Utah Soaring Association

Newsletter
July 2001

June BBQ

Those of you who missed the annual spring club bar-b-que missed the great camaraderie and excellent self cooking that can only be partaken of twice a year. Don’t miss the next one. Parke purchased the goodies and got it all right, even the cleanup crew.

Maintenance

It’s time for another reminder about broken aircraft pieces. Whenever you find anything on a club aircraft that needs work or service please call or email the maintenance officer, Bruce Boyes. Putting a note in the time log is a helpful heads-up for the next pilot but, it doesn’t get the word to the right person. Also, telling Dave about it when you pay for the tow doesn’t get it done. (Not ‘es yob.) Bruce is the man. We should take pride in a well maintained fleet with little down time.

Achievements

Please see the web pages for the latest club record flights. The soaring conditions have been truly great. Get to the glider base and take advantage of 19,000 ft. cloud bases and 1700 ft/mn lift. Let Jim Krog know of any noteworthy or just fun flights. We need a time aloft record (easy to do in the 2-33 even) and altitude gain and distance records. Get out and fly. Many members have their own ships now making scheduling club ships easy this year.

Dumbo’s Feather

    I have known for a long time that to keep a burning interest in soaring with the fun meter pegged I would have to push the envelope and get beyond that funnel that always returns me safely to the Heber airport.
    I watched with envy as Parke took the 1-34 to great distances and returned, never having the gumption to try it myself. I read Reichmann’s Cross-Country Soaring and had been experimenting in the 1-34 by flying out to my self imposed limits (Kamas) and then running back to Heber to see how much altitude I would lose, trying to convince myself of the gliders inherent performance. My next hurdle was to find that just because the house thermal was working on the ridge that there was in fact other thermals out there for the taking. Even long distances away from the ridge. All this preliminary work got me ready but what about the gumption to go for it?
    A tagalong flight borrowing gumption from an experienced pilot seemed to be the answer. My first try was with Jack to Morgan. Then with Cory to Evanston. But these were just barely out of the Heber funnel. Last week was my first real cross-country flight.
    It began in mid morning with Dave and Chris jousting over who would get to fly the co-owned Mosquito. As Doug, Jack and I put our ships together Dave came out, having won the Mosquito for the day, and asked, “where should we go today?”
    I, not seriously, said, "How about Oak Park Reservoir?"
    Not much response. But, I set up a task in my GPS for there and back anyway.
    Dave went up first. Then Doug and Jack then me. Jack found no lift in the Wallsburg valley and got a relight. I find Doug at the east end of Wallsburg at 16,000 feet. As I climb up to join him I call on the radio to get a plan to go somewhere and use my no gumption excuse that the route to Oak Park doesn’t look too good. To which Dave, who disappeared early on, replied, “I hope it’s not too bad, I’m half way there.”
    That did it. My gumption jump started, I call Jack, who was now gaining altitude over Daniels, and Doug above me and say, “Ok, flaps 2. Here I go,” as I head out for Oak Park almost 100 miles away.
    Shortly after Currant Creek Reservoir, Doug Murphy’s-Lawed his radio and flys in silence never leaving the Heber funnel. I’m between Dave ahead and Jack behind, a perfect gumption sandwich. I keep asking for encouragement on the radio but, their mostly silent answers seemed to say, “just shut up and fly, you can do this.”
    Oh, Oh. What’s this? Snow grains hitting the canopy. Noisy. Better go south and miss this. Check the GPS for nearest landing site. Ok, I can make Roosevelt from here if lift fails.
    I’m running fast so I won’t lose my companions. Stopping for lift only in the strongest thermals. Wow, there are thermals away from the Mother Base and good ones too.
    GPS says 17 miles out. That must be the lake I see. Chris said to watch for the thermals to diminish as you leave the high country of the Uintas. So I go high in a good one and make the run to the lake. Wrong lake. Still 12 miles to go. Dave had reported good lift at the lake so I run fast to get there ASAP. GPS says Manila is just north if I run low.
    Another Oh, Oh. My battery shows low. I call Jack. No response. I call again. Nothing. Now I’m not transmitting. I turn off the radio to save volts for the GPS. (Turns out Jack was just filling a bag and too busy to come to the phone). But, there goes the gumption sandwich. I’m on my own for the return.
    The stress level is going up. I’m now 93 miles from Heber and it’s all up to me. I try a few thermals but, they don’t work out too well. I head for Heber but, lightning and snow showers are on the route. I go north and find a boomer to 18,000 ft. Computer says final glide to Heber is ok. I don’t believe it. But, I’ve got to learn if it’s right. I fly the last 60 miles with no turns. 110 mph true. I get to Heber 3000 feet too high. Now I’m thinking I should have gone farther.
    Dave did. He went on to Mount Nebo before returning to Heber. I land with a great feeling of accomplishment. Dave likes it too. The first time 3 ships do a gold distance together from Heber. Could have been 4, Doug.
    I try to learn something new every flight. Whether in my ‘20 or a Citation 10. Today I learned gumption sandwiches with friends are great but, better still, I can fly cross-country.
    But, conditions were so good, I think even the 2-33 could have made the trip.
Story and Mosquito photo by Jim Krog.