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Meeting Minutes, News, & Articles

SDHGPA Summer Road Trip/ Flying Camp-out July 3rd-6th

6/25/2014

4 Comments

 
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Date : July 3rd-6th
Some will head up early and others will join for the weekend.

Please RSVP via form below and Calendar Invites to the dates you plan on going.
Location: Slick Rock - Springville, CA 93265 map

Event Coordinator : Dave Metzger ( 858-336-5391)
More Info to Follow on this page

Camp Site Info:
We need some volunteers to go up one day earlier with Danielle & Angela to save us at least 3 campsites. 
Balch Park Campground (in Mountain Home Demonstration State Forest ) has 71 tent sites and 71 RV sites, all first come first serve.  Note that the one we want is Balch Park Campground  off Bear Creek Rd and not Balch Park Station. 
(There are also motels and cabins in Springville for those that don't want to camp. That option is on individuals to figure out. )
Balch Park Campground Coordinates: 36.220404,-118.679318
Campsite Directions
Maps of the campsite: note that the one we want is Balch Park Campground  off Bear Creek Rd and not Balch Park Station. 
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State Forest Detail Map
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Balch Park Campground off Bear Creek Rd

Slick Rock Site Info: 
http://paraglidingearth.com/pgearth/index.php?site=7236

More Info:
Pictures from Prior Trip:
The pic called Slickrock LZ is taken from launch and you can see the only wide open area down in front which is the official LZ. There is also a small bailout on the right side by the road, the helicopter LZ, just a sharp rectangle over the right side  which is easy to land on. All that can probably better illustrated on site.
The Lumeau is a different, lower launch past the range in front of Slickrock (see on glide pic) that requires some annoying hiking. One can also make the LZ from Slickrock and land at Lumeau, which is a local pilot hangout too.
I also attached some pics from the hiking we did last time.
Prior Slick Rock Trip Slide Show 
Some Past Flights:
http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/compare/663912,663913,617293,663910


2014 Slick Rock Road Trip RSVP

Please RSVP via email invites sent out (preferred) or this form if a 1st time or non member. You can also make a comment blow to make your participation know to all.
Submit RSVP

4 Comments

Steve’s Nasty leading edge rip cell repair. (100+ hours & going strong)

6/23/2014

2 Comments

 

The other day I was asked about this and decided to finally post this as I had taken pictures of the process.

This repair was performed a little over a year ago as a temporary repair before having a lull in our flying season to the take time out to get a new panel sewn in. However, still today, you would be hard pressed to find the repair location and it is holding strong with over 100 hours + on it. I am expecting this repair to last the remaining life of the glider.
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Note: Always have a professional repair your glider and or get a second opinion from a respected peer before repairing, while repairing, and attempting to fly a repaired a glider if you do attempt to repair a glider yourself . . .  this information is posted to show what is possible and is not intended as a complete do it yourself repair guide by the author.  . .

The key to large and small repairs is blocking out and getting the repaired surface as smooth and clean as possible before adding repair tape.
Essentially, foam, card stock and chip board (single wall packaging cardboard) was used to block out the wing profile smooth inside out, masking tape applied to temporarily align and hold the ripped sections, repair tape applied , then the process repeated back and forth turning the glider cell inside and right side out.

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Rough Repair Steps:

  1. Block out the wing profile with foam and card stock
  2. Clean areas to be repaired with alcohol 
  3. Apply masking tape to temporarily align and hold the ripped sections
  4. Make wing profile as smooth as possible to original profile
  5. Turn cell inside out
  6. Block out the wing profile with foam and card stock
  7. Apply masking tape to temporarily align and hold the ripped sections
  8. Repeat steps 1-7 until you are happy with the section alignments and resulting profile with no bulges.
  9. Turn wing cell inside out (1st layer of repair tape will be applied to inside)
  10. Remove masking tape from inside surface
  11. Clean areas to be repaired with alcohol 
  12. Trim ragged edges and threads close and smooth.
  13. Cut and trim Repair tape. Round out edges to minimize point stress points.
  14. Peel back backing from one side in small strip
  15. Apply to wing and carefully remove backing a little at a time smoothing and preventing and bubbles or wrinkles along the way
  16. Remove any wrinkles and Set adhesive by burnishing with a plastic spoon.
  17. Turn cell right side out 
  18. Block out the wing profile with foam and card stock
  19. Check resulting profile with no bulges. (this is your last time to correct with any masking tape from inside)
  20. Remove Masking tape from outside surface
  21. Clean areas to be repaired with alcohol 
  22. Trim ragged edges and threads close and smooth.
  23. Cut and trim Repair tape. Round out edges to minimize point stress points.
  24. Peel back backing from one side in small strip
  25. Apply to wing and carefully remove backing a little at a time smoothing and preventing and bubbles or wrinkles along the way
  26. Remove any wrinkles and Set adhesive by burnishing with a plastic spoon.
  27. Inspect and kite your wing at your favorite training hill before embarking on your next big flight...

2 Comments

Chris's PG Summer flying Tips

6/22/2014

0 Comments

 
This is an article post well worth reading by the much respected Chris Santacroce:
Post by Chris Santacroce.
0 Comments

SDHGPA Meeting Minutes 6-18-14

6/19/2014

0 Comments

 
Minutes 6-18-2014:

Site reports

Palomar:
Call Pala Security every time you fly at Palomar. Call Smiley every time you MIGHT launch there. Never assume someone else did it for you. Put the brush back over the entrance to the Smiley trail before you launch or leave.  Palomar Site Guide has been updated as of 6-20.

Blossom:
The LZ at Blossom is still closed. Do not land there. Side hill land anywhere on the face, its easy and good practice for XC out landings. Students are welcome, so long as they follow the rules, as above, and instructors take responsibility for where they land. Students can side hill land.
Site Guide for Blossom has been updated as of 6-18.

Little Black & Otay:  Site Guides have been updated as of 6-20.


Admin notes & Special Election for interim VP
Tom, Bill, and Dave were present for the board. Tom offered to be VP in absentia unless someone volunteered. Greg Hunter offered himself as a nominee. No further nominations were offered. The membership voted 17-0 in favor. 


Summer Road Trip July 

Slickrock is on. We've got at least 10 folks going and Danielle volunteered to get there early and stake us out a prime group campsite. More Summer Road Trip info

Guest Speaker Topic
Gary gave a great talk, with some incredible historic photos and video, on the unique and central role San Diego has played in the development of unpowered flight (and thereby flight itself). 



Cheers,
Dave M
0 Comments

SDHGPA - Guest Speaker Event June 18th: Gary Fogel "The History of Silent Flight at Torrey Pines"

6/16/2014

1 Comment

 
Mark your calendars: Next SDHGPA Topic:  "The History of Silent Flight at Torrey Pines" (Guest Speaker:  Dr Gary Fogel)  - June 18th
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6:30 Mixer & BBQ ($5 & BYOB) 
7:30 Meeting & Topic: 
1. Club Info & Updates: 
  1. Palomar Smiley Launch Protocols: (Bill H)
    1.  - Must call Smiley's
    2.  - Must call Pala tribal security
  2. Blossom updates  (Bill H)
  3. VP Board Position vacancy interim special election nominations  (Bill H)
  4. Summer Road Trip to Slick Rock info: (Dave M)
2. Topic: History of Aviation & Gliding in San Diego 
  • "The History of Silent Flight at Torrey Pines" (Guest Speaker:  Dr Gary Fogel)

Location: 127 S. Rios Ave, Solana Beach CA 92075 (Greg's SDHGPA Club House, down side driveway)
Gary will have a few copies of his books for signing available.
http://www.amazon.com/Torrey-Pines-Gliderport-Images-America/dp/1467131369 
http://www.amazon.com/Quest-Flight-John-Montgomery-Aviation/dp/0806142642 

RSVP 6-18-14 SDHGPA Meeting

Please RSVP via email invites sent out (preferred) or this form if a 1st time or non member
Submit

1 Comment

SDHGPA Spring Fly-in @ PALOMAR Jun 7, 2014

6/6/2014

0 Comments

 
SDHGPA Spring Fly-in @ BBQ Saturday, Jun 7, 2014
(The Date was pushed out to 6-7 due to Weather, Fires, and other fly-in conflicts )
Check this page for updates up to day of fly-in.
Site: Palomar 
(Weather conditions look favorable and better then Horse)

Where: Palomar Main LZ
(Pala Roberts Ranch - 15450 California 76 Pauma Valley, CA 92061)  (map)
This will be a great event!!!  
For those that have not been to Palomar in the past 6 months, we have greatly improved the site with the Pala Tribe. We now have two great launches, an improved large HG bail-out LZ, and a great large LZ down in the valley that is PG and HG friendly into the wind with a long run-out that is easily landable even with an ATOs.
SDHGPA Membership is required to fly Palomar and for this event BBQ.
(Full Annual Membership or Visiting Pilot membership is valid for this event. However Visiting Pilots will not receive gate codes & must fly with Full Annual Members for access)
Photos from last SDHGPA Fly-in @ Palomar

WX Forecast Report:
Steve's Forecast: 

For the Fly-in Saturday: weather conditions for Palomar look favorable with the Global Model being the most optimistic Friday afternoon. Predicted lift at launch is 4-6k with 7-8 possible over the back ridge line with SW winds to 15 mph. Other models show lighter winds. Peak heating and lift is foretasted for 3pm. I would expect a nice glass off in the evening due to the XC predictor emphasizing the entire valley vs ridge lines . I would also expect the day to be slightly inverted starting at about 4-5k.
Conditions on Sunday: look a bit better on Sunday at Palomar with the top of lift being slightly higher & the winds being lighter.  For the Advanced Pilots, I also think Laguna is looking good on Sunday. However I am a bit more optimistic then Bill on the top of lift based on the NAM & GFS models. With NAM showing a nice convergence & lift to 10K.
SDHGPA WX Page
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Bill's Weekend Mountain Flying Forecast:

The weather forecasts from the various web sites are in complete disagreement. Saturday there will be generally Westerly wind, Sunday it may blow West all day, that is if it doesn't blow East all day. Here is my assessment.

Horse should be ok on Saturday. Wind will be Westerly at Horse in the 11-14 mph range. There should be decent lift, 500 fpm, getting close to 7,000'. I plan to go to Palomar for the club fly-in. Conditions should be similar there except for lower top of lift. It should be possible to get a thousand feet or so above take-off.

Sunday will be a Laguna day. Even if the wind aloft ends up being out of the West, the wind at take-off should be Easterly until early afternoon. The desert is going to get very hot, expanding the air, and providing an Easterly push at the escarpment. Thermals should get close to 8,000' and convergence related thermals a couple of thousand feet higher.

It has been rough at Horse the past week. The air at Palomar will be smoother. Have your head on a swivel, it will be crowded.

Bill H

Post Flying BBQ:
Main Course will be provided by the club however it is primarily a potluck; so plan to bring an appraiser,  side dish, salad, or dessert to share.  Please also bring any drinks you might want. BYOB

Antonella &  Angela A. would like some help from some volunteers to help coordinate food pickup, set up and break down. Also, if you have a charcoal grill that you would be willing to bring, that would be great. Ideally, we can get these things coordinated by mid day on Friday so that everything runs as smooth as possible on Saturday. 

Please contact Antonella ([email protected] ), &  Angela ([email protected]) to help and coordinate on the event planning side.
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Palomar & Fly-in Info:
Meet at Main Palomar Pala LZ
Pala Roberts Ranch, 15450 California 76 Pauma Valley, CA 92061 ( 33.323150, -116.99440000 ) 

Parked cars in Main Pala LZ, Palomar Main Launch, and Smiley Launch must display the SDHGPA Member Vehicle ID/ Gate Pass. Max 4 vehicles may be at Upper Smiley Launch. Main Launch is preferred for both HG & PG pilots.
Park in Designated Pilot Parking areas per the Site Guide. Do not park in front of or block the Roberts Ranch Building Roll-Up Doors or Shade Structure. Try to keep top landing approach path free of cars.
Open, Close, and Lock Launch and the Bail-out LZ access gates behind you as you pass. 
Access is for club members only.  (Reference your membership email for the Current Gate Codes)
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Prime Launching times for Palomar recently have been from 1-5 with flights extending till dusk. (Please choose suitable launching times and conditions to your skill level) (Some P2 & H2s have been heading out and getting in early training flights before conditions ramp up then having great evening flights)

More and Complete Site Info:
SDHGPA Site Guide: http://www.sdhgpa.com/sites-guide.html 
Palomar Site guide: http://www.sdhgpa.com/palomar.html

0 Comments

How to check your SDHGPA membership status

6/6/2014

0 Comments

 
You can now check your SDHGPA membership status via a button link on the Membership page or the following: 
Check SDHGPA Membership Status
http://www.sdhgpa.com/current-sdhgpa-members.html

0 Comments
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(United States Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association)
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