The time stamp on your message suggests that you sent it at about
4:30 PM. If so, probably everyone had left by then. Keep in mind
that I wasn't watching the clock too much at the launch, so my times may be off
a little. I believe we were done taking down the range at about 2:30
PM. At about 1:30 things were really winding down, and everyone seemed to
be packing up. It was a good day weather-wise until about 1:00 PM.
There were clouds and obvious rain North and South of Lucerne at times in the
afternoon including lightning strikes. The humidity got much higher in the
afternoon accompanied by about 98 F heat. Also, gusts of the evil W were
strong at times and this is why most people just decided that they had
enough. Maybe it calmed a bit in the late afternoon, but how were we to
know this?
One interesting thing happened about 1:00 PM; a glider
came over the range and flew in large circles for approximately 20
minutes. The glider's altitude was approximately 4000 to 5000 and
high-power flights were suspended until the glider cleared. It was very
difficult to spot the glider at times because by the afternoon, the sky was
mostly white clouds. Fortunately, someone on the flight line noticed the
glider as it entered the range area. This is why it's always important to
have many eyes on the sky.
So, just the glider's presence suggests
how dynamic the weather was with the wind shifting many times throughout the
afternoon.
Richard Dierking
From: ericwil76@xxxxxxxx
Subject: [roc-chat] Launch today?
Date: Sat, 13
Aug 2011 16:24:08 -0700
To: roc-chat@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Just one big
question I am at the lake bed was the launch
cancelled?
Eric
