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Update #2. Tuesday looks OK but… Sky Sight predicts lift from 2 to 2.8 knots. Top of lift from 2000 to 3300 agl. Winds are 6 to 8 knots out of the north west. Cu’s to last all day. So it’s weak and not very high. Sky Sight predicts 3K doesn’t happen until 3:30. My Skew-T says thermals to 3000 agl after 3 pm.
The fly in the ointment is the low in SE Missouri. It hasn’t been moving much. It is weakening but it is what is causing all this high cloudiness. If it moves away the day will be better, if not the day may not develop at all. So all I can say is if its clear tomorrow morning it should be an ok day, if not then it probably won’t be soarable. I’d like to fly but I’ll have to wait and see what the morrow brings. I don’t want to ask for a tow pilot if it’s not soarable. John Lincoln
Here’s my first update. Monday looks unsoarable due to the low to our southwest. Tuesday isn’t looking bad but I’d like to wait to see how it looks tomorrow. Wednesday doesn’t look bad either but not quite as good as Tuesday at this point. I’ll update again tomorrow. John Lincoln
I can’t say I notice the density altitude when I’m either cruising or thermaling. I did notice it when I was towed up. John Scott and I were noticeable lower going over the west end of the runway. Even with the west wind at about 10 knots the lift off took longer and we crossed the west end of the field around 150 to 200 feet. On a more normal day the west end crossing is more like 200 to 300 feet agl. John Lincoln
A final comment about the 6th. Hot but not horrible was somewhat accurate. The not horrible part might need a bit of clarification. The wind at 2800 agl averaged 16 knots out of the southwest. The Cu’s were only somewhat reliable, with many not providing any lift that I could find. I did find one thermal that was 3 knots but in 3:56 my average climb for the day (on my Oudie) was 80 fpm. And Oudie said I flew a 21 mile triangle at a whopping 12 mph. All that said it was a very good day to work on your survival (to stay aloft) skills. Steve did a very good job in the 1-34. The next few days don’t look too promising. I hope that that will change. Thanks to John Scott for towing, Steve and Nick and his dad for coming out to run an operation. John Lincoln
I am hoping to fly on Tuesday as well. Lift 4 knots to 6K. Surface winds 10 knots out of the west north west. Windy at top of lift 30 knots. Cumulus from 1:30 until 5 ish. Is there a tow pilot, wing runner? John Lincoln
After watching the weather on Sky Sight Thursday is looking much better than Friday. Any chance of a tow on Thursday? Lift around 4 to 4.8 knots up to 7000 AGL. Wind NW at 8 to 10 knots. Cu’s popping around 1. John Lincoln
New update. Just called Larry. He has done the annual on the 1-34 so it’s status is UP and airworthy.
John Lincoln Maintenance
Although I am still south in Florida I wish to thank all those who have volunteered to help get things cleaned up and ready for the season. John Lincoln
When I asked to join SSI I was told I would have to do three things for the club in order to be a member. I would have to pay my dues, and give of my time and expertise. I agreed to do all three. I thought every other member (regardless of financial ability) agreed to do the same. When I joined I didn’t know, or even suspect, there was a dues credit system. Obviously I was wrong.
If the tow pilots, instructors and pilots who give rides can have their dues reduced to zero then shouldn’t we not also reduce the dues for those who perform other valuable services? After all the tow pilots and instructors are useless if the runway isn’t mowed, gas isn’t purchased, planes aren’t maintained or insurance paid up. But there’s no talk of reducing those members dues.
The reduced dues credit is there to make sure that every member of this club has some financial “skin in the game” but still give some recognition of the special expertise that tow pilots, instructors and ride givers have by virtue of their advanced ratings.
My final observation is I believe there are a lot of members of this club who give their time, money and expertise but who don’t ask for or receive special recognition or consideration.
Sincerely, John Lincoln
