|
Today March 21, 2009, OCSA member Jerry Snedden achieved his
third diamond flying his ASW-20 from the Region 12 wave
camp in California City into wave. Check out his video on
YouTube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRmwM86_MDg
Initially launching into what appeared to be good thermal
conditions at approximately 1pm, Jerry released at 1500 agl
and worked several lines of clouds attempting to gain altitude
but each time he worked west he hit severe sink. Finally
gaining enough altitude in what he later determined to be
secondary wave he was able to penetrate through light rotor
sink and connect with the primary wave just east of Barren
Ridge. Connecting first in smooth air to 1-2 knots,
soon the ships variometer pegged 10 knots and thrust skyward
he was Diamond bound.
Passing thru 14k msl he felt his toes go numb and to stay warm
he began to "run in place" while seated. Joshua Approach Air
Traffic Control (ATC) was very helpful and provided a
clearance within the designated Cal City wave window thru
Class A to FL270. His legs encased in long johns remained
warm, but now he wished he had put on the Ugg boots he left on
the warm deck. When 4 1/2 hours later he was back on the
ground, his toes quickly came back to life when his
trace showed he had topped out at over 23,000 ft with a total
altitude gain of 18,992 ft. Plenty of cushion for Diamond
altitude!!!!
It's
time for OCSA to congratulate Jerry on his achievement and
hope the circulation in his toes soon returns to normal.
Three Diamond cheers (and some electric socks) for Jerry!
 |
