Flight #112

24 February 2024 • Marshall Peak • Hang I - Beginner

My first mountain solo in my Wills Wing Falcon 195 off Marshall Peak! As we drove up the mountain, I was really nervous. Near the University, I saw a brunette college girl walking along the sidewalk. She had on a black t-shirt with pink text which said BELIEVE IN YOURSELF. We smiled at each other as I drove past, and I knew my flight would be great. We set up my glider and I walked down to the wooden ramp launch. The winds were fairly strong at about 8mph to 9mph, but they were very straight and smooth, with no discernible gusts or crosswinds. I wore my upright training harness, only because that is what I have alway used, and I didn't want my first mountain solo to be in an unfamiliar harness. I was nervous and the steep launch combined with the strong wind made the nose pop up way more than I expected on launch. I manged to pull in and launch smoothly, but it did take me by surprise. The flight itself was great. About a 15 minute sledride. I got it all on video. Tim ward was on the radio and the final approach flightplan was scrapped and Tim had me land right after I spotted the watertank and the VASI. I didn't even do a downwind/base/final. Tim just told me to "turn right and aim for the corner of the field." I was WAY too high to approach from there and I knew I'd overshoot, so I just pulled in and did a divebomb at the corner. I landed great, but there was very little wind, so I had to run my ass off. But I touched down and stopped successfully with no problems. All in all, a great first flight off a 2200' mountain. That gives me a total of about 273+ foot launch flights.