Safe XC Soaring Safe XC Soaring from Byronfrom Byron

Use of Blipmaps as an XC Use of Blipmaps as an XC Planning ToolPlanning Tool

Ramy YanetzRamy YanetzFebruary 2008February 2008

Byron XC PotentialByron XC Potential

300-500km especially during the spring (March-June) 300-500km especially during the spring (March-June) and fall.and fall.

May require 20-30 miles 6000-7000ft tows when local lift May require 20-30 miles 6000-7000ft tows when local lift not presents .not presents .

25 miles tow @ 80knots = 30 minutes round trip ($82).25 miles tow @ 80knots = 30 minutes round trip ($82). Often strong convergence marked with clouds over the Often strong convergence marked with clouds over the

Diablo Range between Mt Hamilton and Mt Oso, Diablo Range between Mt Hamilton and Mt Oso, persists all day with typical altitude of 6000-8000, persists all day with typical altitude of 6000-8000, occasional 10,000 feet (highest 13,500!). occasional 10,000 feet (highest 13,500!).

Easy glide back to Byron or Tracy.Easy glide back to Byron or Tracy.

2007 achievements2007 achievements

At least 7 pilots flew long XC flights from At least 7 pilots flew long XC flights from ByronByron

7 flights north to Williams, 4 in one day!7 flights north to Williams, 4 in one day! Pasco Egg captured twice from Williams Pasco Egg captured twice from Williams

and twice from Hollister by NCSA pilots and twice from Hollister by NCSA pilots and flown back to Byron!and flown back to Byron!

2007 Personal Statistics2007 Personal Statistics

12 XC flights (averaging 250km per flight)12 XC flights (averaging 250km per flight) Longest flight 535kmLongest flight 535km Typical altitude 6000-9000 ftTypical altitude 6000-9000 ft 60% from local tows60% from local tows 4 flights north across the delta4 flights north across the delta

How to use blipmaps for XC How to use blipmaps for XC planningplanning

3 blipmap models available – NAM (was ETA), RUC and RASP3 blipmap models available – NAM (was ETA), RUC and RASP Check NAM (ETA) forecast up to 3 days in advance. Typically Check NAM (ETA) forecast up to 3 days in advance. Typically

optimistic in the longer range, more accurate the prior evening.optimistic in the longer range, more accurate the prior evening. Look at the 1PM (21Z) forecasts.Look at the 1PM (21Z) forecasts. Check the BLTop map (Height of Boundary Layer Top) – this is the Check the BLTop map (Height of Boundary Layer Top) – this is the

most important and accurate parameter. It indicates how high you most important and accurate parameter. It indicates how high you can get in the best thermals. can get in the best thermals.

Check NAM Cumulus potential and Cumulus Cloudbase. Note Check NAM Cumulus potential and Cumulus Cloudbase. Note cloudbase altitude is only valid if cumulus potential is positive. cloudbase altitude is only valid if cumulus potential is positive.

On the prior evening check also RASP blipmap for higher resolution.On the prior evening check also RASP blipmap for higher resolution. On the morning of the flight check also RUC. If it strongly disagree On the morning of the flight check also RUC. If it strongly disagree

with the other models, good old RUC is probably right. If all 3 with the other models, good old RUC is probably right. If all 3 models predicting a great day – go fly!. models predicting a great day – go fly!.

How to use blipmaps for XC How to use blipmaps for XC planning (continue)planning (continue)

Determine best XC route for the day. Determine best XC route for the day. If NAM predicts little or no clouds, but shows If NAM predicts little or no clouds, but shows

BLTop of at least 6000ft over the Diablo range, BLTop of at least 6000ft over the Diablo range, then plan on a long tow to the Diablo range and then plan on a long tow to the Diablo range and release near Rel1-3 above 6000ft, and follow the release near Rel1-3 above 6000ft, and follow the convergence line to the SEconvergence line to the SE

If NAM predicts good cu’s (cu potential > 0) and If NAM predicts good cu’s (cu potential > 0) and cloud base of at least 4000ft all the way across cloud base of at least 4000ft all the way across the delta then plan to fly north towards Williamsthe delta then plan to fly north towards Williams

Detrermine best time to launch. Typically no Detrermine best time to launch. Typically no later than noon, and as early as 10AM if the later than noon, and as early as 10AM if the 10AM RASP indicates good lift.10AM RASP indicates good lift.

NAM BlipmapNAM Blipmap http://http://www.drjack.infowww.drjack.info/BLIP/ETA/CANV//BLIP/ETA/CANV/ Available up to 3 days in advanceAvailable up to 3 days in advance Tendency to be overly optimistic Tendency to be overly optimistic The shorter the term the more accurate The shorter the term the more accurate Best for checking BLTop, cu potential, Best for checking BLTop, cu potential,

cloudbase, wind up to 3 days in advancecloudbase, wind up to 3 days in advance Easy map to read, best color scale Easy map to read, best color scale

RASP BlipmapsRASP Blipmaps http://www.norcalsoaring.org/BLIP/BYRON/index.htmlhttp://www.norcalsoaring.org/BLIP/BYRON/index.html Kudos to Dmitry for creating the Byron RASP blipmap!Kudos to Dmitry for creating the Byron RASP blipmap! Available the prior evening and now up to 2 days aheadAvailable the prior evening and now up to 2 days ahead Much higher resolution: 3KM and 750m Much higher resolution: 3KM and 750m Can flip between map and sectional for orientationCan flip between map and sectional for orientation For top of lift us Hcrit, not BLTop (overly optimistic)For top of lift us Hcrit, not BLTop (overly optimistic) Check wind direction and strength, cloud potential, cloud base, Check wind direction and strength, cloud potential, cloud base,

convergence (BL Max Up/Down) and wave parametersconvergence (BL Max Up/Down) and wave parameters Easier to determine exact area of best lift, convergence and wave, Easier to determine exact area of best lift, convergence and wave,

but harder to determine exact altitude due to color scalebut harder to determine exact altitude due to color scale Use RASP to determine location and NAM to determine BLTop and Use RASP to determine location and NAM to determine BLTop and

cloudbase cloudbase Pay special attention to the area of best lift (usually along the Diablo Pay special attention to the area of best lift (usually along the Diablo

range south of Byron) to plan the best XC route.range south of Byron) to plan the best XC route.

RUC BlipmapRUC Blipmap

http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/RUC/CANV/http://www.drjack.info/BLIP/RUC/CANV/ Available only in the morning Available only in the morning RUC BLTop Provides the most accurate RUC BLTop Provides the most accurate

and reliable top of lift. It is usually accurate and reliable top of lift. It is usually accurate within couple of hundred feet (especially within couple of hundred feet (especially the 6 hour forecast, which is usually the 6 hour forecast, which is usually available after 9:30AM).available after 9:30AM).

Rest of the parameters, especially cloud Rest of the parameters, especially cloud base, are not as accurate as NAMbase, are not as accurate as NAM

PreparationPreparation

Check Blipmap and other forecast tools such as the Check Blipmap and other forecast tools such as the NOAA weather discussionNOAA weather discussion

Determine XC potential and routeDetermine XC potential and route Download latest waypoints for Byron/Hollister area and Download latest waypoints for Byron/Hollister area and

Williams area Williams area http://soaring.gahsys.com/TP/Hollister/http://soaring.gahsys.com/TP/Hollister/ http://soaring.gahsys.com/TP/Williams/http://soaring.gahsys.com/TP/Williams/

Study routes using google earth Study routes using google earth http://soaring.gahsys.com/TP/Hollister/hollstr7.kmzhttp://soaring.gahsys.com/TP/Hollister/hollstr7.kmz

Study landouts Study landouts http://www.soaringnet.com/landout_data/hollister/http://www.soaringnet.com/landout_data/hollister/

Download IGC files from OLC and study with SeeYouDownload IGC files from OLC and study with SeeYou

Suggested RoutesSuggested Routes

North across the delta on unstable post frontal North across the delta on unstable post frontal daysdays

South along the Diablo range on most spring South along the Diablo range on most spring daysdays

Landout options (South)Landout options (South) Livermore (Tower, OK if can’t make it back to Byron)Livermore (Tower, OK if can’t make it back to Byron) MeadowlarkMeadowlark San Antonio Valley (in the Diablo Range) - Landing San Antonio Valley (in the Diablo Range) - Landing

strip and good fieldsstrip and good fields TracyTracy New JerusalemNew Jerusalem Westley (marginal, probably not aero retrievable)Westley (marginal, probably not aero retrievable) Patterson Patterson Crows Landing (Huge, but access unknown)Crows Landing (Huge, but access unknown) GustineGustine Los BanosLos Banos PanochePanoche

North across the DeltaNorth across the Delta

When blipmap indicates good post frontal conditions with When blipmap indicates good post frontal conditions with cu’s across the delta, a safe and relatively easy task will cu’s across the delta, a safe and relatively easy task will be a 300km O&R to Williams (with optional landing at be a 300km O&R to Williams (with optional landing at Williams to capture the Pasco egg)Williams to capture the Pasco egg)

No high terrain and tiger country to deal with and plenty No high terrain and tiger country to deal with and plenty of landing stripsof landing strips

Unless clouds indicate otherwise, fly towards Rio Vista Unless clouds indicate otherwise, fly towards Rio Vista firstfirst

Typically less or no clouds for 10-20 miles across the Typically less or no clouds for 10-20 miles across the delta until Rio Vista so start as high as possible, at least delta until Rio Vista so start as high as possible, at least 4000 ft and with glide to Rio Vista. 4000 ft and with glide to Rio Vista.

North across the delta (continue)North across the delta (continue)

From Rio Vista head towards the Nut TreeFrom Rio Vista head towards the Nut Tree Avoid Travis airspace, watch for heavy Avoid Travis airspace, watch for heavy

traffic, keep your transponder on and traffic, keep your transponder on and contact Travis as neededcontact Travis as needed

From Rio Vista follow the mountains or From Rio Vista follow the mountains or foothills towards Williams.foothills towards Williams.

Usually better and stronger lift over the Usually better and stronger lift over the mountains, but no need to go too deep mountains, but no need to go too deep and the valley works as welland the valley works as well

Crossing the delta back to ByronCrossing the delta back to Byron

On the way back the first area to shut down is the delta, On the way back the first area to shut down is the delta, so don’t turn around too lateso don’t turn around too late

Typically no lift and often no clouds from Nut Tree area Typically no lift and often no clouds from Nut Tree area to Rio Vista areato Rio Vista area

Unless clouds indicate otherwise, or you are very high Unless clouds indicate otherwise, or you are very high over the Nut Tree for a final glide to Byron (above over the Nut Tree for a final glide to Byron (above 7000ft) do not attempt a straight glide across, as you will 7000ft) do not attempt a straight glide across, as you will most likely encounter stable marine air and strong cross most likely encounter stable marine air and strong cross windwind

Instead, head towards Rio Vista even if there are no Instead, head towards Rio Vista even if there are no more clouds, and hope for the best. Often the lift starts more clouds, and hope for the best. Often the lift starts again near Rio Vista which takes you high enough for a again near Rio Vista which takes you high enough for a final glide to Byron.final glide to Byron.

Airports Landouts (North)Airports Landouts (North)

Rio VistaRio Vista Nut TreeNut Tree Multiple strips between Vacaville and Multiple strips between Vacaville and

WilliamsWilliams

SuggestionsSuggestions

XC Mentoring in KP or buddy flying in XC Mentoring in KP or buddy flying in single seaterssingle seaters

Get your silver and gold distance from Get your silver and gold distance from Byron during spring Byron during spring

Capture the pasco egg from Williams or Capture the pasco egg from Williams or HollisterHollister