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TRIPOLI Pittsburgh

Launch Report

May 3, 2026

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The May 2026 opening day launch brought typical May weather. A chilly morning stretched to warmer temps in the afternoon. High reached into the low 60's.

Winds were light to medium with periods of gusty breezes.

Rick Shubert, co-winner of the 2025 George Pike Award readies his ever reliable Purple People Eater in the pits before launch operations begin.

Flyers: 28

Flights: 42

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Dave Stoudt watches his Level 2 Certification flight lift off of the high power pads for the first high power launch of the day.

Dave's Mad Cow Torrent heads up on a J-270 leaving behind a great smoke trail.

Dave is the co-winner of the George Pike Frequent Flyer Award for 2025, along with Rick Shubert.

Did Dave complete his Level 2 certification? See the results on later pages.....

Thanks to all who helped set up the launch equipment prior to the action.

It was helpful that the equpment trailer was late also.

We at TRIPOLI Pittsburgh support all of our student flyers.

Here the WVU team sets up in the pits before launch.

The first flights of the day went off of the low power pads.

Goto: