Saratoga Soaring Association's Latest News

Wave!

2011-06-04T00:10:00.000-07:00

Friday, 6/3/11, was a beautiful, "severe clear" day to fly. I was treated to some light wave action, getting to 9,400' msl. Jim M. and Richie had good flights also. Thanks for towing, Fred!

The Grob 102 is back!

2011-06-02T06:45:00.000-07:00

Many thanks to Ken Helm for making the 512 mile round trip by himself in order to pick up the Grob 102 from the Pennsylvania maintenance shop.

Spring Soaring conditions

2011-04-03T15:36:00.001-07:00

Saturday was great until it wasn't. I flew with Stu Mercer an inactive member but who joined us originally in 1986. We had a great time but cloud base was around 3600 msl and that limited us somewhat. It was quite windy with significant wind chill. Yves Nollet flew with Jim and also had a great flight until the weather closed in but that is spring. Sunday was much better with same winds but sunshine. Lots of us got over 8000 MSL but a few of us got into wave and had to leave it due to lack of Oxygen. I had O2 but it wasn't turned on so I had to leave the wave but it was fun anyway. Jim flew with Robert and Gavin Ken took a couple of flights. Mike and Lori flew their MC and we all had a good time. Doug towed and did his usual good job. Virgil M. and Bob D. did an excellent job as Base Managers.

2011-03-20T17:59:00.000-07:00

And thank you Fred for your excellent towing and thermalling centering skills.

Mike

March 20, 2011 - Opening Day!!!

2011-03-20T17:04:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all who helped make opening day a success. Jim M. and Mike are current and ready to instruct for the 2011 season. Mike got off on a pattern tow and got up to 3,600' with little effort. Robert, Lori and Tony also had enjoyable flights in Spring soaring conditions.

Thanks also to Bob and Doug who yesterday safely transported the Grob 102 to PA for AD work!!! A long 512 mile round trip journey.

Friday, June 4th

2010-06-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

What a beautiful day of spring soaring! Bob, Jim M, Fred, Mike, Cindy, Robert, Lori, Yves and I all flew in a sky full of cumies (at least until late in the day, that is). I was up for three hours, topping out at 6,400' msl. Climb rates reached 940 feet per minute. I love our new single place glass ship, the Grob 102! Thanks for towing, Jim, Cindy, and Fred!

Sunday, May 23rd

2010-05-23T17:48:00.000-07:00

Chicken one day, feathers the next. Yesterday we all struggled to stay up for 20 minutes. Today I flew for 3 hours and 45 minutes in a sky full of cumies and gliders, and came down voluntarily. I love this sport!

Grob 102

2010-04-24T17:19:00.000-07:00

Saratoga Soaring's newest addition, Bob DeFabio's Grob 102, had its first two flights as a club ship today. John Chambers had the first flight followed by Darren Danielsen. With great conditions thoughout the day both pilots had great flights. I1, XX, and 68E also flew for hours and, of course, the Grob 103 was busy with Doug in the back seat and Pam, Richard, and Robert in the front. Thanks to Jim, Jim, and Cindy for the tows.

Tuesday, April 20th

2010-04-21T04:58:00.000-07:00

Operations started around 1:30 PM with John and Jim M. enjoying a flight in the Grob 103 that lasted over an hour. Cindy then took a short flight in I1 to refamiliarize herself with the ship. Training then began with Robert, Richard and Pam taking lessons with Jim M. During this period, Cindy took a second flight in I1 and got to 7,500' (she thinks). We packed up and left the field around 7 PM.

March 20, 2010 - SSA Opening Day

2010-03-22T04:40:00.000-07:00

We assembled the Grob and had 10 flights. Doug and Jim M. are now current and ready to instruct. Doug, Jim M., Jim P. and Fred all got reacquainted with the Pawnee. Yves/Doug and Jim P./Jim M. both took advantage of the strong thermals for two good flights.

New Castle Contest

2009-09-27T07:12:00.000-07:00

For those of you who may be interested you can view the link below to see how the Region 4 South contest went:

http://www.ssa.org/members/contestreports/ContestResultsDetail.asp?id=357

Mike

Standard Cirrus maiden flight

2009-08-30T17:52:00.000-07:00

Yves Nollet and I made our first flights today in our brand new 36 year old Standard Cirrus and wow! What a great ship. Thanks to everyone who helped make this happen...our instructors, tow pilots, and fellow glider pilots. And don't forget our wives, Terry and Elaine. As great as soaring is, the people invloved make it even better. We'll see you up there.

Excellent Day

2009-07-26T18:31:00.000-07:00

Some pictures from Saturday --

Saturday, July 25th

2009-07-25T17:21:00.000-07:00

Fog disappeared mid morning, revealing a low scattered layer. A stable atmosphere didn't result in that great a day for soaring, but we were visited by several new faces and a familiar face from the past. Tim Devine, EAA Chapter 602 member, stopped by to observe the operation. Dusty Grant and his father, Dan, came down from Lake Placid, took introductory rides and left the airport with "perma-grins". Mark Hyland also took an introductory ride. Regina Doi took an introductory flight and seems very excited about the sport. After 18 years, Donna was finally able to convince her sister, Gail, to take a flight, which she seemed to thoroughly enjoy. Roy Busse stopped by and after 3 flights with Jim Morzillo is once again current. Many stayed and enjoyed a cold beverage after the long and enjoyable day.

2009-07-20T18:04:00.000-07:00

July 17 and 18: many of "the regulars" were away, but those of us who were around enjoyed two consecutive weekend days without rain. Bradley was able to squeeze an instructional flight into his base manager duties on Sunday -- his progress this season is impressive.

June 6th

2009-06-06T17:55:00.000-07:00

Today was another very nice day of soaring. The sky was a beautiful blue and filled with cumies. I flew the Grob for 2 hours, launching and soaring before Noon. Donna and Tony(?) also flew the Grob. Mike and Lori each flew their ship. Doug, Bob, and Jim M. flew their own ships as well. I think that Jim M. probably had the long flight of the day, since he was still up when I left. Cloudbase was at 4,500' msl early, but appeared to rise to over 6,000' msl by the end of the day.

Saturday, May 30th

2009-05-31T05:32:00.000-07:00

One of the earliest operational starts on record for the club! At approximately 8 AM, Cindy towed Jim Morzillo, flying the 1-26, to GFL to participate in a fly-in breakfast. This served as advertisement for the club and the sport of soaring. The 1-26 and Pawnee generated much interest and at least one person is going to call Jim Morzillo to arrange for an introductory ride.

Jim Morzillo, following a “light breakfast”, then towed the 1-26, piloted by Fred Woll, back to 5B2. They arrived around 10:15 AM to find the SSA wash and wax in full gear. Thanks to Tony for organizing this event and all that participated in the wash and wax – the fleet looks great!!!

We then started normal flight operations. The strong and varying winds made for some interesting takeoffs and landings, but many people found it to be an excellent soaring day. Bob, in 2LE, and Doug, in AW, led the day in length of flight and altitude gains. Rick also did an outstanding job in the 1-26.

Monday, May 25th

2009-05-26T04:59:00.000-07:00

In the words of Jim Morzillo, "It doesn't get much better than this!" It was a beautiful Monday with comfortable temperatures and unlimited visibility. Jim Morzillo started the day with a couple of introductory rides for prospective members. Club and privately owned ships then started to launch in what proved to be an enjoyable afternoon of soaring. Bob flew 2LE for several hours with altitude gains in excess of 9,000'. Doug flew AW for the first time this season and had similiar success. Fred flew XX and almost beat the tow plane back, but thanks to a thermal on downwind was able to make a save and stay aloft for close to 2 hours. Many people were reporting wave conditions northeast of 5B2!

Monday, May 11th

2009-05-11T17:00:00.001-07:00

The soaring forecast proved reliable today. Everyone that showed up for the weekday operation had a great flight. John C. led the accomplishments with a 5+ hour flight in the 1-26. Jim P. wasn't far behind with a 4+ hour flight in the ASW-19B, completing the triangle 4 times in the process. Lori M. flew MC and Jim M. and Cindy B. each had a flight in I1. Jim M. and Fred W. had a 1.5 BFR flight in the Grob and experienced thermals with cores of 8-10 knots and got close to cloud bases at 6,700'. Everyone could have stayed up longer, but were complaining of cold feet, small bladders, sore butts, etc. Even Cindy B. was seen thermaling the Pawnee after one of her tows ;-)

Sunday, April 25th

2009-04-26T15:44:00.000-07:00

Mike found wave by climbing in weak thermals to around 6000 MSL. From there the wave kicked in and he got to 8200 MSL but it wasn't easy. Mike showed a GPS wind of 25/33kt. The wave seemed to start 7 or so miles east of the airport.

Saturday, April 25th

2009-04-26T03:10:00.000-07:00

Summer is here!!! Well it least it felt like it with temperature flirting with 90 degress. Day started our with the hanger cleanup organized by Cindy Benson. Soaring operations began around noon with some intructional flights. Many people had flights over an hour with altitude gains to 6,500'. Thermals were strong, but difficult to find with no visible markers. Doug had a busy day with 15 tows and everyone missed Tony.

Sunday, April 19th

2009-04-20T05:12:00.000-07:00

Stronger winds and cooler temperatures than forecast didn't keep SSA members away from 5B2. Fred started things out with a short sniffer flight in the 1-26 with an approach that allowed him to closely exam the spring foilage. Doug and OB followed with a training flight that allowed Cindy to utilze the newly installed Pawnee mirrors. Jim M. and Mike followed close behind with flights that lasted over an hour.

Saturday, April 18th

2009-04-18T16:34:00.000-07:00

Great training day at 5B2. Cindy got checked out in Jim's PW5. Darrin, who's also working on his ASEL private pilot certificate, came out for the first time this season. He got in three flights in the Grob, before some light showers moved in from the west.

Easter Sunday

2009-04-13T04:05:00.000-07:00

Yesterday gave us some great spring soaring conditions. Mike and Lori flew the Grob, Yves flew the 1-26, and I was lucky enough to bumble into some wave in the Grob and got to 9200', climbing up the side of a cloud. I only wish I'd had a camera with me to take a shot looking out over the tops of the clouds!

Saturday, March 28th

2009-03-29T12:12:00.001-07:00

Another beautiful spring day with strong lift up to 4,200'! Harry (O.B.) O'Brien, our newest member, took 2 instructional flights with Mike. Rick and Yves both had long flights in the 1-26. Laurie and Bob each had flights in the Grob that lasted over an hour. Tony, after cleaning up EX, decided to take a short flight in the Grob.

Spring Soaring

2009-03-21T15:32:00.001-07:00

What a day! All club gliders assembled and test flown. Marvelous spring weather and good lift besides. We did 19 tows and all the tow pilots and instructors became current. 4 and 5 knot lift with frisky spring thermals. Besides the instructors Yves, Bob, Tony, and Donna got flights in as well. With any luck tomorrow should be just as good.

Mike

2008 Soaring Season Ends

2008-11-29T15:40:00.001-08:00

Jim P. towed while Mike, Lori, Jim M., Fred, Tony and Donna all teamed up for 3 flights in the Grob. Doug finished the season with a flight in the 1-26. Following the replacement of the Grob brake line, the Grob and 1-26 were disassembled for winter storage. Privately owned ships were also put the in hanger until spring.

Tony and Donna are pictured turning final in the last flight of the 2008 season. Picture taken by Jim P with his new toy (Nikon D300).

Thank you

2008-11-04T09:17:00.000-08:00

Many thanks to all of you who came out on a cold Saturday morning to help me with my checkride and to all of the club members for their help and support over the past few seasons. And a special thanks to the CFIGs for their patience and willingness to fly with me and share their knowledge and skills.

Another Beautiful Autumn Day!!!

2008-11-02T16:14:00.000-08:00

Brisk temperatures did not deter members from having another enjoyable day at 5B2. Doug was kept busy with 14 tows. XX accounted for 3 of those tows. Jim Pospisil is pictured departing on the first flight of XX. Mike and Lori, in the 2-33, matched skills with Tony in the 1-26. Later in the day, Jim (I1), Fred (XX) and Cindy (49R) shared a weak autumn thermal.

Another Glider Pilot

2008-11-01T14:46:00.000-07:00

Another day and another pilot has passed his flight test. Congratulations to Rick Hackett on passing his check ride. Congratulations to Jim Morzillo once more for working so hard to get those three candidates ready for their check rides. Thanks to all of you who helped out all day Friday and today to make things run smoothly.

Facebook Group

2008-11-01T13:43:00.000-07:00

For all those who are Facebook inclined,

Decided to create a Facebook group for Saratoga Soaring.

I would be glad to hand off the admin responsibilities to anyone.

New Licensed Pilots

2008-10-31T17:51:00.000-07:00

We did a full day of tows today and both our candidates passed with "flying" colors. Heidi and Yves both passed their check ride today and are now licensed glider pilots. Congratulations to you both and Jim Morzillo who worked with you to help make this day a success.

Sunday - October 26th

2008-10-26T16:26:00.001-07:00

Doug Hatch, pictured during his takeoff roll, had the longest flight of the day. He was able to stay aloft for 2 hours and had a max altitude gain to 4500' MSL. Despite less than stellar soaring conditions, we had 16 tows, with students preparing for their private pilot checkride keeping the tow pilots busy.

2008-10-24T14:39:00.000-07:00

Friday, October 24

Because of the lousy forcast for tomorrow we did max training today. We did 14 tows - not bad for a week day (and a weak day). Yves, Rick, and Heidi took many 2-33 flights.

The brake is somewhat improved in the Grob so Jim Morzillo and I did a test flight. We spent 20 minutes at 1500 MSL. Right now I would say the Grob is flyable with very experienced pilots and reasonable wind conditions. Jim Pospisil and I are going to work on the Grob brake some more tomorrow morning and we will let you know how it goes.

BTW if you want to know if there is an operation tomorrow or any day feel free to call the tow pilot, instructor, or base manager to see what is happening.

Mike

Saturday & Sunday, October 18 & 19

2008-10-21T16:52:00.000-07:00

Saturday proved to be the best soaring day of the weekend. Several people had long flights. Jim Pospisil flew Colonel Muster and had an altitude gain to 5,800' on a 3,000' tow. Jim stayed up for about an hour, but decided to land to take advantage of warmer conditions.

Sunday was "Box the Wake" day. Heidi, Rick, and Yves, who are all preparing for their Private Pilot - Glider checkride, all had an opportunity to do one or more boxes. We had 13 tows that included an introductory ride for Heidi's friend Dave, who is pictured above just before launch.

Sunday - October 12, 2008

2008-10-18T15:07:00.001-07:00

Andy Pye, fresh off his recent solo, decided to fly something a little more sporty. He made a takeoff and landing in 49R that put more experienced 1-26 pilots to shame.

Sunday - October 12, 2008

2008-10-18T14:56:00.000-07:00

It was another busy day at 5B2. Jim Morzillo was kept busy providing instruction to SSA students and giving introductory rides. CW4 (ret) Rowland Evans, pictured to the right, throughly enjoyed his ride (don't let that deadpan face fool you)!

Sunday - October 5, 2008

2008-10-06T17:08:00.000-07:00

We had a busy day with 17 tows.

Biggest news of the day is that Andy Pye soloed. Congratulations Andy!!!

Several people participated in the AeroFlight, Inc. sponsored accuracy landing contest. Competion was fierce, but Fred Muller eventually won. Prize was a $25 Visa gift card. Congratulations Fred.

We had 3 introductory rides and all participants seemed to enjoy their rides. Nice job Ken!!!

As you can see from the attached picture of Joe West's recently restored Citabria, the leaves are starting to change. So come on out this weekend and enjoy the Fall colors before they disappear.