Looks Like A Jantar Day
Tim Larsen - HS


Those were the prophetic words of Bill Drury (38) just before gridding on 
Chilhowee's south runway for the second GTA weekend of '01. The thermometer was 
accelerating toward 80 and the cu's were cycling over the high ground.  This day 
had possibilities.

It has been a dismal winter and the first GTA at LaGrange was less than 
productive for me. I went home with  0 points and was feeling fairly rusty. My 
"B" class cohorts on this day were Kevin Anderson in his trusty 1-26 and Conrad 
Suechting in the PW-5. Those handicaps make it tough for a Jantar.  The '26 and 
PW both launched before me and quickly made it up to cloud base.  "Great", I 
thought, "looking good up there...."  Well, it took me 45 minutes of scratching 
over and around the ridge to there myself. Not good. Finally,  I topped-out and 
headed for the start ...

Our task was McMinn, Hardwick, and a POST to round out two hours.  With the wind 
out of the SW, McMinn was a no-brainer.  From 4500' at the start I only spent 
1500' getting there, found a nice ride up to 5300' and headed out for Hardwick.  
In hind sight I probably could have just glided straight to the T.P.  and 
porpoised along the way, but no, I stopped 5 times for a fill-up with no 
satisfaction (tick tick tick)...The cu's just weren't producing like I expected, 
and I never gained much confidence in what might be under the next.  Most of the 
time I was averaging less than 2 knts and cruising 60-65 along the way. I was 
concentrating on the individual cu's and not getting a feeling for the streets 
around me.  No one was there to mark a path.

I arrived at Hardwick with 1600', my low for the day. When I looked up, there 
was the 1-26 far above. After my time on the ridge, this was not a particularly 
enlightening sight. I didn't think I was going to get out of there; however, 
after crossing the airport I caught my best climb of the day,  3.6 knts up to 
5500'. Nice save. Now, how about that POST? I'd never been to Rostex. There was 
a pretty healthy cirrus deck moving up from the South, but there were still 
plenty of cu along the way, so I went for it.  I later learned that the '27's 
were at that time cruising a nice street between Monroe and Hardwick.  Sounds 
like a good plan - I need to work on this - what do you call it?  Strategy?  
Nonetheless, Rostex it was for me.  I was still cruising a conservative 60-65 
and again stopped too often - still in 1.5 to 2 knts.  I made my height band 3-
5K for this day, but it seems climbs were better over 4000.  Another thing that 
requires attention.  I made Rostex with 2800' and yet again found a beaut of a 3 
knotter near the field to return me to 5000'.  Interesting pattern, lift at 
every t.p.!  How often does that happen?
So, here I am,  1:40 into my POST and only 15 miles upwind of home. I figure 
McMinn again would be a wise choice and enjoyed a nice downwind cruise with only 
a couple of stops along the way. I didn't even need the second thermal as I had 
Chilhowee made even before I got around McMinn.   From there it was an 80-90 
knot final back to the finish. Unnecessary, but still fun!  I should mention 
here that the cirrus was quickly moving in at this time and Bill Drury landed at 
Rostex only 20 minutes after my visit. By the time I was on the ground after 
2.25 hours on course, the lift had called it a day.  I got in almost 90 sm at 40 
mph (39 handicapped) and 1000 points in my pocket.  I can't wait for 
Moontown.....