FlyinBarker

So its been a while since I posted anything.  The winter blues had me stuck on the ground here in SC.  But…the warm winds are returning and I have been out flying!!  Amazing what getting the feet off the ground does for the spirit!  Had a couple of good flights in Feb.  Both got me 4000′ over launch at Glassy.  The glassy ramp is  at 2560′ so I was at 6500′…a bit chilly in Feb.

The video is from my first flight.  Scratched around ridge height for 30 mins before I finally caught the thermal that took me to cloud base.  By the time I was up I couldn’t feel my fingers so I had to go land.  Once I was down my fingers felt like they were on Fire!   I need some warmer gloves next winter.

Flight time: 1 hr

Got to fly again on the the 20th and had some friends come out to watch.  My buddy Dave and his family came as did my friend Brian Walton.  Brian is a talented photographer and you can view his website and work HERE.  I’m glad he got to come out.  Here are some of the shots he took.  Click on the pics for the bigger version.  If you have Google Earth you can click on the HERE to download and see my flight in 3D.  This was recorded by the GPS I fly with.  You can download Google Earth here for free.

Ready to go!

Off the Ramp and right into a Thermal!

Just off launch and climbing.

Nick launched after me but didn’t find anything till he was low over the LZ.  He fought with it and gained 3-400′ back but it slipped away and he had to deck it.

Meanwhile, I was on my way up to 4050′ over launch.

Monty launched next and had some fun in front of launch for the cameras before thermaling up.

Frances was taking pics and filming launches.  I can’t wait till she is up there flying with us!

Monty wanted to say hello to the plane also!  Seriously, this was close.  I was 1km away but Monty was pretty much right there with the plane.  One of those “Holy Shit did you see that?!?!” moments!

Apparently I haven’t paid dues to the Aluminum gods lately.  The LZ was really tricky and I got knocked all over the place.  I think I was still knocking some of the winters rust off.

Flight Time: 1:30 hrs

I’ll be heading down to Wallaby Ranch in Florida next week.  Wills Wing is doing their 13th annual fly-in and party that I have been wanting to go to for years.  It will be good to go down and get some practice in before the Rob Kells comp in the middle of April.  I will have a lot going on for the next 2 months so I (hopefully) be posting more often.  Spring Time!!!  WOOOOHOOOO!