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I arrived about an hour before RES started so had a little time to do some
hand tosses. The weather was gorgeous, warm, with cool breezes, blue skies and
hawks. Couldn't have been nicer.
The lift cycles were typical Texas, big tight thermals, even bigger down
cycles. The tasks were 5 rounds of 7mins, runway landings.
I wasn't the only one out there tossing their AVA's, of course I have the
famous Super AVA featured on the Louisville Area Soaring Society's version of
MTV, where I hand launch the Super AVA in windy air to a spec out.
I three it about three times well away from everyone, and got one low
altitude 3min flight. I knew I was too close to the upwind trees to really
get a good piece of air, so I moved to the other end of the field down wind of
the winches, near the landing zone. The first round hadn't started yet so
no problems tossing a few more times. I gave it a JW type toss and hooked
air right off. It as simply a matter of keeping it on the wing tip
and watching it spiral up to winch launch height.
Kind of validated the video, and you can see why so many guys are enjoying
the Super AVA.
I didn't hear it but I am pretty sure there was a standing ovation from all
the pilots present for the effort :-)
But the sparks really flew a little later when I put in three near perfect
rounds with a 70, 80 and 100point landing....and trust me it wasn't easy!
The wind was swirling in the landing area, and often were 90 degrees to the
runway, so there was NO just lining up at the turn and letting it glide down
onto the line.
A huge atta boy to a fantastic start to the 'other' major contest in
America!
I'm not the only one who did well, I say Jim McCarthy and Tom Kellevang
flying a new secret weapon and pretty sure they didn't miss a point!
Henry Bostick had hot thumbs all day and I personally saw some pretty
acrobatic landings for big points.
Paul Perret (Top TD Pilot in Louisiana) has been flying more contest this
year and has a deadly eye for lift lately, he has his plane spec'd every round
where others were crushed.
We had a small interruption that caused a postponement of the final round
till tomorrow morning. The winch lines were no problem but there was a lot
of trash on the field from a recent fundraiser event held on the property and
besides the winch lines, they were retrieving bundles of tie wire and other
trash.
I found $.30 today!..so feeling pretty lucky.
Afterwards, we went for traditional German food, with Sharon John, Supra
Barry, and a few other great pilots knocked down a liter of brew and some
schnitzels ;)
More tomorrow.
Gordy
Tired
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