Dreaming Of A Cloudy Day

Blue right...  The sky's view from the grid this afternoon was packed with clouds, to say the least.  It is now

expected to blue out later in the evening.  Here in the team room, they are waiting for the pilots to hit the start gate.  Already there is coming some positive feedback from the air, "it looks pretty good!" is how it sounds...  And on the ground it looks like more of the hardworking U.S. team is dreaming of the skies...  Gotcha El Capitano!  

Team Spirit Day 10

Success!  Everyone made it to the team meeting this morning after last night's international party!  And what a night it was.  The U.S. Team's tamales were great, and it was even better watching people attempt to chew through the corn husks...

Dennis is now briefing the team before launch.  It will be "windy and dry today... very dusty on the grid..."  What a surprise.  Grid is at 12:30.  So no napping in the team room... yet.  Looks like a short area task today with lots of blue...

Task distances for day 10 are set as follows:
15M - 474K, 18M - 496 K, and due to a start gate change, Open - 481K

Too much team spirit to fit here in Uvalde...

For everyone!

Dave Leonard (ZL) just reported 50 kilometers out and on final glide.

SS and DB just finished and are both in the landing pattern.  WE and P7 finished about 20 minutes ago.

Hardworking Crews

Our crews begin the day early and work hard.  The Team office is usually quiet and not a bad place to recharge before heading out to the runway to meet your pilot when he lands.

High Cirrus

The US Team Pilots are all out on course.  There are fewer weather threats in and around the task area today.  Thunderstorms are not expected and the sea breeze front will move slowly and not be player.  Pilots will find thermals of 5-7 knots and climbs to 9,000'.  We're watching high cirrus drift in from the Rio Grande which has diminished the field of cumulus clouds at the southern end of today's tasks.

The Real Deal Day 9

It's day 9 here, with only five more days to go.  Lengthy turn point tasks have been set for today.  So to the U.S. team, let's go get 'em!  This morning Dennis welcomed some true friends of the U.S. team into meeting, Rob Ware, Sarah Arnold, Karin Schlosser, and Heinz Weissenbuehler (the latter two also being some sort of "supervision," a.k.a. my parents...)  Ignore that.  But anyway, it is really great to have you all here!  

Dennis will post soon with task and weather information.  Expect more from me after launch!