A Georgia pilot set a new record, and the first glider record set from City of LaFayette’s Barwick-LaFayette Airport just before Christmas. The record was set by pilot, Michael Price, using natural wind lift to glide into Alabama where he set the new altitude record before returning to the City of LaFayette’s airport. His craft “reached an altitude of 15,659 feet by using rising air generated by the surrounding mountains,” said Price.
Price continued to explain, “LaFayette is perfectly positioned just east of a major ridge. Strong winter winds from the northwest must follow the shape of the ridge, going over it and then down the back side colliding into our valley and bouncing up, which creates an effect called Mountain Wave. Gliders can use this naturally occurring rising air (“lift”) above LaFayette to climb up even without a motor.”
According to the City of LaFayette’s Facebook page, “LaFayette’s unique topography helped this pilot set a new altitude record,” from Barwick-LaFayette Airport which sees about 6,500 landings or take-offs annually, (almost 20 daily). Small business jets, helicopters, gliders and various other aircraft are served daily according to Vernon Barnett, Manager of Barwick-LaFayette Airport.
While Barwick-LaFayette Airport remains a non-controlled airport, without air-traffic control services, pilots communicate with each other through the Common Traffic Advisory Frequency, referred to as “Unicom” by pilots. Communication for these pilots happens by tuning into the airport’s frequency, announcing their “N” number and their intentions. Then, like most airports, there is a certain traffic pattern that is followed.
The airport has made other headlines over the years and most recently was a topic of discussion when it underwent 9.3 million dollars of improvements provided by the Georgia Department of Transportation along with Federal Aviation Administration funds and 5% funding by the city. Funds were used to resurface and mark the runway, install new lights, and more.
Look for more records being set from the City Airport as Pilot Price says, “now that the Mountain Wave can be predicted using modern forecasts and has proven itself effective there will likely be more record attempts in the future.”
