Ramy Yanetz
- 500K Record Hollister flight - LS4
"TG" California valley, where I got twice close to 1000 AGL. I slowly pushed on low until I got under the next cloud street which started forming over California valley. By the time I got to cloudbase at 11,000 feet, I had a nice cloud street all the way to New Cuyama. I turned around at 3:30PM over New Cuyama airport, 165 miles from Hollister, into a 12 knots head wind. Back under the cloud street all the way to near Avenal, where I met Drew on the 2-32 at 10,000 feet. From there things started slowing down, and I could find usable lift only under one third of the clouds. The lift and the cloud started dying off, and the cloud street which was all the way to Panoche earlier started dissipating infront of my eyes. I got to about 8000 feet under the last cloud
just west of Coalinga near Priest Valley, with more than 60 miles to go. Fortunatly the lift was still there, but weaker. I climbed in the last thermal I could find to 8000 feet on the north end of Hernandez reservoir, and went on a long 45 miles final glide into increasing head wind from the sea breeze. It was a very tense final glide, which was just below glide slope for the most part, with no chance for any lift due to the sea breeze. I arrived at pattern altitude and landed in Hollister at 6:30PM. Total distance was 330 Miles (528KM), and 315 miles (504km) from release point (quin Sabe valley), and 6.6 hours. This was the first diamond flight from Hollister, and was my second longest flight ever.
The next day (Sunday) was similar, but the lift started a little later with blue thermals excet only couple of cu's overHernandez. I didn't want to spoil the previous day by landing out somewhere today, and I didn't have a crew, so I decided not to go too far south but to try different spots. It was slow going at the beginning, but when I got to Hernandez things got much better as usual. South of Hernandez under the only cu, I hit one of the strongest thermal I ever had, climbing at 15 knots to 11,700 feet! From there I flew to the towers over Harris Ranch, back to Hernandez, back North to Mercy Hot Springs. I got back to 8700 feet over Panoche and tried twice to continue further north, but couldn't find much all the way to Pacheco Pass near San Luis reservoir. Each time I returned to Panoche to get back high I got back to 8700 feet at the Panoche "elevator".
From Pacheco pass I flew back to Hollister for a total distance of about 250+ km.
Ramy Yanetz LS4 "TG"
