Transcript BlipMap for Idiots - Northern California Soaring Association

Safe XC Soaring
from Byron
Land out options
Use of Blipmaps as an XC
Planning Tool
Ramy Yanetz
February 2006
Why Byron?
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Cross Country from Byron is easier and even safer
then Truckee. (Must be beyond glide slope to
Byron to qualify as XC though).
During springtime same potential as Williams,
Hollister or Avenal.
More fun and rewarding to fly from your home
airport
In post frontal conditions (typical March to May)
clouds will often mark the lift and XC is possible
on any direction with local tow following the
clouds.
On other days there may be marginal or no lift at
Byron, but excellent soaring conditions south
along the Diablo range, accessible from high
tows.
Why not?
Byron XC Potential
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300-500km especially during the spring
(March-June) and fall.
May require 20-30 miles 6000-7000ft tows
when local lift not presents .
25 miles tow @ 80knots = 30 minutes round
trip ($67).
Typical altitude over the Diablo range south
of Byron (not Mt. Diablo) is 6000-8000,
occasional 10,000. Soarable most days
from Spring to Fall.
Easy glide back to Byron.
2005 Statistics
distance from Byron – 1736 km in
7 XC flights (averaging 250km per
flight)
 Two 400km flights
 Typical altitude 6000-9000 ft
 40% from local tows
 2 Landouts (one in an airport, one in a
field)
 Total
Suggested Release Points
– 20 Statue miles from Byron
N37:33:16, W121:36:16
 Rel2 – 25 Statue miles from Byron
N37:28:43, W121:33:13
 Rel3 – 30 Statue miles from Byron
N37:24:38, W121:32:33
 Rel4 (Mt. Oso) 25 Statue miles from
Byron N37:30:14, W121:22:16
 Diablo Wave - 37:50.85N,121:54.43W
 Rel1
Suggested Routes
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No need to go to Mt Diablo unless you want
to fly local or go north.
Poor lift north over the delta except on
unstable post frontal days
Best route south along the Diablo range
Often strong convergence marked with
clouds over the highest terrain east of Mt
Hamilton towards Mt Oso, persists all day
When above 8K you can go in the middle, if
lower move towards the west or east
side.
Suggested Routes (continue)
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When below 4000ft stick to the foothills on
the east side or even move over the hwy,
there is often a weak shear line along the
hwy which lasts till late in the day
 Plenty of places to land on the east side,
airstrip every 10 miles or so.
 Unless clouds indicate otherwise, stay on the
east side when crossing the Pacheco
pass (sea breeze on the west, potential
convergence on the east)
Suggested Tasks
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Byron – Pacheco pass – Byron: 100 miles
(Cloud street Milk Run)
Byron – San Benito Mtn (EL4) – Byron: 230
miles (300K task gold distance)
Byron – Hwy41 (South of Avenal) – Byron:
324
miles (500km diamond distance)
Byron – Taft or New Cuyama : 225 miles
straight out
Byron – New Cuyama – Byron: 450 Miles
(700km)
Airport Landout Options (West)
 Reid
Hill view (Tower, OK to land)
 South County (Morgan Hill, OK to land)
 Hollister (gliderport)
Airport Landout options (South)
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Livermore (Tower, OK if can’t make it back to Byron)
Meadowlark
Tracy
New Jerusalem
Westley (marginal, probably not aero retrievable)
Patterson
Crows Landing (Huge, but access unknown)
Gustine
Los Banos
Panoche
Airports Landouts (North)
 Rio
Vista
 Nut Tree
 Multiple strips between Vacaville and
Williams
Off Field Options
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37:46.79N,121:34.60W - Fields along
Mt.House road (watch for power lines)
 37:21:38N,121:28:56W,2050F - Good fields by
the road on top of the Diablo range.
 37:24:06N,121:15:49W,1050F - OK Field in the
new development west of Patterson (land
to west)
 37:13:40N,121:05:17W,200F – Good field
along I-5 near Gustine Exit
Tips for safe landouts below the
Diablo range
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Use conservative glide, same as when flying
from Truckee.
When below 4000 ft move towards the valley
Wind direction will usually be from the NW
Take an afternoon road trip along I-5 to
check the listed airports.
Take a scenic trip up the Diablo range (Mines
Road from Livermore) and down to
Patterson to check the fields.
Suggestions
 XC
Mentoring (practical only for 2
gliders due to length of tows)
 Get your silver and gold distance from
Byron during spring
 Mad Dash Event– Straight out towards
Avenal, Grapevine, Tehachapi or
beyond. Pilots and crew needed.
How to use blipmaps for XC
planning
Check the “CurrentDay” ETA forecast for
Saturday on Friday evening
 Usually available after 6:30PM and updated
every few hours
 Check the BLTop map (Height of Boundary
Layer Top) – this is the most important
and accurate parameter. It indicates how
high you can get in the best thermals.
 The forecast period is indicated on the top
right, 9hrs being the latest
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Blipmaps (continue)
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On Saturday morning, check both the ETA blipmap
and the RUC 21Z blipmap. If they disagree, go
with the RUC. If both predicting a great day – go
fly!
Check the Latest RUC BLTop. It is usually accurate
within couple of hundred feet (especially the 6
hour forecast, which is usually available after
9:30AM).
For higher resolution map check the RASP Hcrit.
Check ETA Cumulus potential and Cumulus
Cloudbase. Note cloudbase altitude is only valid
if cumulus potential is positive.
Pay special attention to the area of best lift (usually
along the Diablo range south of Byron) to plan
the best XC route.
URL’s
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Hollister waypoint database:
http://soaring.gahsys.com/TP/Hollister/
 ETA - http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/ETA/CANV/
 RUC - http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/RUC/CANV/
 Multitime:
http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/RUC/CANV/multitime
.html
 Blipspot:
http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/RUC/SPOT/index.html
 UniViewer: http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/univiewer.html
 RASP:
http://www.drjack.info/RASP/PANOCHE/index.html