WRE - First day was good with challenges!
Kinda bush league mistakes made today. Good to get them out of the way! Great view early in the day. Below is the 2nd issue but the first clouds of the flights were right here at Laredo and helped me dig out of the issue with a hard cross-wind adjustment to clear the airspace. After Laredo, it was on like donkey kong. Some 7-800 fpm and most climbs were strong and to cloudbase with good strong tailwinds up high. EPIC!! Anyway, hoped to make up for lost time and all was
THE PERFECT DAY IN 2012
Crossing fingers for another one of these days this year! Notice the great looking clouds throughout this flight. They mark the top of the thermals so without them, it's easy to stumble into the sinky area's of the sky and loose time, or even sink out (Land). This day also averaged 17+mph winds over most of the course.
VETERAN CHASE DRIVER NOTES
Wary 2013 driver warning to my 2016 driver! - must have a Texas Gazetteer - must have the San Antonio FAA Sectional chart - down load from internet there are several flight restricted areas; ie Laredo - must have binoculars to make visual contact - must have a standard compass to orient maps - must have a separate GPS that is ALWAYS indicating the FROM radial and distance to Zapata this is always needed in order to notify the folks at the airport (ie 162 radial 150 miles
Flytec Rocks! Airspace Map does altitude now too!
HUGE Thanks to Steve Kroop for updating my software, polishing the screen, adding airspace, and replacing the port cover. The demands on our 6030's are intense in Zapata. It has to perform for 12 hour flights, and then reliably add the encryption signature to the track log upon landing (That's mandatory for record ratification). The way the map screen shows the airspace data in proximity to the current flight path and pilot location is KEY to navigating as close as possible
Gary Osoba on Weather Channel
Gary found Zapata and hosts the World Record Encampment almost annually. Have had a 3 year break recently so 2016's event is going to be a great reunion. #zapata #WRE #JonnyDurand #weatherChannel #BenHerring #HangGliding #GaryOsoba
Jonny's Weather Channel Interview about the Zapata World Record Encampment
Great press for Hang Gliding! #WRE #Zapata #WeatherChannel #HangGliding #BenHerring #WorldRecord #video #JonnyDurand
