Hollister to Byron Capture on 10-10-2007
by David Anisman, Matt Gills+Haven Rich
Photos by Matt Gillis
10/10/2007
The Report
Byron to Hollister – tactical relay interception by the Hollister
team
by Matt Gills
The pirates from Byron, having snatched the bounty from Williams before
Darryl Ramm in 6DX could get it on Friday, 10/5/07, inspired a call to
action by the Hollister raid teams. With another fall post frontal condition
on track, plans became formulated. A fundamental challenge was that the
best WX would fall on a Wednesday when no tows were available at either
Hollister or Byron. Tow pilot Mike Nelson rose to the occasion and not
only offered tows from Hollister, but offered to aeroretrieve any of the
team that landed out. That was an offer we couldn’t pass up. We
had to try. The plan was set and a commando-like raid
The operation was set in motion with David Anisman in GJ and Matt Gillis/Haven
Rich in 1CH. They set out on the quest with Mike Nelson in Citabria 7S
as Rapid Tactical Extraction and Recovery. With bases slowly rising in
the drying warming airmass, 1CH and GJ headed east of the Diablos and
northward toward Byron. It was thought to be a slam dunk at that point.
Matt and Haven in 1CH were planning on escorting GJ to final glide position
and then returning. High cirrus, however, began to shut things down to
the south, making a return option, from which we came, unlikely. 1CH worked
west to attempt return via ~Mt. Hamilton way. GJ, on marginal glide into
a headwind from Mt. Oso dropped below glide slope near Tracy. The quest
was in jeopardy. In 1CH we worked south of Livermore back toward Altmamont
getting Byron in easy glide. Meanwhile, GJ finds a climb to over 3,000’
and begins a tenuous glide porpoising to Byron into a strong headwind.
Finally he has it made. Mike Nelson had followed in the Citabria, now
waiting on the ground in Byron. With limited daylight left, GJ was soon
on aerotow. Getting close to 5pm, it was looking unlikely for a soaring
return for 1CH. 1CH followed a convergence north to Mt. Diablo while waiting
for Mike’s return in the Citabria. Shortly after landing at Byron,
1CH, hooked up and was aerotowed by 7S to within glide of Hollister. Mission
accomplished.
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