Slade Brothers Fly Mt Prevost

Click image for more photosPaul S. gets his first and second solo flights as brother David gets his third!

After Charlie's report of late afternoon soaring off West yesterday, we hoped for a repeat today. The weather has been pretty wet these last couple of weeks so it was nice to have the sun shining strongly overhead as Rick and I headed up to Duncan together. The forecasted winds were favourable (SE) with a stable (not soarable) lapse rate.

By the time we met up with David and Paul in the LZ, Charlie and a couple of other pilots were taking to the air for their second flights of the day. Cumulus clouds were forming, dissipating, and reforming nicely above Mt Prevost which told a different story than the stable forecast. This was a good thing.

Once on launch, we were greeted by Charlie still in the air, making fly-bys from the Cairn to Middle, to West and back again. Needless to say, the Slade brothers were excited to get a taste of the action :)

Cycles were rolling in nicely on Middle and I launched first on the Magic 5, easily gaining in the abundant lift. I watched as Rick got the Slade brothers organized and I then flew out to the LZ, spiralling down to be ready to assist Paul S. on what would be his first solo high flight.

After one safe abort, Paul took to the air nicely, cruising down from the mountain towards his wife Colleen and I. Even though he didn't turn in any of the lift en route, he still arrived with plenty of height over the Landing Zone and had a chance to set up a good approach and landing. Like his brother David before him, Paul remembered his training and executed a 'spin-and-kill' after touchdown. Way to go Paul!

David wasn't far behind his brother and he put some turns in over the lower cuts, getting a feel for the invisible and often elusive rising currents of air. Nicely done for only your third flight David!

Charlie recorded a short video of David coming in to land:

Charlie must had clocked close to 2hrs in the surprisingly good conditions - especially for this time of the season.

Rick was last to fly in our crew but the sun had already started on its daily descent and the heat just wasn't there for the thermal generation. That being said, he did arrive with enough height over the LZ to execute a near nose-over-spiral on his Mustang 2 , opposite-braking well and pulling out safely. Big thanks goes out to Rick for his launch assistance today!

Paul S. had time for one more, so I drove retrieve while he and Rick set up. They both managed to launch just as the wind was threatening to go catabatic. Conditions were smooth and mellow compared to their previous flight and I guided Paul in for another nice landing.