[Help / Instructions] [Download All] 18 jpg files ~ 2.1 mb (~ 3½ min @ 56K or ~ 20 sec @ 500K)

Dylan's First PG Flight
Monday, April 5th, 2004, about 5:30 pm

Dylan was over for the afternoon and Pam wanted to put Tess down for a nap, so she asked Tom to take the boys out for an hour.  We biked over to the playground for some Frisbee and the wind seemed about right.  We headed back and tried Cindy on her cell, looking for permission to take Dylan.  Unfortunately, Cindy's phone was off.  We adjusted the rigging in the garage anyway, in hopes she would call back.  She finally did about 5ish.  Still took 15 minutes to get the troops loaded into the minivan.

Got to Bates, but it look like we might be too late.  Both boys together with all their gear weigh about 80 pounds total, so I was planning to carry another 20 pounds of ballast.  With the wind at launch only about 5 or 6, we opted to skip the ballast and go light.  While I was getting the gear ready the boys made a bee line for the mud puddle.  Dylan got stuck and we had to pull him out.  His shoes were a big glob so he would have to go barefoot (in socks).

Dylan definitely wanted to sit up front when we adjusted the rigging at home, but now on launch he thought he may prefer the middle.  I explained that we had already made our adjustments and he was back on point.  I had set up so everyone was staggered progressively lower, and I was tilted up a bit so I could reach the break handles easier.  The breaks are way up on the Bantoo, so it's a problem if I'm hanging low.  We tried a front pull up, but without much drive from my little helpers, it took too long to come up.  The reverse came up fine and we were moving toward the edge.

The boys were pretty good runners and went right over and down through the brush.  Finally got airborne about 20 feet over the edge.  I'd forgotten to get Dylan's arms behind the spreader bars for the reverse pull-up, so it took a bit to get him into his seat.  Came in ok on the soaring face, and despite the light wind, we were climbing back up.

The kids were having fun.  Sam was his usual chatter box, and Dylan was quiet.  Sam wanted to do surges and dives, but with limited altitude and weak conditions, the best we could manage were some mild surges.  Flew for about 20 plus minutes and finally got lower.  Didn't want to risk landing on the beach and have to hike back up, so we gave up early and headed in.  Didn't really need to flare.  Next time I'll just slow it down at the end.  Landing was ok, but not perfect (a little long and needed to slow it down to keep from overshooting, so we ran out of energy about 4 feet off the ground and took a soft drop).

Cindy showed up for the landing and got it on video.  Pam was manning the still camera with the baby in the other arm.

Dylan & Sam are both 5.  Dylan was quiet but ok during the flight.  He seemed fine after landing, but a few minutes later he seemed to zone out in a reflective space.  20 minutes later he was back to normal.

Setting Notes:  Tried various trim settings, but seemed to get the best sink with almost full slow.  Still responded ok in the smooth air despite the light loading.  Rigged Dylan a notch off center, and the payload combo was 2 notches.  Probably would have been better at one notch, but we rigged with ballast in the garage and then didn't use it.  I was impressed with the gliders speed despite being loaded light.

SD