FlyinBarker » Team Challenge 09 http://flyinbarker.com/wp_cms flying & the time between Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:57:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 en hourly 1 Team Challenge 2009 http://flyinbarker.com/wp_cms/team-challenge-2009/ http://flyinbarker.com/wp_cms/team-challenge-2009/#comments Tue, 06 Oct 2009 21:24:27 +0000 Matt http://flyinbarker.com/wp_cms/?p=56 Well…I said I would write and I didn’t.  I have no delusions that you all have been waiting around for an update…or maybe you have!

Well then…Let’s get right to the meat of it.  Team Challenge was a blast.  Awesome people, fun format, and all around good time.  The TC is a “learning” competition for H3 Intermediate pilots who are new to cross country flying.  A number of top pilots were in attendance to help all of us fledglings who flounder below them.  Seminars were held daily on subjects ranging from weather, flight computer use, XC landing skills, soaring, and lots more.  It almost felt like Hang Gliding school for a week.  Yes I loved it…

I will have more to put up soon but here is a short video of me crossing over the powerlines south of Hensons Gap.  I get a bit of PIO but not bad.  It was bumpy crossing the lines and I should have slowed down and worked the lift that was kicking me around.  I guess I was just in GO mode.  Check out the pack of 4 gliders that passes under me.

Flight Time: 1:55hrs     Mileage: 17.1

]]> http://flyinbarker.com/wp_cms/team-challenge-2009/feed/ 3 Packed up for Team Challenge http://flyinbarker.com/wp_cms/packed-up-for-team-challenge/ http://flyinbarker.com/wp_cms/packed-up-for-team-challenge/#comments Sat, 26 Sep 2009 02:58:11 +0000 Matt http://flyinbarker.com/wp_cms/?p=43 Yup I’ve got everything packed up…In the car already.  We’re leaving tomorrow morning and the dogs are already not happy.  I am really excited  about this trip as it is my first competition.  Granted it is geared more towards teaching competition techniques and has a different format than other competitions, it is still a competition.  I’m looking forward to a great week of flying, learning, and meeting new friends.  Honestly, I’m a bit nervous too.  I want to do well, by my own standards.  I want to make the goal set for the day but I also realize that learning requires making mistakes.  I love that about this sport.  You can look back on a day when you bombed out while everybody else was at cloudbase and almost always pinpoint the decision that decked you.   I just hope I learn fast!!

The weather is looking pretty good for the week at this point and I can’t wait to get in the air!!

My flying gear below.
Packing up

What’s that lying on my harness???  Is it…oh yes it is!!  Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic tickets for the day after the comp!!  I can’t think a much better way to wrap the week up.  I think I’m gonna have HAPPY FEET!

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