Miller HG Sunday?

jlowery · Post by **jlowery** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 3:30 pm

Both Saturday and Sunday look doable for Miller, but Sunday looks like the better day - SE 8 at launch with top of lift > 13k. Saturday is lighter, north 7 going E 8, with top of lift around 12k.

I'm thinking of going down there on Sunday. Anyone else interested?

John
520 444 8105

Whitney T · Post by **Whitney T** » Fri Oct 12, 2012 9:01 pm

I would be happy to drive as long as I could get a ride up...Must be beautiful up there right now

chicken hawk · Post by **chicken hawk** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 9:11 am

Count Deb & Me in for Sun, if you deside on going.

amiller · Post by **amiller** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 5:46 pm

I'm thinking about going. Whats the plan? When and where are we meeting?

jlowery · Post by **jlowery** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 7:36 pm

Meeting at Eric's place at 8 AM, should be at the Miller LZ by 9:30

John
520 444 8105

amiller · Post by **amiller** » Sat Oct 13, 2012 8:06 pm

Do you have room for another pilot?

Can I meet you at Houghton & I10? If so, what time?

morey · Post by **morey** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 10:24 am

well. how was it?

Just because the rest of us weren't there- doesn't mean that we don't fly vicariously through you.

jlowery · Post by **jlowery** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 11:35 am

Hi, Morey. I'll do the honors...

Rick Powell drove down from Globe, and met up with Eric Smith, Eric Tucker, Rafael Ramirez, Andy Miller and I. Whitney Todnem and Raquel were there to help us, as they very frequently are.

When we arrived on the southeast launch around 11 AM it was blowing a lot stronger and almost due south, rather different than predicted and crossing right. We assumed it would get lighter as the day went on, and hoped it would get a little east-er, so we set up and waited.

Andy set up his PG on launch and made one attempt but the strength of the cycle and the rotor overhead made it impossible to control the wing. He got it gathered back up and waited for a while for things to calm down.

Eric Tucker was the first off while it was still strong. Strong south at Miller means launch conditions are gusty and turbulent. He finally got a cycle he could use and had a good launch, and immediately soared several hundred over the reef.

Eric Smith was next, test flying Rick's recently-repaired U2 155. It was still rocky on launch, and he had a good, but busy launch, having to correct as he went off but as usual handling it perfectly. He joined Eric overhead and eventually they found thermals that got them spec-ed out.

Rick, Rafael and I didn't like the launch conditions and waited over an hour for things to lighten up. Eventually they did, and Andy was next off with a nice takeoff, which for those not familiar with the site is not usually done by PGs on the southeast launch. He got right up and was out of sight in no time at all.

I went off shortly after Andy, and got up a few hundred over. I didn't ever get the altitudes that the earlier pilots got, but I had a nice flight anyway, landing after something like a half-hour.

Rafael and Rick decided not to fly - although the velocity had wound down quite a bit it was still a south day and not overly-friendly launch conditions.

Eric Tucker had already landed by the time I got there, having flown until he was tired - probably 2 hours. Eric Smith landed shortly after for almost the same. Andy flew off somewhere north of Sierra Vista - not sure exactly where, but he was still in the air as we broke down the HGs, and Eric Tucker and Raquel went to retrieve him. I'll ask those guys to write up their flights.

So, it was a good day. It's definitely fall at Miller, cool and sunny. Thanks as always to Whitney and Raquel for coming out to help us out, and thanks to Rick for driving down to check out Miller.

John

chicken hawk · Post by **chicken hawk** » Tue Oct 16, 2012 4:32 pm

On a slightly more depressing note. US Forest road starting approx. 1mi. from the gate is the worse i've ever seen & the primitive road from gate to SE launch is 3 X worse. What I thought might take a solid day, will easily take two ( No Easy Button Here).
Speaking with Eric, He hasn't recieved a response back from Forestry yet on what we can or can't do on repairs.
If we wait to long, we may be closed from site for winter.
Someone hit the GREEN BUTTON

amiller · Post by **amiller** » Wed Oct 17, 2012 8:34 pm

Once I finally got off the hill, I had a great time flying around Carr peak and Miller peak. Then headed north and landed across the road from the golf course in Sierra Vista.

Overall good day and a big thanks to our drivers.

Below is a link to the photos of the Miller road.

Eric, Feel free to use any of the photos you need for the Forest Service/road repair.

http://s263.photobucket.com/albums/ii13 ... =slideshow