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ORD - EGE - SLC - MSO

I'm in Missoula visiting Jeff and family until we leave for France. On the way I stopped in Vail to experience my niece turning one.

TWEET TWEET

Wills Wing now has a Twitter page: http://twitter.com/Wills_Wing

CLICK HERE

Look for updates on the ECC starting Sunday and news ramping up to the World Championships in France.

Instruments for sale

Flytec 4020 Vario: $440

Near new condition. NO scratches.

contact: jeffobrien4@yahoo.com




I've got a flytec pod with a Flytec 4010 and a Garmin 76S that I've been competing with until this past spring. All in good condition - $650

Garmin 12 Map - $75 - Got a Flytec bracket for use with a 12 Map and 4000 series Vario.

Wolfi :)

Wolfi in Interlochen





Which makes me think of Callum's attempt at buying the farm:



Which makes me think of Mitch's use of life #8:

Dustino's tricked out pods

Traslucent colors - inside the weave? - the photos don't do the pods justice - they're sweet looking.

Joy-Full

We're so lucky to do and experience the things we do. Video by Bobby Bailey.

F L O W I T H T H E G O

As a friend and I sat on the bridge over the creek yesterday at sunset, she turned and asked, "Do any of these droplets or molecules of water pass by here again?" My initial answer was "No." But really, how do I know?

That prompted some talk about flowing through life and time like flowing water. Water always takes the path of least resistance, should we adopt the same mentality? Sometimes life flows along gently undulating. Sometimes we circle back in eddies, recirculating in tumult near an obstacle, going against the flow. Eddies collect flotsam, detritus, apart from the turbulence. Unhealthy stuff.

This talk reminded me of THIS POST 6.27.2007



I found this passage on a blog yesterday - the author has/had cancer: "We're all mortal. And yet a lot of us live like we're immortal. Days come and go, and we assume they'll keep on coming. There is no sense of urgency. We treat time like water; so cheap that we can pour it on the ground. Most of us have a vague sense that we'll eventually die, but it's not something we tend to think about often. We assume that we're entitled to our 75 years, which invariably seems like it's a long way off, so we forget about it and go back to our day to day routine.

Just as your life began suddenly, without your knowledge or consent, it will end. Hopefully not for a while, but don't count on it. You could die tomorrow. Yes, you. I hope you won't."

A strong call to action. Temper your hedonism for today with incremental steps toward future goals. Enjoy the process for sure. Feeling self-conscious now. Regina - high minded and flowery enough for you? :) See you soon. Happy Birthday.

Tee Two See 154 FOR SALE - $4499

4.2009 OZ Mag cover

Dropping the price. Delivered November 2007 - 180 hours - Flies like a sweetheart, but race ready. 10th place out of 125 pilots at the Pre-Worlds in Laragne, France. 2nd place at the 2008 US Nationals. UVM top - carbon leading edges, sprogs, basetube - 12mm battens. New wires, VG cord. Never broke a downtube and no hard landings. Can ship anywhere in the country. Grey undersurface with bright green stripe and triple inlay WW - the one in the magazine.



2.2009 UK Skywings cover

Flying 5.17.09

Sunday Hang Glide Chicago was the call. After ground school over breakfast, we set up as the day was improving. Krys Gzyb, local guru, was the first to tow up shortly after noon. He stuck in the sky, and the rest of us quickly got suited up.

I was the next to stick in the sky, and waited for clinic participants to tow up to join me. Things worked out well, and four of us were gaggled up 45 minutes later. We headed south. Thermals were broken and somewhat turbulent. After running downwind 6 miles or so, one of the students called over the radio that he was getting a bit airsick. He headed back in the direction of the airport, but would land due to nausea soon after.

I continued with Gary a couple miles further south, before topping out and trying to work our way back upwind to the airport. Climbs continued to be broken, we hit a significant sinking line, and Gary soon found himself too low to slide over to a thermal I was sniffing out as he was landing.

With all my students on the ground, I searched the sky for other locals. Found a couple, but didn't fly with them for long. Neither saw me as I passed close by.

Went back to the airport and landed after 2.5 hours. It was cold aloft and I found my body shaking quite a bit inside the harness despite putting extra layers on.

Krys had a nice 80 mile out and return in 4.5 hours.

Airtime: 2:36. Flights: 1. Miles: 12.

Flying 5.16.09

Trying to hold an XC clinic in the Chicago / Whitewater, WI area. Forecast called for high winds, so the gang drove around the south end of Lake Michigan into Michigan for some dune gooning. Winds were just cross enough to make things difficult. Set up the spectrum and made a couple of attempts at soaring, not successful. Got some groundschool accomplished and had fun in the sun. The call is Enjoy field and HG Chicago tomorrow.

Airtime: 0. Flights:2.

Flytec Rally Awards

AWARDS VIDEO By David Glover

Flytec Rally Day 7

Photo by Lucas Ridley - HIS BLOG

We began the day with some BLUEYE team filming. Bobby wore a helmet cam as Jonny and Jeff double towed behind Rhett. Once they were up, Dustin and I joined them each behind our own dragonfly.

The formation flying went ok, and the fun came when everyone had their own expression session to the ground. I hung back and watched the other three loop over the paddock. Bobby was flying circles around Jonny as he spun, then caught Jeff going upside down.

We all lined up for passes over the lake. I dipped a toe in the water before climbing over the shoreline trees and landing up at the clubhouse. My shoe didn't get wet ??? Must have just dipped the leather toe in.

Jonny's video from the last day.



We called a 87 mile out and return. The lift was ubiquitous under each forming cloud before the start, and Jonny was seen looping just inside the start circle. Residual energy from the morning session he had to burn off. Most of us took the second start and went slogging into the cross / headwind.

The going was slow, and we were bunched up 2/3 of the way to the turnpoint when the clouds dried up and Jonny came through with purpose. I knew he'd taken a later start and now he'd caught us.

Dustin was talking sea breeze on the radio, and things looked dismal, but due the the size of the gaggle, we were able to find pretty good climbs getting toward the turnpoint.

At 3km from the turnpoint, everyone was climbing and Jonny made a fast break to get the cylinder. I had the same thought and gave chase. I thought we'd return to the climbing gliders, but we pressed ahead on course.

The day was blue, the sea breeze was building, and things were looking more dismal. Zippy and Shapiro were with us for a while, but both got pretty low. Jonny and I continued.

The last 40km was grueling. I was under 1000ft. at least three times searching for an LZ. I would survive in zero for a bit until it turned into 200fpm or less. Jonny was at my level for a while, then he left me and would stay higher until the last thermal. He'd watch me grovel low time and time again.

Frankly, I thought there was no way we were going to make goal. I was still in the air however, and thoughts crept into my head like, "If I make this, it's going to be one of the most rewarding goals I've ever experienced."

Long story short - we did survive, and I was able to find a climb strong enough to get up to Jonny before final glide. The air was wire slapping rough on the way in, and I pulled out a leg to try and dampen the turbulence. My vario flew up and slammed down in the mount. We raced in with a few hundred feet to spare, I nipped Jonny by 10 seconds or so - but he had 15 minutes on me due to the later start.

We watched with heartbreak as Zippy landed just north of the runway in the last LZ before Quest. Shapiro and Glen finally came racing in after surviving as well.

Zippy's mistake cost him the meet. Lost by 8 points to Glen. Both he and Glen flew lights out the entire meet. I was third overall.



me, zip, glen.

The flight was exhausting - that's what made it so enjoyable.

Airtime: 5:50. Flights: 2. Miles: 87.

Gator Bait

THIS MORNING

Flytec Rally Day 6

Puppies and butterflies...



Life in the bubble is sweet...

Hot morning. Good forecast. We called a 90 mile box around the swamp. Near to launch time, the task was changed to a 76 mile triangle north and south.

Bobby towed me up into a thermal, and I pinned off at 1200ft. only to loose the lift. Landed and got another tow up by Rhett. We rocked and rolled up underneath Jonny, where I pinned off and climbed up with him.



The going was really tough early, light lift, strong wind. I was in a terrible frame of mind. I thought I was going to have to take a third tow, but managed to finally get high as the second start ticked over. Luckily, most everyone was waiting around for a later start.

Everything worked out, and I followed Zippy and Dustin out on course. On the first leg, Dustin pushed too hard and landed. Jonny did the same. Zippy had 5km on me, and it stayed that way for the second leg.



The second leg, mostly downwind went much faster. I was staying high and linking up clouds.

With 15km to the second turnpoint, I was alone and getting relative low. All the cores seemed incoherent, and I became frustrated with my lack of progress.

Somehow, I found reasonable enough climbs to catch back up to Zippy just after the last turnpoint. We helped one another out for a couple of mild climbs until our numbers looked pretty good into goal.

I happened to get a better line going to goal than Zippy, and that was enough to edge him out by 30 seconds and win the day. My headspace went from to dispair to success during the flight.



Once again, the vibration around the park was ahh... Puppies - butterflies - etc. An "open window" evening on the way to the restaurant.

Airtime: 3:45. Flights: 2. Miles: 76

Flytec Rally Day 5

Rain / Rest day - expression session.



We woke up to rain in Georgia. At the pilot's meeting, they suggested we cancel traveling north and go back to Quest for better flying. We broke camp and got on the road. Lovely afternoon drive, we set up camp and our gliders when we arrived at Quest.

Most of us were keen to tow up for evening smooth sled runs. We each enjoyed our own flights, and enjoyed watching others play in the sky.

I came in 5 ft. over the water in the pond, ballooned up over the trees, landed up by the club house. Maybe sometime my feet will feel the water.

This place is magical. The evening vibration was high. We all enjoyed our flights, and after I landed, the tugs arrived at tree top height from Georgia. The pilot's buzzed the clubhouse, bobby went up for his own expression session after flying hours I assume from up north.

It's blissful to hang around shirtless after sunset as the ground emits the last bits of the heat from the day. The air is still, but alive. The full moon is impressive - maybe this talk is too fanciful for consumption - it's just nice to be apart of the scene.

Airtime: 15. Flights: 1.

Flytec Rally Day 4

Another crosswind. This time coupled with light lift and low cloud base. It was too much for me to overcome. I landed shortly after the start circle. Most had a hard time with the conditions and landed quickly. The cream of the crop stayed aloft for a few hours and made it quite far.

Linda crash landed and broke her arm in several pieces. She had surgery yesterday. WISH YOU WELL.

Airtime: 1:41. Flights: 1. Miles: 18

Flytec Rally Day 3

Gotta play catch-up with the flying...

A battle into a crosswind.

The start was somewhat tenuous.

I was running hard with everyone, Dustin pulled ahead.

Zippy, Shapiro, Davis, and I worked well the entire flight.

I got impatient at the end in a hard crosswind and light lift, and didn't push quite as far as the rest.

It was a battle all day fighting the prevailing wind.

Airtime: 4:17. Flights: 1. Miles: 76.

outlandings are so gay

Flytec Rally Day 2

David Glover has been putting together scrap book videos each day. Here's Day Two Video Kozmo got a cameo at the end. (subjugation along the way??) :)

Day one video

We were supposed to fly up to Williston, FL. Seventy some miles. There was talk of the sea breeze, but once up in the air, we stalled around for the third start time. I took off with Dustin, Carl, Glen, Zippy and a couple of others.

Dustin eventually dropped us, and Glen and I flew together for most of the flight. There was a large crescent shaped blue hole on course where the sea breeze had already arrived. I pulled a stupid move at the time, so I thought, and blundered into the gloom.

After fighting in light lift with an increasing cross / headwind, I'd climb up 1000ft. in light lift, and eek out another kilometer. LZ's were few, and I finally had to come back and set down in a horse pasture rather than push over trees low into a headwind. Carl ended up getting a km further than me.

The others who pulled the smarter move and stayed WAY east under the clouds had a harder time bucking the sea breeze getting closer. They were all blown further away from goal. A seemingly bad move turned out fortuitous.

Airtime: 3:04. Flights: 1. Miles: 56.

Flytec Rally Day 1

OH MY - What an epic day. 127 miles from the Florida Ridge to Quest. Davis thought it would be a possible record breaking day (300+miles) so he towed up early to see if he could crack off a BIG one. He too three tows to stick.

I was the second or third pilot in the air and stuck ok. We sat in the sky for over an hour playing the start game. Took the last clock.

I was running well with Shapiro and Dustin, Zippy and Davis were off to the east a bit ahead as they found a sweeter line. We didn't have a location on Jonny.

Zippy stayed out ahead as Jeff, Dustin, and I worked hard to catch up. At times my interthermal glide speed was around 60mph.

100km out from goal, we hooked up with a sweet looking cloud street. I missed a climb, and fell 5km behind Dustin and Jeff. I burbled along the cloud street making good decisions, only stopping for more than 400fpm, and trying my best to get back in the game without putting myself on the ground.

Around Wallaby, I hooked up with Jonny, but when he shaded left under dark dissipating clouds, I headed for the sun and a fresh cloud. Just then Shapiro called out a 800fpm climb just ahead. I raced there.

Took just a few quick pirouettes to 10 to 1 to goal and poured on the speed.

Dustin was first, then Zippy, Glen, Shapiro, and Jonny and I flew across the line a second or two apart. I think I edged him out.

Epic first day 130 miles in like 3:20.

Airtime: 4:20. Flights: 1. Miles 127.

REST DAY

Hung out, greasy breakfast, laundry, etc. Took a flight at sunset just for fun.

The party was a nice time. Enjoyed the collective energy level late at night around the bon fire. Twenty or more friends sharing stories, laughs, etc.

Airtime: 20. Flights: 1.

Rob Kells Memorial Day 7

103 mile task with four turnpoints up and down the state. AMAZING flying. I was second for the day which put me fourth in the comp. overall. Festivities ensued :)

Airtime: 4:10. Flights: 1. Miles: 103.

Rob Kells Memorial Day 6

Jonny's video from yesterday



He does a great job of chronicling the day.

Jamie's photos

Jamie's blog

I'm glad others are taking photos and making video. I've been less successful taking photos.

It was a lovely day in the sky. I had a great start, picked a poor line, and got LOW. Spent probably 30 minutes between 1000 and 2000ft. working three junk thermals. Finally a pack of black buzzards showed up and I warily slid over to them. BOOM - 1000fpm to cloudbase. I was thankful to be out of there. It was a quick run to the second turnpoint, and I kept making good decisions connecting the clouds.

I did get slow in a couple of spots and loose a minute here and there. Flew the course on my own as the leaders were out in front and the next gaggle was a few behind.

Nice clouds marked the course and I was able to scoot into goal fifth.

I feel like I'm making better decisions based on my past experience and continually learning new lessons. What it's all about.

Airtime: 3:46. Flights: 1. Miles: 90.



Photo by Jamie.

Rob Kells Memorial Day 5

Jonny's video

Check in around 5:10 for my landing. :)



Jamie's slideshow

Jamie's blog

The day started out slow, some groveling was necessary. I was the first open class pilot to launch as I didn't want to have a tactical problem with launch.

As the start times started to tick over, I found myself in good position with the usual suspects. I took off with Dustin - Jonny, Andre, and Carl were just in front.

Everything went very smoothly until I picked a bad line with Carl, Dustin shaded west and got under nice clouds. I would loose the leaders at this point.

Carl and I eventually got low, and spent almost 15 minutes groveling in broken shit. Finally, I was able to find a tiny 800fpm core, and pirouetted up. Carl just missed the bubble. I was back on track.

Now alone, I picked the best looking clouds and connected the dots toward goal. After being low, I tanked up a couple of times getting close to 7000agl. Up high it's much better. Pay no attention to the ground. Follow the arrow and link up the clouds.

James Stinnet in his rigid caught up to me 20+km from goal. We took final glide together. I think I came in fifth for the day. I'm continually learning. Day one my launch put me at a disadvantage. Day two, I picked a bad line maybe letting Carl influence me. I should have flown the clouds and played my own game. Getting stuck was the difference between keeping up with the leaders and falling behind.

Airtime: 3:16. Flights: 1. Miles: 86

Rob Kells Memorial Day 4

Finally we fly. A dog leg 76km task is called. There's still wind, but less.



Since they think the winds will be too strong, they don't mandate start times. This throws a wrench in the system. I get caught late in the launch line, and that mistake prevents me from being able to hook up with fast pilots.



Dustina

I cross the start line alone, and fly most of the task by myself. A couple of times I hook up with people in thermals, only to get separated immediately.



Everyone likes Dustin's pods.

After the first turnpoint, there are a couple of pretty sizeable unlandable areas. Past these, there's a brush fire that's closed the road. We fly through the smoke of the fire. I make it in with about 1000ft. It was my first flight with a 6030, and I'm getting used to the new instrument.



Woah - are we at a 21 table in Reno? The evenings have been great. Lots of shit talk and laughing. Airtime: 1:45. Flights: 1. Miles: 47.

"US" Team

We all made goal on our first task @ the Rob Kells memorial.

From left to right:

Davis Straub

Jeff Shapiro

Zac Majors

Belinda Boulter

Dustin Martin

OB

HELP "US" HERE

US team in goal. high

US team in goal. high spirits.

Rob Kells Memorial Day 4

Looks like we'll fly. Still windy, but each day more and more frustration is leading to an increasing desire to fly.

Dune / hotel flying video - Eric

More blog coverage - Lucas

blow out day 3. spending time with friends wasting the day in humorus style... flew this morning for fun. airtime 20 flights 1.

no task today... too windy... my current view...

Florida Ridge - Rob Kells Memorial - Day 1

Festive here despite the blow. Everyone is pessimistic early as the wind builds. Things are nice here.


Pilot's meeting.



Waiting for good weather.



Young guns - Eric and Lucas - the Lookout boys - sporting BLUEYE



Jonny Redbull - sporting blueye - BLUEYE



We spent the afternoon in Clewiston people watching at the fair / car show.

Florida Ridge - Rob Kells Memorial - Practice Day

The sky looks epic. The wind is a bit high. A few people fly, Glen Volk stays up for quite a while. Low key festivities tonight. Good to see folks again.

Who's here - Brazil, Italy, UK, Brazil, Ecuador, Australia, Etc.

Big vs. Small Tee Two See

I've had a couple of friends fly in or out of the Orange County airport and text to say "whoa - I was walking through the terminal and your photos are up all over."

I got another couple of flights on the T2C 144 yesterday and have more - of the same - impressions.

the 144 is NIMBLE - As I was flying around with one hand taking pictures of Davis, the glider would turn quickly if my one hand was off center. Much more so than the 154. The glider flicks about. It's like when you increase the sensitivity on your computer's mouse - at first the cursor is all over the place - it's seemingly too sensitive, then you get used to the sensitivity.

So - what could possibly be the downside to the small one? Well climb... but we'll see. Theoretically the glider shouldn't climb as well as the 154. The upcoming comp will be a great test.

Somebody's gotta suck - flying 4.21.09

Bringin' back the 80's - the new glider. the small one 144.



Typical sweet looking Quest day.



Dustino towed me up through a lot of sink to 1800ft. where we finally hit a thermal. I pinned off and climbed up with Davis. He's sporting a new Rotor harness that wasn't made for him, but fits him very well. I was going round and round with him thinking - Ooh, Davis is looking sporty.



Topped our around 5000ft. and headed north against the wind. Davis and I hit a sinking line, he went 90 degrees to the wind, I plodded upwind and got low. At 300ft. I thought I was going to save it, but no. I hit several rowdy patches of lift 100ft. and had to manhandle the glider through S-turns and a couple of intentional stalls to get into the LZ I chose. It was an atrocious approach. Ended up fine.



Quest from above - you can see Jenia (sp?) the russian girl circling over the road. I landed 6 miles from Quest. Whoopie.

Airtime: 30. Flights: 1. Miles: 6.

Evening Ambulation

Wave.


Long Light.


Grass.


Backlight.


Years.


Deer(s)

One Man's Trash

Found this painting at a thrift store last week. I'm entranced with it. Tell me why YOU like it and I'll send it to you

Crepuscular rhythm

Everything spring. The birds come to the feeder early in the morning with hair, grass, and fibrous building material in their beaks. They stuff seeds past the mouthful of foreign objects on the way to the jobsite.



This evening we walked down the creek. First there was some meditating by a burbling section, then through the woods, then we snuck up on a beaver family enjoying an evening swim. Finally Kozmo gave our presence up and one of the parents dove underwater with a enthusiastic tail slap. The baby dropped out of sight, and the final parent dove with a second solid slap as the dog entered the water.



There was more meandering and another meditative session as the sun dropped below the tree line. The silhouette of the woods first gave the sun the appearance of a burning house, then a waning jack-o-lantern as it finally slipped beneath the horizon.



Back at the farmstead, the monogamous Kestrels showed up from different directions. They met up under the eve of the barn as if to say, "Hey honey, how was your day?" before retiring to the rafters... the raptors.

Vernal Journal

Change is afoot in Illinois. I've been watching robins pull fat earth worms from the ground and grackles turn over clumps of dirt foraging for a snack. Heat waves are visible across the plowed terrain. Birds are showing up at the feeders outside the window bouncing around happily, playfully, sexually. Buds are emerging fuzzy on the branches, splaying out as if to reach for the warmth and be nourished.

Local Worldwide

2.2009 UK Skywings cover



3.2009 US Mag cover (Jeff Shapiro)



4.2009 OZ Mag cover