What a day!!

[flightfreek]

I just had one of those incredible RC days, and wanted to share with you folks. Sunny skys, light winds and a day off, compelled me to set up the winch. After a few 5-10 minute flights, I saw the boomer! A massive dust devil a mile or so up wind. I waited until the highest dust was nearly over me, then launched. Not much action at first, then my Whisper was rolled inverted. I found the core and was soon at the limits of vision. (3000' or so). Now getting downwind a good 1/2 mile or more and still climbing, I went to high speed crow for 10 minutes or more to bring it 1/2 mile upwind. Still high- multiple loops and split S's finally got her down. A few more tows-nothing. Last launch- at release wind switched 90 degrees from the north-huge convergence. Cold air snuck under warm boyant air and lift was everywhere! Going up with full flaps!! (currently at 60 degrees). I spent a total of 25 minutes in CROW!! Two sheriff's pulled up to see why this full grown man was laughing by himself in the middle of the prairie! WHAT A DAY!!!!!

[aeajr]

You launched into a dust devil on purpose? You are a braver man than I, but it sounds like you had a ball.

Give me a call next time and I wil hop a plane from NY and we can chace dust devils together. We don't have them here in NY.

[RCFlybry]

Wow! sounds like a real brick lifter you launched into. A gutsy move to say the least, but very cool to pull off and still have your plane back down on the ground in one piece. I've gotten spooked more than once after winching into lift that I really had to work to get out of. I swore a couple of times that I was going to lose sight of my sailplane. It leaves you with a smile and that little voice in your head saying, " That was fun, let's do it again!"

Bryan

[aeajr]

I am still pretty new at this, but I have had a couple of occasions at our field where I was riding a thermal and one of the more experienced guys is telling me to get out of it. He called it a hat sucker.

I was surprised as it did not occure to me that I would want to get out of lift. But I did. Shortly after that I added the spoilers to my Spirit as he made me more aware of how you can lose your plane in a thermal. Who knew?

[Ollie]

Beware of "rapture of the heights." I've lost more than one plane that way.
When you can no longer see the stab it is past time to start comming down.

[aeajr]

Ollie,

Losing the ability to see the stab is a very easy to remember benchmark. Once again you provide wise guidance to a new flyer. Thanks!