High Roler has landed - 01/01/10

When it's the first day of the new year and the wind is lightly out of the north and we can only fly one place, it pretty much narrows it down where to fly.  If there's one thing El Presidente taught me it's where to fly when it's pre-frontal and post-frontal (and I'm not talking about "The Messiah" President).

I thought there would be a parade of pilots sprinting up the trail but I was the only poor sucker.  Granted, Dillingham is a commitment - the drive (1 hour for me), and the hike (1 hour for me) - but it's the new year and you gotta make a bloody go of it, mates.  Since I couldn't find the trail head for the climber's rock wall (it's very clear on Google Earth) I opted for Kealia trail behind the airfield.

Someone has really cleared the launch and added a wind flag (visible from the road and blowing straight in) and created another launch just east of it - thanks.  I remember when a bunch of us went up there 4 years ago and we had to clear an area just to launch.  I got up there at 2:00 and was disappointed there was no reverse launchable wind - it's at 1000ft. for Chrysler's sake.  At 2:45 I swore I wasn't hiking down and called ATC and Dill's tower to make sure I wouldn't be shot at, and then violently ripped up that tired old Mantra with a running reverse and made the leap of faith - a true huck – similar to Fireman's 4 years ago (I remember thinking then, who's this crazy guy).

I thought I would have to scratch with such light winds but Doug is right - Dillingham is a great thermal site. I got up above launch to 1200 and crossed a valley to another face but didn't find much and did a 180. I got back below launch at 800 and worked the lift again. The launch ridge was working the best so I got up to 1400 and then cruised toward Kaena Point. I didn't think I'd get a long flight so I passed on my flight suit and regretted it – it was bloody cold above 1200 (typical on north days). It was all working great especially away from the ridge – not what I'm used to as a habitual ridge soarer.

I dodged the gliders as they were being towed up and flew for 2 hours to land at 5 and promptly called ATC to say "High Roler" has landed. Initially, ATC asked if I had a transponder (I'd heard discussions of this on paragliders in Europe) and then asked for my call sign – I gave them the name of a sailboat I raced on for 15 years. Security around the airfield is immense with HPD parked outside and Federal Air Marshalls parked at both ends of the runway. The airfield tower also asked if I needed the runway to land and I told them the grass strip adjacent to the hangars would be fine – but thanks for asking (Reaper showed me that LZ 4 yrs earlier).

I never noticed before, but the flight operations are "cowboy" at best, with gliders launching in one direction and the skydivers launching in the other direction - sometimes at the same time. The glider plane rises slower as the skydive plane quickly passes overhead. The glider tow plane pilot makes some impressive landings – he comes in on his downwind leg next to the runway cranks a turn almost touching the wingtip and spins around and touches down on one wheel and stops next to the gliders for the next tow – I guess you could call that pirouette a base leg and final.

I met Bill later and helped him push his plane into the hangar after he taxied next to me as I was packing up - he said he “hates wasting airspace.” He and Bob are friendly pilots (Honolulu Soaring) and they gave me all the room I needed when we were sharing the airspace. They were glad to see a paraglider and one of the skydivers even drove over to say Hi. Great way to start the new year amongst fellow afflicted and addicted. Happy New Year indeed!