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A few final observations on Sunday that I forgot. I was seeing corn stock leaves at 6000′ msl yesterday. It really gets your attention to see a 2 foot corn leaf go whizzing the canopy just a few feet away. At first I thought it was a hawk but on the next turn in that thermal I saw it was a corn stock leaf. I also saw a Paraglider at about 6000′ just north of DeKalb. He was a couple hundred feet lower than I and headed south. Didn’t see him again after that. Finally I landed over the fans and baskets of the balloon operation. They set up on the runway as per their usual routine. Thankfully they moved their vehicles off to the edge of the runway just before I landed. It wasn’t an issue for me as I just landed long, but after hearing all the discussion about “not landing over gliders staged on the runway” at the meeting it seems like we should inform all of our runway users to avoid staging on the runway if there’s a likelihood that the runway could/will get used while they are staged. The solution is to move the balloon operation to the alfalfa field. BTW this is the third time I have landed when the balloon operation has been either setting up or fully set up but not launched. John Lincoln
Well fairly good wasn’t a good description. Very good fit better. At least after you got over 4000 AGL. I found a lot of 4 to 8 knot lift above 4k. Below you would be scratching and I did some of that too. I managed to get to Poplar Grove, 12 miles SW of DeKalb, up to Dacy, back to DeKalb and finished back at SSI. 153 miles. Highest I got was 7000 msl. There were 14 flights total. And 5 were scenic rides. So a very good day for SSI in my book. Don and Mark did the towing, John Scott gave some rides. I wasn’t on the ground to see all that went on so this is word of mouth. The only low point was Jimbob had a flat tire on 401 and wasn’t able to get it fixed in time to fly. BTW his 195 is beautiful! I only got to see it in passing but what a stunner. Maybe one day I’ll get a chance to look inside. The next couple of days don’t look very good but Wednesday and Thursday don’t look bad at all. Blue is the only problem with them. Hopefully we’ll be able to get in some more flying before the season ends. John Lincoln
Wednesday does look good but Tuesday and Thursday aren’t bad either. Tuesday and Thursday will shut down around 4 due to high level clouds moving in but up till then it’s forecast to be good. 3.6 knots of lift on Tuesday and 4.2 on Thursday. Relatively light winds and Cu’s until 4. Wednesday 4.1 knots of lift lasting till 6 but 11 knots of wind all day. Highs on all three days mid to upper 70’s to 80. I have a commitment on Wednesday but would like to fly on Tuesday. Any tow pilots and wing runners out there for Tuesday? John Lincoln
How things have changed. Friday doesn’t look so good but Saturday and Sunday still look very good. I’m going to pass on Friday but plan on Saturday and maybe Sunday. John Lincoln
I can’t make Wednesday but I plan to be out on Friday. Saturday and even Sunday also look pretty good. John Lincoln
Nick, Congrats. You are now in a very special club. I hope you maintain your sailplane flying even as you pursue more aviation goals. John Lincoln
Friday does indeed look fairly good. Any tow pilots for Friday? Saturday not quite as good but still decent. John Lincoln
Tuesday was good. I saw Petr up near Poplar Grove early around 1:00 and again later near Galt airport. I also flew with John DeRosa from south of Poplar Grove to down near DeKalb. I saw a Genesis sailplane flying just north of DeKalb. I don’t have any idea who it was though. Congrats to Petr. His flight may qualify for all the requirements for a silver badge except landing at an airport away from the home base. Hope today is just as good. Enjoy this good weather while it lasts. Hot and humid is going to make a return next week. John Lincoln
I just checked the weather for Tuesday Aug. 3. It looks quite good. Lift 3 to 4 knots to 5000 AGL. Winds 3 to 5 knots out of the NW. Cu’s most of the day. Lets get an operation going. John Lincoln
Final update. The fly wins. The low is moving NE and is about over Chicago. It’ll probably clear up this afternoon. When that happens there will be lift of 1 to 2 knots to about 1500 AGL. So I’m not coming out today. I have a commitment tomorrow and I’m out of town until Sunday night after that. For what it’s worth tomorrow and the weekend don’t look to bad right now. Maybe Steve can keep you in the weather loop for a few days. John Lincoln
