGA has done alot of work to secure and improve it. This is at the top of the concrete ramp

The ramp for hanggliders. Paragliders have there own launch a short distance farther down the ridge which is very nice.

Looking toward Cottonwood and Sedona in the background at the base of the cliffs.

Looking S toward Phoenix.

Standing on the ramp looking back toward the gated private campground for pilots. It is awesome. I stayed for a week. I'll go back next year for sure.

Mingus Mt. to Sedona AZ.

This is NE toward Sedona at the base of the cliffs to the right. 23 Mi. Flagstaff is in front of Humphreys Peak in the back left about 45mi. from Mingus

This photo was taken from about 14000' looking back toward Mingus Mt. which is under the tip of my wing. Bruce Bousfield, KM, Patrick Kruse and myself flew. KM and Bruce couldn't find the lift and landed at Cottonwood airport. The goal was Sedona to get to fly the red rock cliffs it's famous for.

The cliffs are beautiful. This is looking SE toward Sedona. The airport is the brown spot in the right background .

I worked good lift in front of the cliffs but couldn't get high enough to make the airport.

I flew back to the cliffs to the left and spotted a nice place to land...Cont'd
(older posts) this blog only allows 5 photos per post.

Mingus to Sedona...cont'd

I landed on the driving range at Seven Canyons golf club

I landed just on the other side of the practice green

I carried to the shade to break down. They were very relaxed about it and I went in and bought a beer at the bar.

Patrick Kruse coming in to land with me

He was a little long and landed on the green. I forgot to pull the pins! No hole in one.

New Wing

I came in so fast I blew my harness and helmet clean off! Nailed the spot though, she handles sweet. Got my first Wills Wing glider through Alan Paylor at King Mountain Gliders. Super deal. I'm loving it.

Sweetwater

KM and I flying Sweetwater

Mt Patterson in the background.

King Mt. 09

Lisa, firing up the pilots meeting.

KM, I thought I died and went to heaven.

Storm over King Mt.from Craters of the Moon, the day after the comp. We were glad to not be flying near this one.

This storm has to be 35 miles wide and extend upwards to 25000 or more feet. We are 40 miles away when I took these pics.

Birdman and KM

KM setting up the T2 on Cloudbuster launch near Yosemite Valley

Gary Glendenning (Birdman) Driving for us this day. This launch is about 5 miles west of the park. We're hoping to make the crossing of the Sierra from here one of these days.

Indian Valley

The valley from Clement ranch looking SW

Was thinking of a mosquito flight but the winds didn't cooperate.

Beautiful country. I flew from the Burn launch to Lassen with a little help from the mosquito power harness. Got that flight on video but haven't sat down and figured out how to download it yet.