What a great day of soaring Saturday!  It was my first time in the 1-34 in several months, so I was a little rusty for the first 15 minutes.  But the reflexes came back and soon the glider was an extension of my body ( Read more... )

The boys, Lars and Noah helped Lee and I clean our favorite glider last week (the 1-34). Then I took them for rides in the 2 place glider. This week Lee took his son in the 2 place glider, so I got to fly the 1-34. Clean gliders fly better! And quieter, which was unexpected ( Read more... )

Our glider group, Wisconsin Soaring Society, has an active email discussion group. All week there have been discussions about how the weather during the week would be much better than the weekend weather. Today was beautiful for soaring!

I completed a major milestone at work Wednesday, on the critical path of our critical project.  Since I have 4.5 ( Read more... )

We pulled the wings off the gliders Saturday.  Sigh.  An admission that flying season really is over for this year.  Our six month season was shortened by two months of rain in the spring, so it was a disappointing season.

Another lovely day for soaring today. We were so busy I didn't have time to launch until 3pm, but I managed to stay above my release altitude for over an hour. I drifted a bit downwind, though, and spent my altitude getting back to the airport. I finally got the cushions right, so I was comfortable the whole time. A fun almost-Fall day!

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I decided to try out the 1-34 Saturday, a somewhat higher performance sailplane than the 1-26 that I usually fly when solo.  Last time I flew it a couple of years ago, it felt clunky and not a part of me.  This time was much more comfortable and suprisingly quiet.  I felt like the plane was a part of my body and the higher performance was really ( Read more... )

Today was the first day this year that the thermals were popping and I was able to come to the glider field.  Usually that day happens in April, not August.  But I'll take it whenever I can ( Read more... )

Today was overcast.  Tomorrow is very windy.  Monday will be OK, but I have some critical meetings for our project.  Darn!

Did you know Wisconsin has a special name for the day after two days of rain?  ... Monday!

I actually bought a rock at the Agate Show that 
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Saturday afternoon I finally made the first flight of the year! There was no noticeable lift, but I needed to have three flights to get my biennial covered anyway so I made them short.