Colorado 2000 Trip
One view of the Boulder 2000 trip.
Chris Rubeiz and I had an easy trip out on the 9th of June. On the airport well before dark. As would be expected day two saw us putting the 1-23 together with some local help. I took a tow a little after noon, thinking I was in great lift I got off low. I was going to show the local pilots how we flatlanders can thermal to great heights. Some thirty-six minutes later, I was back on the ground. Chris must have figured I would be gone a while as he went off with Al, a local CFIG, in the G-103. Some three plus hours later they came back in.
On day three, Tue. the 11th. I put into practice what I had learned there in 1999. "Don't waste $40.00 worth of tow trying to save the next $15.00". So I tow to 11,900 feet msl. I was thinking I would stay on until I was in lift or the tow plane had to return for fuel. I did get off tow in lift and worked it to 14,000 feet. Got low crossing what seems to be a big sink area dead west of the city, half way back to the divide. Down to 11,300 feet I see a small village with a lot of bare dirt showing. Finding the thermal, I get a nice ride to 15,000 ft. plus, with a part of the climb at 1,800 FPM. Now it's time to start working my way North. I knock out a four hour and eleven min. flight with a trip around Longs Peak. A crossing of the divide at a point west of the Peak and a little run to the South before heading back towards Boulder. The max. altitude during this flight was 16,300'. The new seat cushions that Chris had made are great.
Wednesday I stayed on the ground, Can’t have to much fun you know? I can't keep track of what Chris is up to. Three or four pattern tows in the G 103 then the next thing I know he is flying the "solo" G-102 CLUB. Some where around this time he also does two flights in the 1-23 over two hours each. The second take off is so late in the day the "gang" has to call him down by radio so we all can go have a late dinner! Thursday I take another tow to the same altitude and well west of the airport. This time I decide to strike out to the South West having not flown in that area before. Some things of note about that flight. First time I have seen ice form on a sailplanes wings. First time I've flown through ice pellets. I also learned just how fast a 90 degree bank will turn you around when lighting strikes between 1/4 and 1/2 mile dead in front of you. I managed to cross the divide (ok, it's a "thing" with me) SW of Boulder, see some new areas, and cruise around a bunch at 13,000 to 16,000 feet. Things were looking good to the North East of the airport so I headed off for something different. Most all of the soaring that I have done at Boulder has been in the mountains. Looking down on a huge wheat field with a valley on it's South side with a rock outcropping I find good lift at 400 FPM. I'm still flying high enough to stay on oxygen so I "play" between 12,800 and 13,500 feet for another hour or more. Gave the "power plant" area a try and found workable lift there. It's has a lot of water around it. I think one could of headed out cross country from the wheat field with a good chance of doing a nice distance run. On the runway after another four hours and 20 minuets of good clean fun. The temperature at the higher altitudes semmed to stay around 32 degrees F. Shorts and T shirt are ok but the feet start getting a little cold.
Chris did some good soaring in these days that started to merge together. He flew one flight in the 1-23 covering something like 112 miles or more with a speed average of over 56 kts. Even landed back at Boulder. He loves his GPS--ha ha. That about covers everything except how nice it is to be with a great bunch of club members on a great adventure. Look out 2001 ! !
Mack
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Updated 19 Feb 2002 by Terry Schmidt@omahasoaring.net