The sky cleared at 11 but we still got a late start! Julia didn't hesitate for her Mile High Mountain Ride:
She took many pictures of her own but here's a nice one of her:
My next ride was made very interesting as it was being recorded by a professional for a special "wish" operation whose details escaped me. The photographer mounted a small Go Pro camera to record my passengers reactions during the flight:
Carol and her daughter Mary enjoy their Monterey Bay Adventure:
Tony, the photographer, filmed interviews before and after our flight but then disappeared like the "Lone Ranger"! I'll try to track him down and get some info to post a better story later.
The day became very busy with the parachute-jumping plane's trips, private planes, instructional flights and two fire-fighting missions carried out by our CalFire fire-bombers and spotter plane!
Orion, only 12, flew the glider as if he were a 14 year-old student pilot about to solo(which can be done at that age)!
Orion's flight included watching CalFire put out a local fire just east of our airport:
The smoke is coming from the fire in the black, burned area just above the black cultivated farm field. We watched as the two bombers made their low-level runs to lay down the red fire-retardant as directed by the spotter plane orbiting above. We took care to remain clear of their operations.
Orion's father, Cedar, was next to fly and he put the parachute on for some acro flight:
He enjoyed flying the glider himself more than having me demonstrate its acro capabilities. I saw then where his son got his talent! Many students and passengers have difficulty at first but this father/son team had "the right stuff". I hope to see them pursued flight training.
My last flight of the day was with Leslie, a woman who entertained me by turning her apprehension into enjoyment. The birthday-gift acro-ride began to excite her negatively when she donned the parachute and received my not-so-diplomatic required bailout briefing! Some claustrophobic feelings disappeared when she felt how much room we actually had under the clear canopy. With every passing minute she became more relaxed and pleased to have accepted the opportunity to get "high in the sky"! After releasing from the towplane we did some turns, a little roller-coaster, some wing-overs and then because she was ready and willing, the LOOP! The rest of our flight was serene and scenic in the low-lying sun.
While we were flying out of Hollister, two friends were flying cross-country, out and return glider flights from Truckee in the Sierras:
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