Rides from Panoche Valley

After I aerotowed 87R to the Panoche Valley dirt airstrip, 35 miles south of Hollister, where the HSC/BASA Gliderpalooza was taking place over Memorial Day, two passengers from Modesto enjoyed a ride with nice clouds and thermals over the arid land below:

While we were in the air, someone on the ground radioed that there was a man waiting with his two daughters who wanted a ride too!  After landing we pushed the glider off the runway and watched as one of the private gliders launched:

The sisters, Maggie and Emma, jumped in the back seat and we launched into that beautiful sky:

After landing we took some more pics:

Eight private gliders including two two-place sailplanes all launched for 4 to 5 hour flights covering up to 350 mile distances!

 BG is a self-launcher and doesn't need the towplane!

Here is our Pawnee ready to tow:

One pilot returned to the field after having a problem with his battery.  Here he is just before touching down on the runway at the point where our ride glider is parked: