Thermal Pro hits sink.

[Rod B.]

I saw a fascinating thing on my way to get a hair cut today. As I got out of the car I spotted a group of 7 Turkey Vultures working a thermal. They might have been at about 400-500 feet and were moving in my general direction with the prevaling wind, so I leaned up against the car to watch them pass. Just before they passed overhead, one of them broke out of the group and must have gotten into some sinking air, because he/she (hard to tell) dropped like a rock and was really flapping hard to recover. The bird dropped to about 60 feet right above me, and I thought it might land, when I saw it get kicked over to one side, whereupon it immediately turned into a tight spiral and shot up like a rocket. Just then I saw the visable signature of dust devil crossing the parking lot, twirling papers and dust as it passed. That must have been what the bird found, the bottom of the thermal. The higher extent of it was still being worked by the other 6 birds, who were a good block away at that point. It was a fascinating experience, and I let out a shout of approval to the successful reacquisition of the thermal by my new friend.

Rod B.

[BMatthews]

Originally posted by Rod B.
..... and I let out a shout of approval to the successful reacquisition of the thermal by my new friend.

Rod B.

I think someone needs to get out and fly some more....... :D

I'd be surprised if there's a sailplaner amongst us that hasn't stood or sat in awe watching these Knights of the Skies..... and probably gotten a few odd looks from the Philistines we hang out with that can't appreciate the beauty and grace of successful soaring.

Someday I'll have to tell the story of the hawk that did a loop out at my power field.....

[Mighty Mik]

I was at a picknic this summer, and saw a red tail hawk flying around, around the end of the day it was flying lower, and i was thinking it was losing lift. It came down close to where we were, just low enough to snag a gopher. They do stop flying to eat.

[BMatthews]

Mik, that brings back a funny memory.

I was flying at a local contest and as I came off the line I saw a beautiful sight. A hawk was circling off the the right and slightly upwind of my model. So being the attentive and opportunistic flyer that I am :D I hightailed it over to him to share the thermal... Just as I got there, having burned off some valuable low level altitude, the bugger snaps the wings up and dives in to catch something for lunch and leaves me in dead air ! ! ! ! !

I've never quite trusted hawks the same way since......