January 7th, 2007
Dear pilots and friends,
Our Ryan’s dinner Saturday night was a real success for being a first. 15 people and a lot of paragliding talk. We also had Douglas’ live stories about flying in Hawaii. We will definitely schedule another BBQ at APE or dinner somewhere else in February.
During the week, Dirk and I went to Currahee Mountain, next to Toccoa, and only 25 minutes from the school.
I had already been there before checking it out and decided that flying was possible with S to SE winds.
We got there and the wind was ESE. I was not feeling well, so it was Dirk’s chance to proof he had the right to have that “Cliff Launch” special skill sign off in his USHGA card. He did perfect on this extremely small take off. Two steps and he was airborne after choosing the perfect cycle.
Only 600 feet of vertical, and not a lot of chances to find lift, so after a 3 minute flight, he was landed. Of course, as you are watching from the take off, you always think “I could have done it better” J
Some birds were actually soaring and thermalling. Anyway, Dirk’s goal was to have a safe launch and a safe landing and he managed both at an at least P-3 perhaps P-4 site.
Hang Gliders used to fly here long time ago according the land owners at the LZ. Friendly people and seemed to be happy to see someone flying.
There is a high voltage power line, between the take off and the landing site. If you are short to the LZ, you have to land in a pasture that is literally crossed on one corner by this power line.
The site is not regulated, and we don’t even know if flying is allowed from Currahee Mountain, but in any case, it is not a training site for students or P-2 pilots, as it is right now. So, we need to keep searching …
We had 3 new students last weekend. Welcome Mark, Ariel and Luis. Our weekend was pretty good for training, but the SW wind did not allow as using the long runaway and therefore, no interesting flights were done.
I can’t wait to be able to post the first flight over ½ an hour for some P-1 or P-2 pilot !
Our tentative schedule for this next week according to the weather forecasts will be as follows:
Monday, January 15th OPEN
Tuesday, January 16th CLOSED
Wednesday, January 17th OPEN
Thursday, January 18th CLOSED
Friday, January 19th OPEN
Saturday, January 20th OPEN
Sunday, January 21st OPEN
If the weather is not good during the weekend, we will do a lot of classroom work. Most of our students are still missing some important pieces of information.
And don't forget that we will be posting daily news and updated schedules on our WEB site. If you haven't already discovered the Schedule page it's at http://www.atlantaparagliding.com/schedule.html
Have a great day,
Luis
January 7th, 2007
Dear pilots and friends,
This is our second newsletter and we hope you are all finding it
informative. We have some exciting trips, friendly competition details,
and our usual weekly schedule to announce this week.
First announcement is about a wee trip that Luis is taking to the
Dominican Republic at the end of January (24th through 29th). It's not
an organized school trip so the cost will be minimal. He's going down
to scout out some sites, enjoy some warm weather, and do as much flying
as possible. If you want to go along and get more details, give Luis a
call at (404) 931-3793. It should be a good time!
Our second announcement is a maneuvers course that Luis is holding in
Bariloche,Argentina February 4th through February 10th! Maneuvers
courses are a fantastic way to get in touch with your glider and gain
confidence. You'll learn how to deal with deflations, spins, surges and
most importantly, how to be a more active and safer pilot! If you want
to fly in thermic conditions, go cross-country, or just learn a lot
about your glider and be a safer pilot, attend this course! The cost is
$370 and includes transportation to and from your hotel, and to other
flying sites once the "over the water" part of the week is over.
It's in Spanish, but you can find more information
athttp://www.magic7.com.ar/cursos/programaseguridad7.html
Our last announcement is closer to home and will be of interest to
everyone who flies at the APE flight park. It's the 2007 XC, endurance,
and Paramotor competition! The details are below:
XC competition
- January 1st to December 31st 2007
- For pilots from any level excluding Atlanta Paragliding instructors.
- GPS track log will be required and launch needs to be done at Atlanta
Paragliding.
- Out and returns will score double the actual miles flown.
- Retrieves will be provided at the end of the day.
- Prizes:
Longest flight of the year = $1,000 or a free GRADIENT ASPEN 2.
Second longest flight of the year = $500 or a free GRADIENT harness.
Third longest flight of the year = $100 or two 12 tow packages at
Atlanta Paragliding.
Endurance competition
- January 1st to December 31st 2007
- For pilots up to P-2 level at the moment they make the flight.
- Launch and landing must be at Atlanta Paragliding Training Center.
- Flight time needs to be certified by instructor or tow operator.
- Prizes:
Longest flight of the year = $500 or 60% discount on a GRADIENT GOLDEN
2
Second longest flight of the year = $300 or 40% discount on a GRADIENT
GOLDEN 2
Third longest flight of the year = $100 or two 12 tow packages at
Atlanta Paragliding
Paramotor Out and Return XC Competition
- January 1st to December 31st 2007
- For pilots from any level excluding Atlanta Paragliding instructors.
- GPS track log will be required and launch and landings need to be
done at AtlantaParagliding.
- Limited to onboard fuel only without modifications.
- Retrieves will only be provided within a 20 mile radius from Atlanta
Paragliding at the end of the day.
- Prizes:
Longest flight of the year = $500 or 60% discount on a new GRADIENT
Taurus
Second longest flight of the year = $300 or 40% discount on a new
GRADIENT Taurus
Third longest flight of the year = $100 or 20% discount on a new
Adventure FunFlyer trike.
General rules:
- No entry fee is required.
- Pilots can fly as many days as they want during the year.
- Camping is free for registered pilots.
- Tow packages or individual tows will have a 10% discount for
competitors.
- Retrieves at the end of the day (if needed) will cost $30 for XC
competitors.
- Only one prize per pilot will be distributed. If the same pilot
qualifies for two or more prizes, the next scored pilot
will get the
prize.
- Atlanta Paragliding instructors will be included in scoring but will
not receive prizes.
Our tentative schedule for this next week according to the weather
forecasts will be as follows:
Monday, January 8th CLOSED
Tuesday, January 9th CLOSED
Wednesday, January 10th OPEN
Thursday, January 11th OPEN
Friday, January 12th OPEN
Saturday, January136th OPEN
Sunday, January 14th OPEN
And don't forget that we will be posting daily news and updated
schedules on our WEB site. If you haven't already discovered the
Schedule page it's athttp://www.atlantaparagliding.com/schedule.html
January 1st, 2007
Dear pilots and friends,
Tomorrow we will be starting a new year and we at Atlanta Paragliding
would like to wish you many happy flights in 2007!
Our tentative schedule for this next week according to the weather
forecasts will be as follows:
Monday, January 1st OPEN
Tuesday, January 2nd OPEN
Wednesday, January 3rd OPEN
Thursday, January 4th Closed
Friday, January 5th Closed
Saturday, January 6th OPEN
Sunday, January 7th OPEN
We will be posting daily news and updated schedules on our WEB site. If
you haven't already discovered the Schedule page it's at
http://www.atlantaparagliding.com/schedule.html
News from the last week:
I must say that I am almost astonished with the flying conditions I
found in Georgia and the East Coast in general. First because of the
great amount of flyable days we have and second because of the
conditions we still have even during our shortest days of the year.
Last Wednesday I drove to North Carolina with Marcos to visit Burkemont
and Moore Mountain. It was Marcos' birthday. We met Bob, Lourens, Willy
and Bill at Burkemont launch. There was a very light cross wind
condition, and probably on a North looking face, at this time of the
year, it would have just been a sled ride. The forecast had shown light
west winds rotating south.
We headed to Moore Mountain where Paul showed up. The wind was a little
stronger here, but also cross. The South facing slope and sunny day
helped though.
I took off, and after 15 minutes of trying to work the turbulent and
disorganized thermals, managed to climb 2.500 feet above launch. The
lapse rate was great, and my hands were freezing while I was climbing
at 900 feet per minute peaks. I decided to go down and try to land at
the take off, while radioing everybody that the air was pretty
turbulent. Bob was flying and I didn't feel comfortable with Lourens
and Marcos being airborne yet since it was going to be their first
mountain flight. After a 40 minute flight and 3 attempts I managed to
top-land. I know Bill does not feel comfortable in turbulent air
either, and I asked him not to launch yet.
Only 30 minutes later, all streamers started pointing up consistently
and conditions were perfect. Willy took off as a wind dummy this time.
Marcos, Lourens and Bill followed him, and had great flights. Marcos'
got a 22 minute first mountain flight and his best possible 11th
birthday present. Everybody came up for a second flight that ended
being just a sled ride. After a nice BBQ dinner, we all drove back
home, tired but very happy...
Hasta la proxima ...
Luis |
