Slope soaring above the clouds
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Cool. Ahh, that brought back memories from 40 years ago, when I flew full scale sailplanes. Slope soaring from Chilhowee, TN (USA) - running 150 knots (while still climbing in the ridge lift), 50' away from the cliffs and trees on a ridgeline. Getting to the end of the ridge, pulling up vertical, doing a stall turn, then dropping back down to run up the ridge again, repeating the process over and over. In my young mind, I felt like I was flying a fighter jet.
And then the mountain wave soaring over Mt Mitchell, NC (USA). Getting clearance from ATC (they routed the airliners around us), and going up to 19,300' AGL. 50 below zero F, 80 knot winds, climbing at 1,000 fpm while staying stationary over the ground. Breathing oxygen, once we got above 14,000'.
And then the mountain wave soaring over Mt Mitchell, NC (USA). Getting clearance from ATC (they routed the airliners around us), and going up to 19,300' AGL. 50 below zero F, 80 knot winds, climbing at 1,000 fpm while staying stationary over the ground. Breathing oxygen, once we got above 14,000'.
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speedamigo (05-20-2022)