Hanggies break records from Blackhawk

[Marge]

From Blackhawk - Tony Deleo flew to Santa Maria - 204 miles (new site record) , Bruce Barmakian landed just outside Plowshare - 183 miles, John Scott flew 120 miles and Owen Morse flew 106 miles.(Personal bests). Way to send it guys. Good flying in Marshall too.

[JimmyZ]

WOW! Nice flyin' everyone. Interested in seeing the track logs of those flights. Post em' if you got em'...

Anyone flying tomorrow? Somewhere.....?

[John Hesch]

Very impressive! Nice job to all. Guess Tony only stopped when he saw the ocean?! Good call on the weather John, hoping it holds through today also.

[Southside]

As usual, if anyone cares you can find my write up here : http://socalxc.blogspot.com/2009/05/bla ... o-i-5.html

I'll include my track log to the write up later.

John

[Tony Deleo]

A more accurate description of where Bruce and I landed would be this:
Bruce midway between New Cuyama and Plowshare. I landed about 1 mile east of Twitchell Resorvoir. I was tempted to go land at New Cuyama ,170 miles apprx, to allieviate the chase snafu instead a little west of the refinery east of Mc Pherson Peak, at 4500', i got a weak thermal drifting out of the north east. Above and behind me clouds were forming. The shear line had pulsed out one last time. After a few turns and at 5K I turned and went back into the mountains and went to 10K over the Dick Smith wilderness. I was a couple of miles south of the crest of the mountains. At this point about the 175-180 mile mark and with the goal 200 miles I went on final glide westward over the wilderness into a 10 mile an northwest headwind. (A month or so earlier Eddie and I had been at Plowshare and I ascertained that the landing area at Plowshare was at the 198 mile mark from BlackHawk.) I could see the river bottom up ahead about 20 miles. A voice was saying Tony don't do it. I said what the heck I was now way into the wilderness with Plowshare to the north a couple of mile with no landable areas. The last few miles were spend gliding thru and over the terrain. At 1000 agl I pulled down the flaps and landed next to 166 where I activated the Spot locator beacon. I was fortunate to have Bruce and his crew come back and get me- I truly owe those guys one. We were back in San Bernandino by 2:00 ish.

[Randall]

Outstanding, Tony. I wish you had some photos!

[Dizzy]

Tony congratulations with amazing flight! Any chance you have GPS track for this flight?

[Tony Deleo]

I have both Bruce's and mine-just give me your e-mail and I will forward them both to you.

[Dizzy]

Thanks a lot,
Alex