DD2

Doug on Launch

While Doc and Mer were flying amazing flights to the North from Chelan, Doug Hoffman and I took on a site which has tickled our fancy and mostly Doc's fancy for a long time.

DD2 - the name you will have to ask, AKA "Sunnyside" is a marginal peak for launching PG's but it sits on a major SW facing solar collector between the tri-cities and Yakima so it has some convenience factors and as Doug showed today can be the start point for North flights toward Saddle and beyond. -

Doug took the Route one which is Due North toward Mattawa and I went West toward Yakima.

We got a bit of a late start (clouds shut us down an hour after we got started) but for a first thermal flight from the site it was great. (Doc was first off last week during a Paradriving day)

When things start cooking for real it may be a quick alternative launch site for Tri-Cities pilots who don't have time to go to Baldy but do have a driver.



That is one of the problems - 1/2 hour or better off road to launch. 4wd only

Great Air though, great collector and lots of room to fly!

Tomorrow - SADDLE for Some wimpy points for the XC league - Lots of ridge early in the morning.

http://www.paraglidingforum.com/leonardo/league/US/2010.04/brand:all,cat:1,class:all,xctype:all,club:0.6

Check out the standings - quite a race and Mer hasn't posted her big one.

Kiona Works - Big Smiles

Today was a great Kiona day - winds were a bit strong but for those who like such things it was great.

A crew came via Saddle which was blown and I think most flew - some benching up from down low.

Rick and I continued our battle for bragging rights. - LEO is down right now but we both gave a run SE after 2 or more down and backs - and thanks to Bob B for the retrieve.

Thermic conditions were quite exciting - lots of strong lift but it stopped near 3,000 or so MSL.

Good lift band out front and another on the ridge top. - best lift was out front but you needed to be 3-500 over to work it well.

John K had an amazing tandem. - took it low and skimmed all the way to the LZ from way low in front of TOY BOY - I would have given 10 to 1 that he would dust, but he pulled it off - Amazing.

There were a couple of draggs and snag with the winds - - My only advise is start lower and make sure your wing is dead into the wind on launch. - HANDS UP!!!! - and have total stable control on landing or abort. - If you are even a bit off balance you WILL get dragged.

Hope everyone had fun and got a feel for how fun Kiona can be.

No video today - but Here is a Kiona video if you haven't seen it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQW1gswQz3o

P.
Check tomorrow for points. - I think we topped at about 3400ft msl - don't know if I got that high but it was just soooo much fun I am still giggling.