42 Gliders Race Cross-Country To July 4th At Kill Devil Hill

Pilots and crews are gearing up for the "Return to Kitty Hawk Race" which starts on June 19th in California and ends July 4th at Kitty Hawk. The gliders will be the featured event of the festivities on that day in Kitty Hawk.

Route

Except for June 19 at Crystal and July 4 at Kitty Hawk, the departure date for each leg is subject to change depending on the soaring weather. Project leaders say they'll use the spare days to attempt to optimize tasking for the weather and minimize pilot and crew fatigue. [Note: Organizers say their original plan was to start on June 17 with a July 2 arrival in Kitty Hawk. When the National Park Service asked them to be the big event on July 4 they moved the plan two days. Legs are subject to change.] Jim Payne is handling the western legs (through Dallas). John Murray is handling the eastern legs.

• Leg One will depart from Crystal Gliderport near Llano(CA) on June 19 (or June 20 if there is a weather delay). http://www.airnav.com/airport/46CN www.greatwesternsoaring.com
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_1
• Leg Two will depart from Jean Airport, Jean (NV) on June 20 (or June 21 if there is a weather delay). http://www.airnav.com/airport/0L7 www.lasvegassoaring.com
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_2
• Leg Three will depart from Estrella Gliderport near Maricopa (AZ) on June 21 (or June 22 or June 23 if there are weather delays). http://www.airnav.com/airport/E68 www.azsoaring.com
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_3
• Leg Four will depart from Las Cruces Airport, Las Cruces (NM) on June 22 (or June 23 or June 24 if there are weather delays). http://www.airnav.com/airport/KLRU http://www.las-cruces.org/airport/sitemap.html#contact
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_4
• Leg Five will depart from Hobbs Industrial Airport, Hobbs (NM) on June 24 (or June 25 or June 26 if there are weather delays). http://www.airnav.com/airport/NM83
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_5
• Leg Six will depart from Texas Soaring Association Airport near Midlothian (TX) on June 25 (or June 26 or June 27 if there are weather delays). http://www.airnav.com/airport/TA11 www.texassoaring.org
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_6
• Leg Seven will depart from Silvercreek Gliderport near New Douglas (IL) on June 27 (if perfect weather), June 28 (more likely) or June 29 (if there are weather delays). http://www.airnav.com/airport/3IL1 www.silvercreekgliderclub.com
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_7
• Leg Eight will depart from Indianapolis Terry Airport (IN) on June 28 (if perfect weather), June 29 (more likely) or June 30 (if there are weather delays). http://www.airnav.com/airport/KTYQ http://centralindianasoaringsociety.org/
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_8
• Leg Nine will depart from Caesar Creek Gliderport near Waynesville (OH) on June 29 (if perfect weather), June 30 (more likely) or July 01 (if there are weather delays).
  http://www.airnav.com/airport/2OH9
  www.wrightdesigns.com/ccsc
• Due to the limited outlanding possibilities in West Virginia this leg will end at Gallia-Miegs Regional Airport, Gallipolis (OH) http://www.airnav.com/airport/KGAS
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_9
• Leg Ten will depart from New Castle International near New Castle (VA) on July 01 (or July 02 if there are weather delays). http://www.airnav.com/airport/VA85
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_10
• Leg Eleven will depart from Dinwiddie County Airport, Petersburg (VA). on July 02 (or July 03 if there are weather delays). http://www.airnav.com/airport/KPTB. This leg will end at Edenton (NC) http://www.airnav.com/airport/KEDE
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_11
• Leg Twelve will be an unscored arrival ceremony that will begin at Dare County Airport, Manteo (NC) on July 04, 2003. http://www.airnav.com/airport/KMQI
  Turnpoint file: http://acro.harvard.edu/SOARING/JL/TP/RTKH_12

Pilots will take tows and make six mile final glides to First Flight Airport, Kill Devil Hill (NC). http://www.airnav.com/airport/KFFA www.outerbankschamber.com

FMI: www.ssa.org/contests/pr1.asp