Landing Reflections

I guess some people just need a little push. I suppose I am one of those. I have been flying close to three years now and have never landed out. All of my cross country flights have been 'out and returns'. Then came my adventure a couple of weeks ago... there's nothing like jumping in at the deep end!

The forecast conditions were ripe for a trip down to The Point and back. Strong winds early picking up a little bit during the afternoon and only dropping off late in the day. Ideal! With some sunshine we should get some nice thermals to keep it spicy but basically it looked like an all day soar-until-you're sore kind of forecast.

3 minutes and 1000' into the flight

When we arrived at launch the wind was light. Lighter than forecast. We started setting up confident that it would pick up soon. Sure enough, before I was ready to launch it had picked up to the point of being a fail-safe ridge soaring day. I launched and started climbing quite rapidly. I shouted in glee. Within 3 minutes I was 1000' over and feeling great! I didn't hesitate but pushed North towards the point immediately.

My plan was to get to the point, then turn around and head back south meeting up with everyone else part way. I'd then turn around and fly with them the rest of the way to the point one or two more times. There was lift everywhere and I was leaving the climbs before reaching the top because I knew I had it in the bag... or so I thought.

About 2/3 of the way there I noticed that I was slipping down in altitude to ridge-lift height. No problem, I thought, the ridge is going to be working all day! Well, the forecast was one thing but the reality something else. Within 10 minutes it went from BANGIN! to flat. Without much warning I found myself clinging to scraps of light lift right at ridge height just hoping that it was a temporary lull. If conditions picked up again soon, I could still make it back to the LZ.

No Dice

The thing about flying to the point is, there are really nice LZs all the way. Big sprawling pastures are the norm... that is until the last little bit. The last couple of miles out there is only one field which is at the Chattanooga Nature Center... more specifically something they call Reflections Riding. This riding has a horse pasture in it. It's not very big... it's basically just big enough to put a hang glider down into. When flying to the point, we always have our eye on that tiny looking patch of grass and we always hope it doesn't come to that. I'd scoped out the field on a previous visit with Zoe and I knew it was very do-able.  It would require a precise approach and the margin for error is slim.

LZ right over my helmet

A closer look

As I turned away from the ridge and pointed my nose at Reflections Riding I wasted no time getting my legs out of my harness, into the full upright position, and my VG set at 1/4. I didn't want to have to think about anything other than setting up a perfect approach and getting on the ground safely. I arrived with enough altitude for a single 360 to survey the area. Given the forecast conditions of the day I was relieved to see absolutely no wind blowing across the field. This allowed me to set up my approach from the ideal direction without any concerns for possible mechanical turbulence from the surrounding trees.

On final... the ducks disperse

I flew southwest, over the creek. A Great Blue Heron startled and flew along the waters surface. I gently banked onto my base leg heading over the pond. Then I pulled into a steep diving turn over the pond, cutting between the trees on either side that serve as a gateway to a good landing. Entering ground effect just past the debris pile I know I had it nailed. Wait for it... wait for it... flare! And I'm down. It was as good a landing as I could have hoped for.

This one distracts me as an ominous shadow approaches my camera...

Then the residents of the field stopped by... 3 horses. 3 very curious horses who weren't above trying out the flavor of glider fabric, or camera casing either! When the staff of the Nature Center arrived they couldn't have been friendlier. They helped me pull my glider over the fence and away from the teeth of the equine welcoming committee.

So there you have it. Having turned down opportunities to land out in larger, easier fields on earlier flights I had finally been forced into it by fickle conditions. What's more I had landed a fairly tight field and had done so with precision and grace. It was just what I needed to get over whatever unspoken blockage was keeping me close to home. I felt elated, and proud, and my confidence was boosted quite a bit.

To watch a video of this flight, go to Landing Reflections on Vimeo