2016 Cumberland Summer Soaring ~ July 21-25, Cumberland, MD

[lenb]

Just got in from a full day on the mountain. 10:21 pm and exhausted

love it.

[Steve P]

Suffering day after day of green grass, booming lift, too much food and beautiful views...

[KRISVANJR]

So Jealous. I am heading off to Hot mid west. I think I see dad's van in that last picture. Forecast for rain this afternoon. That's a beautiful view. Some day I'll make it up there...

[Soarntz]

You're killing me... I'm packed up, kayaks on car for trip Saturday morning. Come home, dump the kayaks and head to Highpoint!

[ARUP]

WOW! Wed. I had my longest flight ever in my life! I flew my Vampyr 1 hour, 49 minutes and 38 seconds! Thanks to Len for coaching me...it was epic! I never get to fly sailplanes except at these awesome venues so flight times like these for me are unheard of. Thursday my new Radian XL (thanks Jeremy at Model Box 2.0) first flight was 62 minutes! WOW

[BobM]

Just got in from Cumberland about an hour ago....what a wonderful event !

Many thanks to Jim and everyone there in Cumberland for all that you do to make this event very special for all of us.....just great in every way.

Thanks to all the tow pilots............without a tow the sailplanes don't go up................you all kept everyone in the air with smiles on our faces.

So great to see so many friends there and meet new friends.

I took some picturs today, no specific order.....I'll put them in the next couple entries on the thread.

[BobM]

more pictures........

[BobM]

some more pictures........Sorry I don't have more than this...busy time at the field every day with flying and wonderful meals

[Csessa]

Home safe with no traffic issues. Perfect end to a great weekend of flying.

Thanks to Jim and his folks for putting on another full of flying food and fun. I did not realize Cumberland ever got that hot. Seems I am always in a jacket or more when I go. But the steady breeze kept things reasonable.

Sorry to leave early but I was somewhat bummed about the Blanik and burned out (pun intended) from the Sun. I did enjoy the flying and the company.

As always a towing event counts on folks with tugs and willingness to tow. Thank you all for keeping the line short.

NOVEMBER!!!

[Mr.FlyBye]

Saturday Thanks for the tows and Jim the field looks Great as always

[rkutchman]

Had a great time at Highpoint Aviation. Here are a few photos from the event.

[Jeff D]

Once again a great time was had at Highpoint Aviation! Fantastic time and great weather (though you could turn down the heat a tad). It was comfortable sleeping up on the mountain top. Thank you Jim for the new campground area. It was great. Also for getting the camper up and down the hill.

Many thanks to Jim for allowing us into his little piece of heaven. First class. Thank you to Len, Scott, Steve, Don, Bob and any one I missed for tow duties.

What great conditions. Crazy lift, slope, some almost wave like. The night flying was great. Never have I seen gliders duke it out for the longest flight time into the darkness. Good thing Gunny had a bright flashlight.

Due to late flight Saturday and early departure Sunday I missed saying goodbye to many of the friends I have come to know through this great sport. Good seeing you again and look forward to flying with you (and photographing) again.

Will get started on the shots and get them up soon. Many great ones already posted here and on Facebook already. Between everyone we can create a pretty good story of the event. Really takes a number of people taking shots as none of us can be everywhere all the time. Thanks to all the photographers.

Jeff

[JimD]

Event Summary by the Numbers
5 Days of flying (a lot of pilots came in early to fly a full day on Wednesday)
42 registered pilots
15 States & Canada:

• Alabama
• Connecticut
• Florida
• Illinois
• Kentucky
• Maryland
• Massachusetts
• Michigan
• Missouri
• New Jersey
• New York
• Ohio
• Pennsylvania
• Virginia
• West Virginia

The weather provided optimum aero towing conditions for the entire event and each day was mostly sunny and clear. Lift was abundant and many pilots got the chance to surpass their personal best soaring duration times. The only down side was that daytime temperatures were higher than average with Saturday and Sunday hitting daytime highs of 97 degrees. After two days of 97 degrees, everyone decided to call it an event and not stay through Monday.

I have a lot more to add, but for now I need to go take down the "SOAR" signs and close up the field until the next event.

[hello82]

thanks again Jim, such wonderful magical place and the many eats! So great to see everyone again, hangout for 4 days, and fly fly fly. The slermaling was awesome and then still awesomer, and I learned some great lessons the hard way about the wee dead space between thermals and slope air at low altitude (even though scott warned me just hours before!)...

and thanks to all the tow guys and volunteers once again for making it all possible. hope to see you all again in Delaware.

I fixed the cracks already last night with some carbon tape I had handy and resin, after some heavy 80 grit sanding and cleaning...then used a large wooden round spoon (hope the wifey does not miss it from the kitchen drawer!) to smooth out with alcohol...thanks steveP!!


Matt

[stevekremer]

Wow! What an aerotow! Super weather every day, Lift that just wouldn’t quit. Food that allowed us to be at the field past dark. Jim has transformed the mountain into an aerotow heaven. Even a level camping area. Thanks Jim, can’t think of anything you could have done better. Well maybe just a bit cooler. Even the traffic was light, so, easy ride there and back.

Put 5.75 hours towing with Porter #3, very nice towplane!

Steve K