tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86820154593950573352011-12-08T10:05:12.951-08:00This is the story of Alby, a young soul with an inquiring mind. As it happens sometimes, poking the nose - or the beak if it is longer - in the unknown may produce surprising, unforgettable adventures.Albymasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519448825665495664noreply@blogger.comBlogger241100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-15170415657289533732011-09-19T22:41:00.000-07:002011-10-10T16:22:38.876-07:00

Vicksburg to Starkville, MSAlby arrived in Jackson by Fed Ex. We were not able to meet him in Vicksburg. He was not happy as he was supposed to fly from Vicksburg to Woodbridge airport, just North of Jackson, MS. Since he expected to fly the whole distance, we planned to fly him back to Vicksburg. With my first try on June 18 in our ASW 20, N3EB. I couldn’t control the plane adequately with Alby’

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-62121177159638497412010-07-08T11:09:00.000-07:002010-07-08T11:10:21.475-07:00

Monday, June 15thAfter much soul-searching, I have decided to go ahead and tell you a few things about Alby that I’m sure will surprise you. Who knew that Albatrosses have a temper? I guess I was so smitten with the image of Alby the adventurer, and Alby the free spirit, that I was caught completely off guard the first time he blew up and started screaming at me. I might add that he can be

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-9946482242746753362010-06-19T09:03:00.000-07:002010-07-16T11:37:25.278-07:00

Notes below are from Dean Forney, recounting his 3-part flight from Midlothian, Texas to Gilliam, Louisiana. Congratulations to Dean on this exceptional leg of the journey! Ed. The last legs from Texas to Louisiana was filled with new adventures over unknown territory and although quite challenging and very difficult at times, it was never the less a wonderfully rewarding experience.Part 3.

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-77096119752069405922009-08-06T21:55:00.001-07:002009-08-06T22:38:05.152-07:00

Note below is from Terry Stroud, volunteer and perhaps pioneer on the Decatur, Texas-to-Gilliam, Louisiana leg. We trust his skills and wish him well. Ed.Alby watchers.....Alby has landed in Texas, south of Dallas. After visiting with a new ground-bound friend (see picture) the talk turned again to flying eastward. Alby then learned that the next stage is something of an adventure, a journey

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-46880589594893201702009-08-04T20:04:00.000-07:002010-01-29T21:44:46.165-08:00

Alby Flight No. 14 – Decatur to TSA Two weeks before the Alby flight… I must have had sunstroke because after three days of playing with airplanes and gliders in record high temperatures of 108F I announce that I will fly Alby from Decatur to TSA. I, who only got her gliding licence last September and who had never flown more than 16 miles from her takeoff airport, now thinks that flying 65

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-71300038744056524432009-07-27T19:56:00.000-07:002009-08-01T07:45:40.000-07:00

Alby's Log, Leg #13: Littlefield to Decatur (leg one)I met Steve and Reba Altman at the North Texas Soaring hanger in Decatur after I got off work Saturday. After looking at a couple of driving routes to Littlefield, Steve suggested we drive the one that was closest to the planned flight route so that we could study the terrain and check out possible land-out sites. We hitched up the Libelle

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-72863068273241198762009-06-25T22:44:00.001-07:002009-07-31T22:52:11.552-07:00

All:Three and 1/2 weeks after his outstanding near-700 km flight from El Tiro, AZ to El Paso, TX, Ted Wagner returned to El Paso by car, with his father, Roy, as crew, and today successfully flew with Alby "180 miles east, to land in the next state west of Texas" in Hobbs, NM.See his flight report below.Ed.Alby’s Log: Leg #11, El Paso to HobbsThursday. 25 June, El Paso7 AMThe day begins at my

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-7764521966274487222009-06-02T20:14:00.000-07:002009-07-31T22:52:38.248-07:00

Sunday, May 31st7:30 AMThe day starts early with a check of the weather and preparation of new turnpoint databases for the PDA (running WinPilot Pro) and LX 7007. (This step I managed to overlook before the previous day's attempt, though when I started that flight I knew I could select a new database on the PDA in flight.)To get the same database in both instruments, I loaded the ASA and El Paso

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-6647257695901122262009-06-01T21:20:00.000-07:002009-07-31T22:53:23.727-07:00

Hi All,Alby's trip down from Prescott's Coyote Run gliderport was a very interesting flight.We waited on the ground from 10:00 AM to 2:30 PM because of isolated OD from a early morning thundershower. It covered a 10 mile diameter circle over the airport and although I love the price of a winch launch, I would have paid a hundred dollars for an aerotow to get me out into the blue and building

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-78509644853364115172009-05-30T16:12:00.001-07:002009-07-31T22:53:49.603-07:00

Alby Flight No. 16 - Jean, NV to Coyote Run, AZ(Straight distance: 301.6 km. - Volkslogger distance: 330.6 km.)This report is being started on 19 May 2009. Its completion will likely take a few days. Beginning by sitting here in the comfort of my own bed rattling words off on my laptop with the ability to access the Alby blog, plus access OLC, plus review my flight courtesy of SeeYou and

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-64083501653858639722009-05-18T20:11:00.000-07:002009-05-30T16:20:03.177-07:00

Marty and Cindy together with the two trophies of the week. Alby enroute to Nevada, with the Berle Trophy visiting from TehachapiThe PlanI looked at X-C Skies the night before and decided that it looked like I had about a 60% chance of reaching Las Vegas.Considering the thermal altitudes forecast, it would have been my preference to take the Sierras north to Lone Pine, then cross to the Inyos and

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-87708128667189207482009-05-16T07:17:00.000-07:002009-05-21T07:06:03.472-07:00

Alby to Furnace Creek, with return to Cal CityNo one read, thought or planned that this was Alby flight number 13. Christian Mackin arrived at Cal City around ten a.m. on Friday. I asked what his plans were for the weekend, and he claimed only that he wanted to soar. I responded, “Great! You can take Alby to Jean, and I will crew for you.”“What’s Alby?” A short explanation followed, as I

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-42109612350717728302009-05-05T22:07:00.000-07:002009-05-06T22:14:56.890-07:00

The Alby flight on May 5 resulted in a nice soaring flight, but not a flight to another glider field. The wind was forecast to be very westerly, which would have made good mountain wave for the Sierras, the Panamints - with Wildrose, Telescope and Centennial Peaks, the Blacks - with Dantes View, Coffin and Funeral Peaks, and the Spring Mountains - Mt. Charleston and Potosi leading into Jean,

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-25686567894861997622009-04-26T08:03:00.000-07:002009-04-27T22:15:11.416-07:00

It was a gorgeous Sierra wave day here today. My teaching requirements meant I couldn't take Alby early, and he only got a late sample of smooth, smooth lift and looking a hundred miles over the desert. Stacks of clouds, rumpled piles of mountains, vast dry lakes, and the hand of man on the face of the Earth. I flew him nearly 100 km to move only 38 km between gliding sites! On towMount Whitney

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-90207242486899969012009-04-11T12:14:00.000-07:002009-05-02T10:01:06.496-07:00

The forecast for Thursday looked promising and when Jerry Badal, one of our newer, enthusiastic, XC pilots in the CCSC called and said he could crew, Alby gave us the wing to go. We would be about seven hours ahead of the cold front coming from the North.On Thursday morning, the RUC and NAM forecasts were almost identical in the southern portion of the San Joaquin Valley with positive inputs,

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-90983071900243969362009-03-30T18:18:00.000-07:002009-04-22T22:08:13.874-07:00

I had been watching the 3-day forecasts everyday and Saturday was looking good. Driving to Avenal from Fresno the sky looked very hazy, without clouds, not your typical good looking soaring day. We assembled early and I intended to be in the air about 1 PM. I was hoping I could get to Tehachapi early so I could fly back to Avenal. The RUC forecast showed that at 2 PM conditions could be good in

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-43202667442977649942009-03-23T18:38:00.000-07:002009-04-22T22:30:31.256-07:00

Alby enjoyed his stay at Hollister but he was getting restless and wanted to get going on his journey to the east. Alby wanted to get to Avenal and I offered to give him a ride in my glider. He has enjoyed flying around in a Discus, ASW-27, and DG-800 so he was looking forward to seeing what it is like to fly in an Jantar. He wanted to go last weekend but the high cirrus made that impossible.

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-4346806167328863652009-03-05T21:51:00.000-08:002009-04-22T22:14:59.128-07:00

As I mentioned in my previous attempt, timing is everything in the early season in the Bay Area with the best soaring happening on the backside of a low center that brings rain to our area. I had to arrange for time off from work 3 days in advance, I made the call and placed my bet. It had been raining off and on for nearly a week when the first break was showing on the satellite images. The day

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-58870549505724995562009-03-05T21:46:00.000-08:002009-04-22T22:18:12.058-07:00

This time of the year can be very tricky for flying cross country in the Bay Area, and timing is everything. If you catch the backside of a low pressure disturbance when the rain stops falling, condition can be very good if you don’t mind low cloud bases. In looking at the weather on this day my window was going to be numbered in hours and my timing had to right on within hours. The exiting low

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-59102402600520924912009-02-08T08:15:00.000-08:002009-02-15T13:11:51.977-08:00

I was expecting a post frontal thermal day but instead the day started windy with moderate north wind and no cus, so the prospect of getting Alby to Byron started to look grim. SD took off first and went to look for wave at the Butte but didn't find any so I decided to tow towards the cu's that started forming west, and took Alby with me just in case. I released south of Goat at 7K still quite

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-65915065030545412122008-11-23T14:33:00.000-08:002008-12-21T19:09:09.645-08:00

The forecast according to Dr. Jack was reasonable. Predicted altitudes ranged from '5000 over the Vacaville towers to '8000 around Snow Mountain and northward. But at 11:00 AM there were low scud clouds in the vicinity of Goat Mountain, and visual inspection indicated a challenging day was at hand. Sergio launched first, probably around noon, and I followed about 45 minutes later. I caught one

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-52822263711036968762008-11-12T21:27:00.000-08:002008-11-27T15:11:55.389-08:00

In the month of November it is unusual to have a good cross country soaring day in northern California, but this was only the first week of November, and a frontal passage had occurred overnight. Alby had taken a flight to the Pacific Ocean one day last month, but he was still awaiting for his first journey from Williams in the direction of the Atlantic Ocean. It would be my honor to claim Alby

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-68428059215811844602008-10-13T09:24:00.001-07:002008-11-27T11:32:37.108-08:00

Oh what a great flight, for Alby and for myself: Alby flew over the ocean and I did an unusual and difficult flight. It happened on the Saturday that was Octoberfest in Williams, but the weather that day was not the most desirable for the event: There was a strong north-northeast wind that had discouraged many pilots. At the morning briefings only half a dozen of pilots were present. The forecast

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-34352578402076476192008-10-06T21:31:00.001-07:002008-11-23T15:43:50.019-08:00

The first cold front of fall 2008 in California was forecast just before the weekend of October 4/5. The forecast was for rain in Saturday and north wind in Sunday. Close following of Dr. Jack weather promised gloomy weather in Saturday and stronger weather for Sunday, albeit with strong wind. This forecast changed slowly to a showery day for Saturday and lesser height and wind strength for

ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.com