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SDHGPA Meeting Minutes 3-26-2015

3/27/2015

David Metzgar, SDHGPA Secretary

Open SDHGPA General Meeting Minutes 3-26-2015

SDHGPA Business:

SDHGPA is now officially registered and listed as a 501 (c) (7) Tax Exempt nonprofit; thank you Mr. Helliwell for all your efforts.

Site Reports

Blossom: Don't land in the valley below Blossom. Period. It is trespassing, and it will guarantee that we never regain permission to use the old LZ. If you sink out, side hill land on the face of the mountain. If you land in the old LZ, everyone else in the club will hate you, and eventually we will kick you out of the club and you won't be able to launch there either. Please don't be clueless and stupid. Read the site rules before you fly any site (ours or elsewhere), and follow them. http://www.sdhgpa.com/blossom-valley.html

Palomar has lots of Site Rules as requested by our Land Owners. They are clearly described in the site guide, and continued use of the site is dependent on everyone following them. As with Blossom, Palomar is on private property and it is a hard-won privilege to fly there. The owners have asked us to only allow pilots to fly there if they demonstrate that they are smart enough to read. Carry your membership cards, display your placard, lock the gate, call Pala security and John Smiley every time before you go launch. Land only in designated LZs and for sure do not land in areas designated as being close. Pala security and other Land Owners are watching you, and they are calling us.
http://www.sdhgpa.com/palomar.html

Safety Report:

We have already experienced two injury accidents at Little Black this spring. Recent conditions have been more summer-like than spring-like, and awareness of both conditions and your own capabilities is critical to your survival and continued ability to enjoy this sport.

Contributing factors in both incidences: these pilots were flying in inappropriate locations to prevailing conditions. We are continuing to see this with many pilots at our more complex non simple ridge sites like Little Black and Palomar to name a few.

It is never a bad time to step back to a slightly more conservative flying style, a safer wing, or more mellow hours of the day. Review your training books; read "Understanding the Sky" and "Speed to Fly". For a quick review and practical example of evaluating Palomar's and Little Black's sensitivity to wind shifts see: http://www.sdhgpa.com/minutes-news--articles/effective-ridge-lift-flying-mountain-sites

Again. Remember that paragliding and hang gliding are really dangerous, and your family and friends want you to be safe more than they want you to fly high and go far. Remember no one cares how long you stayed up, if you set XC records, or do cool acro. No one. Really. You are the pilot in command of your glider, or your wheelchair, and of your life.

Spring Fly-in

Spring fly-in will be in May, likely at Palomar May 2nd, or possibly on Memorial Day Weekend. Experiencing some difficulties coordinating with mothers, XC leagues, etc. Any suggestions are welcome!

Doug P and Jody L offered to help with planning and coordination in addition to the social committee.

Keep an eye out for an upcoming Spring Fly-in Flier/ blog post.

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Effective Ridge Lift Flying - MOUNTAIN Sites

3/27/2015

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Understating of this topic will not only lead to a pilots ability to maximize the soaring lift potential of our sites, but also lead to safer flights.

We are continuing to see many pilots flying in inappropriate locations to prevailing conditions at our more complex non simple ridge sites like Little Black and Palomar to name a few. All Pilots need to constantly evaluate wind directions & shifts to perpendicular faces. Do not fly Mt sites by rote.

This material is re-posted from our Members Only section 2015 Thermal and XC Clinic Talks , but is so important to making better safer pilots; we are repeating it here in our open blog section.

Finding lift in all the right places: (Effective Ridge Lift & Thermal Flight)

Some Basic to Complex Ridgelift Therey

(Images from Dennis Pagen's "Understanding The Sky" & "Art of Paragliding")

Steeper Slopes Produce more lift
Shallow slopes produce weaker lift
Lift strength drastically falls off when not perpendicular to slope
Wind will wraparound mountains and features reducing lift
Effective soaring face on small features are even smaller

Mt Condition Cautions

Be cautious of Rotor conditions
Up-slope winds are not always truly upslope winds

Putting Therey in to practice

Effective Ridge Lift Faces will greatly vary depending on wind direction.

Do not fly Mt sites by rote.
Constantly evaluate wind directions & shifts to perpendicular faces.
Constantly evaluate rotor and wind shadows to wind direction shifts.
Make your 1st pass along a face into the wind if slightly cross to maximize lift height away from terrain.

Palomar Example: Showing effective soaring faces and sensitivity to wind shifts.

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SDHGPA Clinic Series - Thermal Flying & Flying SDHGPA Mt Sites

3/24/2015

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SDHGPA 2015 Clinic Topic Series Wed March 26th - Part 2 -

6:30 BBQ & BYOB Mixer ($5)
7:30 Gen Meeting & Clinic Topic
Location: 127 S. Rios Ave, Solana Beach CA 92075
(Greg's SDHGPA Club House down side driveway)

– Thermal Flying & Flying SDHGPA Mt Sites + Secret Tips from the Site Pros - Part 2
Panel Discussion & Q&A Topics Discussion:
(Dmitri Soloviev, Bill Helliwell, Steve Rohrbaugh)

Rough Topic Outline, But Bring your specific questions:

Pre Topic - Generating a Track Log & Uploading Flights to Leonardo

Review Part 1 Section 2 & 3 -– Thermals & Thermaling
1.       What does a thermal feel like
2.       How to center in on a thermal
a.       How tight to turn
3.       How to Join In on a thermal

Next Part Topic by vote
1.       Thermals & Thermaling Video Segments   From "Speed to Fly" and key Fly-Bubble videos
2.      Part 3 – Convergence - Finding lift in all the right places: Site by Site Flying & Thermal Tips: Laguna, Palomar & Elsinore
a.       Convergence & SoCal Convergence Lines (Laguna, Palomar, Elsinore, Horse)

3.       Part 4 – The Classic Routes
1.       Laguna
2.       Palomar
3.       Elsinore

Other sites per request and Time

For further Homework Study, Use the Following Button for a fast link to the discussion page with Notes and references used during the talk. This page will be updated to include all topics to be discussed in up coming 2015 meetings and has good self study homework links at the bottom.

SDHGPA Thermaling Clinic Talks 2015

WARNING: This information is presented and shared to stimulate interest in further study or formal instruction. Presenters at club meetings are typically extremely experienced pilots, not Instructors. The descriptions of Advanced flying conditions, methods, or practices listed in this section or in presentations reflect the experience of the authors/ presenters and their own study and skills development over many years. The conditions that you encounter at sites, or skills you should use, on any particular day may differ, sometimes substantially, from those encountered or practiced by the authors.

The descriptions of their experiences may not be relevant to the likely experience of any other pilot, particularly one who is relatively inexperienced or new to flying. Advanced Skills or methods described should only be applied or put into practice gradually and incrementally from your own flying style / ability and possibly under formal instruction.

When deciding whether or not to fly, a pilot may wish to take into account the descriptions in this guide but must also consider numerous other factors including the pilot's training and experience, familiarity with a flying site, equipment, physical and mental condition and the specific conditions in existence at the time of the decision. Pilots of relatively little experience or who are new to a site are urged to consult with their Instructors, and or other pilots before putting into practice any of the items presented.

Last Meeting:

SDHGPA 2015 Clinic Topic Series Wed Feb 18th - Part 1 -

6:30 BBQ & BYOB Mixer ($5)
7:30 Gen Meeting & Clinic Topic
Location: 127 S. Rios Ave, Solana Beach CA 92075
(Greg's SDHGPA Club House down side driveway)

– Thermal Flying & Flying SDHGPA Mt Sites + Secret Tips from the Site Pros
Panel Discussion & Q&A Topics Discussion:
(Dmitri Soloviev, Bill Helliwell, Steve Rohrbaugh)

Rough Topic Outline, But Bring your specific questions:
Part 1 - Thermals
1.       Picking the Days
2.       Anatomy and Behavior of a Thermal
a.       Thermals & Clouds
b.      Practical Examples from recent Observations: LB clouds behind launch, Palomar this past Sunday on Launch.
3.       When to Launch on a pure thermal day /at a thermal site
4.       Where to find Thermals
5.       How to use a thermal vs ridge lift – Changing Gears
a.       How tight to turn
6.       How to Join In on a thermal

Part 2 - Finding lift in all the right places: Site by Site Flying & Thermal Tips: (Effective Ridge Lift & Thermal Flight)
1.       Palomar
2.       Horse
3.       Little Black
4.       Other sites per request and Time

Palomar - Photo Credit: Anna Van Fleet

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Meeting Minutes, News, & Articles

SDHGPA Meeting Minutes 3-26-2015

Effective Ridge Lift Flying - MOUNTAIN Sites

SDHGPA Clinic Series - Thermal Flying & Flying SDHGPA Mt Sites

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