The AHGA's XC Contest 2009

Mike A.Frank Domokos & I Driving up to Mingus and thinking how nice it was to have such a World Class Flying site.Got up there to se only a small crowd,five pilot's in all.Again launched last at 12:35pm.But not with out the help of Marcy B. pulled my clothing down from the inside of my harness.It got buckeled up when putting on the C.G.1000 and was uncomfortable.Greg B. helped launch everyone,thank you both.Flew out front and to the right,now 200' below.Headed N.along the ridge,hooked a good one 600'-900'all the way to 14,100'M.S.L.It was a warm 53 degrees.Mike A. was gaining fast and Frank D.was on chase,I love it!This day would turn out to be the strongest between thermal sink day of the whole year.Avg.of 400'-800'F.P.M. Over the back S.W. of the A.P.S.transfer station,down to 8,500'.It took some time to lock into this one.This would be the best thermal of the day,topping at 15,100',its getting cold.Mike and I would seperate for good at this juncture,a good challenge for Frank.Headed for the S. end of Chino Valley.Back up to 10,600' glided towards Talking Rock Ranch Golf Course.Down to 8,100'about 2,600'A.G.L. The thermals down low were badly broken & scattered with very little drift.Anyway topped out at 13,600'directly above the Golf course.Took some pictures,cruised on.In a -head wind of 4-12 M.P.H.with heavey sink,my V.G. had a twist in the line and couldn't pull it all the way on,just over 1/2,a real bummer.Came in over Mud Tank Wash, 3,200'A.G.L. Desided to bring her down and land.Dropped a smoke bomb,a nice 5-10 S.E.then about 50'-70'A.G.L.the smoke just stopped.So flaired a little high come down on my feet & base tube.Then about 5 min. later this young Ranch hand Cowboy drives over & says, your on private lands.He ask me how much the glider wayed.He sympathized with me and said I've still got to lock up the gate when I leave.After talking with him for awhile,I was able to convince him to dummy lock the gate,so Frank & Mike could drive down and get me.About 4th's of a mile,and he did.Thank you Matt.A difficult 36 miles.Mike landed just passed Paulden.Speical thanks to Frank D.Happy Landing's Andy Rockhold

Nice Lite East day at Mingus.Bad Randy and I went west.Lift was everwhere. Ask Randy why we went back east and landed.

On Aug.9 Paul W. Dale M. Bruce ?,Carol,Linny & I desided to give Elden a try.The road up to the top is really bad,it just plain sucks.Never seen it so bad.Dale & Paul launched first.After about 10-15 min.they hooked a good one and topped out around 13,000'M.S.L. It took one full hour to get up to 12,900'.It just seemed like Bruce & I got stuck there,from 9,500' to 11,000'.Headed N. down to around 9,500' found a boomer to 14,500', the time was 3:45pm.Took pictures of Sunset Crater,then cruised on.With a nice 7-10 M.P.H. tail wind,it didn't take long to fly over Dale & Paul.They landed just S.of Secret Mt.for a nice flight.The tail wind ended around Wupatki,& Linny was right under me.Tryed to extend the glide,as far as possible.Getting low,dropped a smoke bomb between 89 & the power lines,1/4 mile apart.I was expecting the wind to be out of the south,it was East,big time.Didn't want anything to do with the power lines,so glided over them to the W.Now 3-4 tenths of a mile from 89,at the last sec.deployed my drag chute,and had a good landing to the S.E. I desided to split the differance.Hey I didn't drop my nose,so I was happy.It was a long walk back to 89,sweating like crazy.Had a safe landing,thats the most important thing of all.Drank a cold beer with Linny,as passer bys honked there horns.We all met at Silver Saddle Tavern for a cold one,then all went out to dinner.A good day in deed.Happy landings,Andy Rockhold

On August 1 the worst possible thing happened to Linny & I.The flight started off great.Launched at 12:25 pm.it didn't take long to top out at 14,200'M.S.L.After gliding about four miles to the N.W.topped out even higher 16,300'.I was runnig late so I didn't put my oxygen on.After gliding 20 miles,found a good to 14,300' then glided directly over Williams.Worked back up to 14,500' took pictures of the town,just N. of the freeway.Linny was high tailing it up I-40 and didn't get her first visual on me till 47 miles.At Red lake she was able to stop and get a visual.Back up to 14,500' N. of Red lake,my harness working great.Crossed over to Rt. 180 where the large power lines cross.At 13,000' I made big mistake of sending linny down the power line road.Did I say Big Mistake.On a really nice glide,Linny radios up hey just got a flat tire.Radioed back you have got to be kidding.No not at all.So with out hesitation & with 4,500' A.G.L. Landed, drag chute assisted.I broke down the glider down,hide it in the trees,took only what was needed.Linny & I had radio contact,some 5 miles away.After two & a half hours of hicking at a pretty good pace,I reached Linny.We were in the Dodge that was bought to haul our travel trailor.It didn't have a jack when we first bought it.I been trying to get one but hadden't,so we were really screwed,Big time.Still 2 1/2 miles to Rt.180,and Linny had a bad knee.Beer didn't even sound good,even to Linny,can up believe that,on a hot summer day.It's getting late,the sun is low on the horizon.Run for a while then walk,run/walk.I had to leave Linny behind,for the moment,bad knee.If I didn't get to Hwy.180 before the sun goes down,our chances of getting a ride go way,way down.From where glider was, to 180 was 7.6 miles.I'm sore & weak.Waving my arms in a crossing motion when a car came by. The thumb does nothing.The second vehicle, was a 28 passenger Grand Canyon expedition Bus.It pulls over and stops,I ran over to the bus,out of breath.Told the lady briefly what happened.She was very nice to help us.Opened the gate,drove back to get Linny.She was wide eyed when she saw the Bus.So Joann is her name,gave us a ride all the way back to Flagstaff.The sun was setting as we drove away.My Mom calls this the Luck of the Irish.I feared spending the night out there no real food,I had some power bars.No place to sleep.You know how people are these days.We wre very lucky to get a ride.The next day,drove the other truck out there.Got the glider on the Dodge,on the way back 180, at the gate,looked back,another flat.Drove back in to town,hit Sams Club.Two brand new tires,$400.00 later,including fuel.Went to auto,got a jack.Drove back out there,changed the tire.Then drove real slow out of there.What a nightmare.The single worst experince ever flying X-C. Got Joann's # met her,Linny and I at Flag Brew the next week,payed for all of her drinks,she saved us Big time.Thats all,happy Landings,Andy Rockhold.

On July 18 Mike A. & I hooked up with Cottonwood,Frank.Launch time 12:20 pm. off the radical South ramp.Found the first thermal to the right of launch,go figure.Mike & I both topped out at over 14,200' M.S.L. Now gliding towards paulden area with a light tail wind,4-7 M.P.H. Frank radios up, not much breeze on the ground,not many clouds eather.Just gliding getting lower & lower,you know what this means.Myself down to 7,400' found a little something,trying to radio Mike into the broken lift.It didn't work, Mike was to low,sorry,maybe next time.Stayed with it,light drift.Chased down wind 1/2-3/4 mile,then found it again.Ended up gaining 6,000'.Glided out as far as possible. There were big storms to the N.W.& big to the N. as well.Had a great landing near the locked gate in the Chino Wash.I love flying X-C with other Pilots,That was fun Mike lets do it again. Thank you very much Frank.I love ya Man.Happy Landings,Andy Rockhold