GGC Arrives at Lake Placid – It’s Official

For the first time in 6 years, GGC is holding a fall wave camp.
Preparations have been underway for the last few weeks with planning to get the Pawnee and Puchacz down to Lake Placid for two weekends. Martin has done an amazing job in getting the last bits of the Puchacz trailer sorted out and we now have a fully functional and roadworthy rig which tows very well. Thanks to Martin’s welding skills, the tail feathers and wing/tail stands make rigging and derigging very straightforward.
After a few anxious days waiting for approval from the TSA in the US to fly a non-transponder equipped aircraft across the border, we finally received permission on Friday.

Saturday morning saw Martin (in the Stinson) and Wolfgang in the Pawnee take off for Massena, NY to clear customs. After a short review of paperwork and waiting for some local showers to pass, our intrepid duo took off for the last leg to Lake Placid airport.
Meanwhile our eager group of glider pilots were waiting at LP, wondering if the airborne element of the GGC airforce would make it in before the rain showers. Sure enough like a scene out of a movie, the Pawnee and Stinson were overhead calling “left downwind, runway 32, Lake Placid”. GGC history was made at 09:50 as the Pawnee touched down and taxied over to the glider tie-down area. After a few pictures we all set down to the task of getting the Puchacz rigged. After waiting for a passing shower, reviewing the poor weather forecast for the rest of the day, we elected to tie down, ready for an early start on Sunday. I offered to take those new to LP on a ground tour of landable fields in the area and soon we were off in two cars and multiple GPS units. The tour finished at the Noon Mark Diner in Keene valley for some of the best homemade pie and ice cream in the Adirondacks. Ask Martin how long it takes to eat one of their Banana Splits!

Sunday dawned foggy but rapidly cleared leaving some breathtaking views as low clouds stubbornly clung to the colourful valleys. The morning dew was soon dried off the Puchacz

(thanks to Andrew D. and Norm F.) and by 10:45 we again made history with the first flight made exclusively with GGC aircraft outside of Canada (Andrew K. towing and Wolfgang and yours truly in the Puchacz). After this we flew non-stop until sunset and even managed to give our friends at MSC a few tows in their Grob Twin. Norm F. also rigged his Discus and went off in search of wave and Martin went for a sightseeing flight in the Stinson. Although the winds were too weak for sustained wave, special mention goes to Jimmy D. and Paul G. (both recent solo pilots) who took the plunge and flew (with check pilots) in search of the LP Kahuna. With the forecast on Monday looking grim and 12 flights under our belts, we derigged the Puchacz to a glorious sunset and spectacular fall colours.

2007 represents the first year of a true combined eastern Ontario club wave camp at Lake Placid. GGC, MSC and RVSS now each have a 2 seat glider in LP and there are two towplanes tied down and ready to go (MSC – L19, GGC – Pawnee). It doesn’t get any better than this folks. Beautiful scenery, pilot camaraderie, the great outdoors, and an opportunity to learn advanced soaring skills. It’s amazing what can be accomplished when we all roll up our sleeves…

Special thanks to Bob Katz (MSC) for helping brief pilots new to the LP area and Adirondack Flying Service for their continued local support of this wave camp. Let’s hope for good weather next weekend.

Roger