Soaring Reports

Hi OSCI   I’m including two parts for the Saturday 9/10 Soaring report: The Dawn Patrol Arriving stealthily as dawn breaks the darkness our team (Paul, Bob A, Tom S, Mike) dutifully comply with FAR’s and launch the mission to CBF precisely at sunrise.  They...

I arrived a bit before 1:00 to find the staging already in progress.  The light NE wind allowed a convenient 31-13 operation.  It was a beautiful and comfortable day.  Lift was however only tantalizing resulting in all five flights being in the :19 – :29 range.  Bob...

Turned out to be a beautiful day and not too many folks were expected as I was the only tow pilot initially. Had a potential new member show up, Randall Lasenburg. He had some time in a C-172 previously and was interested in a glider rating. Bob Dyer showed up and he...

We had 11 flights on Sat. as it turned out to be a beautiful day. Whit towed 3, Dan 4 and Jamie 4. Jamie started off with a husband and wife team that had purchased ride certificates. Both enjoyed the ride. Bob C. then took up a walk in guy and Dan took up Bob Arant’s...

The day before this had looked very good and the thermal index for Saturday was even better.  However, the fly in the ointment was an area of thunderstorms west of the area that had weakened but placed a solid overcast over the airport at the start of flying that...

I arrived at the airport to find Jaime, Tom Schaap, Steve Stevens already there getting ready to move out equipment. We moved the L23 to the north end of the runway.  Winds were out of the southeast about 10-15 mph.  Since I needed a BFR to complete the renewal of my...

Hi OSCI,   The forecasted moderate temperature and NW wind did materialize, but the hoped for lift was mostly missing.  I started the flying by taking up Patrick Castro (:19) and then his wife Soraia Miranda (:17).  They are the couple from Brazil currently...

Turned out to be a good ride day as we gave 4 during the afternoon. No lift but great visibility for the new passengers. Jamie started off the day with Donna N. and good to see her back. Not for long though as she will be gone for the next 2 months. Jessie from the...

Turned out to be a rather nice evening with a cooling breeze blowing almost right down runway 31. We set up for a 31 operation and Paul J. took the first flight in the L-33 with wife Nancy. Jay got the Russia out and the L-33 was also brought out. Jay took the Russia...

We managed to get in 5 flights prior to heading off to BBGS. Bob A. took the first flight solo followed by Tom S. for a solo flight Dan then launched for his 400th glider flight with Whit providing ballast in the front seat. Steve S. took a solo flight for the {-23...

The early start paid off as we got in 6 flights before the oppressive heat set in. Jim Clark showed up and began assembling the L-33 as Whit got things ready to launch the L-23. Others showed up and got the L-33 assembled and put away prior to moving the other...

Was an absolute beautiful day with visibility unlimited. Winds were light but across the runway, allowing us to once again takeoff on 31 and land back on 13. The lift did not develop as we thought it might with the warm temps. Began with Whit taking up Tim Bifaro for...

After the ground school class ended, the following club members moved the gliders and towplane out to glider grass 13:  Tom Schaaf, Jaime Alexander, Mike Boska, Paul Jelinek, Bob Arant, and myself.  We also had a pilot from England who wanted to try aerotow for the...

Another great soaring day.  The sounding for today was quite good with thermals indicated to 8000ft.  Winds were strong however out of the northwest with some crosswind.  I missed the ground school and arrived in time to move the gliders out to 31.  Steve Stevens,...

I worked half day and didn’t make it to the airport to until 1 pm.  The Blanik and Jerry Adam’s Russia were already out and being prepped for flight.  The winds were light out the north so takeoffs were on 31 and landings were on 13.  The first flight of the day was...

Sunday (today) was a bit brisk. Whit arrived at BTA early and he and Mike got the "stuff" out of the hangars. Dan arrived about 1145 and took the Pawnee up for the initial warm up. The winds were a bit sporty--about 15 knots cross. Two brave intro ride folks showed up...

Six of us showed up to brave the brisk winds and temps and had a successful day of it. Potential new member Chris Schwartz showed up for a couple of FAST flights with Whit as instructor and Dan towing. Chris is a retired Air Force pilot who did some glider flying at...

Was another beautiful day to get the safety flights completed. Light winds from the NE so we could launch on 31 and land back on 13. Jamie showed up so he could tow while I gave Bob Dyer his safety flight and Jamie towed once more as Jerry Adams completed his. Bob D....

What a great day to start the season! Started off at 9:30 and had 16 flights completed by noon and all gone by 12:30. Was able to launch on 31 and land back on 13 which helped to speed things up as well as many pattern tows and rope breaks. Jamie started it off with 3...

Hi All,   I arrived “responsibly early” about 11:40 to find the stuff pretty much all up at the far end setting up for a 13 operation.  I did my share by pulling Ander’s Russia out with my Subaru and trusty tow rope.  The soaring forecast was dead on, i.e. there...

A check of the thermal index indicated negative values up to 6500 ft.  With no significant wind forecast, there was potential for lift even though it is November.  When I arrived, the L-23 and the Pawnee were positioned for a 31 takeoff.  Whit Bonifant, Dan Peterson,...

Day turned out very nice with temps in the 70’s but some crosswinds from the West. We decided that the quartering tail winds were ok for a 31 launch and a 13 return. Seemed to work good all day. Had a record 11 folks show up with most doing some flying. Bob Dyer...

Even though the winds were forecast to be fairly strong out of the Northwest, the sounding still indicated the possibility of thermals up to 5000ft.  Whitt Bonifant, Steve Stevens, Tom Schaap, Paul Jelinek, and Mike Boska were already there with the L-23, tow plane,...

Hi All, My day started with ground school attended by Steve Davis, Tom Schaap, and Steve Stevens.  A bit after 11:00 a young lady, Katelyn, came in with one of our gift certificates and asked if she could fly today.  We wrapped up GS about 11:15 and headed for the...

The soaring forecast for today was better than Dr. Jacks page had been forecasting for a while.  The sounding this morning was also good with lift indicated up to 6000ft with a high temperature of 58.  The high temperature got to 59 and lift was good to 5500ft.  Whitt...

The morning clouds cleared and it turned out to be a fine day for up and down flying. Jim Clark got there early and had the trailer and canopy up and ready. Bob Dyer got his Russia back and was assembling it. Mike B. took his Dad up in the L-23 for one last flight...

It looked like the day was going to be a bust with Mike B. cancelling out because his Dad  not feeling well. That only left Whit and Steve S. for such a beautiful day. I had a ride coming and a new member student so Steve and I began to get out the equipment as best...

Hi OSCI Members,   What a beautiful day form start to finish!  Soaring Forecast showed good possibilities if it warmed to expectations. After GS we proceeded to set up for 31 departures  with light winds allowing 13 land backs.   Well there was an initial...

Turned out to be a great day for gliding, not much soaring though even though it looked like the lift might develop, but then a high cirrus layer moved in and killed it and it also looked like we had a temperature inversion. Had 7 folks show up and first on the agenda...

It was  a beautiful Sat. morning for a 9:00 start. We need to do that more often. Got in the air by 10:00 and completed 6 flights and the equipment put away by 1:00. Started off with a couple of potential new members John Pineda and his son Chris. Both flew their...