Tag Archive for mountain wave

Updates on 4 May Payne-Tito Wave Flight

Jim and Dennis launched at sunrise from Minden. I’m in KY on a family visit, sorry for the delay. They have over 500 km with a long run between Hurlong and Lone Pine thus far. I will be blogging on the Soaring Café site for the rest of the day.

Sunday’s Record Flight Wrap-Up

Thanks to Gordon Boettger for sending us this post-flight wrap-up. On April 14th, Gordo and Hugh flew Hugh’s Duo Discus 691 miles from Minden, NV to Gunnison, CO, which reset the U.S. multiplace record for free distance. Considering the lack of good lift I’m very pleased with the outcome. As we all know in the…

Get Sunday’s Record Flight Updates Here!

Last night, we posted Gordon Boettger’s announcement of his and copilot Hugh Bennett’s planned attempt to fly from Minden, NV to Garden City, Kansas in Hugh’s Duo Discus. We will be receiving regular updates and commentary throughout the flight from meteorologist and glider pilot, Walt Rogers, who is providing ground support to Gordon and Hugh. If you want to follow the flight, click the following links and check back with Soaring Cafe for images and Walt’s commentary as the flight progresses.- Editors

Downwind Glider Record Attempt – Sunday, 14 April – To Be Updated Throughout the Day

On Sunday, April 14th I will be attempting a downwind distance record attempt in a Duo Discus glider, an unmotorized, unpressurized, and unheated aircraft, launching from Minden NV (KMEV) located 30 miles south of Reno, Nevada. I will be flying along the jet stream utilizing mountain wave conditions, climbing to altitudes of up to 28,000 feet. My copilot is Hugh Bennett. We’ll be aiming for an area east of the Rocky Mountains, our goal being Garden City, Kansas, a flight of roughly 1030 miles (1658 km).

Werner Soars Like an Eagle!

On February 24, 2012, three members of the Eagleville (Tennessee) Soaring Club attended the North Carolina Wave Project: Bob Richard, Werner Ruegger and myself (Duff Zimmerman). The camp was conducted at a really nice grass strip, Shiflet (9A9). Out of the 12 pilots who tried to find the wave, only Werner was successful!

Gordon’s Debrief on 25 February Aborted Record Attempt

Gordon Boettger and Hugh Bennett launched from Minden-Tahoe Airport at ~0630 PST on Saturday, February 25, 2012, intending to attempt a long downwind flight in wave. Unfortunately they had trouble connecting with lift and the winds aloft were not in the ideal direction for their intended NE route of flight. See Gordon’s comments for more detail.