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April 1981

May 1981

Volume 26b

Demo Day at Ft. Funston

Usal Days

Hank's Tree Landing

The End of Roy's Sunseed

A fatality

Volume 26b

Volume 26:

March 9, 1981 to May 18, 1981

Tuesday, March 10, 1981 - 4:50 PM

I'm in a reasonably happy period right now, with Spring arriving, and a beautiful hang gliding season beginning. Have already had two flights of over an hour, including the one on Sunday of an hour and 45 minutes (more about that soon).

So hang gliding continues to take center stage in my life, and I feel very fortunate to have all I do in this realm. I have lots of friends now, fellow fliers with whom I enjoy many good times.

Our hang gliding club, Sonoma Wings, of which I'm the first president, has grown to 30 or more members, and we just got our chapter status. Our meetings are enjoyable gatherings at which we conduct our business, and show hang gliding movies, most of which I take.

We'll be putting on the Regionals this year, in June, and though this is a task I don't really relish, it'll be done by a few energetic people, who are into it and will shoulder the main responsibilities.

Anyway, I'm looking forward to another good summer. My focus in hang gliding will be to improve my landings, which have been poor.

Wednesday, March 11, 1981 - 9:25 PM

We got off around ten or so. The Eagle Scout purred along with the new capacitor discharge system I'd built and installed, but was harder to start with it after running. It was as if the starter was draining too much current, as it would start as soon as you released the key.

(ed. note: The "Eagle Scout" was a black and white 1964 International Scout I'd bought for $1000 in 1979 after my first flight at Elk Mountain. It had a small brass eagle as a hood ornament which gave it its name. It did great service for five years in spite of several notable breakdowns.)

Anyway, we got to Elk Mountain where some gliders were already on top. Craig arrived and we put some of the gliders on his truck and all of us headed up.

Conditions were beautiful on top; south launch, light thermals. Rich Sauer was up, and able to stay up. Soon Jon launched in his Raven 229, also staying up, then Stretch with his new Comet, then Craig, me on my Raven 209, and Anne. Finally Bones launched his Comet, though he only stayed up for 35 minutes or so. Anne also went down fairly soon.

But I headed around the lower knoll and over to the SW ridge where I found some thermals. Circled up and got back over the lower knoll, kept going back to the same place for thermals, and was circling with Rich and Jon awhile, and staying above them both for part of the time.

Finally got high in a thermal to 3800' and flew over the top where the Sacramento people were setting up again. Among them were Darrell (red and white Raven) and Ken Lloyd (yellow and black Raven). They eventually launched and were thermalling near me.

(ed. note: In these days we were using agl rather than msl in most cases, zeroing our altimeters at the LZ. The altimeters we were using then were usually the $15 kind you'd get at Grand Auto or Kragen's. For Elk, add 1500' for msl. For Hull, add 1800' for msl.)

I took a bunch of movies of various people including Jon and Stretch, who got even higher, over 4000'. Finally left after an hour and a half as the thermals started subsiding (after 3:30), and everyone began slipping down the mountain and heading out to land. But I was able to hang out the longest, making soaring passes close to the lower point where the big rocks are, sometimes gaining a little and sometimes losing a little, but having good fun.

Finally headed out after everyone else had landed, including all the Sacramento people, and all three of the Comets. Felt good about outlasting them with my Raven.

Set up my landing, but the wind had died at low levels, so I set up too high again, and overshot the target by far, almost going to the creek again, finally flaring hard, but evidently too late, because the nose dropped and I fell forward. But it was a fine flight and I was very happy.

We took our time packing up. Some of the Sacramento people went up again and we watched them land before we left for home.

Monday, March 16, 1981 - 6:45 PM

We communicated by CB on the way up Saturday morning, arrived around 12:30. Fred was waiting for us, and we put our gliders on his truck along with some people from Sacramento, and headed up. Rick Innocenti waited for Dave Thor, who was also coming up.

It was a heavily cloudy day, but there was some blue sky over the valley and the mountain. On top, it was great, soarable from the SE. A few people launched and went up, including a guy named Jerry with a Harrier. Craig had his radio rigged for flying, had made a battery pack, so I mounted mine so we could talk. Also mounted the movie camera.

A guy named Chris flew Steve Perry's big Raven and scared us all as he swerved, overcorrecting, around the sky. But he made it down okay.

Dick Cassetta of Sacramento asked me if I'd sponsor "that guy in front of you," meaning Fred, though I thought he was talking about Craig. I told him that Bones was an Observer, so to ask him.

Later Fred decided not to fly. I thought it was because of the conditions, but it turned out later that he'd been intimidated by Dick, who can be an abrasive character, somewhat of a loudmouth. Bones had said he'd sponsor him if he watched a couple more people fly and decided he could handle it. But Fred evidently thought Bones didn't want him to fly, and later packed up and left, quite upset by the situation.

In the meantime, Sharol took off and went up quickly, and I soon got ready and launched at about two. Got good lift, soared the ridge with the others and headed out past the lower knoll where there was more good lift coming through. The Harrier and Comets got highest, over 1000 feet above, whereas my highest was about 7 to 800 feet over.

I took movies when good opportunities presented themselves, and talked to Craig by CB. Had a good time, hanging out at the top after everyone but Jack Anderson and Dick Cassetta (flying an Oly and a Mosquito) had headed out after an hour or so. The three of us flew around the top for another hour or so before I headed out after two hours.

Flew toward Pitney at 3000' (agl), hardly losing any altitude until I was parallel to the landing area, still with 3000'. Went partway up Pitney, then circled around the valley and gradually lost my altitude, practicing stalls and flares for awhile. Eventually set up a good approach and landed, had a good flare, about 30 feet short of the spot, for a change.

But I soon realized I'd lost my wallet on my approach, and couldn't find it in the landing area. The leg strap on my Price harness had evidently popped it out of my back pocket. I looked for it awhile, and a couple of kids on motorcycles helped, but with no luck, until an hour or so later, when I'd resigned myself to having lost it, the kids came riding over, had found it.

I was going to give them a $10 reward, but when I opened it, all the money was gone. Evidently someone else had found it first, taken the money, then discarded it. Luckily, all my credit cards and ID were still there, which was a great relief, so I took the kids' names and addresses and mailed them a check and thank-you letter when I got home. By then, I felt very good, after the fine flight and getting my wallet back, even though I'd lost about $30.

Also, Jack landed about a half hour after I had, and told us that Dick Cassetta had gone down on the backside in that patch of dead trees, after having gotten too far back behind the ridge. I later felt that it had served him right for the hassles he'd given Fred about flying; a little hubris.

Then some people had gone back up to get Dick Cassetta, and two of them were going to fly down again, at night. But the wind changed, and they didn't fly, leaving their gliders up there and hiking out.

We had a good dinner that Sharol cooked, but as I ate a piece of fried chicken, my new tooth (a temporary crown) disappeared. I must have swallowed it without noticing. But it didn't bother me very much.

Had a good time that evening. Curt was also there, had flown his Fledgling.

I finally went to bed, after preparing for rain, which was predicted. And it started around 3 AM and rained steadily until we left around 11 AM. We got up around eight, put up tarps for cover, and had breakfast and coffee. All in all, it was a very nice weekend.

Thursday, March 19, 1981 - 7:40 AM

Monday, March 23, 1981 - 7 PM

So I headed out there, but by the time I got there around 9:45, it was raining. Met James, then Stretch and Anne, leaving. Went on in and found Bones and Sharol, Curt and Joanie, and others, waiting it out. I left soon, so I could get my money back.

Went in to work in the afternoon.

On Sunday, Mary called to say she didn't want to go to Fort Funston with me, as she'd been out late. Also I couldn't reach Mel, who'd been going to go with me also, so I went with Sharol and Bones, who'd called me.

We left about ten, arriving around 11:30. It was sunny, but not soarable. There were lots of people and gliders. Said hi to Jon Minnick, J. Fred Lucas, Ken Nead, Carol, Judy, Wally, Jan, George Whitehill, Dave and Barb Chavez, Holly, John Cochran, Ron, Rick Canham, William, Rick Kannisto, Donna, and others.

I was signed up to fly gliders, but when it became soarable, a line of 22 gliders quickly formed, and I didn't want to deal with the hassle of it, so didn't bother. Wandered around talking to people, then went to the clubhouse for some barbecued turkey legs and beer.

We finally left around 5:30 or so, quite tired and sunburned. All in all, it was a pleasant day, however.

Bones had sold another Comet, this one to Hank, after already selling one to Stretch, so things are going pretty well for Bright Star.

Thursday, March 26, 1981 - 6:15 PM

Then I called Stretch and Anne, who were just going to bed, and invited them too, since they live so close. So they came too, and we watched the films, then called it a night. The ones that Jon took were of Jet Kirby doing loops. Very impressive.

Then last night (Wednesday), Stretch called, said Joe was up and wanted to see the film, so I invited them over, and we had a pleasant time; playing with the computer (my Apple 2) after watching the films. They left around eleven.

Friday, March 27, 1981 - 8:15 PM

Anne's at Community Hospital. I tried to call her, but she was already in surgery.

Also called Mel, and Sharol, about our plans for the weekend. Tomorrow might be a Usal day, if the winds hold.

Tuesday, March 31, 1981 - 8:15 PM

Mel and Lynne left first, and I picked up Jon and Hank at Jon's house, along with Charlie Carlson and Jayfus, who would drive up separately for the day only, whereas we'd camp over.

Got off around ten, arriving there around 1:30 or so, where we found Mel checking out the situation. It was marginal or less, with a 10 to 12 mph SW breeze.

We set up our gliders anyway, and Jon was first off. He maintained for a few passes on his big Raven, but then lost ground and headed out to the beach eventually.

I went next, and nearly blew my takeoff from a steep cliff facing SW, stalled, but pulled out easily and turned north, below the face. Made a couple of passes, but low, so headed on out and landed after ten minutes or so. I had the camera going for the beginning of the flight, so may have gotten some good film, hugging the ridge.

Charlie came next in his Highster. We all got packed up and headed back up. Mel and Hank had decided to wait.

We set up again for a second flight when it seemed like it had picked up a bit. Mel took off first on his Fledge, headed out a ways from the cliff but got some lift and maintained for a few minutes. Jon took off again next, made a few passes, but gradually sank low as did Mel, eventually landing after 15 or 20 minutes.

Hank then launched, and actually gained a bit, making passes back and forth above the takeoff area. It was his first flight on his new Comet.

I launched next, stayed up, and was making soaring passes back and forth with Hank. Charlie took off, but sank out soon, while Hank and I maintained for 20 to 30 minutes. Eventually he got low, and headed out to the beach, while I continued to scratch for lift low in the last bowl.

But persistence paid off, and eventually I began to gain a little, peeking higher and higher over the last knoll, until I was over the road, then heading back up in front of two stands of trees, gradually gaining a few feet at a time.

After 45 minutes or so, Jon arrived back on top to set up and try again. By this time, I was just getting even with launch, and while he was setting up, I managed to head further up past the south takeoff, 'til I could begin soaring the trees behind him over the road, eventually getting to the tops of them, feeling very good.

Jon was soon set up, and launched for the third time. I'd slipped down by this time, and was even with him, making soaring passes at launch level.

Some people stopped by to watch us, and I made a number of close passes by them and over them, but had to head north again with Jon back down to the trees when the lift weakened again.

But somewhere out there, I got some good lift over the trees, pointed it out to Jon, then headed back up to the launch area. Jon lasted a little longer, but then got low and had to head out again, while I continued to make passes in front of the spectators, eventually climbing back over the trees above them again, to my great satisfaction.

Stayed up for another half hour or more, 'til finally heading out with my highest altitude, about 1200'. Tried to cross the beach to the other side, but was too low when arriving there, so circled over the beach for a landing. Made a good setup, and then a fine landing after two hours and ten minutes at 6:30.

Jon and Mel applauded me, and Jon said it was one of the most amazing flights he'd ever seen. I felt very good, needless to say, after one of my most satisfying flights ever, one in which I'd flown very close to ridges and trees with good control. May have gotten some good film of Hank, and of a hawk I flew near.

It was getting dark by the time I had my glider folded up, and we headed up the hill to the launch area, where we built a fire and set up camp.

Cooked hot dogs for dinner, and rapped around the fire for quite awhile with Mel, Lynne, Hank, and Jon. Charlie and Jayfus had left for home. The breeze was still coming in at 9 PM and we looked forward to a nice day, and eventually crashed out.

I didn't sleep much all night, and it started raining around eleven or so, continuing off and on until 5 AM. But I'd been prepared, staking out my rain flap, which had kept the tent quite dry, except around the base.

Arose a little after six to a nice day. Got a fire started and had coffee and some breakfast. Packed up tents and gear, and started setting up our gliders around 9:30, as it began to blow nicely from the NW, a classic post-frontal Usal day.

Jon launched at ten, went straight up 1000' or so. Mel had his CB radio, wanted to try it, so I put mine on too.

I launched next and also climbed out, soon followed by Hank and Mel. We got up to well over 2000' where we cruised awhile. The penetration to the north was a bit stiff, but not impossible. Hank, with his new Comet, got higher than all of us by hundreds of feet.

I was cold though, as my gloves were wet, and my boots had been wet, so I'd changed into my new running shoes with exposed ankles, and I'd forgotten to bring my down jacket, so when I later climbed to 3300', my peak altitude, I was freezing, with legs shaking, teeth chattering, and hands numbing, so I pulled in the control bar all the way and sped down to cliff level, where I did steep turns, fast passes, and played with the hawks in a much warmer environment.

Hank had been higher than all of us all day, but eventually we lost sight of him, and wondered where he'd gone. Also, Mel and I had fun talking by radio, and occasionally to Lynne on the ground.

Fred, from Ukiah, arrived, set up, and launched. But he didn't go up, and landed after only a couple of soaring passes. He'd been worried about the landing area, so had flown north to look it over, but had gone too far to get back up and had to land instead.

Jon also landed after more than three hours, but on the south beach across the creek from the road. So he carried his glider back up the hill to about 80 feet, launched again, was almost able to stay up, but had to land, making it across the creek to the beach accessible from the road.

I waited until Jon and Fred got their gliders out of the way, then set up a landing, made passes over the bushes, until I was low, then headed west and made another good landing, though flaring a bit high again. Jon said all my landings were much improved.

Mel followed me in, but went too close to the north end, getting some turbulence from the rotor, and sinking out short, nearly blowing it. He said it was his scariest landing since Lichau Road. He and I both stayed up for three hours and forty-five minutes. I was exhausted but exhilarated.

About that time, we got a message that a glider was down out by Route 1. It was Hank. When we got folded up and loaded, we headed out, eventually finding him beside the road. He'd survived a tree landing, but wrecked his brand new Comet.

He'd gotten too far behind the front ridge after being so high he'd been soaring the tops of clouds (over 4000'). He'd had trouble penetrating because he's too light on his glider, and when he pulled in to speed up, it began occilating, so he had to slow down to stabilize it. Anyway, he couldn't make it out to the front of the ridge, sunk out on the backside, wanted to find a tree near the road to land in so he'd be found if injured.

When he was out of altitude, he flared into a tree next to the road, grabbed for branches, which slipped through his hands, but he kept grabbing, slipping down the tree 'til his keel hit the road. He was uninjured, but his glider was quite damaged.

(Ed. Note: For Hank's own story of this memorable flight see Note 1).

We loaded Hank's glider on the Scout and began the long drive home after a fantastic weekend. We delivered the glider to Bones for repair, and stayed and visited with Bones and Sharol for an hour or so. I finally dropped off Hank and Jon at Jon's house, and came home by about 11 PM.

Flopped in bed exhausted, but couldn't sleep.

Also, today (Tuesday), I called Rob Kells of Wills Wing. Talked with him for about a half-hour, telling him that we have no Harriers in our area, and everyone is buying Comets from UP instead, because Bones and Sharol can't get a Wills Wing dealership. I told him of Jon and me in particular, flying Ravens now, who might prefer Harriers, but will buy Comets from Bones if we can't get Harriers from him, and that there are a whole bunch of Comets flying our sites now, but no Harriers. I pointed out that we are a separate population center from the Bay Area, and that we fly at sites to the north and rarely go south to the Bay Area. I also told him that a number of the people in this area had been burned by Hang Gliders West and wouldn't do business with them anymore, and that I wouldn't either.

Anyway, he thanked me for calling, told me he'd reconsider the situation.

Later, Stretch stopped by. We talked about hang gliding for quite awhile. He'd had a good flight at Mid-mountain road on Saturday. Mel called to talk about Hank's flight and tree landing, and we talked awhile.

Bones called. He was grateful to me for my call to Rob Kells. I told him I hope something comes of it.

Later I called Jon James to tell him that Rob Kells might call him.

Monday, April 6, 1981 - 5:10 PM

Oh, but first, I forgot to say that I took a vacation day on Friday to go to Dillon Beach with Mary. We left fairly early, arriving there around 9:30. It was blowing from the west, but not too strong, so we set up her glider and got on up the hill. Mary got three good flights before the wind got too strong.

Bones and Brian arrived too, and Brian got one flight on the Firefly. Bones didn't get to fly Hank's Comet or Sharol's new Comet 135, as it was soon blown out.

He wanted to go to Fort Funston, so I told him I'd go with him if the hill near Cotati (Crane Creek Park) wasn't flyable for Mary. And it wasn't (light south wind), so I loaded my Raven, picked up Bones, and we headed to Fort Funston.

But there, it was too northy, so we didn't fly, headed home instead. Bones decided to get up very early on Saturday, go to Dillon Beach, then head up to meet the rest of us at Usal.

On Saturday morning, I met Jon, Hank, and Charlie Carlson at Jon's house. Jon rode up with Charlie, and Hank with me (but Jon would ride home with us, as Charlie wasn't staying both days).

It was a nice but long drive up on a pretty day, but we arrived to find it not soarable. Mel met us there also, and Bones and Sharol didn't arrive for a couple more hours, after I and others had flown.

Fred was there too, and another guy, Charlie Stone, from Wyoming, who'd called me the night before, met us there also. He'd just moved to Fort Bragg, had a Raven and a Harrier.

More later, got to go shopping.

6:45 PM

I took off first, while Jon filmed from below, headed down to the trees where I'd found lift last week, but there wasn't much if any, turned back lower, then back to the north, making only a couple more passes before clearing the last knoll and heading up the creek valley to set up my landing. Made a few passes over the bushes, then landed just past them, a good landing.

Charlie came next, then Fred, who landed on the other side of the creek where he was camped. Then Mel flew down on Jon's Raven, and made a decent landing with it.

We folded up our gliders and waited. I went across the creek with Fred to check out the potential training hill. It was a pretty steep climb, and the person would need to make a couple of correction turns to keep from flying into the ocean.

I climbed on up the hill and waited for others to fly. Hank flew down in his repaired Comet, and Bones flew by in his, as did Dick Swenson in his Highster.

Eventually Jon and Sharol came down in the truck, and I rode down the rest of the way to the beach with them.

Back on top again, we set up camp, built a fire, and began cooking up some supper as the sun was setting in the west.

Sharol had had a difficult time at Dillon, had nosed in twice, hurt herself once, but had persevered and flown twice more afterwards. The control bar was too long for her.

We had good "hang talk" around the campfire 'til after ten, and finally went to bed. Slept fairly well for a change, awakening around seven, hearing Sharol up and about.

Got up to a nice morning, built a fire and had coffee. We had breakfast, folded up camp, and waited at the cliff to see if it would get soarable.

By ten it wasn't showing any promise, so we decided to head for Elk Mountain. Charlie had gone home a bit earlier.

Bones and Sharol, and Jon, Hank and I caravanned over to Elk, a two and a half hour drive. When we arrived, there were lots of gliders on the ground and a bunch soaring over the top.

First we loaded our gliders on the Sacramento Club's trailer, but after Steve Perry took it on a rough drive around the campground, Sharol and Bones suggested we take them up ourselves, as no one else was ready anyway, and they were worried about their gliders getting that rough treatment. So we did, though Sharol left her Comet on their bus, but we took five gliders and six people (us and Dick) to the top.

On top it was whipping, 25 mph up the west slot. Setup was difficult with the rotors, and Hank decided not to fly also, as had Sharol.

By the time we were ready, all the other gliders had left so we had the mountain to ourselves, except for a Stratus that launched but didn't stay around long.

I was ready first, and Hank and Sharol helped me to the launch slot. I held the nose down, got a couple of good running steps before being lifted off cleanly. Turned right and rapidly climbed above the ridge to 600' over, where the air was pretty smooth.

Watched Bones, Dick, and Jon launch, as well as Dick Cassetta in Steve's old Raven, almost a blown launch. He didn't stay around long either, so the four of us had the top to ourselves.

Bones went to the top of the stack, was able to stay above us easily with his Comet, then Jon and I in our Ravens, above Dick Swenson in his Highster. We had good range, and I went way up to the north, over the woodsy part of the top a few times, carefully, being sure I could get back. We also flew out from the ridge, found occasional ragged thermals, which we'd get a couple of 360s in before reaching the ridge. It was fun, and pleasant, with just the four of us.

Eventually Dick headed out after about one and a half hours, then at two hours, I headed out too, and Bones and Jon followed. Crabbed toward the SW, drifting quickly south towards the landing area. At 1500' above the creekbed I hit a shear, and from there on down to about 200', it was very turbulent. Set up a good approach towards the north, hit the gradient, dropped through, and had a good landing, about 20 feet short of the spot.

Jon and Bones followed me down within a few minutes, also feeling exhilarated from the good flights. It was now past 6 PM, so we loaded up fairly quickly and got rolling home.

We stopped for burgers at Burger King in Ukiah, after making contact by CB. Jon drove the Scout home while I relaxed for a change.

Dropped them off at ten, got home and unloaded.

Mary called at 10:30 PM, then came over. She was feeling good too, had gotten to fly again on Saturday afternoon, as Denny had gone out to Dillon Beach with her. She got three good flights, and Denny got interested in hang gliding from seeing her do it.

Friday, April 10, 1981 - 7:25 PM

It's been windy all week, probably good Usal days, which is where we'll probably go tomorrow. Bones went up with John Bostrum on Thursday.

Monday, April 13, 1981 - 6:30 PM

On Friday the wind had been very strong, and John, with his Cirrus-5, hadn't been able to penetrate north, had to make a landing on top a couple of miles to the south and was successful. Anyway, Bones was ready to turn around and go back up with Sharol and the rest of us weekenders.

I got packed up and met the others at Jon's house, where Hank and a lady friend, Megan, and Dick and his lady, Susan, also met us. They rode in Hank's car, and Jon rode with me (along with some of the others' gear). Bones and Sharol met us there too, leaving with us. And Don and Marty Piercy, who'd stopped at Bones and Sharol's, went on ahead, waiting for us at Cloverdale. So we had quite a caravan up, and we found Mel there with a girl named Gail, and Charlie Stone with a girl named Cindy.

So we all set up our gliders, nine of them, and waited, but it never got soarable. Around 3:30, when it seemed almost marginal, I decided to go ahead and launch, and did go first from the SW cliff, as the wind was coming from that direction. Had a good launch, made a few passes in front, staying in close, but losing ground down the hill, getting dumped once, and heading out pretty low, passing over some picnickers on the beach, rounding the last knoll, turning back into the wind, and making a good landing. Had a bunch of kids surrounding me asking questions as I took apart my glider.

Soon Jon came down, then Charlie with his new Harrier, landing on the other side near a camp, as did Sharol soon with her new Comet. Soon everyone had flown except Bones and Hank, who'd come down to get me.

Jon and I were loaded first and headed back up with Hank. Then Hank flew down to take Sharol her cover bag, and Jon took a demo flight on Bones' Comet.

While waiting for the others to get back up, I set up my tent and started a campfire.

Soon the others got up and we started cooking some dinner, and had our evening of hang-talk and other conversation. Went to bed around 10:30.

Slept pretty well and got up at 7:30. Had some coffee around the campfire. The weather wasn't promising, as cumulus clouds began forming and drifting SSW out to sea. Eventually light sea breezes began happening intermittently, but the clouds were still drifting SSW.

Jon and Hank decided to climb down to the beach to kill some time, after we'd packed up our gear. We'd decided not to go to Elk even if it didn't get soarable.

But around eleven, wind lines started forming in close, and the wind on the ridge, still very NW, started picking up. I got my glider and began setting up. Others were more skeptical and waited.

But by 11:15, it was definitely soarable from the NW. I was ready to launch by 11:30, and by now the wind was really cooking up the slope at 20 or more, very turbulent near the cliff.

Got some help on my wires from Roy, who'd recently arrived, and from Sharol and Bones. It was turbulent, but I got off okay at 11:39 and started climbing fast. Was soon high above launch and still climbing fast, and quickly everyone began scrambling for their gliders.

I was soon 1000' over launch, and radioed down that it was smooth and that I had no trouble penetrating to the north, even at minimum sink speed. Was alone up there for awhile, soon 1500' over, until others began launching.

I'd launched from the lower plateau, which had a better NW facing launch, but Mel and Charlie successfully launched from the top.

But Roy blew his launch there, got blown back into the hill and wrecked his Sunseed, which made us all feel bad, as he'd recently rebuilt it, replacing the fiberglass understructure with mylar.

Also, when Hank soon was ready to launch, his nose went down suddenly and three of his battens were snapped by the reflex lines for some more bad luck for him. In the turbulence at launch, his wing had tried to go forward and had snapped down fast. So he didn't get to fly.

But after that, everyone had good launches, including Sharol, Don, Dick, Bones, and Jon, and for the next couple of hours the sky was filled with gliders.

I talked with Mel and Bones, who had their radios. Told Bones when he got up that I had an hour and twenty minute headstart on him. He'd been telling me he was going to stay up as long as me from now on.

The lift zone went to about 2500', and with thermals I got to a maximum of 2800' over. Was able to stay up close to Charlie's Harrier and Bones' Comet most of the time, but Sharol was at the top of the stack on her new Comet much of the time.

Penetration was slow to the north at times, so I didn't go too far south, but did cross the beach to the north until I hit strong sink. Also did a bunch of tight 360s, turns, and stalls from time to time.

Eventually people began to head out and land. Don made a good one on the beach, but Charlie went too far back, got trashed in his approach and dumped around on his landing. Then the wind got under the tail of his glider and flipped it over with him still hooked in, bending a crossbar, he said. A bummer, for his new Harrier.

Everyone else made good landings near the front of the beach, and eventually it was just Mel, Jon, Bones, and me in the air. Mel landed, and quite awhile later Jon did, leaving just Bones and me. By now, I had four hours, decided to go for five. Bones landed after three and a quarter hours, so I stayed up another half hour or so until I had my five hours clinched, then set up a spot landing on the beach, made a good approach after a few passes on a low ridge, but came up short by thirty feet or so, as the wind was stronger than I thought. But Jon said it was still a hang four landing.

Anyway, everyone congratulated me on my long flight, and I felt very good about it, though sad for Roy, Charlie, and Hank.

Finally we got packed up and headed back up the hill. Sharol had ridden up a little earlier with Mel to our camp. She called us on the CB, said some guys in a jeep had come walking down towards the camp, but turned and left quickly when they saw her there. We speculated that they'd seen Charlie's Raven, which Bones had bought from him, lying there unguarded, and were going to take it, as you could see it from the road. A lucky break, evidently, that she'd gone back up a little sooner.

We packed the rest of our gear and headed home, talking by CB with Bones and Sharol, and stopping for a snack in Willits at an A&W.

Sunday, April 19, 1981 - 3 PM

Stretch and Anne invited me over, but I declined, had some things to do. Also, Roy bought Bones' white Comet.

On Saturday, we had our meeting with Ron Stone, the Ranger, about Hull Mountain, so I picked up Bones about nine, and we headed on up, planning to meet Jon, Ernie, and Mel up there for the meeting, then fly Elk, then fly Hull on Sunday.

The meeting went fine. We established some good rapport, I think, and proceeded towards a pretty good understanding. We'll work up a draft of guidelines for flying the site, to be posted on top.

Then we all headed for Elk Mountain. There was a group of fliers from Milpitas; George Pierson and others, with a bunch of Harriers. Some were soaring over the top.

We headed up soon in the Scout, with Lynne as driver, and set up by ourselves. Jon launched first from the NW side, and it was marginally soarable. He made a few passes just barely maintaining, then headed out just as I was about to launch.

I made a sloppy launch, didn't pull my nose in enough, dragged my right tip on a bush and turned to the right as I launched. Flew off okay, but realizing I'd almost blown it. Tried a pass up to the right, turned back, but lower, made another pass, still lower.

Scratched further down to the west, not finding much lift and getting below the ridge, but finally got over it and headed out fairly low. But as it was downwind to the landing area, I had plenty of altitude to make it.

I set up my landing after Jon's, and came on in, but hit the wind sock as I came past, flared too soon, dropped the nose as I landed twenty feet from the spot, not a very good landing.

Mel came in and blew his landing (Hang-4 syndrome), as did Ernie. Bones did okay in his new red, white, and black Comet.

By now, the clouds which had enveloped Hull earlier were reaching the top of Elk. All of us except Mel packed up our gliders, as it looked like it might rain, and soon it did start to rain.

We all got into Mel's van for awhile where we talked and drank beer. Finally Jon and Ernie left for home. We thought it would clear by Sunday, but it rained off and on (mostly on) all evening, night, and morning.

Mel parked his van out by his glider, which he tethered, and we parked the Scout next to him (Bones and I), where we set up a tarp for protection. Then I set up my tent in the rain. Bones decided to sleep in the Scout.

We went to bed by 8:30, just to get dry. My tent leaked quite a bit, but I stayed dry up on my folding chair which I use for a bed. But it broke, wouldn't latch at the right level, so I had to turn around the other way on it. I was reasonably warm and dry, all things considered, though the floor was covered with puddles.

Stayed in bed until nine this morning, and it was still raining. We got up, put away our stuff in the rain, and headed home by about ten.

It has stopped raining now, but is still solid grey cloud cover. I hope next weekend is nicer.

Monday, April 27, 1981 - 9:10 PM

Ernie also called me for a ride, so he rode up with Jon and me. Also before we left, I called Ivan and Patti to tell them of our plans to go to Elk, and he decided to meet us up there.

Saturday morning was grey, however, in spite of favorable forecasts, but we headed up anyway by ten, arriving by midday to an overcast sky. Some people were flying though, George Whitehill and a class of students, and some were soaring the top.

But the landing area was turbulent, so we decided to use the time to take a reconnaissance trip up Pitney Ridge to check out pylon locations and collect firewood, after we first set up our tents to secure a campsite.

Jon and Bones went up with me, and we also checked the radio communications to the campground, which were adequate.

By late afternoon, we got back to the landing area. Ivan and Patti had arrived. Bones and Sharol decided not to fly, but we all headed up in Ivan's truck to the top with Jon's glider, Ernie's, Ivan's, and mine. It was quite overcast, and even started drizzling when we got up there. But there seemed to be some brighter sky headed our way, so we decided to wait it out.

After the rain passed, Jon started setting up, so I did too. Neither Ernie nor Ivan did, as it was coming up from the SW fairly strong, and up through the slot too, probably 20 to 25.

Jon was ready first, and launched, and I launched a few minutes later with an assist from Bones. He said I had a fine takeoff, as I got in a few running steps before letting myself be lifted off. I turned right up the ridge, getting above it within a couple of passes.

It was very cold, and Jon headed out first, so I followed in a little while, as another band of dark clouds were heading our way and we didn't know what to expect.

I watched as Jon landed, then headed out, crabbing downwind. Set up a landing toward the NW, came in nicely through trashy air and landed 20 feet past the spot, as there was a big gradient. But it was a good landing, my first as a Hang-4, which pleased me.

I forgot to mention that Bones and I had gone over to Jon's house on Tuesday night, and we'd had a "class" on reading sectionals, and other information. Then we'd taken the Hang-4 test and passed, and Jon awarded us our Hang-4s (Advanced rating). He also signed off my windy cliff launch task as well.

So I felt good about that, but worried that I wouldn't live up to the rating. Mel had gotten his the week before, and blown his first landing as a Hang-4, and I didn't want to do the same thing.

So we folded up our gliders, and started a fire for dinner, and had a very nice evening. It was time to set our watches ahead for daylight savings time, so we went to bed around 10:45.

It rained lightly a couple of times during the night, but was sunny with blue skies by morning (and some ground fog blowing through). It looked like it would be a fine day and we felt good.

George Whitehill surprised me by declaring at 9 AM that it was "blown out," and that he and Gineen were going back to Fort Funston.

When some of his students (Kathy and Steven) asked us, we told them we thought it would be fine, possibly soarable from the NW, and with good thermals from the sun. So they decided to stay.

Kathy was somewhat attractive, flys a 179 Raven, and later had a fine flight. She was camped next to our area, but never came over, so I went over and talked to her.

By around ten, we'd packed up our camps and were ready to head up the mountain in Ivan's truck with six gliders on top.

More later, as I've got to go to bed now, as it's almost eleven.

Tuesday, April 28, 1981 - 5 PM

So we followed them out to the SW knoll, where we greeted them and heard about their (some of them, anyway) flights at Hull on Saturday, in snow and clouds.

Mel hadn't flown, thought it was crazy, but Stretch, Joe, and Roy had, and possibly James and Tom. From our view of Hull in the afternoon, it had appeared totally socked in, as it was now, with new snow showing on the visible parts.

And by now the sky was filling with cumulus clouds, and it was soarable from the NW. Joe launched first, followed by Stretch, James, Tom, and Roy. Stretch got high above the ridge. Roy missed the lift zone and headed out quickly. And Joe left before long, having to get home to study.

I was first off from our truckload, getting an assist at launch from Patti. I made a good launch, turned right from out of the slot, and was soon soaring well above the ridge. Jon followed soon after, as did Mel, Bones, Sharol, Ivan, and Ernie.

It was Ivan's first soaring flight, and he did very well, soaring back and forth along the ridge for an hour or more.

I was in radio contact with Ernie, Mel, and Rich Sauer (who had arrived later), and also with Craig down at the campground. Bones evidently didn't use his radio.

Sharol got very high in her Comet, was on top of the stack for awhile.

Most of the first group headed out early, as did Ernie, who got too far out the west ridge, and Mel, who followed Ernie and couldn't get back, and soon Bones and eventually Sharol left as well.

I was having fun with Jon, Rich and others, heading out from the ridge into the wind, finding ragged thermals and turning 360s in them drifting up and back. You could only do a couple before drifting back to the ridge.

Also flying eventually, were Kathy in her 179 Raven, doing fine, and Jack Anderson in the Raven he's probably going to buy, plus a few other Ravens I didn't recognize.

Eventually, everyone headed out except me, Jack, and Rich. From the top I saw that Sharol had a bad landing, got popped up and stalled at the last minute, bending her downtubes. I talked to Ernie on the ground and found out she wasn't hurt, luckily.

Finally Rich Sauer headed out, and it was just Jack and me flying together for an hour or so. When I had three hours (at about 2:40), I also headed out. Dave Thor was on top setting up, and I didn't particularly want to fly with him (they call him "Dangerous Dave").

I caught one last good thermal and followed it up and back past the ridge, getting near my top altitude of 3700' agl, and drifted towards Pitney and the landing area. Maintained pretty well on the way out for awhile, crabbing toward the SW across the NW wind. Was soon high over the lower part of Pitney where we'd scouted pylon #2, but didn't want to go much further, as I wasn't sure I could penetrate out. Also, by the time I was down to 1500' or so, the sink was pervasive, causing my sink alarm to sound constantly at 800' down.

So I made 180s across the south end of the creekbed setting up my landing. The windsock was switching from NW to west, but seemed to be steadily NW as I made my approach. The last few hundred feet disappeared quickly in the heavy sink, so I kept my airspeed up, then turned into my final approach toward the spot.

There was a pronounced gradient as the wind near the ground was much lighter, and I came in fast, bled off some speed, then flared hard. But to my surprise, nothing happened when I flared, and I dropped to the ground on my belly with base bar fully extended. But it didn't hit hard and nothing was damaged, and it wasn't that bad a landing for the conditions. It was 2:50, so I'd been up for three hours and ten minutes, a nice flight.

Jon was disappointed, as while on the ground, a gust had blown his glider over and bent his keel, which he'll have to replace.

Talked a bit with Kathy, and also with Charlie Stone, who'd ridden over by motorcycle. He is evidently disappointed with his Harrier, is thinking of selling it and getting a Comet. And I talked with Ivan, who was exhilarated from his good flight. Also talked with Craig and others.

We finally got our gliders folded up, loaded, and headed homeward by about 5:30, stopping at Burger King in Ukiah on the way.

Ernie invited us to come over and use his hot tub, so after dropping Jon off, unloading my glider and gear at my house, and showering, I went back to Ernie's house. Jon didn't come, but I had a pretty nice time. Beat Ernie twice and Shari once in three come-from-behind games of pool, my first in years, which surprised me. And I had a relaxing time in the tub, rapping with Ernie about hang gliding, etc.

Came home at eleven and went to bed, quite exhausted. Had intended to leave earlier.

It was hard getting up for work on Monday as it was the first day of daylight savings time.

Also it was very hot today, hitting 100 degrees, I think.

Friday, May 1, 1981 - 1:30 PM

The week was hectic at work through yesterday. Some problems were resolved, but others still hanging.

The weather has been hot, but a system is supposed to come through tomorrow, another in a pattern of nice weekdays and rainy weekends, which we've had for the last two weekends as well.

Monday, May 4, 1981 - 5:20 PM

I got packed up and met the others at Bones' house. There we met Dick Swenson and Susan, Hank, Gib and a friend of his named Mike, and Bones and Sharol. Hank rode with me, and we carried his and Dick's gliders. Dick and Susan rode with Bones and Sharol, and Mike rode with Gib. We all had CB radios, so carried on conversations on the way up. By Cloverdale, Ivan had joined the caravan too.

It was a clear blue sky day, though quite windy. We claimed a campsite, then prepared to drive up. The landing area was gusty, but it was soarable on top.

There were lots of other gliders there, and Charlie from Fort Bragg met us there to turn over his Harrier to Bones for disassembly and repair. We all went up in the Eagle Scout and Gib's Jeep.

When we got to the top, James, Roy, and Joe were already soaring above the ridge. But they all got flushed by a down cycle before we got launched.

I was the first of our group to launch at 3:33. Had a good takeoff and turned right up the ridge, getting over the ridge after a couple of passes, and staying high above, though almost blowing it by going too far on the first pass and having some trouble getting out of the shallow bowl to the right of the rocky point.

Launching soon were Gib, with his new Stratus (double surfaced), Bones, Mike (blue Firefly), Dick, and some others who'd arrived just after us, including a Fledge, an Aolus, and a couple of Ravens.

Hank had stayed down to put his glider together (new downtubes and batten).

Unfortunately, Ivan blew his launch, as his right wing picked up and he swung around to the left into the bushes, breaking a downtube.

I had good fun, soaring the top and flying out to the WNW, finding ragged thermals. Was able to stay as high as the Comets and higher than the Aolus, Fledge, and Stratuses fairly consistently.

Later, a white Stratus launched and flew too far out to the NW, got too low, and was unable to get out, and eventually landed in a tree far down the canyon.

Gradually other gliders got flushed out or went down, but I hung out until everyone else had left, and until it started to get quite hard to penetrate to the west.

Then I headed out towards the SW, but was getting blown downwind to the SE. From about 2000' on down, it was trashy, and there was lots of sink, with my sink alarm going off almost constantly.

Over the campground I turned my nose toward the NW and was flying backwards against the strong wind. Got a little lift there, but very ragged.

Over the creekbed I set up my landing and was sinking out very fast and getting trashed around a lot. Kept it flying fast in case there was a gradient, and made a couple of steep diving turns. The last 500' went very fast and I dove down and pulled into a fast low approach.

Had little time to shift my hands to the downtubes, as I was having to make hard quick lateral corrections all the way down through the trashy air. But I did get them there in the last few seconds, started to flare a bit late, but the flare picked me up as I dragged a foot, my body came under and I landed cleanly on my feet, a good landing, especially in those conditions.

Landed at 5:28 for an hour and fifty-five minutes, longest flight of the day. Felt very good.

Had a nice evening around the campfire, hang talking until after eleven.

Awoke to another sunny day, again windy, however, and much like Saturday as to conditions. We got packed up fairly early on Sunday morning as some people wanted to launch early, before it got too rowdy. We rode up in Ivan's truck and my Scout.

Gib went to Hull Mountain with James, Roy, and Joe. I thought it would be too windy there, and that turned out to be the case.

As we were setting up, Jon James appeared, carrying his glider in on foot. He had been able to drive his VW in partway. We were all glad to see him. It soon got soarable. I decided to take some movies rather than launch right away. Bones and Sharol had both been getting on my case for launching first and coming down last. So I agreed to wait.

Fred launched first and headed out without attempting to soar. Then Hank launched and did some good soaring passes along the NW ridge before also getting low and heading out.

Soon Jon launched, also made a few passes, but got flushed out. It seemed like the wind direction might be too westy.

Nobody else wanted to launch yet, so I got ready. Ivan had decided not to fly at all. Bones urged me to be the next wind dummy, thinking I'd be flushed out too, but I told him I intended to stay up. I mounted the movie camera with a new roll of film also, and hoped to save enough film for the landing.

Got a good running takeoff and turned NE up the ridge, sticking close. Got some lift in front of the rocky knoll, so made a couple of tight soaring turns there, then headed out across the bowl to the NE, hoping to find some lift there. Found some, and turned in it a couple of times, getting up higher, working my way up, then coming back to the rocky knoll and getting high over the top. It was harder to stay up than the previous day, but I enjoyed the challenge and was able to find the lift when I needed it.

Soon Bones launched, as did Dick, Mike, and others, including the Aolus, Fledge, and other Ravens. But every so often a flush cycle would come through, and some of the gliders would be flushed out, have to cross the ridge and head out.

And after awhile, this happened to Bones. I saw him heading down the SW finger low, called to him on the radio to watch out or he'd get flushed, and sure enough, he did. Soon there was just the Fledge and me that survived.

Some other people arrived at the top, including Sacramento pilot Dick Cassetta, along with Jon James for a second try, and Dave Thor.

After awhile, they got launched. Dick Cassetta got flushed out soon, and Jon, Dave, and I were up there by ourselves for a long time.

Eventually Jon got out over the SW fingers and caught some good thermals there as the sun heated up the west side of the hills and valley. It got harder to stay up in the NW bowl, so Dave and I headed out there too, and also got some thermals. I took a couple back over the top and got to a maximum of 3400' agl, or 800' over the top.

Jon eventually headed out, as did Dave, so I was the last one up again, and after they'd landed I headed out also.

Again it was trashy and very hard to penetrate to the west. But I was soon over the landing area in heavy sink. The windsocks were fluctuating between NW and west, so I planned an approach from the SE to allow for either situation. Turned on my movie camera at about 600', hoping I'd left enough film, then got into some wicked trash and sink, pulled in to keep my airspeed up and sunk rapidly into my approach. Got to the downtubes quicker, streaked into the landing area, flared, popped a bit, pulled in then flared again hard and came down on my feet, another fine landing, after two hours and fifty minutes, again feeling very good.

Had the usual hang talking about our flights and some beer, and leisurely folded our gliders. I hope there was enough film left for the landing, as it might be rather spectacular.

We eventually got our vehicles loaded and headed home, Jon, Hank and I, Mike, Bones and Sharol with Dick and Susan, in four vehicles. We decided to stop for pizza in Upper Lake. Also there were Dave Thor and Rick Innocenti, and another guy with a hang glider, so there was quite a collection of vehicles with hang gliders parked outside.

And we had a fine dinner in the patio out back, with a couple of pizzas, pitchers of beer, and lots of good cheer.

Finally we hit the road, getting back to Bones' at about 9 PM, where we transferred the gear, said our goodbyes, and headed for our respective homes.

Another fine weekend of flying.

Monday, May 11, 1981 - 6:40 PM

Sharol and I were a bit at odds. She'd suggested taking Mary tandem on my Raven. I'd expressed some reservations and she'd acted like I'd questioned her flying skill. I told her I felt that Jon taking her tandem would be a better first step because of their weight difference, and also that one should be very familiar with a glider before taking someone tandem.

On Friday after work, Mary and I loaded our gliders and headed for Dillon Beach, where she and Sharol and Jon had agreed to try some tandem flying. But it was blown out, and we met Jon coming back near the beach.

Also, I forgot to mention that Mary and I had gone to the hill at Crane Creek Park after work on Wednesday, but again the wind was blowing from the SW, not flyable. We also stopped to look at Pete Webber's hill while we were out that way, and met Darlene, his wife.

So I was still pretty tired by the weekend. Bones and Sharol had decided not to go flying, so I called around to see who else was going. Hank had to work. Jon only wanted to go for one day. Same with Mel.

Ended up with Dick Swenson and Susan driving up from San Rafael and riding up with me. Also, Bones had given me the names of a couple he'd met, Dan and Anita, who live in Windsor and wanted to go up to Hull. He's been flying since '72. So I called him, and we arranged to caravan up together.

But when I tried to reach him on Saturday morning, his phone was consistently busy, so we drove up to Airport Road, where I got off the freeway, stopped at the Airport, and called them again from there. Got through this time. A relative had called and tied up their line. Anyway, they met us in a little while and we headed on up. They were very nice and he turned out to be a very good pilot.

At Hull Mountain we found Stretch, Tom, Joe, Gib, and Roy, who'd flown their first flight, and also Wally, Dusty, and Mike from Chandelle. So we headed to the top and set up our gliders.

I was ready to go first. There was a NW wind component, but some thermals too. Launched from the Rockpile at 3:10. Scratched a little near the top, then near lower takeoff, then over the ridge near Red Spot. There I found a little lift, but let myself get downwind (south) of that ridge, so had to head out looking for more. Didn't find much, and came over the lower knolls without much altitude. Headed across the grassy strip to the road, where I had only three or four hundred feet. Got a little lift, but not enough to get up.

But looking back, I wished I had persevered a little harder there. Instead, I called down to some people asking which way the wind was blowing, then headed out to the lake and made a good landing, a hundred yards short of the area with the windsock.

Then I watched the other guys, including Stretch, Roy, Tom, Gib, Joe, Dan, and Dick all catch a strong thermal from that same area and go up thousands of feet, circling in the sky for one to two hours.

I'd come through that area too low, having scratched too long on the mountain, to get the lift. But the NW valley wind coming across the grassy area and the runway had converged with a SW wind off the lake creating a large plume of lift that they all caught.

After breaking down our gliders, we all went to the lake for a swim, which was refreshing.

Later we started a campfire and had some dinner. Sat around the campfire rapping, went to bed around ten. Slept fairly well. Got up around 7:30.

By 9:30, some of the others went up for a morning flight. Dan and I stayed down. I was expecting Jon James, but he didn't show up. I filmed some of them as they came in for their landings after flights of about thirty minutes.

So then we all headed up for the main flight of the day. There was less of a NW wind component on Sunday, and thermals were coming up the west side.

I'd decided not to go first, and watched as Wally, Dusty, and Mike launched, getting over the top, then Mel, Stretch, Roy and others, all doing okay.

I launched from the Rockpile at 1:10 or so, turned right, saw that Joe had launched right behind me, scratched along the ridge above the bowl, then down the ridge to lower takeoff, where I was able to maintain for awhile before having to head on down the ridge to Red Spot. Got a bit of lift there, scratched awhile with Mel, Mike, and others, finally got a good thermal, which took me up above the level of the top.

I then headed up the ridge over lower takeoff and on up to the lookout, just clearing it by fifty feet, then passing over Gib, who was about to launch from the Rockpile, and Dan, who was assisting him.

Stayed near the top for five minutes or so, then gradually got flushed down again to Red Spot. Scratched awhile longer there, before heading out the ridge. Got a little lift down a ways, but couldn't get back up.

Finally headed out over the knolls and out over the grassy area with 2000' or more. Looked for lift over the road, but no luck. Saw other gliders on the ground, including Stretch, Tom, and Joe, so circled over and eventually landed, a pretty good landing after an hour and a quarter.

Mel and Dan had found some high thermals behind the main ridge and came out high, as did Gib.

After packing up our gear, Dick, Sue and I went over to the lake for a last swim, then headed home by 4:30, getting here by seven.

Wednesday, May 13, 1981 - 8:40 PM

Also today, the Pope was shot. Another assassination attempt, and another big media binge about it. Tragic, sad, and stupid.

End of Volume 26a

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