Exciting day at the field!

[Jim Frahm]

Today was awesome. I was working on my Level 1 LSF tast and setting up my new Organic 2 meter at the same time. I found a hugh thermal and up it went. It was almost out of sight when I noticed a fellow pilot flying in "MY SPACE". :eek: I started to bleed off altitude for better visibility and noticed the other pilot doing the same thing. Turns out the other pilot was a hawk. We flew together for about 4 minutes, he would match my moves in a dive, roll, and sharp turns. Everyone at the field watched in disbelief. The hawk would close the distance and drop his landing gear in an attempt to make contact and I would do everything I could to avoid it. After several minutes we flew our separate ways and I landed after 17 minutes. Today was a great day to be at the field. Talk about exciting. Oh yea, the Organic landed without a scratch and I completed all my level 1 task too. I ended up flying two TD task; one TD task was completed two weeks ago; and the remaining task were completed today. This is fun stuff. :D

Jim

[rogerflies]

I had an encounter with some hawks Saturday morning. Two of them joined me in a thermal. After several turns, the male (I presume) started making passes at my Lovesong. I dived away faster than he could keep up, and I found another thermal. Several minutes later, they joined me again. I didn't wait around for the second attack.

Over the years, I've flown with vultures (both black and turkey), wood storks, eagles, hawks, and water turkeys. The hawks are the only ones that have shown aggressive behavior. The eagles are the most timid to fly with. As long as you keep doing what you were doing, they'll stay with you. Any sudden movement or change , and off they go.

The soaring birds certainly add some enjoyment to this hobby.

Roger

[jbrandon]

First, congratulations on completing your LSF task! It always feels good to get one out of the way and they do get a little harder as you progress but you get better.

Hawks, I had a run in with one several years ago and he shredded my wing pretty bad. About 2 foot of covering, mangled leading edge sheeting and a few broken ribs but was able to land okay but a little out as I could only turn left because of the damage.

LSF has always been a great motivator for my flying – not that I am any good but I have achieved level IV and have started working of V after many years of not flying. And it feels good. I had always wondered what you did after you completed level V and I found out a few months ago, you start over and do it the second time! Many years ago I flew with Dan Pruss (he was either LSF 1 or LSF 2) one of the originators of the LSF program and when working on the program he was insistent on making it hard, it is, cheap, it is. Sure wish he was still around.

Jim

LSF 918

[John Gallagher]

This is the time of year that the little hawklings have just been born and it tends to make the adult hawks very protective.

[LVsoaring]

Congrats on finishing the Level I tasks! I am trying to finish up Level II, but that darn 1.5 meter spot landing is killing me. :mad: Just have one more to go, and 2 more contests and I'm there. I highly recommend the LSF program to new pilots. There's no pressure (at least at the lower levels!) and it really does help you improve your flying skills. :D

Rick
LSF 7894

[histarter]

I had an encounter with some hawks Saturday morning. Two of them joined me in a thermal. After several turns, the male (I presume) started making passes at my Lovesong. I dived away faster than he could keep up, and I found another thermal. Several minutes later, they joined me again. I didn't wait around for the second attack.

Over the years, I've flown with vultures (both black and turkey), wood storks, eagles, hawks, and water turkeys. The hawks are the only ones that have shown aggressive behavior. The eagles are the most timid to fly with. As long as you keep doing what you were doing, they'll stay with you. Any sudden movement or change , and off they go.

The soaring birds certainly add some enjoyment to this hobby.

Roger
Interestingly I flew with Red Tail hawks for 6 years, and never had attacks. They did get nervous and break away from lift if I got above them - in their strike zone. 100' or more above them was ignored. I guess the best defense was the fact that my sailplanes were not as pretty as yours! LOL

[Jim Frahm]

Not sure what to make of the display by the hawk. If it was an attack, I'm sure there would have been some damage. Maybe it was just showing off, or showing the rest of us how to fly. Either way, I look forward to the encounter again. Maybe the hawk will show up again and help with Level 2. The LSF program is great. I'm working towards improving my flying and landing skills and each LSF level puts more "purpose" in my flying.

Jim