My PC broke, so I've been dealing with that, slowly, in case you missed me (unlikely).
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Nice flying on Wenesday 5/1/2024.
Usually, I stay near (so to speak) my airport, but Wednesday's weather felt like I could go anywhere.
I still remained within a calculated (it might not always work out) gliding distance to my parking place, but expanded my previous range to the south, north, and eadt.
As well as a new altitude high of 7100 feet.
Hernando County (Brooksville) Airport came into view for the first time, as I turned back toward Zephyrhills.
It's typical for the lift to go higher as the day progresses then just disappear toward sunset.
The low point late in the flight was a turn back toward the airport because I wasn't finding lift, with a "save" near the airport followed by the run out to the northwest and the highest lift and distance of the day. Possibly a bit of convergence with a breeze coming off the gulf contributed to the high point.
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The view back toward Zephyrhills from the glider location above, about 14 miles away, just after the high point of the flight.
The solid pink line on the Flight Recorder is the heading to the airport (which is off the top of the screen).
Which is nice, because I can't see it.
It also says I can ge there at 4437 feet if I fly direct. So I took a detour, turn to the east, then due south, and made it a 39 mile glide (no thermals taken, hardly any lift observed) to landing, the big downslope at the end of the barograph above.
From near the glider position on the map above. The airport is (probably) around that light area right of center near the horizon. Or just short of it, can't tell from here. Or maybe thats some Industrial Buildings in Lakeland. Hmmm...
I know it's down there somewhere, let me take another look...
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This flight (red) overlaid onto the April 2024 flights.
Shows a little expansion of my usual range.
All the above within gliding distance of the airport.
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How you stay up without a motor.
Here's the computer track of a strong thermal entry and exit in that flight.
Flew for 11 minutes and 40 seconds in "glide", lost 1453 feet, hit a big bump and cranked the plane over to the left.
In five turns, two minutes and 52 seconds, gained 1677 feet, and flew on.
Gained 335 feet per turn there.
They don't get much prettier than that around here.
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This Saturday and Sunday look good in the forecast, but not
as good...