5:39pm
Gabe didn't come back so l left at 6:00pm. Pgs Mark Sanzone, Sargent and Dirk came back to get a sunset flight right before I leave. They are probably still soaring right now.
7:40pm
Thursday, March 30, 2017
2.5 hrs flight at Cape Lookout 3/30/17
5:39pm
Gabe didn't come back so l left at 6:00pm. Pgs Mark Sanzone, Sargent and Dirk came back to get a sunset flight right before I leave. They are probably still soaring right now.
7:40pm
Tuesday, March 28, 2017
3 hrs flight at Peterson Butte 3/28/17
Video
As promised, Peterson Butte got plenty of lift with a strong south winds (15-25mph). Four hangs (Steve , Greg, Peter and myself) soaring all over and got 2K. I flew for 3 hrs from 12:15 to 3:20pm. I didn't feel comfortable to land on top due to the strong winds but Peter and Greg landed on top multiple times.
2 hrs flight at Oceanside 3/27/17
Morning report:
I passed by Tillamook around noon and Sollie launch was clear with plenty of blue sky. I arrived Oceanside at 12:20pm and beach was almost under water with some white capes. It was windy blowing straight west at the parking lot and one paraglider soaring in the air. The winds at launch is much lighter , approx less than 10 mph but clouds on top moving pretty fast . I recheck the tide at 12:53pm and it's going down. More beach compared to 30 mins ago.
Afternoon flight report:
It was good afternoon at Oceanside for 3 paras and 2 hangs. The rain stopped around 2pm and pg Laren launched first at 2:50pm, with me following from behind, then pg Benedikt G, Ray B, and pg Mike C. I flew for 2 hrs heading to the back bowl with Ray, and made trips to Happy Camp .... topping out at 1500ft AGL. The rain was approaching at 5pm so Ray and l decided to land.
Saturday, March 25, 2017
Where to learn HG in Pacific Northwest? (Washington Hang gliding & Oregon hang gliding)
Many Washington and Oregon HG pilots get their trainings done through Oregon Hang Gliding School in Corvallis, OR. You'll be learning from a qualified US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association (USPHA) instructor John Matylonek. The training hill location will either be at Lebanon, Oregon, or Cape Kiwanda in Pacific City, Oregon. John is a really good instructor, but doesn't operate year around due to the bad weather here in PNW. So it might take a bit longer to get the Novice H2 rating.
Another idea, and maybe a faster route is to consider heading to Northern Cali, to get your H1 & H2 rating. Spend few weeks there (approx 15 plus lesson days) and some schools might even provide lodging. The weather there is much more consistent with more training hills, and you might be able to get your H2 rating within couple week of accelerated intense training courses. Once you have your H-2 rating, you can start shopping around for your equipments (used or new). There are plenty of good used beginner gliders for sale which could save you a ton. Once you're set with the basics, you'll be able to fly a few H2 sites near Portland and Seattle. Myself and other local pilots will be happy to sponsor you to fly those sites when you've obtained your H2 rating.
I've few listed contacts below that'll provide all the info to help get you started.
Flying sites in Pacific Northwest:
http://pdxhanggliding.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-live-in-portlandor-and-do-fly.html
US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association :
https://www.ushpa.org/page/learn-to-fly-overview
https://www.ushpa.org/page/how-do-i-learn-to-fly
Another idea, and maybe a faster route is to consider heading to Northern Cali, to get your H1 & H2 rating. Spend few weeks there (approx 15 plus lesson days) and some schools might even provide lodging. The weather there is much more consistent with more training hills, and you might be able to get your H2 rating within couple week of accelerated intense training courses. Once you have your H-2 rating, you can start shopping around for your equipments (used or new). There are plenty of good used beginner gliders for sale which could save you a ton. Once you're set with the basics, you'll be able to fly a few H2 sites near Portland and Seattle. Myself and other local pilots will be happy to sponsor you to fly those sites when you've obtained your H2 rating.
I've few listed contacts below that'll provide all the info to help get you started.
Corvallis, OR
John Matylonek (541) 913 1339
Oregon Hang Gliding School here. Thanks for the information Rick. I point to you as a model hang glider pilot to emulate with all my students. I'd like to clarify the timing of training. One must differentiate the number of lesson days required to become basically competent - which is very consistent around the world (15 lesson days) - to the pace at which must take those 15 days to experience all the weather/site conditions one needs to be able handle different situations. The personal pace at which people need to address varying physical, intellectual and physical skills varies quite abit too. So, when money and time are not an issue then one guy will finish his hang two in 4 months (and that is the exception!) and another guy will take about 6 months (an average if he is available and money is not the issue) and many many take more than a one year. That is all okay. We all have different lifestyles. But, here is a good barometer. If it does take you more than a one year from the OHGS perspective, it's because you have decided to use a hodge podge of learning sources that did not consistently drive you forward to the end, or because something in your life distracted you to following the curriculum on regular, consistent basis. We are very blessed in the pacific northwest with the very best places to learn. Weather has nothing to do it because we are expected to fly this weather pattern not some foreign site. Your ability to read the weather and change your schedule according to it in the program of instruction readies you to do the same thing when you are an independent pilot. Becoming a pilot is more than just physical skills. It's also intellectual and emotional skills. Thanks for reading.
Eric Ollikainen
Glenoma, Washington
PM me for Eric contact
Oregon Hang Gliding School here. Thanks for the information Rick. I point to you as a model hang glider pilot to emulate with all my students. I'd like to clarify the timing of training. One must differentiate the number of lesson days required to become basically competent - which is very consistent around the world (15 lesson days) - to the pace at which must take those 15 days to experience all the weather/site conditions one needs to be able handle different situations. The personal pace at which people need to address varying physical, intellectual and physical skills varies quite abit too. So, when money and time are not an issue then one guy will finish his hang two in 4 months (and that is the exception!) and another guy will take about 6 months (an average if he is available and money is not the issue) and many many take more than a one year. That is all okay. We all have different lifestyles. But, here is a good barometer. If it does take you more than a one year from the OHGS perspective, it's because you have decided to use a hodge podge of learning sources that did not consistently drive you forward to the end, or because something in your life distracted you to following the curriculum on regular, consistent basis. We are very blessed in the pacific northwest with the very best places to learn. Weather has nothing to do it because we are expected to fly this weather pattern not some foreign site. Your ability to read the weather and change your schedule according to it in the program of instruction readies you to do the same thing when you are an independent pilot. Becoming a pilot is more than just physical skills. It's also intellectual and emotional skills. Thanks for reading.
Eric Ollikainen
Glenoma, Washington
PM me for Eric contact
Medford, OR
Jim Tibbs 541-772-2915
Missoula, MT
Paul Roys 406-203-2695
8 hrs drive from Seattle
Freedom Flight Park
Lumby BC
Randy Rauck 250 307 7553
6.5 hrs drive from Seattle
Freedom Flight Park
Lumby BC
Randy Rauck 250 307 7553
6.5 hrs drive from Seattle
Santa Barbara,CA
Willy Dydo (802) 558-6350
Mission Soaring center (Northern Calif)
Milpitas, CA 95035. Instructor & Owner
Pat Denevan (408) 262-1055
Hang Gliding Academy / Bay Area and Portland
Zac Majors (415)-715-4757
Windsports Hang Gliding (Southern Calif)
Sylmar, CA 91342. Instructor & Owner
Joe Greblo (818) 367-2430
Flying sites in Pacific Northwest:
http://pdxhanggliding.blogspot.com/2015/03/i-live-in-portlandor-and-do-fly.html
US Hang Gliding and Paragliding Association :
https://www.ushpa.org/page/learn-to-fly-overview
https://www.ushpa.org/page/how-do-i-learn-to-fly
Thursday, March 23, 2017
2 flights / 30mins at Chehalem Ridge 3/23/17
Newberg was soarable but a bit challenging due to too much east wind at launch with mostly unfriendly rowdy airs. There was seven bags and one hang (myself) flew. I had two flights, first was a sledder and l landed at the bailout LZ. The second flight was much better, l was able to got 400ft above launch and landed at Johnson Ranch big field. Got 30+ mins air times on the 2nd flight. I think few bags got 3k but they didn't stay up for very long either.
Dave Blizzard report:
Gregg and I arrived on launch at 11 and sat in the car for 10 min hoping that what we were seeing was just a big cycle and that launch conditions would calm down. They did, sortof, so we all launched. Early flights we too roudy to be much fun and the thermals were the size of pingpong balls balls anyway. After 2, it was still roudy down low and close to the ridge but the thermals away from the ridge were now football field sized. Made it to cloudbase at 3180 and am just ecstatic. Pilots today included Ozgun, Eric, Gregg, Mark, Charlie, Mike, Rick, and me.
Dave Blizzard report:
Gregg and I arrived on launch at 11 and sat in the car for 10 min hoping that what we were seeing was just a big cycle and that launch conditions would calm down. They did, sortof, so we all launched. Early flights we too roudy to be much fun and the thermals were the size of pingpong balls balls anyway. After 2, it was still roudy down low and close to the ridge but the thermals away from the ridge were now football field sized. Made it to cloudbase at 3180 and am just ecstatic. Pilots today included Ozgun, Eric, Gregg, Mark, Charlie, Mike, Rick, and me.
Ozgun landing
Wednesday, March 22, 2017
2.5 hrs flight at Oceanside 3/22/17
Rick Report:
Four hangs (Ray B , Mark A, Steve S and myself) flew Oceanside today. I was up for 2.5 hrs and topped 1800ft AGL. The rain ended around 1:00pm and wind was blowing 15mph west with even stronger gusts at launch. I launched at 2pm and got up right away. The lifts were smooth and abundant so I boated a lot from Happy Camp to Oceanside. Conditions mellowed out around 4pm.
Ray Report:
Phenomenal day at Oceanside, better than epic. 2300 at Cape Meares and cruised to Schooner, only losing 500 ft. Straight west 26mph going down to 13 at one point, averaging 21 mph at 250°. Vario pic included. Ray
10:30am : No rain , 10-13mph west at the parking lot. Plenty of room for landing. A bit strong for Paras but perfect for hangs.
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