Thanks Again, Bob!

The Third Annual Bob Johnson Birthday Camp-Out and Fly-In was marked by the best weather we've seen since we started celebrating this event. We flew our hearts out all three days, with multitudes of pilots getting airborne, some of them scoring new altitude records and navigating novel XC routes. We also had record attendance: 9 campsites, 35 tents, and over 100 people camping and flying and celebrating all weekend long. Thanks to everyone who organized the event and to everyone who contributed to the nonstop feast. The mess hall was a new addition this year that really worked well, thanks to 5-0 Mike and Ces.

Cloudbase Crusaders

Yesterday, valiant winged warriors at Kahana waged a long and epic battle with a host of invisible demonic beasts. Many brave souls were lost in the struggle, and there were times we were sure the forces of darkness would triumph over us all. The decisive conflict was engaged in earnest above Kaaawa.

Summer Flying Season Kickoff

Our summer flying season is officially upon us. I know there are still a few wayward troughs and lows meandering around the Pacific, but this past week of flying has been a real harbinger of summer's consistently stable and higher pressure cross country flying conditions. We have flown for at least the last five days in a row, which hasn't left us much time to post up a story about it. And I'm cursed with this new helmet camera that is sucking up all my time just reviewing the footage each day. But I have finally pushed out my first creation and I'm hoping to get faster as I get the hang of it. To kick off the season, I am scribbling this brief account of the past week's flying, along with some pictures and my first GoPro video.

3rd Annual Bob Johnson B-Day Party & Flying Festival

All pilots far and wide: just a couple more weeks until the THIRD ANNUAL BOB JOHNSON BIRTHDAY PARTY AND FLYING FESTIVAL! We’ve already had a post to get the event planning going (by our cover shot model, Sidehill), but with unusually motivated afternoon momentum, Ginny, Gaza and I decided to help with the event organization.

Tiger Tales and Awesome Adventures

For those who have hiked and flown Tiger Mountain in Issaquah, Washington, you know the commitment it takes to hike to the top, unless you are willing to fork out the $17 for ride to launch. For the rest of us, the hike up Tiger is easily an hour ordeal with a paraglider on your back. That said, it is also one of the best hikes you will ever do, on a well-maintained trail system with dozens of two- and four-legged Seattlites enjoying the outdoors and keeping you company. On a bright and beautiful Spring afternoon like this past Sunday, it was definitely the place to be.

Four Twenty

Friday, April 20, was definitely a day to get high! It was a smoking gorgeous day, to a degree that we have not seen in months. Now, I know our group is fond of Torpedoes, but apparently there is also an interest in safety meetings. I guess all our meetings should be on April 20th! Everyone showed up, or almost everyone. It would be easier to say who was not there. Heck, it was a weekday even - a lot of people must have called in sick to work!

Bi-Wingual

I got a phone call from Goto early Sunday morning, saying Makapu’u might be good for a tandem, but it may be a bit too north. He told me he was meeting a visitor pilot at 0930 and he would fly solo and let me know if it was good then. He called me back and said it was looking good, and we planned to fly after lunch.

Clouds and Shadows

At least twenty pilots converged on Kahana for a long, fun, busy Sunday of bay crossing runs, cloud surfing, top landing, decorative descents, tree soaring, and volleyball net dodging. It was great to share the air with visitors from San Diego, Telluride, and Saskatchewan!

Kahana Cloudscapes

A dozen pilots flew Kahana in light thermic conditions yesterday, enjoying many toplandings, hours of cloud surfing, thermal rocket rides, and four nice cross country flights. It was super light and scratchy down low, but punchy and rowdy up high, with wispy tendrils of mist forming all around us and below us.

3rd Annual Bob Johnson Birthday Camp-Out and Fly-In

Another big party for the Oahu flying monkeys: we will be hosting the Third Annual Bob Johnson Birthday Party and Flying Festival from May 11 to May 13, at Kahana Bay. In celebration of Bob's life, we are hereby inviting all pilots and friends to join us for our third year of birthday flying festivities.