Well, I finally flew some "real" cross country in my 15. I've had the ship for several years but, for various reasons, have averaged less than 15 hours per year with my longest flight being somewhere around 200km and the next longest only 100km. My home airport area doesn't really support long XC due to congested airspace and an ocean quite nearby (east coast of USA).
Fortunately, the Appalachian Mts. and Ridge Soaring are only five hours away. If you're not familiar with it, the Bald Eagle Ridge offers some of the best soaring in the US with 1000k flights almost commonplace during the spring and fall ridge seasons.
I picked the right day and the ridge was working great. I set out to do an unofficial 300km (no approved logger). The tow was pretty wild with things floating up off the cockpit floor more than once. Once out of the valley and on the ridge things settled down. I released about 500' over the ridge and headed south for the first turnpoint. I decided 60 kts was a good airspeed and just cruised along, keeping 600 feet or so between the trees and my 15. Near the turnpoint the ridge steepens and climbs several hundred feet. It looked sort of intimidating but the wind was steady and I climbed with the ridge without even trying.
I rounded the TP and turned north for the far TP. I heard radio chatter from others indicating that the winds were very favorable for the TP at the north end of the ridge. The ridge turns slowly toward the east up there and you have to be careful not to get low or you may end up flying upwind on the way back with little ridge lift.
By now thermals were working and I went upwind over the valley just to test them out. Large cus marked them and lift was everywhere it appeared that it should be. However, the climbs to cloudbase at 4500' weren't getting me any closer to the TP so I dropped back onto the ridge and continued north.
This was easy! I rounded the TP and headed back to Ridge Soaring to complete the 300km. Cloud bases continued to lift and visibility was excellent. A little less than three hours after takeoff I completed my 300 km task. Now what? It was 3:30 PM, the sun was still high and the ridge showed no signs of weakening.
For the next 2 1/2 hours I experimented with flying at different speeds and altitudes as I cruised up and down the ridge. Over 80 kts became uncomfortable with the relatively light wing loading of a 15. Thermals were now topping out at 7000' so I took a few to cloud base just because it was so easy to do.
After nearly six hours in ideal conditions I decided to land. With sunset still more than 2 1/2 hours away at least one other pilot was still zooming along the ridges far from the field.
Tom Knauff, owner of Ridge Soaring and many world records, said it was one of the best days he could remember. How good? The pilot still flying when I landed flew more than 1800 km in his Nimbus 3. I cover just over 600 km, stopping to thermal about six times. I noted in the ship's log book that a previous owner had flown a 500 km at this same place nearly 30 years ago. My own log book shows that this was my 300th flight in a sailplane. My next goal is the 500 km task which I hope to document for the OLC.
In summary, it was, by far, the best flight I have evr had. The old ASW 15 flew like a dream and I can't wait to push it and me to new limits.
Safe flying,
Mike
ASW 15 S/N 15152
