Tips for the Twos

Dan Tomlinson

You're in command: Remember that the observer is not a substitute for your own good judgment. Most, if not all, of the observers in our club made H-III several years ago. As they gain experience flying in stronger conditions, they might have the tendency to forget just how difficult those early H-II high flights are. Just because they are comfortable on launch doesn't mean you are, or even that you should be. If you are not comfortable, tell them and back away. You are your own first line of defense when it comes to judging your own comfort level.

If conditions seem too strong at 2:00 on a day that the observers thought would be suitable for HIIs it will almost always be good by 5:00 or 6:00. You're unlikely to miss an opportunity to fly and you will enjoy it more if you fly within your comfort level.

Launching and staying up at Woodstock: In the six years that I have been flying at Woodstock, I have never seen a person avoid a sled by turning toward the ridge right out of the slot. If you can't get up by turning a safe distance from the ridge, you will invariably sled anyway. Get well clear of the slot before turning into the wind and parallel to the ridge.

Next time you are comfortably above the ridge at Woodstock, see if you can see the "bench" below the launch. (A bench is a relatively flat spot that separates an upper steep slope from a lower one.) The front edge of this bench almost always triggers lift if there is any to be had. Fly straight out of the slot until you hit the lift band at this bench then turn toward the cross, (if any) and parallel to the ridge. You will be well clear of the ridge and will greatly reduce the chances that you will inadvertently turn back into it. This strategy has never cost me a soaring flight at Woodstock.

OK, you're up, you're soaring, life is good, 'boing' what's this? A thermal! What do you do? That depends. Here's what I do. I turn into it away from the ridge. If I'm low, I pull 180s until I'm well above any risk of hitting anything even if I get seriously dumped out of the backside. As soon as I can, I look down and try to figure out what is triggering the thermal. Did I catch it over a bare spot like the slot, a rock pile, or one of the many fingers that jut out from the ridge? Pick this spot and fly back to it when you lose your thermal. There is a very good chance that it will still be there when you return. When you get high, or if the thermal dies, look for the next spot that looks like the one you caught the thermal in. If it's a rock pile in the sun, there is a good chance that the next rock pile in the sun will work too. Fly there and try it again.

Finally, land before the flush cycle. Setting up an approach pattern in traffic at the Woodstock primary is not much fun. If you've had a good flight and the day is waning, give up that last few minutes and set up your landing before the crowds arrive. Then you get to sit in the LZ and watch the other approaches without worry. This also gives the newest pilots a chance to fly at the end of the day without dealing with a lot of traffic.

Good luck, fly safe.
Dan T.