Where Eagles Soar...

Last Saturday provided a very unusual sighting in the skies over Pendleton. While climbing in a 3kt thermal (thanks Nick) I saw what looked like a large hawk. However as I approached, I realized it was a bald eagle (white head, brown feathers and yellow beak/talons). This is the first time I have seen a bald eagle in Pendleton. Red-tailed hawks, peregrine falcons and the occasional golden eagle are more typical raptor visitors. This was a majestic, humbling sight. After a few minutes, a red-tailed hawk joined the thermal below us. The eagle’s quickly scanning head movements froze and locked on the hawk. A few seconds later he tucked in his wings and rolled into a dive toward the hawk. The hawk, sensing that something was up, also tucked in his wings and rolled into a similar dive, away from the eagle. It was like watching a raptor version of “Top Gun”. That evening I searched for more information about bald eagles in Ontario and discovered that they are making a strong comeback and the number of sightings has increased dramatically over the last 6 years. 20 years of flying at Pendleton and every year there is something new to discover… (photo: John Michell)

Roger

Wind, Soaring & Stars

Friday evening (April 24th) saw GGC visited by an area astronomy club for some serious star gazing. Multiple telescopes of all sizes with all manner of tracking mechanisms set up on the runways to take advantage of the very dark nights we have at Pendleton (away from the light pollution of Ottawa & Montreal). Fun was had by all and our friends from the astronomy club will likely return throughout the 2009 season.

Saturday (April 25th) was one of those balmy, almost tropical days when winter bypasses spring in Canada, and almost leaps into summer. By contrast, and if to remind us that this is indeed Canada, Sunday was dull and overcast. However on Saturday we had recorded 24 flights at Pendleton, in windy conditions (gusting to over 20 knots), and more members had their Spring check rides. The Puchacz recorded 14 flights, and at one time the Blanik was brought out for a single flight, as was also one of the L-33s. Karl and Doug entered the "time-machine" and had short but very enjoyable flights in "Sparky" Smith's Schweizer 1-26, as also did Ron Smith. Nobody beat Alice's record the previous week of a little over an hour (guess, Alice "through the looking glass", has the magic touch, in the Pendleton "Wonderland").

In the private world of ships, Roger christened the season with a couple of flights in "AT", while Nick “ST”, unobtrusively soared around the skies in the windy conditions for four hours.

Many thanks to those TOW PILOTS and FIELD MANAGERS who helped to make it all happen. As an interlude in the day, Ron and Wolfgang and others walked a group of members through the de-rigging and rigging procedures for the sleek new ASW-24. (Photo: Andrew Kissman)

Doug & Roger

Our New ASW-24 - First Flight 2009

It's official! On Thursday April 2nd, M7 flew for the first time as the flagship of the GGC fleet.


After a thorough read of the flight manual and briefing by Ulli, Martin was off in M7. Karl caught the flight on the ground and later in the air from the Puchacz (yes that white stuff in the photo on the ground is snow!).




Throughout the afternoon Karl continued with spring checkouts in the Puchacz.


It was an amazing day with impressive spring soaring conditions! Martin will be grinning for weeks...