Summary and Images
(Click on these thumbnail images to view a larger image)
by Maurice Sheldon
What A nice morning it was to fly: the air was smooth, winds were below 3 mph, few very high clouds, and perfect temperature (below 80 degrees at ground, mid to upper 80's at 200' agl).
Bill and I arrived at 5:30am. I was in the air just before sunrise and got an awesome photo of the sun just peaking through the horizon at about 500' agl. It was incredible!
Bill was off the ground minutes after I was. We had decided earlier to head off to investigate some of the hills in the distance to the NE. We had discussed earlier that we might find more turbulence near the hills, but I didn't notice any more than any other place.
We had a great time flying in the silky air. Flying into the low sunrise was breathtaking. I noticed some slight turbulence every now and then over 300', probably due to the border between air masses with differing temperatures.
When I came in for a landing after flying for 40 minutes, I flew up to about 1500' and killed the engine. I tried something new this time: I removed my earplugs. I was surprised how the canopy and lines make quite a bit of loud russling sounds! Maybe this had to do with my perception from having very little sound get to my ears. I had a nice sled ride to a perfect landing.
Every time I fly at McCartney, I find I like the site more. Even though I have flown there over 30 times, I think I have just scratched the surface of things to see and explore there. I love how forgiving the LZ is, how close it is to I-10 and civilization, but at the same time kind of in the middle of nowhere, and how spectacular the surrounding hills and mountains and farmaland is.
Bill Wright responds...
I couldn't have put it better. Good experience all-around today. Mo and I had a good time checking out the hills to the East (well, actually, Mo had a little more "hair" than I did, I was outside a 1 mile radius because the bumps make me nervous). Saw Mo flying along the side of one of the hills, got a good picture of that one. Thanks Mo for taking all the nice pictures and putting them on the web! I'll have to take your camera up next time so you end up on the screen a few times!
I agree with you, the McCartney site has lots to offer. Different kinds of flying in all directions, from open fields to dry stream beds. It's all there. I am really enjoying finding the limits of my nerve, slowly expanding it with each flight. It was great to get into the eastern half of the site for a change too, something we'll have to do more of. I also want to check out the hills north-west of my house, they offer several emergency landing areas with the bennie of some easy-going 100-200 ft hills to play in. Cool.
The weather is cooperating too, you can feel the cool air in the morning now, much different than the swealtering humid air we were dealing with last month...
Images
Incredible sunrise!
Bill from above.
I-10 from 501' agl.
I need a wider angle lens for these in-air self portraits.
Bill touchdown!
I found this future pilot walking (and vomiting) on my wing.
That little horn on his rear is something else!
