Soaring at the Alvord Desert
Ian Henehan - September, 2001
My first flight on the wire was with Ron Poe. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the tow was no problem. The next day I took a second ride with George Edmundson. The tow went smoothly and George signed me off for the wire.
Later that day I took a ride in the Junior. The CG hook makes the tow easier. I found a little lift and got up to about 8000’MSL. The flight only lasted forty minutes, but I got a good look at the area. Wednesday, I launched in the Junior at 1:00 and headed to the west side of the lake. I spent thirty minutes struggling over the ranch before the lift started to develop. I then found lift up to 13,500’MSL. After three hours I was tired and ready for dinner.
My second good flight was on Thursday. As I crossed over a dust devil, the vario pegged immediately. I rolled up about 50 degrees into a steep right turn and climbed through 13,000’MSL in just a few minutes. John Bradford was NE a couple miles and he was on his way through 15K’. I headed that direction and continued to find strong lift. I topped out at 16,500’MSL. There was a thunderstorm over the Steens as we flew around to the south. I flew south to get a look at a brush fire that had started up near Andrews and then turned north to run the Steens. I passed over the Steens around 15’000’MSL. After about 4 hours, it was time to land. It took awhile to get down, as the lift was still very strong. I was flying at 90kts and still climbing. This was my best flight yet. The duration was 4:15 with an altitude gain of 10,300 feet.
Just back from a flight in the Junior.
Me and the Junior.
The camp flight line.
Glasflugel Mosquito "TU"
Ron Poe, just landed in the Mosquito.
Ron Poe doing a high speed pass.
Ron asleep in the cockpit, waiting out the dust storm.
Ferrying the Mosquito behind my Tacoma on 200 feet of rope.
Getting ferried in the Junior across the lake. You can just see my truck above the panel.
Mosquito low on our six!
Launching Jan in a 1-26 on the short rope.
The Senners landing their Blanik L-13.
Finishing up assembly of a 2-33.
Putting the 2-33 back on the trailer.
The Clarks landing in their Grob 103.
Waiting in line for a launch in the Junior.
16,100 feet and still climbing at over 500 feet per minute in the Junior.
The Alvord dry lake from around 16,000 feet.
Flying around the cell at about 15k.
Wild, wild blue yonder...
The Steens from around 15,000 feet in the Junior.
The end of a fun day.
Alvord sunset.
and moon...
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