This was my home flying site for 10 years until I move to Lookout Mtn. It's 920' agl, and is a NW facing slope launch. The hang gliding XC record for the site is 102 miles, which was set by one of the best pilots that I know,,,,,David Giles. We call this site Rudy's Ridge. Easy XC potential, and the easiest LZ that I know of. You can safely go over the back here with a couple grand over, and there's fields everywhere to land all the way to the river. Daniel Beck flew to Gadsen from here on a paraglider. A great Hang 2+ site ! If you haven't flown here before,,, you should at least once. It's only 16 miles from Huntsville, Alabama in a town called Gurley. The mountain is called Keel mountain. Don't think "Rides" should be on their sign tho?!

The pilots on deck today were, from left to right, David Jones, Jeff Cook, Isaac Jones(Dub),Trey Jones, and Dr. Eric Beck.

Another textbook launch & landing by Jeff Cook. He was my instructor when I learned how to fly.

The conditions had calmed down enough for David's 13th mountain flight. Then it turned back on to 17 gusting to over 22mph. Isaac, Trey, and David was all flying with radios so they could stay in touch during the flight. Good thing too. Isaac was able to radio to his son and warn him about getting behind the ridge, and NOT to do any 360s. The Target that he was flying doesn't penetrate very well. If he pushed out---he was flying backwards. Not good. You can see his landing below. I was very impressed with his flying ability to stay safe in such rowdy conditions.

Daniel Beck was able to get a short flight in at the end of the day. It had significantly calmed down. However, it was still strong enough that after launch,without a turn, he was at 1,000' over launch in just a few minutes. It took him 20 minutes just to get down. He also holds the XC (cross-country) record for the site---50 miles on a paraglider. This was his first flight on his new wing. Its a comp glider and he is once again~~ in love, haha.

Trey got the highest altitude on Thursday. He was able to get to 3,220 agl. He has become a very good pilot in a very short time. I think MAT and intermediate syndrome may be playing a big part in his flying right now. His landing may have gotten his attention a little bit. He allowed the glider to fly him, instead of the other way around while on approach and it almost bit him. Nothing broken but, he had is 2nd whack of his career. Sorry that I missed a pic of that one, just kidding. Great job of flying today in those conditions Trey! How about that gradient, huh?:^}

What do you think happened just after this shot? Yeah, he whacked(nose of glider touches the ground). It was his first one, and I was pleased to be able to catch it for him, haha!