Alpine Soaring Adventure Dates?

[CloudyIFR]

http://www.alpinesoaring.us/home/

Does anyone have the dates or any information on what days which tasks will be flown for 2006?

The website has yet to be updated and I'd like to make some travel plans.

Thanks
Curtis
Montana

[dgliderguy]

This year's Wallowa Adventure will not feature an organized F5J event, but there will be plenty to do, including: flying off the top of Mt. Howard over a four-thousand foot deep ravine where the lift is abundant and the sinkholes are nasty; flying at Memaloose, over the deepest canyon in North America (Hell's Canyon), aerotowing at a local pasture, behind one of several hairy-chested tugs, with good thermal lift over the valley floor, plus lots of all-around fun-flying, with HLG, electric-sailplanes, hi-start gliders, etc.

The idea this year is for a no-pressure, stress-free event, where pilots gather at daybreak and decide where the good flying will be happening, based on how the day is shaping up. This way everyone gets to do exactly what they want to do, without the hassle of planned events.

BTW, guys ask what kind of airplanes to bring to Wallowa. Bring it all! Vintage scale, modern scale, electric-sailplane, HLG, foamy junkslopers, whaddever you got. I'm looking forward to Big Air Alpine soaring at Memaloose and Mt. Howard, and the aerotowing activity with my scale stuff (of course!!)

Don.

[CloudyIFR]

Thanks,

Do you have dates?

Curtis

[dgliderguy]

Curtis,

The 2006 Alpine Soaring Adventure at Wallowa will take place on June 30-July 2. We are planning on staying over the Fourth, as the locals put on a spectacular fireworks display at the north end of Wallowa Lake that is quite the show (which means I get another two days of flying in!)

I'm guessing Thursday (early arrivers) and Friday will be good for Memaloose, Saturday at Mt. Howard, and Sunday for aerotow, but we'll see when we get there. Just depends on what everyone decides. There will probably be a lot of guys staying over through Monday and Tuesday (like me), so let the party roll on.

Don

[trashmanf]

sounds like a lot of fun, do you have to be a member of AMA or anything?

[Diesel 10]

I just reserved a cabin. I'm bringing the family also and will be staying for the fireworks. All had a great time last year so we are staying a couple of extra days this time.

[dgliderguy]

sounds like a lot of fun, do you have to be a member of AMA or anything?

EDIT>> AMA membership required (see below post by Wil Byers).

Frequency control is religiously observed at all flying sites. (If you shoot someone down at Memaloose, you'll wish you had more than a flimsy AMA card to save you!)

This event is about guys with winged toys doing a lot of aerial frolicking in one of the most beautiful (and lifty) sites on God's green earth. Like I said, Bring everything you got in the way of powerless or electric-assist and have some fun. BTW, the raffle last year was simply outrageous! I wanted to hijack the whole pile.

d.

[Jim Frahm]

I'm looking forward to it. This is my first trip to Wallowa, is the hotel information on the 2005 web sight the same?

See you there,
Jim

[trashmanf]

I have got to go! I should have a couple big ships hopefully. How is frequency control enforced??? I have a multiplex evo that can choose whichever freq I want, but I'll have to buy the corresponding crystal for my Rx.

[dgliderguy]

We just used a sign-up sheet with all the frequencies on it. If there is another guy on your channel, you gotta go find him every time you want to fly. It works well; most guys are pretty conscientious with their transmitters. EDIT>>Frequency pins will be provided this year.

Hotel info hasn't changed from what is shown on the website, but if you are going to reserve a cabin on the lake, you probably don't want to wait too much longer. Ours is at Wallowa Lake Resort (nice place to stay, and within walking distance of the gondola to the top of Mt. Howard). http://www.wallowalakeresort.com/wallowa-lake-or-cabins.htm



Don Bailey

[Wil Byers]

Guys,

The Wallowa Alpine Soaring Adventure will be held June 29 thru July 2 this year.

The schedule of events is simple. It will be:
June 29 flying at Memaloose. We'll camp over night at the airstrip and fly at Memaloose again on Friday. We'll have a group dinner probably at the Embers in town on Friday evening. Note the homebrewed beer at the Embers is pretty darn good.

July 01 We will fly at Mt Howard, have a barbecue in the park, and float fly at the lake in the evening.

July 02 It will be flying at Mt Howard or Memaloose with the pilots picking the place they want to fly.

Float flying can happen each evening at the north end of the lake if the pilots so desire.

I would emphasize to all pilots that are planning to attend the Alpine event that this is a very informal fun fly. Pilots come to fly, fly, and fly. If that means they want to fly at Mt Howard on a particular day they can do just that. If they want to fly at Memaloose they can do that. This event is simply about fun and relaxation. I will be bringing a tug to possibly aerotow, and I will stay through July 4th for some additional informal flying for myself and those want to just hang out. Importantly, the Alpine Soaring Adventure is not a contest environment.

Also, I will have the web site updated in about a week, but I've been slam busy with publishing two magazines. FMI in a week go to:www.alpinesoaring.us.

Don't forget that you must be an AMA member to fly at this event. That way everyone doesn't have to worry about who is insured and who isn't.

Thanks to all,

Wil Byers

[Wil Byers]

Note that the 2006 Alpine Soaring Adventure is a free event. The only cost is for the BYOB/BYOF (Bring your own food) for the barbecue. Quiet Flyer will provide free T-shirts for the pilots, but only for those that send us an e-mail to confirm that they will be attending. We'll need the shirt size that you want. If you want extra shirts they will cost $10 each. Please do not sign up for a shirt unless you truly plan to attend as we don't want to print extra shirts that we don't have to.

Send all e-mails to: support@alpinesoaring.us

Also, the Alpine Soaring Adventure is an AMA Sanctioned event, so you will need to have your AMA card with you. We'll have frequency pins at each flying site too.

Finally, Don Bailey will have access to my tug for aerotowing when I'm not available to provide it.

Remember guys, this event is all about fun and relaxation, with a big emphasis on relaxation.

Also, we will have an announcement board posted somewhere in Joseph for attendees to see where the groups are flying. It will most likely be at the golf driving range, but that isn't a given as yet. More information to come as we get the details finalized.

Wil

[CloudyIFR]

http://www.alpinesoaring.us/home/

Website Update

Registration Available Online

See ya there!
Curtis
Montana

[dgliderguy]

The barbecue on Saturday night is at the south shore of Wallowa Lake, in the State Park, and it is just a short walk from the barbecue shack to the beach, so don't forget to bring an electric floatplane. I'm going to bring my GWS Islander on floats. Fun!

Also, there will be a new DA150-powered Seidl Super Cub tug this year for the aerotow event, so don't hesitate to bring the Big Heavies (one-third scale and up). Light-duty towing will also be provided for the smaller scale ships (3-4m).

Don.

[Wil Byers]

Guys,

The web site for the Alpine Soaring Adventure is finally updated. Sorry for the delays, but changes in designers can tend to slow things down a bit.

If you plan to attend the Alpine Soaring Adventure please register at the site and submit the form, so that I can get shirts and such ordered.

See you there!!!

Wil

[CloudyIFR]

Getting Ready to Fly in Really BIG Air!


http://www.alpinesoaring.us/home/

Curtis
Montana

[Diesel 10]

Can't wait ... what is everyone bringing? My Thule will be holding:

Graphite 2 - Sailplane and F5J fuses
Ocelote
Unicorn
Poly Sergio (Maybe)
Slow Stick - My 8 yr old is learning on this one.

[dgliderguy]

I'm bringing my new Plettenberg-powered DG505, plus my S2G Minimoa, my GWS Islander on floats (for the picnic at the beach on Saturday evening), and my venerable and field-tested mini Silent Dream.

I'm also going to try to find room in the family van for my Telemaster tug. We need some more tugs to show up!! So tell your towing buddies.

Don.

[CloudyIFR]

I'm bringing a WACO aka Frank Weston Magic TD ship for flat land or slope and an Art Hobby Fantasy electric 7-cell and maybe a Salsa XL DLG if it'll fit in the truck.

Curtis
Montana

[Tigger]

This will be my first time. I'm bringing my 5 year old son for our 3 days. Looking forward to the Adventure. I've got my van mostly loaded.

Carbon Delight
XR Combat Wing
30" twin wing
Fenix motor glider (setup for AP)
Slow Stick AP Rig
2 DLGS
2 Aero Aces :)


tIgGeR

[Diesel 10]

Here are a few pics from the event this year ...

[Tigger]

Hi,

Got back last night. Had a great time (still wiped out tired from trip)

Here's some shot's I got off the canyon with my Fenix motor glider and Pentax Optio 4si

[Tigger]

Here's some I took from the ground.




tIgGeR


PS I'll be posting more here later.

[wakumann]

Tigger
so how was the lift at the slope??

Big slope, big air but on all the pictures I noticed mostly electric’s and light stuff (or Foamies) so I assume there wasn’t enough Lift for the better fitted Models like larger Scale ships and heavy moldies?

But good that you had a great time.

Cheers
Thomas

[Tigger]

wakumann,

At Memaloose the lift was quite powerful most of time. There were certain times when it could go away (like after the thunder showers) but during midday it felt like it would lift a brick.(I'm sure others will chime in here) During the time I was flying it was difficult to get my smaller models (Ie 2 meters) back down. :eek:


tIgGeR

[Tigger]

Here's some shots I got at the driving range.

[flynfrog]

Tigger,
great Aero & Terra shots of the Canyon.

The following day (Sat.) I managed to throw my Easy Glider Down into the Canyon at a very trimmed out speed (the day before, Frankswd flew/ saved the glider from the bowels of the canyon - going down in sink- regained the altitude to the canyon's rim and handed me back the TX). Looks like the launch dislodged the Battery and the Plane headed an estimated 500+ ft down the canyon (below the rim). It came to rest on the Oregon side by pure luck, it Threaded itself thru a fallen snag/tree and sheared a wing. 30 minutes down the canyon & 60 minutes back up the steep slope the plane was back at starting elevation (6900 ft ASL).

My thanks to a young man named John (13 yrs) that assisted me with the salvage trip--Let it be known he whipped my tail feathers up & down the Canyon wall.

The later that day I brought out the Eazy Star (built it in 2 hrs that morning) and did a little Combat chasing with a Tiger Striped Zaggy (MegaWatt). The Easy Star will be mod'ed with Ailerons this week.

A suprising thing happened when I was not thinking about flying the sticks--I finally felt in control and comfortable. Tigger you were right,the combat with MegaWatt was perhaps the best thing that I could have done to gain my confidence. Sort of like learning to drive a stick-shift, if you think about all the steps, the car sputters & stalls. Get yourself into a Jack rabbit start with the car next to you & you don't have time to think -- you just race.

Looking forward to 2007 - that will be year #5. Are we there yet?

Flynfrog

[Diesel 10]

Lift

Just to follow up on wakumann's lift question ... the lift at driving range was terrific both days I flew there. Lot's of big thermals through the day. Sometimes you had to work for them but 80% of my flights were 10 min+. I really flew the cr@$ out of my electric Graphite 2 and had a great time. I didn't get up to Memaloose this year but as others have reported it was strong. I went up to Mt Howard on Friday with my Unicorn and Ocelote. I didn't have much luck there. The wind was modest although in the right direction. I flew the Unicorn a couple of times but had to use the motor much more thean I like so packed it in. Would be interested to hear if others had better experiences on Howard on other days. I think a few went up there on Sunday.

We'll be back in '07.

[megawatt]

Wow, GREAT pic's John.Love the in flight's.Can't wait till next year!

[megawatt]

The combat was a blast Ron, and you did a great job of both evading, "and gittin on my six"! Too bad about the easyglider, but at least the avionics were recovered!I sure am looking forward to next year!
Jeff

[dgliderguy]

Thomas,

We flew pure gliders at Memaloose, in addition to electrics. There was plenty of good thermal lift coming through, with periods of sinky air where you had to either stay in close or punch way out past it. Not for the faint of heart! I flew my S2G Minimoa (on Saturday), and Wil Byers maidened his beautiful new fifth-scale 4.5m SB-9. Fun stuff!!

Don.

[flynz4me]

Man what a great time I had this year. It was my first and Frank and I were the first out on Memaloose on Thursday and camped there the entire event. We had a maiden tragedy but things were rebuilt as we stayed up most of the night with the animals at the canyon and re-maidened that next morning right before noon. Next year Wil said there was a strip that was going to be mowed at Memaloose so I'm going to bring a Chip Hyde Cap X tow plane and have some evening 3D demos with aerotowing during the day and especially in the morning before the winds transition around to the right direction. It is an e-conversion so no fire danger unless a lipo goes up!!! Let's hope not!! Might drive up this time and stay in town so I don't have to put up with the biting insects and can also shower instead of bathe in the creek and pond... Talk to you guys later!!!

Devin Byerley
Team Airfoilz

www.3dxhobbies.com
www.xushobby.com
www.servocity.com
www.hobbykong.com

[frankswd]

I had an AWSOME TIME! Hey I even brought a few planes back not broken! As for the ones I did break, they are all repairable :) Speaking of which here's a picture of the re-maidened Magellan-E doing a victory pass over the canyon. Caught by Dave Paperd, Thanks

[CloudyIFR]

Well I made it home from my first Alpine Soaring Adventure.

I took the wife along and we had a nice time. Well I got a head cold and had a rough time with any climbs and descents which kept me off of Mt Howard but next year I'll be healthy!

The drive to Memaloose is about 1.5 hours and the first 30 miles or so are quite easy but the next 21 miles are uphill and require a good vehicle. There was one camper up there but it was made for off roads so towing isn't really recommended.

Once you get to the hill you'll be glad you made the journey. It's beautiful up there, well stay away from the ant hills! The lift was the best you could ask for. I mean throwing a glider off a 4000' hill with no breeze only to fly in thermals is plane crazy, but the lift was so good it was just like slope soaring with no breeze and warm tempertures. I did every aerobatic maneuver the plane and pilot could do and it just kept going and going and going. Same in the landing zone which is quite good by the way.

The next day I decided to stay in town and fly at the driving range which is a beautiful mowed field with very little in the way of obstructions and had good lift as well.

The third day I wanted to go to Mt Howard if nothing else to take the steepest tram ride but my head cold wouldn't allow it. At least I have something to look forward to next year.

There is more to this than just flying gliders. It wasn't a contest where you had to be there at O'dark thirty and be there all day, you could come and go as you please. This made it a really nice vacation with my wife. The town of Joseph is small and one day walking around is enough, but it was quite enjoyable and glad we got to see what we did. It wasn't a pretentious town nor a loud rowdy place. Very nice sitting outside eating a nice meal and having a drink with friends. The prices didn't rip your head off either that was a nice change of pace for a resort town.

The wife and I went on a hike, rented a boat and thoroughly enjoyed the mountain and lake views.

I guess I don't need to say that I'll be back as I will.

Thanks for the nice time everyone, it's the people that really make it.

I attached two panoramic shots I took of Memaloose and Wallowa Lake.

Curtis
Montana

[flynz4me]

Is Hell's Canyon not one of the #1 or #2 places to fly in the US??!!! Standing up on top of the face in the morning dew and letting your eyes take in the majesty of it all really puts wonder in your mind whether or not there is anything in the world higher than where you are standing at that moment. I could have carnaged my plane and left it out there and not think I hadn't given it a proper burial. Thankfully I didn't and that new (20hrs on her now) e-Spinner will live to see the canyon and dance on her lifty fingers once more. I have some short video of the landscape and I would post it if someone could tell me how to delete old posted videos (I'm out of space). :( Frank and I did a line up of all 12 planes we brought and I'll show some of that footage as well binding I get rid of some old crumby videos I made :). Talk to you all later and thanks everyone who showed up at Memaloose to fly. I think we had the most fun (Shhhh don't tell or everyone will be up there next year)!!!

Devin Byerley
Team Airfoilz 3D pilot gone sailplane baby!!