Distinctly Fall, But We Are Not Done Yet

While Labor Day is gone for another year and fall is on the horizon, Hang Glide Chicago is going strong.  Some of the best flying happens in the fall.  The colder nights and warm days combined with plowed fields make for some nice thermals.

Come out to see us.  Long range forecast is sunny and warm for this weekend!

This Weekend at Enjoy

Don't forget that this Sunday is National Aviation Day.  That means that Hang Glide Chicago will be at Indiana Dunes from 12 to 3 demonstrating hang gliding to the masses.  All are welcome. 

We'll be flying at the field all weekend as well!  Come out and see us. 

Come ENJOY a Meteor Shower

This week Saturday is a very special day.  Weather depending, we will have awesome views of the Perseids meteor shower, which is supposed to peak Saturday night.  Bring out your telescope and set up along the runway!  We'll have chairs, blankets, and blow up beds for those who just want to gaze.  We might even have popcorn. :)

Here is some more information on the meteor shower online:

https://www.space.com/32868-perseid-meteor-shower-guide.html

According to NASA meteor expert Bill Cooke, the Perseids are perhaps the most popular meteor shower of the year; and in 2018, they'll be the best shower of the year. During the Perseids' peak this month, spectators should see about 60-70 meteors per hour, but in outburst years (such as in 2016) the rate can be between 150-200 meteors an hour. The meteor shower's peak will be visible both the nights of Aug. 11-12 and Aug. 12-13, Cooke said, but he's inclined this year to lean toward the night of Aug. 12-13 for the better show. (Both, however, should be spectacular.)

"This year the moon will be near new moon, it will be a crescent, which means it will set before the Perseid show gets underway after midnight," Cooke told Space.com. "The moon is very favorable for the Perseids this year, and that'll make the Perseids probably the best shower of 2018 for people who want to go out and view it." The Perseids are rich in fireballs, so the show should be even better.

Labor Day Weekend @ Enjoy

It's not too soon to mark your calendars for Labor Day Weekend at Enjoy! We'll have crazy shenanigans all weekend. 
Saturday - Bonfire and Cornhole (Bags) Tournament! 
Sunday - Get out your favorite disco gear, and come to party for our Disco Fever BBQ. (Food $10.00 per person or $8.00 if you dress up!). 
Monday - Get serious about flying with our spot landing contest. 

As always, we'll be flying our rears off, and we'll likely be jumping in the pond afterwards!  Discount camping is available for those staying the Friday through Monday.

Aviation Day at Indiana Dunes

Come out and join Hang Glide Chicago at the Indiana Dunes Welcome Center August 19, from 12 to 3.  We will have demonstration gliders out, be instructing guests on glider operations, answering all your hang gliding questions.  AND you get to jump in the simulator and experience what weight shift control is like.  We look forward to seeing you there.

Weekend flying

As some of you aviation fans may know, this is Oshkosh weekend!  Unfortunately, that means that our tow pilots will be at the airshow, and we will not have flight ops on Saturday.  We will be up and running on Sunday, and back to our normal schedule next week.  See you soon!

Another Weekend in Paradise

Hang Glide Chicago had a great weekend!  We started Saturday with some much needed rain.  Around noon the skies cleared, the sun came out, and we enjoyed a marvelous sunset.  Sunday was a hot one!  Hot and humid, but our fellow flyers had lots of fun at the field. 

weekend outlook 7/13/2018

Sunday better than Saturday

Not awesome, but I’ll take an hour here or there, when I can get it.

Sunday (both places)

Hot, mostly sunny 87° wind s @ 6 mph

WW and KK showing just under 400 fpm to 3k’ish (not very high)

These are NAM forecasts and I’m hoping that the day of RAP forecast is better.

Currently KK shows lift going slightly higher, but that will change in 2 days.

I am planning to fly somewhere on Sunday.

Saturday could be ok at KK if the rain stays away. (Check satellite in the AM)

weekend outlook July 7th & 8th

Update
Saturday afternoon will finish better at kk.

1^st!  A SUNNY WEEKEND THAT’S NOT BLOWN OUT!

The details get more difficult. The numbers are below, so you can make your own conclusions.

Mostly I think both days are flyable, but probably not awesome, at both locations.

I think Saturday will be slightly better at WW

I think Sunday will be better at KK.

I don’t know if I have time on Sunday to fly and go to Bill’s memorial….

These numbers come from XCSkies. DrJack shows lower lift, but better BS ratios to higher altitudes. Which is correct? I don’t know.

Saturday July 7th

KK           Sunny 85°

lift 450 fpm to 3k'

Wind E @ 7 mph

BS ratio 4.4 (difficult)

Dew point spread 31

No CU's

WW       Sunny 84°

lift 500+ fpm to 4k'

Wind S @ 9 mph

BS ratio 5 (difficult)

Dew point spread 38

No CU's

Sunday July 8th

KK           Sunny 85°

lift 450 fpm to 3.5k'

Wind s @ 2 mph

BS ratio 10 (good)

Dew point spread 22

No CU's

WW       Sunny 83°

lift 425+ fpm to 3k'

Wind SW @ 9 mph

BS ratio 2.6 (not flyable)

Dew point spread 31

No CU's

Area weather Sat & Sun Jun 22-23

Looks like could be WW on Saturday, KK looking weak
And then Sunday GOOD for KK with WW looking weak

Sat Jun 23 - NAM
Whitewater
Lift         400 fpm to 4k’ Cloudbase
Wind aloft   N @ 7 mph
BS ratio     10
OD unlikely
Temp and the ground 76°


Sun Jun 24 - NAM
Enjoy field
Lift         450+ fpm to 4.2k’ Cloudbase
Wind aloft   NW @ 3 mph
BS ratio     25     <-!
OD unlikely
Temp and the ground 82°

If you were picking one day (and I am) currently Sunday at Enjoy is where you’ll see me.

As always, I’ll try to repost if things change.

Flying Saturday and Sunday

There will be flying this Saturday and Sunday, weather depending.  Indeed, unless posted - here - otherwise, we fly on Saturdays and Sundays.