Dustin Does It Again & Again...

There are those days where things just line up right and you can just feel it in the air, its gonna be one of those days!

It was windy and the clouds looked rough. Launched at 1 pm and was instantly thinking I might wanna be on the ground. It was rougher than I expected and the wind was strong!

Stayed out front and did my best to keep the wing in check. Had a couple of climbs but nothing I was willing to head over the back with. After twenty minutes, was ready for a beer. Gave one more pass and out in front of cloud 9, I hit it. 2000 feet per minute is what the vario was showing. Two turns and I was 3900 feet and still not past launch. Taking this back, I was cruising the up wind side and averaging about 1000 feet per minute and it wasn't too rough. Drifted NE. Abeam Jorge @ Maria's house, I was at 5900 feet and pushing the bar.

Game was on.

Ground speed was 35-40 mph. Some heavy sink and I wasn't sure how far to push it. Not many places to land on this route. Crossing over the 51 around Bell or Greenway, was thinking of staying put so I could land in the park/school area on the east side of the 51. Still high, hunted around and found another climb. It was weak, but I was in lift and drifting toward safe ground. I stayed with it and it got stronger. Leaving the 101 at Desert ridge/ Mayo clinic, was back at 6k and on bar. Was smooth for quite some time while climbing so out came the camera. Got some shots, then hit some really rough air and dropped the camera. Got a shot of my wing!

With tons of sink, it wasn't long till I was feeling low. The wind was due West at alt. and Southwest on the ground. I had pushed more north to crab into the wind. Was near Pinnacle peak @ N Scottsdale rd. when I was sorta climbing. About half the turn I was in lift, the other half was a half flying wing. Kept trying to center it, or find another core. But with no luck, and only 500 feet gained. I just turned down wind. No sink and a ground speed of 45, it didn't take long till over the most northern foot hill of the McDowells. Really low, was looking for the safest place to land at. Pushed north to get away from the small hill I crossed over, found some lift. Weak but it was drifting NE and away form the mountains. No housing out this way so a safe landing would be easier. I kept with it and found myself near E Rio Verde rd and the Scottsdale golf course. Some hills just east of the course, so headed over the those. Hit more lift and drifted with it. The whole time really accessing the landing options. This was go for it our play it safe time. Not high, 5,500 feet. Tracked NE and was looking at no mans land. Pushed out and planned on landing as far away from the road as I was willing to hike.

With a ground speed of 45-47, no sink and one climb worth 700 feet. I committed to making it to Bartlet lake. Crossed the hills where the entrance road runs in and was smoking across the ground. With no where to land past the North Bartlett rd I really was checking the landing area. The sun was covered and had my shades on, it was really hard to see the terrain. Huge sink(1500+) down, which was the rotor from the hills. I was all tensed up. Told myself, relax and keep the wing open. Took a deep breath and pointed into the wind. 8mph ground speed and came straight down at 1000 feet per minute. Landed right on the large boat/launch parking area. Nice and smooth. Safe and sound, YES!

The Sheriff was sitting and watching the whole time that I was coming in. He pulled up before I could get out of the harness. Started asking questions. Did I "plan" to land here. NO! Some fluff and so on. He asked if I had a ride. Sure, but I need to make a phone call. He chuckled and said no service around here. I asked if I could hike up a hill and get it. Laughed again and said sure, about 7 miles that way. I packed up and he gave me a ride down to the office which is at the main boat launch area of Bartlett lake. Phone calls/texts made and Andrew was on his way.

Special thanks, Andrew Rayhill, driver. Greame Parks, driver.
Max alt. 7K
Max up 2K
Max dwn 1.7k
Highest ground speed 47mph
Distance 33 miles

Do it again? YES

Dustin Sets New South Mountain Site Record!

If setting the new Shaw Butte PG distance record wasn't enough, the very next week Dustin decided to try a brand spanking new wing at South Mountain. The conditions showed launching from the north was the best bet but winds were pretty west and strong. Mom always said "When life hands you lemons, make some sweet lemon-aid". Dustin set two site records in 1 week! Here is Dustin's story.

Who would have thought it! One week after a good flight from the Butte, I was kicking myself for hiking up the North side when conditions were crap............Especially since the Sailplane was an option for the day.

The weather looked epic, but launch conditions were not good. West winds at south mountain never make for a good day. Graeme, Wyatt, Andrew and Carlos made the hike with me. We waited on launch for about thirty minutes and conditions varied from 0-20 mph and direction was, South through Northwest. After a long lul that was mostly north, I made the decision to bust out the wing.....

Wing was the UP TRANGO XC. Yep, brand new wing. It has never been flow in the states, nor had I had it out of the bag.

Launch was easy with some west but nothing major. Left the hill and took a few collapses right off the get go. I pushed away from the hill. With 7-900 foot a minute down, and pointing west, not sure I was even gonna make the LZ. Not good! Over the cart track at 1900 feet, I took several large hits and was worried about making a safe landing. Weighing the risk/options, I took another huge hit and new I'd have to ride the bull if I wanted a climb out. So I made the turn. Hit the lift and the vario and wing were all over. The vario sounded like a pin ball machince which hit the lotto............2000-2100 solid up. About three turns and the options turned to making it south into flat land for a landing.

Started to leave the lift at 4k and was out of it by 4600. Ground speed was high, but so was the sink. Made it west of the school area and was looking at landing in the open field south of it. Some bumps and new I could work the area, but not sure I wanted anymore. Made a couple of turns then figured it would be a better place to land by Pecos rd. Headed over that field and found some lift. Worked the weak lift and soon was climbing out. This was weaker lift so left it at 4500. Glided out into the Indian land. Just past the farm fields, a small nub sticks up. 900 agl, was thinking it's all over.

Whack, and knowing the edge of the lift, made the turn. Was going up and quick. It was drifting SE so I stayed with it. Abeam the south side of Firebird lake, I took this guy up. 5800 feet and stepped on the speed bar for the first time. With a wide area of buoyant air, I was worried about the airspace. Not knowing this wing, I started with an asymmetric collapse. That didn't work as I made a 360* turn to the flying side of the wing! WTF, so I pulled in the other side. Ok, going well, down around 5500 feet and cruising along, WHAM, full frontal while in big ears! Double WTF. I let go and the ensuing ride was wild.

Freezing cold, and hitting lift all over the place, no turns were made. Just kept heading SE. Got close to the farm fields again and wanted to get a little higher. But being cold, I just pushed straight ahead. Middle of the fields hit another climb. This guy was strong but pulled out at 8500. By this time I couldn't feel my fingers, but still could move them. Shivered as I was going along. Mashed about 3/4 bar and was getting lower but didn't care. Just north of the Casa Grande airport/Abeam the rest area on the 10. Found lift right over the peak. It also was strong and just couldn't bare the cold anymore. Left at 9400 feet and it was still averaging over 1200 ft per minute. By this time, the fingers wouldn't wiggle any more. Couldn't feel the brakes at all. Just moving like a robot. Only thought, break the 32 mile mark------then quit.

Crossed the Interstate at McCartney road. Glided down lower and lower. Got below 5000 feet and was liking the warmer air. Down to 3400 feet, over plowed dirt fields, some weak lift. This was 38 miles and I debated another climb. Figured Eloy airport was only another five or so miles. Climbed and left at 5500 feet. Thought Eloy was an easy glide, but some sink and was down low on the north side of the airport. More lift, weak but drifted SE and knew I'd make the grass at the jump zone. This was 45 miles and physically done.

Who cares about grass, turned down wind and knew all those farm fields were great LZ's. Low enough to see my shadow on the ground. Turned a little into the wind and found the core. Weak, but pretty smooth. Drifted with the wind and finally could really look around. 500 feet per minute and it took awhile to get up(compared to earlier climbs!). Left at 6000 and knew this would be it. Nothing works that great at Neumann @ Picacho Mtns. But, after 1/2 a mile, more lift. I turned in this and left at 7500 feet. Just couldn't bare the cold. Nothing but big sink as I crossed over the 10 again. Went over some of the small peaks just north of Picacho. Nothing I was willing to work. Picked some safer areas to land in. Pointed into the wind and came down.
62 miles on the GPS from the south launch.
103km/64 mile from the cart track.
Working on getting a file/track log. Darn GPS problems........AGAIN! 
Max up 2200
Max down 1700?
Max alt. 9400/Cloud base was around 12k
Ground speed, 30-40mph.
Airtime 2:40 min.
Should have been prepared! IE warm freaking clothes, state record could have been had.