soarmilwaukee.com

Guys, Michael from AstroWings sent in this report from a flying session at the new Omega Hills slope soaring site in Germantown, WI.

Astrowings members flying: Dave Kraemer, Mirko Bodul, Greg Smith,
Michael Davidson

View From the Top of Omega Hills; About 190 Feet Up.

Strong and gusty winds greeted Dave and I around noon at the new Omega Hills slope site on Saturday. Winds were out of the northwest around 15-20 mph. Not sure of the temperature, but it is definitely time to start gearing up for our year ’round slope season with plenty of layers and warm gloves.

Dave flew a number of planes; a foam wing called a Lumberjack, his composite 60″ Spyder, and the always impressive Opus. I had my recently recovered Pixel up. My Pixel has had several different designs, but I think it’s a sign of our often overcast Midwestern skies that it has gotten brighter and brighter! Fluorescent yellow, silver, and black helped it stand out in the overcast gray skies. Later, Dave’s PSS P-51B was out and looking awesome making low runs through the valley.

Michael Launching His Pixel

Greg and Mirko showed up a little later to join us and brought some sunshine with them. Mirko flew his Pixel and his Fitness with a 60″ wing, both Airtech planes with composite fuselages and veneered foam wings. Unfortunately Greg only had time to launch his Predator Bee foam flying wing with a bit of a test of some Dynamic Soaring. No DSing today, but there may be some in the future of the new site.

There’s plenty of learning to be done about the nuances of the new hill. It’s fun to explore the different areas of lift, best approaches for landings, or for some of us…”attempted” landings. There are plenty of choices for landing approaches and vast areas of soft grass free of twigs, stumps and rocks in which to set down your sloper. The few obstacles are easy to see.

Michael’s Pixel

The best note of the day is this; today was northwest wind, and in very recent history Milwaukee slopers would be stuck doing errands, chores, or- if anything to do with modeling- it’d be a build day. With the new hill open, we are unlocked from the availability of easterly winds we are normally wishing for. Now with more wind directions available to us at the new site, we were able to get out and carve it up. Thanks to all those that helped make this site a reality.

Dave’s Opus Tearing it Up

Note; please remember to email our hosts at Omega Hill before going out. The code has yet to be programmed at the gate, but there is a temporary code. Check Soarmilwaukee.com or Astrowings.com, or contact Greg Smith for the latest information on accessing the site and staying within the guidelines of the Omega Hills site.

Check out more pics of the outing on the Soar Milwaukee Flickr Group - http://www.flickr.com/groups/soarmilwaukee/ -

Dave’s Soaring USA Spyder