Gordy's 8-Hour LSF V Slope Flight Team (l-to-r: AJ, Gordy, Lee, Bob Summers and Frankfort-slope-discoverer Dave Smith)
Two weekends ago, our own Gordy Stahl did what he said he could never do… the LSF Level V 8-hour slope flight. Not only that, but he did it TWICE in one weekend! Gordy and a team of hardy individuals flew for 16 hours over two days at the Frankfort, Kentucky Slope, getting Gordy one step closer to his goal of finally becoming a League of Silent Flight Level V pilot – an honor only 124 other pilots have received in the last 30+ years. Gordy tells his epic tale after the jump:
Our man Tony Utley has been video-crazy the past couple of weeks – this one is Bruce Davidson sloping his Pike WR(?) V-tail on the backside at the Frankfort slope. Tony has been putting together fantastic soaring videos out at the Frankfort Slope (and elsewhere) and you can check out more of his AU Video Productions here: http://nex12go.blogspot.com
Last Sunday (December 17th), the LASS crew headed for the Frankfort Slope. A group of about 10 guys from around Kentucky, Ohio and even Tennessee sloped in light to moderate conditions. Tom Hill came up from Knoxville (I think) and brought along a bunch of DS machines. Dave Smith from Versailles cranked out his Halfpipe on the frontside and Gordy brought out his trusty RnR Synergy to rip some 3-meter DS laps. LASS’ own Tony Utley pushed the technological envelope with some aerial photography!
A group of LASS'ers (and a couple of CSS'ers) made it out to the Frankfort slope Sunday, and we all just so happened to have our Windrider Bats! I, Brian Kopke, Hank from Lexington, Ken Marks (and son Sam), Bruce Davidson, and Paul and Rudy Siegel had a rip-roarin' time.
The winds weren't spectacular, as the thermal activity was kicking up pretty well, so sometimes the Bats were floundering — I (Ben) nearly ditched mine in the field below, but Bruce's coaching helped me to send that thing sky-high in the approaching thermal. Hank didn't fair so well, unfortunately, as he did have to take the "drive of shame" a little later on. Hank, Brian and my bats all had their maiden voyages, and all survived to tell the tale. Young Sam Marks even got into the act with a buddy-box with dear-old dad. Both Ken and Bruce had their Milleniums out and Paul brought along his Icon and got their DS grooves on. Thanks to all that came out, and those that didn't — get there when you can!
Gordy sez: "This thing holds energy, heck grabs energy, like a Wizard Compact.
Goof up a turn at the top of the DS groove and usually have to bail out, not with the Bat, it just attacks the backside and groooooves the thru the front!
Talk about light lift flying….we had LIFT, but winds only at calm to 5mph, near dark tonite and we were still flying the Bat on the front and back..
I had a DS groove going 10mph, maybe less at one point and it wouldn't quit!
There wasn't enough on the front to go back out, but the Bat holds energy sooo well you swear it creates its own.
Take a few turns to get your head on what you are flying but then no problem.
The elevons work just fine, never felt that I couldn't bring it around even when I had some heat going.
About a month ago, our man Gordy started a drive to get a bunch of Windrider Bats built and on the slope at Frankfort. Eventually, Gordy hyp-mo-tized a group of us with his salesman magic, and we had ordered something like 14 of these little beasts! Ming (the not-so-merciless) at Windrider also supplied us with nearly-full-span carbon fiber spars, so we could test out the dynamic soaring qualities of this relatively cheap kit.
Well, the Bats have been in for a while, and they are started to turn up built! Our man Bruce even had a chance to test one out on Monday at Frankfort. To quote: "WOW this baby really holds it's speed and flies like it is on rails."
click to go to the Gallery!
I'd like to get more photos of completed or in-process Bats, so if you've got 'em, email to ben [at] thelocust [dot] org!
A couple of us got together on a good slope day Sunday and had a bunch of fun! Bruce Davidson, Ken Marks, Paul Seigel from the Dayton Area Thermal Soarers, and I (Ben Wilson) made it out. I managed to take some various photos of the occasion. Combat and DS and giant thorny trees, oh my! Read the rest of this entry »
Yesterday, we made a concerted effort to seize the 60-70 degree temperatures and southernly winds to head out to the Frankfort Slope. The winds were averaging 12-15 MPH with gusts up to 20 or more. I brought out my GPS and my digital camera, and got some fairly detailed information, which I have posted on the Flying Sites page. Check it out — satellite imagery, topographic maps, driving directions, latitude/longitude info, an accurate altitude reading, and a wide-wide panoramic shot (with details). Also, I’ve uploaded some photos from yesterday, as well as two photos forwarded to me from Gordy: Bruce DS’ing Frankfort and the winning LASS team from the 2001 Midsouths. Read the rest of this entry »
