Go Tony Go!
- Thread starter vontresc
- Start date
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
This link should go to the newspaper article that I wrote for the Falls City Journal. I just got the paper copies in the mail. Will someone let me know if it works? It won't open on my antique copy of IE6 that we have here at work.
http://www.fcjournal.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=228:soaring-to-falls-city&catid=71:general&Itemid=112
http://www.fcjournal.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=228:soaring-to-falls-city&catid=71:general&Itemid=112
Last edited:
Jeanie
Pattern Altitude
Yes, Tony, it worked - nice article too
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
my state records are finally showing up on the SSA's website. yippee!
CJones
Final Approach
vontresc
En-Route
Well Tony is at it again. This time it's the Diamond Goal flight. He's doing an 300k out and return flight. The really weird thing about this one is that Tony will have to make it back to the starting airport. No Landouts 
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0xSWzZKb2GVSEASvOr6Tx08EyO4mMDphc
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0xSWzZKb2GVSEASvOr6Tx08EyO4mMDphc
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Jason W (FlyNE)
Well Tony is at it again. This time it's the Diamond Goal flight. He's doing an 300k out and return flight. The really weird thing about this one is that Tony will have to make it back to the starting airport. No Landouts
http://share.findmespot.com/shared/faces/viewspots.jsp?glId=0xSWzZKb2GVSEASvOr6Tx08EyO4mMDphc
Does he even know how to find his way back to his home airport? From the air, I mean?
rottydaddy
En-Route
Well, I reckon if it's an out-and-return, all he has to do is go back the way he came.
Seriously, he probably at least has a wet compass and a chart (or at least a road map).
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
it was a really good flight, probably one of my best ever even though i didn't have quite enough altitude to finish the task. here is the trace, I'll write more later...
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1688698192
http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1688698192
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
well i did fly 6.5 hours yesterday on a 20 dollar tow and about 3/8 a tank of gas in my truck.
brcase
En-Route
Very cool, you surpassed my 6.4 hour flight last week a bit, but that was only because they were threating to turn off the BBQ if I didn't land soon.
Keep trying you will get the 300k. I am still working on getting my 500k in.
Brian
btw: mine was $70 tow, still pretty cheap flying though.
Keep trying you will get the 300k. I am still working on getting my 500k in.
Brian
btw: mine was $70 tow, still pretty cheap flying though.
Last edited:
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
yea this flight definitely proved that it can be done. It was a good soaring day but not a great day. definitely not as good as the forecast. I had the O2 bottle hooked up because I thought there was a real possibility I'd be spending a lot of time above 10K. I'm just going to keep trying Diamond Goal tasks on any day that isn't a downwind day. Downwind days are for 500 K flights
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
Here is the flight report:
I had a fun time skipping work yesterday. Declared a 300 km out and
return and took off at ~ 1PM. I made sure to get a valid start within
1 km of the start point on the opposite side of my course. Lift was
not as good as forecast but I was soon finding 4-5 knots up and
climbing to around 8000 feet.
I did get a little up close and personal with an Air Tractor at 4000
feet. I was surprised to see him up there but he saw me and went
around the thermal I was working.
There were several dust devils that helped mark the way across
Kansas. Lift was strong and often really rough. I occasionally got
brave enough to dive at a blistering 65-70 mph between thermals. I
rounded Hays about 4:30, making sure to spend enough time on the
opposite side of the airport to get a good trace over there, then
headed back. Things were starting to weaken and a big bunch of the
sky had gone blue. I knew my only hope was to beeline straight home
and figured I'd go as far as I could. Keeping a positive mental
attitude helped a lot as it really looked doubtful that I'd get very
far.
Flight home was characterized by long smooth glides followed by weak
smooth thermals. I did get one good climb over a country airport
about halfway home. That was my last of the 4 knot variety. After
that it was 1-2 knots. A couple of turky vultures marked a core for
me at one point which was most appreciated. I had been using a bit of
mental math and figuring my glide at about 25:1 as I flew in smooth
evening air. My last good climb had been at 6 PM. Usually I'm on the
ground by then. I kept finding these really weak, smooth thermals
every 5 to 10 miles and was slowly closing the gap on the airport. It
seemed like I might be able to actually make it. or at least there was
a chance.
I left the last thermal 15 or 20 miles out. I was right on the edge
of a 25:1 glide to the airport. Of course I had to go PAST the
airport to finish the goal flight so I knew I needed a few more bumps
to make it. As I got lower I started to fly like Dick Wolters in The
Sunship Game. "field by field by field" Well unfortunately this
tactic was going to require a change in tactic as all of the fields
along my course within about 4 miles of the airport were full of full
grown corn! I started to turn a bit east to try to approach the
airport from the north but quickly realized that it was highly
doubtful I was going to make the runway, let alone get a finish for
the flight.
I was set up well as I was on an extended base leg to a private
airport. I also had a few dirt fields around as options. I didnt
find any more bumps so I committed to the runway and turned final. Lo
and behold there is a Duster sitting next to the runway. Turns out my
friend Jerry had landed there as well, not having quite enough left to
get back home. At least I'd have company.
All in all it was a great flight and I learned alot. Keep in mind that
I've never flown a real out and return beyond maybe 20 miles from home
and have flown a declared goal flight.
I should've started earlier. I screwed around for a while after
takeoff trying to find some great lift before I set out on course. Of
course I didn't want to land out immediately and waste the whole day.
However I could've used those extra minutes at the end of the day. I
have a slow glider and have to take advantage of the entire day
Turns out this flight was my second longest distance and my longest
duration at a bit over 6.5 hours. Not too shabby! Here is the OLC
trace: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1688698192
I had a fun time skipping work yesterday. Declared a 300 km out and
return and took off at ~ 1PM. I made sure to get a valid start within
1 km of the start point on the opposite side of my course. Lift was
not as good as forecast but I was soon finding 4-5 knots up and
climbing to around 8000 feet.
I did get a little up close and personal with an Air Tractor at 4000
feet. I was surprised to see him up there but he saw me and went
around the thermal I was working.
There were several dust devils that helped mark the way across
Kansas. Lift was strong and often really rough. I occasionally got
brave enough to dive at a blistering 65-70 mph between thermals. I
rounded Hays about 4:30, making sure to spend enough time on the
opposite side of the airport to get a good trace over there, then
headed back. Things were starting to weaken and a big bunch of the
sky had gone blue. I knew my only hope was to beeline straight home
and figured I'd go as far as I could. Keeping a positive mental
attitude helped a lot as it really looked doubtful that I'd get very
far.
Flight home was characterized by long smooth glides followed by weak
smooth thermals. I did get one good climb over a country airport
about halfway home. That was my last of the 4 knot variety. After
that it was 1-2 knots. A couple of turky vultures marked a core for
me at one point which was most appreciated. I had been using a bit of
mental math and figuring my glide at about 25:1 as I flew in smooth
evening air. My last good climb had been at 6 PM. Usually I'm on the
ground by then. I kept finding these really weak, smooth thermals
every 5 to 10 miles and was slowly closing the gap on the airport. It
seemed like I might be able to actually make it. or at least there was
a chance.
I left the last thermal 15 or 20 miles out. I was right on the edge
of a 25:1 glide to the airport. Of course I had to go PAST the
airport to finish the goal flight so I knew I needed a few more bumps
to make it. As I got lower I started to fly like Dick Wolters in The
Sunship Game. "field by field by field" Well unfortunately this
tactic was going to require a change in tactic as all of the fields
along my course within about 4 miles of the airport were full of full
grown corn! I started to turn a bit east to try to approach the
airport from the north but quickly realized that it was highly
doubtful I was going to make the runway, let alone get a finish for
the flight.
I was set up well as I was on an extended base leg to a private
airport. I also had a few dirt fields around as options. I didnt
find any more bumps so I committed to the runway and turned final. Lo
and behold there is a Duster sitting next to the runway. Turns out my
friend Jerry had landed there as well, not having quite enough left to
get back home. At least I'd have company.
All in all it was a great flight and I learned alot. Keep in mind that
I've never flown a real out and return beyond maybe 20 miles from home
and have flown a declared goal flight.
I should've started earlier. I screwed around for a while after
takeoff trying to find some great lift before I set out on course. Of
course I didn't want to land out immediately and waste the whole day.
However I could've used those extra minutes at the end of the day. I
have a slow glider and have to take advantage of the entire day
Turns out this flight was my second longest distance and my longest
duration at a bit over 6.5 hours. Not too shabby! Here is the OLC
trace: http://www.onlinecontest.org/olc-2.0/gliding/flightinfo.html?flightId=1688698192
Attachments
Matthew
Touchdown! Greaser!
Great pictures - and a nice writeup.
That's a long day of work that you had.
That's a long day of work that you had.
Great flight and great report, Tony. To all others, Tony is doing it right. You get good at flying gliders cross country, but going out and flying gliders cross country.
Trouble is if Tony gets his Gold badge before I get my ATP, I'll be buying. Oh well.
BTW, my longest glider flight was 71/2 hours...and I landed out
Trouble is if Tony gets his Gold badge before I get my ATP, I'll be buying. Oh well.
BTW, my longest glider flight was 71/2 hours...and I landed out
AdamZ
Touchdown! Greaser!
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Adam Zucker
Tony that sounds pretty exciting. Do you have to delcare your attempt before you make it with regard to gliding badges? If you flew the distance without declaring it would it count?
rottydaddy
En-Route
I'd say you did pretty well... at least you wound up at an airport.
jmcsherry
Pre-Flight
I'd say you did pretty well... at least you wound up at an airport.
On a task like that, an airport landing is icing on the cake.
tonycondon
Gastons CRO (Chief Dinner Reservation Officer)
adam -
for the diamond goal flight, the flight must be a 300 km closed course and the route declared before takeoff. In fact for all FAI records and badge flights which involve a closed course, the flight must be declared before takeoff. However for Silver and Gold Distance you can fly straight out (free distance) and as long as you land 50 km or 300 km away from your start point it qualifies, no declaration required.
so, if I had flown to Hays and back without declaring it, no, i wouldn't have been able to apply for the badge leg.
for the diamond goal flight, the flight must be a 300 km closed course and the route declared before takeoff. In fact for all FAI records and badge flights which involve a closed course, the flight must be declared before takeoff. However for Silver and Gold Distance you can fly straight out (free distance) and as long as you land 50 km or 300 km away from your start point it qualifies, no declaration required.
so, if I had flown to Hays and back without declaring it, no, i wouldn't have been able to apply for the badge leg.