| Flight Number: | 314 |
| Location: | |
| Date: | 2024-09-24 |
| Duration: | 02:31 |
| Launch: | TO (SSE-E) Junction, UT |
| Max Distance: | 4731m |
| Max Altitude: | 3753m |
| Track Length: | 89943m |
| Wing: | Phi Maestro 2 |
| IGC File: | Download |
Comments:
Comments:
Comments:
| Flight Number: | 314 |
| Location: | |
| Date: | 2024-09-24 |
| Duration: | 02:31 |
| Launch: | TO (SSE-E) Junction, UT |
| Max Distance: | 4731m |
| Max Altitude: | 3753m |
| Track Length: | 89943m |
| Wing: | Phi Maestro 2 |
| IGC File: | Download |
First flight at Junction!
This site is about 45 minutes from Monroe. Landing out is challenging because of all of the Sage bush. There is some nice landing options though, small patches of mostly clear Sage near the road. I guess the road is also a good option as there’s next to no traffic and I saw one glider land there during my flight.
Now, the flight. The flight was very active, with many pilots saying the wind was “punchy” or “rowdy”. I found the Maestro 2 very stable, but talkative. A couple of times I was concerned with how “gusty”, and how much my wing was changing direction, but I attribute this to me getting more used to the wing.
All and all, the flight was 2.5 hours, and I was very happy with it, and how the wing performed, and how stable I felt under it.
The stretch goal was to start heading XC north towards Monroe. My personal goal was to fly over the colorful Aspen (which I did and was Amazing!). Got to chase Rai a bit which was wonderful.
When starting my transition to head north, after I had a great climb, I was concerned that following the back ridge was too committing, and that it might be better to try and push out to the ridges out front near the landing zone.
Pushing out was the wrong move, because I found a nice climb over the LZ, but not enough go anywhere with it. The ridge I was aiming for I flew right over without finding a single climb over it.
Now, for the best parts. I found that on this glider, I’m still getting used to just how much better the glide is, especially into wind. I can be heading into wind on half bar, and what I’d expect to have a 3:1 glide ratio on my Epic, I’m finding it’s closer to a 6:1 or better.
I find with having a wing that’s able to “go places” more, I just need to gain the confidence that I can push back more on the higher routes now, and still have the ability to push out and land safely even with those routes being “deeper”.
I’m also finding Rai’s tips of pretending to fart helps with the thermaling, and Jess’s foot one for on another comes naturally with Arpan’s advice of one leg straight and one bent.
What a great flight. A load of fun. This site is very, very pretty!
Sent from my iPhone