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Jul
27
Written by:
Jeff Shapiro
7/27/2009 10:55 AM
A friend from work was really into learning how to hang glide this season and began his training hill lessons about three weeks before I left for Europe. He was doing extremely well with a natural ability to remain relaxed in the air. It wasn't long before he was launching from the top of the hill, controling roll and approaching into good flare timing. On one of the last lesson mornings before I left, he pulled his quad badly and was unable to run so the break was welcome for him to heal completely. I came back and he picked up right where he left off. One of the first mornings back, we went to the hill with moderately windy conditions so he could experience being pushed around and to put what he has learned about how to ground handle in wind (gusting to 8;-) to good use. He did great and was ready for an instructive tandem before a last lesson followed by his fist high flight.
Here is a short video of his last couple of flights on the last day at the training hill
We woke for his last lesson to completely still conditions. I must say, I'm always plesently surprised at how good if feels to get up really early and set a falcon up as the sun is rising. Something about the perfectly mowed grass and the quiet. Besides the birds waking up, only a few are out and about. It's also really satisfying to see another person stoked on learning how to fly hang gliders. Launch after launch went off without a hitch and ended in Alex on his feet, smiling at the bottom of the training hill. The conditions caused him to have to pay attention to his angle of attack while running hard but was otherwise easy for him. We're both psyched about meeting up later this week for his first high flight.
Later in the day I met up with a student from last year for a flight from Mt. Sentinel. Sentinel is a hang 4 site because the LZ can be a bit restricted and sporty at times. Paul has had around 40 high flights and has the abilities to set up a sound approach and to land with consistency. Our club agreed that a H-2 with the appropriate skills could be "sponsored" by another pilot, H-4 or above, to fly from Mt Sentinel to build their experience level before trying to soar it in active conditions. The site has airspace issues, landing zone issues and is behind a locked gate that remains delicate. The pilots in Missoula are very careful and conservative with such a precious rescource. I can't describe how nice it is to have a really good HG site right over the town we live in. The convenience and interaction with the community are unparalleled.
Here is a couple of photos of Mt Sentinel.
Jeff and I race toward Mt Deanstone for another climb
landing at the LZ
Paul did great with a perfect launch and an approach that was identical to his plan. He pulled off a no stepper right in the middle of the LZ. I launched the T2C right after he landed and got to spin and loop my way to the deck. We were both feeling buzzed in the LZ, breaking down with the warm sun setting. Pretty cool day.
My friend Jimmy used to say "when you get to be outside to see the sun come up and go down, you know you kicked that day in the ass". I would have to agree;-)
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