tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-86820154593950573352024-02-01T20:19:38.028-08:00Alby's VoyageThis 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.
<p>IN MEMORY OF SERGIO COLACEVICH 1938-2018</p>Albymasterhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07519448825665495664noreply@blogger.comBlogger39125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-75895819990539393952018-01-08T21:46:00.001-08:002018-01-09T08:53:35.586-08:00Alby Flight No. 65 Pin No. 32 and 33 - Karl Striedieck and Sarah Arnold 11/10/2017
Alby at the
Museum!
Departing from Eagle Field on November
10, 2017, Karl Striedieck, along with Sarah Arnold of Chilhowee
Gliderport, Tennessee, flew Alby
to the National Soaring Museum
at Harris Hill.
Karl was at the controls for an auto-tow
launch into the ridge lift 150 feet above the runway. Then Sarah took the
controls, while Karl and Alby relaxed and enjoyed the ride. Though the
ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-6026850894023749262017-10-08T07:05:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:22:02.930-07:00Alby Flight No. 64 Pin No. 31 - Shane Neitzey 8/5/2017
Alby and Shane at Skyline Soaring Club, Front Royal, VA
Saturday August 5, 2017 turned out to be a super fun, dynamic and challenging day. I launched at about 09:30 straight into wave.
Above clouds on the way to Eagle Field, PA
via Cumberland, MD
Made it 60 miles upwind to Cumberland MD, then flew the PA ridge system up to Karl Striedieck’s ridge top gliderport called Eagle Field. I did aALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-18057282639083541582017-10-07T12:57:00.001-07:002017-10-08T07:22:43.495-07:00Alby Flights No. 62 and 63 Pin No. 30 - Dave Reilly 8/4/2017The date was June 3rd when Alby, flown by Tidewater Soaring's pilot Matt Takallu, arrived at Merlin Soaring, our small club located just west of Richmond VA. He was not unfamiliar with us since I'd crewed and he'd flown with our President Eric Lambert, on the final leg into Kitty Hawk, North Carolina back in September of 2015. So getting Alby to the ridge before fall had become our task.
Alby ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-1846568607996403212017-10-07T12:42:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:22:58.233-07:00Alby Flight No. 61 Pin No. 29 - Mamad Takallu 6/3/2017On Saturday, 6-03-2017, Alby was flown from Garner Field (3VA8) to Merlin Aerodrome (2VA3) by Mamad Takallu in an ASW27B. The original thinking was to do an out-and-return to Merlin but Alby didn’t want to leave the cockpit on its own from 3000 ft resulting in a full-stop landing at the home of the Merlin Soaring Association.
The weather was exceptionally good for this part of (South East) ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-59505040092113311272015-09-15T20:44:00.001-07:002017-10-08T17:02:11.271-07:00Alby Flight No. 59 Pin No. 28 - Eric Lambert 9/14/2015
Alby flew today from Currituck, NC to First Flight, Kitty Hawk, NC
The
cold front was predicted to pass over Currituck on Sunday [August, 13]. I drove to
the airport, as it was forecast to be good at the end of the day. As it
turned out, I spent the whole day cleaning and waxing the glider so it
would look good at First Flight. The clouds did lift to above 5,000’ at
5:00 PM however ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-9974503488451252802015-09-07T17:32:00.002-07:002017-10-08T17:02:49.766-07:00Alby Flights No. 51 - Eric Lambert and Mamad Takallu 4/27/2015
Alby flew today from Tidewater (Garner Airport), VA to Suffolk Airport to Chesapeake Airport, VA with a total distance of 13+15 = 28 miles.
The motorized Grob 103 C Twin III SL that did the successful flight to Chesapeake
As anticipated, it was not an easy
flight. The main accomplishment was the crossing of the Great Dismal Swamp, a 10-mile
soaring black hole centered on Lake ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-10747726554979248122015-09-07T14:59:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:25:19.774-07:00Alby Flight No. 50 Pin No. 27 - Heinz McArthur 5/25/2014Alby continued his voyage yesterday from Crooked Creek, NC, to Garner Gliderport, VA, a course distance of 108 mi.
Prior
to launch, we had a visit from a reporter with the Franklin Times, a
local newspaper. He took photos of the launch preparations and
participated in our preflight discussions. We look forward to a good
Alby story in the next week or so.
I was assisted in my ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-78471115376411554182014-10-05T06:27:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:25:43.234-07:00Alby Flight No. 49 Pin No. 26 - Jake Alspaugh 5/13/2014Flying Alby to Crooked Creek had a fair amount of stress involved. The day started with small clouds in our area and climbs to 5,500’. The north route looked better but I wanted to go south of Greensboro and Raleigh for more landing opportunities. It soon became apparent that only the north route would work. This late decision made getting around Greensboro seem like it took for ever.
Soon I ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-71221785405174635732014-09-09T20:46:00.004-07:002017-10-08T07:26:20.887-07:00Alby Flight No. 48 Pin No. 25 - Tom Moore 9/9/2013
On Sunday Sept 9, 2013 I had
the honor to pilot the 25th leg of the Alby voyage. The flight started
at Bermuda High Soaring, near Lancaster, SC
and ended at Piedmont Soaring’s Bahnson Field, near Winston-Salem,
NC. Alby had arrived at Bermuda High Soaring on
Friday Sept 7, 2013, having been delivered by Larry Travers from Carolina
Soaring Association in Spartanburg, SC. The ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-33519051880186265142014-02-08T09:04:00.002-08:002017-10-08T07:26:33.371-07:00Alby flight No. 47 Pin No. 24 - Larry Traverse 9/6/2013<!--[if gte mso 9]>
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ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-80883354245379015582013-10-13T07:20:00.002-07:002017-10-08T07:27:08.337-07:00Alby flight No. 45 Pin No. 23 - Fernando Silva 6/16/2013
Fernando Silva, preparing for a long flight
FS and 6i ready to go
Alby was delivered! Great team effort with Joe Flores handling
communications, Dan Nugent and Michael Abell driving, and Mitch Deutsch and me
flying.
We assembled at 10:30 with 24 gallons of water each. We expected
5,000'+ cloud bases but it was evident that the dew points were very
juicy!
ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-50790241263443854532012-07-02T06:37:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:27:34.437-07:00Alby flight No. 43 pin No. 20 - Rand Baldwin 6/30/2012Rand Baldwin successfully flew with Alby in his LS-8 from Moontown Airport (just east of Huntsville) to LaGrange on Saturday, June 30. Congratulations to Rand!
Georgia on My Mind
By Rand Baldwin “NN”
My planning for the 21st leg of Alby’s journey began after my soaring buddy (and SoaringCafe.com partner) Bill Elliott trailered his JS1 Revelation to Sylacauga on June 23rd and received ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-78926828333091411512012-07-01T22:49:00.001-07:002017-10-08T07:27:49.884-07:00Alby flight No. 42 pin No. 19 - Bill Elliott 6/24/2012Bill Elliott flew Alby from Sylacauga to Huntsville, AL Sunday , June 24. Congratulations to Bill on a terrific flight.
Eric Hey hands off Alby to Bill Elliott in Sylacauga, AL.
Bill, almost ready to go.
Bill and Alby away.
Alby arrives in Huntsville, AL. Nice flight, guys.
View flight on OLC
ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-20343330786638556692012-05-24T21:38:00.003-07:002017-10-08T07:28:08.249-07:00Alby flight No. 41; pin No. 18 - Eric Hey; 5/7/12Eric was towed to 3,500' agl and was on his way with Alby towards Sylacauga, Alabama. He landed at Sylacauga at 4:45 pm with Alby.
Here, Thomas (left) passes Alby to Eric for the next leg.
Eric with Alby.
ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-54132485573079765862012-05-14T20:01:00.001-07:002017-12-22T12:47:48.232-08:00Alby flight No. 40; pin No. 17 - Thomas Sippel; 5/6/12Thomas Sippel in the PW-5 and Carey Hardin in the Citabria delivered Alby to Bob and Eric Hey at the Shelby County Airport SE of Birmingham AL. Departure from STR was 12:37 and Arrived at Shelby Co. at 3:15 pm.
Within moments Alby was transferred into the waiting Laister Nugget LP-15 (N97DT) piloted by Eric Hey. The aero tow was performed by Carey Hardin in Citabria (N662V).
Alby now ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-15170415657289533732011-09-19T22:41:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:28:48.846-07:00Alby flight No. 38; pin No. 16 - Bob Herndon; 6/26/11-8/6/11Vicksburg 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 ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-62121177159638497412010-07-08T11:09:00.000-07:002010-07-08T11:10:21.475-07:00Reflections on flying with Alby - Dean ForneyMonday, 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-9946482242746753362010-06-19T09:03:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:29:39.547-07:00Alby flights No. 30; pin No. 15- Dean Forney; 4/26/10; 5/24/20; 6/13/10Notes 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-77096119752069405922009-08-06T21:55:00.001-07:002009-08-06T22:38:05.152-07:00The Dallas planNote 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-46880589594893201702009-08-04T20:04:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:30:32.168-07:00Alby flight No. 25 and pin No. 14- Elizabeth Maynard 7/25/09Alby 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-71300038744056524432009-07-27T19:56:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:32:26.014-07:00Alby flights No. 23 and 24 and pin No. 13- Dean Forney 7/19/09 and 7/21/09Alby'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-72863068273241198762009-06-25T22:44:00.001-07:002017-10-08T07:32:55.594-07:00Alby flight No. 20 and 21 and pin No. 11 - Ted Wagner 6/25/09
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 Hobbs
Thursday. 25 June, El Paso7 AM
ALBYMASTER 1http://www.blogger.com/profile/16399188925185519160noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8682015459395057335.post-7764521966274487222009-06-02T20:14:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:31:40.615-07:00Alby flight No. 19 and pin No. 10 - Ted Wagner 5/31/09Sunday, 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-6647257695901122262009-06-01T21:20:00.000-07:002017-10-08T07:31:24.228-07:00Alby flight No. 18 and pin No. 9 - Cliff Hilty 5/29/09Hi 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-78509644853364115172009-05-30T16:12:00.001-07:002017-10-08T07:33:14.636-07:00Alby flight No. 17 and pin No. 8 - Shad Dvorchak 5/17/09Alby 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.com