Peter Kovari's Flight Summary for 08/30/2025 X/C Flight.
“This was my longest flight to Gabbs at just under 7 hours, what an adventure!”
Peter Kovari’s (6PK)
I launched right around 11:30 after C3 Karl. I asked to be towed to the second ridge, and after release I struggled a little bit until above 9000'. Once on top of Lewis conditions worked out really well, and I climbed to cloud base about 13.5 MSL. The flight through the valley was smooth and uneventful, and just south of the Silver Queen I encountered good climbs that got me to Cache Peak, and once again it looked like a really good day.
Lots of sink and lift all the way to Owen's Peak with cloud markers made life a little easier. At 9 Mile Canyon already relatively low and looking for lift, I pushed westbound to some clouds, constantly looking over my shoulder as the grounds over the Sierras were getting closer and closer, looking at some canyons as an escape plan, but fortunately once under the clouds it all worked out.
Considering the recent rains, I expressed my concerns of the dry lake beds may not being dry over the radio. Being a good sport, Sean offered to check them out and promptly got stuck until about 6 pm. He promised to tell his ordeal to everyone, so I will let him collaborate on his adventure.
Lots of sink and lift all the way to north of Olancha Peak, and not high enough to continue on the Sierras, I crossed across Owens Dry Lake to the Inyo mountains. Lots of cloud markers with low cloud bases all the way up to Boundary Peak on the Whites. Unfortunately, due to the low cloud bases I left for Mina lower than I liked.
Not much lift over the valley just as SkySight predicted, arriving at Mina with just above the minimum safety height. Fortunately, once over the high ground north of Mina some nice thermals got me to glide to Gabbs. Here I met up with C3 Karl and we were contemplating Austin, but it was already passed 6 pm and things were dying out.
We both landed at Gabbs. I must add; this was my longest flight to Gabbs, just under 7 hours that normally would take 4–5 hours. A day full of challenges!
Shared some snacks with Rose and Karl while waiting for Sean, who promptly arrived as expected at 10 pm. After disassembly, Sean and I left for Hawthorne — we finally managed to get to bed by 1 am. What an adventure once again!
Karl Sommer’s Flight Report
Past Wednesday evening we had to commit to taking a tow on Saturday, taking Chris up on his offer to line up a tow pilot and ground crew for the private guys. Thank you, Chris — you definitely made my day. Thanks go to Peter who got volunteered to organize it.
Friday we went to Crystal to assemble the gliders 6PK, TW, C3 — less exposure to Sun, work and HEAT.
I opted to go 1st, towed to 3.5 k, found lift at the 2nd ridge, then Lewis topped out 13.5 k and left for Baccus, found a few weak bubbles till N of the Silver Queen 11 k. From there on into the mountains towards Boomer Ridge more good lift up to Olancha Peak, passed below the top crossing to the S facing slope abeam Lone Pine, connected with a humdinger 15 k.
Was doing pretty good till close to White Mtn 11 k; there I offset a bit more W — pow there you are, you beautiful thermal (Thanks Brian Neff) running to Boundary Peak departing 15.9 k at 17:00.
Peter called a bit earlier “heading for Mina,” son of a gun he passed me again, cruising along arriving at the Mina VOR at 10.5 k going up nicely, “6PK, I got a strong one close to the VOR.” When I was ready to leave, I saw him coming in below. I moved up toward the Gabbs Mtns in the hope of some strong thermal to convince me to head for Austin — got up to 13 k at 18:20, getting a bit late for it.
Saw 6PK only twice: first he was S of me when I was climbing up on the S slope of the Inyo’s; the other time coming in at the Mina VOR. There was a lot of talking going on 123.5 — did see 4 cruising N vicinity White Mtn, 2 of them going S, Mazurka, guess heading back to Tehachapi.
When it came to think about landing at around 18:45 I saw my crew approaching past Mina. Posted the flight on OLC — Start 11:23, Landing 19:03, Flight time 7:39 hrs.
Peter helped us to get the Libelle into the box, got dark in a hurry. We then sat and chatted next to our van, had some snacks and liquids waiting for his crew. Stars galore even so it was not that clear during daytime, remnants of smoke.
Shortly before midnight the two of us turned in. Sunday after coffee and breakfast we had a good drive home with moderate traffic.