32.881678,-111.854982,Francisco Grande, Casa Grande, Arizona,
USA

OB/Wills Wing blog

I don't think that Jeff and I disagree. Just a few comments.

Perhaps rigid wing pilots are pussies, but in the air they talked on the radio
and they all decided to cancel the task on their own.

Brian Porter out on his own in front in the slot between Picacho Peak and the
hills to the north (where Jeff was going) turned around when he heard the task
was stopped put on full brakes and hit the dirt next to Steve Morris just west
of Picacho in four minutes. As they finalized the packing up after a mild gust
front the wall of dust hit them hard and they were surrounded in thick dust.

Glen Volk was on the radio to David Glover, who was driving for him and others,
for twenty minutes before the window opened trying to get the task stopped.

I don't think that it was unsafe in the air, but I do think that the probability
that it would be unsafe landing at the goal way to the south (where the gust
front was coming from) was high enough to stop the task.

I also think that Dustin was committed to the task as it was his task.

Yes, it was very nice experiencing the smooth strong lift and getting plenty
high.

Personally I have flown in much worse thunderstorm conditions with lightning and
rain just off to one side for many miles and felt reasonably safe. But I have
also been tossed over backwards when landing in a gust front clearly delineated
by a wall of dust. I am the guy that Jamie was trying to get a hold of through
Belinda because she knows that I will pretty much fly between storms and enjoy
myself. But my radio wasn't transmitting.

As I said, as soon as Dustin mentioned that we were climbing in the gust front I
said this is stupid and turned around and pulled the bar in attempting to get
down before it hit the hotel.