Cherokee II Sailplanes: VSA Report

Well we all had a really good time at the VSA Rally. Gliders in attendance included Lee and Mary Cowie's beautiful Grunau Baby II, freshly restored, and Dave and Betty Schuur's Ka-6E. Locals included 373Y and my NG-1, WSA's Ka6-CR, Neal's Ka6-BR, Jerry Boone's Zuni, and Bob Holiday's Duster. The Grob, Lark, and 2-33 at the gliderport also made regular flights. John Wells and Richard Kirkland had their 17 meter Dart on display and of course there was lots of oogling over Neal's Ka2b which is nearly complete. He was working steadily over the weekend getting the cockpits put back together on it.

Pete arrived on Thursday night and I took Friday off work so that we could fly. He had flown 373Y last year at the rally and I intended to get him back in the Cherokee this year since he airlined down instead of pulling his Ka6-CR. We rigged 3Y and the clubs Ka6 which would be my bird for the day. We both launched into really great conditions for the end of September. I was often seeing 3-4 knot average thermals up to around 4000-4500 AGL. I radioed Pete and suggested that we run east to try to get 50km away and then return for our VSA silver coins. He wasn't going to argue and we headed out. It was a fun flight and we made the 50km. I made it back but Pete landed out. He has written up his flight and I'll post it right after this one.

Here is me taking off in the Ka6 (photo from Lee Cowie):

Saturday I headed to the gliderport early to get the NG-1 rigged before the morning seminar. Big thanks goes out to Caleb Teel from Tulsa, OK who helped me wash all the dust off the glider. He was visiting with his dad Randy and it was great to finally meet them. I talked about flying 3Y in the Region 10 contest during the seminar. After the talks we ate lunch and then rigged 3Y in record time. Matt Michael arrived in his Flybaby and Neal offered him the Ka6-BR so the three of us all launched. Unfortunately Pete and I found the lift weaker and spottier than Friday and only managed about an hour each. I did have fun flying with Matt in the Ka6 though and he got some air to air pictures of the NG-1 which looked pretty good. Saturday night was the cookout at the gliderport and there was a ton of people there. We had a blast eating good food and visiting. We finished the evening with a run to Bob Holiday's place for homemade ice cream. Yum!

Sunday my main goal of the day was to get Matt up in the NG-1. Pete gave me permission to fly 3Y so Matt and I launched. We both had 2 hour flights. We had a great time gaggling together and of course Matt blew me away in straight glides. I did a small triangle to Augusta Airport, Stearman Field, and back to the gliderport. When I returned I joined up with Matt again for a few turns but then we both were getting low so landed. It was a great end to a great weekend of friends and soaring!