Woodstock Saturday 3/1

[XCanytime]

March looks like it is going to start off good with a fresh breeze from the NW on Saturday. The Woodstock road should be open and let the happy pilots do their exercising in the air rather than up the backside of the mountain. Enjoy!

Bacil

[Joe Schad]

I am thinking Thursday is the day to fly Woodstock.

Joe

[XCanytime]

For all the working people in the house Saturday is still looking mighty fine. Still saying a fresh NW breeze, and 10+ degrees warmer than 34.

Bacil

[hang_pilot]

I am thinking Thursday is the day to fly Woodstock. Joe

hmmm, will take a look at w/x and my to-do list and check-in again tomorrow. ~Daniel

[hang_pilot]

Blipmap looks great and the Woodstock Road is open: VDOT 540-984-5600. I'll be in the LZ around 12:30. I won't be on-line much longer this morning, so call if you're interested in joining in the chase: 301-275-6584. ~Daniel

[Joe Schad]

I plan to be at the LZ around 1130.

Joe

[hang_pilot]

Joe, Bruce and Me.

Clouds were already streeting up nicely over DC when I left brimming with anticipation, but it was snowing when I passed by through Front Royal and I tempered expectations. The snow clouds quickly blew through and behind them came some pretty strong winds (+20 mph gusts), but with launchable lulls. Bruce went first on his ATOS. I understand Steve K has flown a rigid from Woodstock, so it wasn't a first for that, but it was pretty cool anyway. Bruce's launch was a non-event: aggressive run, wings nice and level, comfortable clearance in the slot, and next the elevator up. Joe, as usual, kindly volunteered to go last. I don't like self-launching, so I took Joe up on his offer, resulting in a 1:21 flight time, 4400 over, 17 degrees at 5900 feet. I crossed the Edinburg gap for the first time but quickly turned-tail because my fingers were going numb. I stopped turning in lift at 4000 over to keep moderately warm. Bruce pushed on higher, not sure his number, probably 5000 over. Joe launched a while later because of harness troubles and missed the elevators to the high floors. We all flew until we got cold. It was a really good day, someone prepared for it could have grabbed some miles today. Hoping for a repeat on Saturday.

~Daniel

[davidtheamazing1]

Hmm... forecast I'm looking at shows 25 mph gusting to 35... think it will actually be enough below forecast to be h2able?
-David

[Dan T]

Dave, the short answer to your question about it being h2able with forecasts of 25+ is "NO"! Based on the forecasts you sent, it's not likely to be H2able anytime before sunset.

I give the Woodstock effect credit for reducing the average windspeeds 5mph. Recall that the kinetic energy of the wind is proportional to the velocity squared so a reduction from 20 mph to 15 cuts the energy almost in half, from 400 units to 225 or so. I consider 15 mph on launch to be at the top end of safe launch conditions at Woodstock Forecasts of 25 with gusts to 35 are over the top even after subtracting 5 mph for the Woodstock effect.

More important that the windspeeds are the gust factors. A 5 mph gust at 45 degrees or more to your launch heading may be manageable if you are on your toes. A 15 mph gust is more excitement than you want.

None of what I have said is intended to discourage you from showing up. Woodstock is famous for proving the forecasters wrong and turning very mellow and pleasant late in the day. Just make sure that you give those lulls enough time to enable you to determine if they are indicators of moderating conditions or sucker punches and be prepared to fold it up and go him if the conditions aren't appropriate. I've often heard that here are old pilots and bold pilots but no old bold pilots.

Dan T

[lbunner]

Sunday is looking like the better day to me.

[davidtheamazing1]

Thanks Dan, I agree. One time I went out there with a 10-15mph wnw forecast and ended up not launching with nothing better than L&V. When it's looking like it will be good, I'm willing to risk waiting around, but when there's basically no way, I can't justify the gas and time.

Sunday... Maybe Pulpit?
-David