Bird brained

[Discseven]

If you’re fond of heights, a touch OC… this might be your cup of tea. Soaring. Can fly around for hours---no engine, no noise, no vibration. And unlike renting or maintaining powered craft, glider is peanuts. Training to solo certification is around $5k. Cost per tow to altitude is based on altitude chosen to release at. Is decided and advised to tow pilot prior to take off. Want to change location or release altitude… radio com with tow pilot during tow up. Nearest place in my case is Homestead, X51. Gliders use runways U9 / U27. Pivotal moment = getting yapping instructor out of cockpit... Solo. Peace finally arrives. And freedom. In Florida, I’d say most thermals are ground-convection based. Sometimes there are t-streets but not often from my experience. Is cloud hopping mostly. Also some convergence from ocean breezes.




Over Homestead. US 1 and Card Sound Rd to Key Largo is in the distance. Those are the only two roads to-from the Keys. Card Sound is the way less traveled. Joins up with US 1 in Key Largo. Alabama Jacks is dive bar on Card Sound Rd just before bridge crossing over to northern Key Largo. Alabama's is a black leather & Harley sort of bar. (Japbikers park down the road behind the scrub. Helmet stays with bike.) Across the bridge from Jack’s is Croc Lake. 905 runs from that point down to Garden Cove. Is WOT for miles.




Everglades. View to W NW.




Homestead General Aviation Airport. Everglades butts to airport. Predominant westerly winds = left handed patterns mostly---downwind towards Everglades, turn south base, east final to U9. Only rarely is right handed pattern done to U27. 1,000’ entry to downwind @ midfield. Check field & sock. Plenty of side space off U runway so no problem if another glider has not pulled off main. Base is turned @ 700.’ Final @ 500.’ Powered aircraft come and go from paved runways. Sky divers jump/land just south of paved airport. Can be busy airspace here. Air Force Base is directly east of here a few miles on the bay. Guy who owns glider operation is Steve. Commerical pilot. Great guy! Still kids me about when I first called him… I asked for “resume for all the instructors.” Joke on me being there was... one---take it or leave it. Turned out to be an excellent teacher. Will’s no longer there now. Got his commercial cert and moved on.

Am interested in soaring the Rockies. If you're in that geo-area and know of ports that rent, please say.
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[kach22i]

I went up in a glider back in 2004 as a passenger, was only $50 for the day. Money well spent, I still remember the experience.

I spend as little time as possible sitting, and passive hobbies.

Now a glider with a pedal driven propeller could get interesting.

[WPOZZZ]

This is probably a dumb question. Does it get hot in the cockpit?

[kach22i]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

This is probably a dumb question. Does it get hot in the cockpit?

Not a dumb question.

It can be over 30 degrees cooler up there, 60 degree day it can be freezing up there.

I went on a hot sunny day, cockpit had good ventilation (a Raven), I was too excited to be hot or cold.

The original poster will know more.

If they offer you a heavy coat and mittens TAKE THEM. My friend went a few years after I did on a cool fall day and froze his butt off and got sick for a while after because he refused the extra clothing.

Is it one degree cooler for every 1,000 feet?

[Seahawk]

Great post OP.

There is a lot to consider with environmental lapse rate, adiabatic lapse rates, etc. in terms of cooling.

Here is a good site: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapse_rate

The rule of thumb is approximately 1.9 degrees of cooling per 1000ft. This is a big deal in helicopter mission planning, especially launching from sea level.

Environmental lapse rate:

The environmental lapse rate (ELR), is the rate of decrease of temperature with altitude in the stationary atmosphere at a given time and location. As an average, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) defines an international standard atmosphere (ISA) with a temperature lapse rate of 6.49 K/km[16] (3.56 °F or 1.98 °C/1,000 ft) from sea level to 11 km (36,090 ft or 6.8 mi). From 11 km up to 20 km (65,620 ft or 12.4 mi), the constant temperature is −56.5 °C (−69.7 °F), which is the lowest assumed temperature in the ISA. The standard atmosphere contains no moisture. Unlike the idealized ISA, the temperature of the actual atmosphere does not always fall at a uniform rate with height. For example, there can be an inversion layer in which the temperature increases with altitude.

[kach22i]

Great info there Seahawk.

So roughly 2 degrees for every 1,000 feet.

Therefore on a 80 degree day, up at 20,000 feet it can feel like 40 degrees.

And a 70 degree day at 10,000 feet feel like 50 degrees.

65 degree day at 15,000 feet feels like 35 degrees.

Makes sense as I recall about 30 degree difference.

[WPOZZZ]

I wouldn't mind soaring, but I always thought it would be hot in the cockpit. Now I know better!

[tevake]

Bryan, you have a great opportunity for soaring right there on Oahu at Dillingham field in Mokuleia. Ive gone up there a couple of times. And it's a beautiful place to fly.

They tow about half way to the ridge just Mauka of the field , the up drafts on the mountain face are solid with trades blowing up the mountains. Its easy to climb after release from the tow plane. Once reaching the top of the ridge the view over to the west side is spectacular. Then there is the chance to do some aerobatic flying and to soar out over the water while making your way back down to the landing field. The colorful scenery of the verdant land and the reefs is amazing from the air.

The flying is beautiful, quiet, effortless, and yet thrilling with relatively close proximity to the mountain face, dancing around the clouds that form on the ridge. The rush of wind around the canopy while diving for speed to do exciting maneuvers while working your way back down to the landing field.

Its one of those places where the conditions are so good that its possible to fly there till you need to land to have a pee, or are getting hungry.

I haven't had the experence of doing thermal soaring. It's neat reading of the cross country flying where finding the next updraft and milking it for the best altitude possible is the goal. Looking for the right cloud formations or soaring birds circling in up going air. I would love to try that .

Cheers Richard

[Dantilla]

From a pilot's perspective, the beauty of soaring is how immersed you are in simple aerodynamics.
Without an engine, it boils flight down into the very basics. All about hands and feet on the controls vs. learning the fancy radio stack.

Love the unrestricted visibility.
Love the simple sound of air rushing past the canopy.

Soaring makes power pilots better pilots.

Highly recommended.

[LWJ]

Always thought soaring was cool.

Not that I need more hobbies!

Thanks! Didn't know it was cost effective.

[Discseven]

Cockpit's an oven on the ground (here). Canopy stays open until last possible moment. Once airborne, ram-air vents typical to gliders---always have full open. As Seahawk pointed out, temp declines predictably with altitude. With fresh air coming in cabin at a few thousand feet, cockpit's good... but there's no "cockpit cool" to soaring in Miami. In any case, mind's intensely on other things during flight. Land... canopy is opened immediately. Typical flight is 2 hours (for me.) Land. Rest. Hydrate. Then go again. Did 4 hour flight and was exhausted at end. Very foolish---mind was not clear towards end. Never again (in FL.) 3 hour is doable max during summer.

What's surprising is the speed at which air rises below a cumulus and into it. I look at clouds now and see lift.



Typical Florida day = towers form a few hours following sunrise. Those formations can last all day till a bit before sunset provided temp & humidity is right. If there's lots of moisture cooking off, cumulus goes nimbus in the afternoons... and dumps towards end of day. Just the right amount of moisture cooking off makes for a nice soaring day---lift opportunities widen and strengthen. Too much mositure makes for a short day---cloud cover spreads and wide area of sky dumps rain.

Have read about pilots being sucked up into cumulonnimbus even when they put glider into a vertical, nose-dive attitude. Some say their glider inverted without any sense of it doing so---they exited cloud inverted... then knew it. Also know of gliders being torn apart in CNs. I understand the lure. Potential price is rather steep.
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[tevake]

Such a cool subject, was hoping our flying pelican brethren would share more stories.

I got to fly off of Wasserkuppe in Germany. It's the birthplace of gliding there.
With a cool museum of gliding/ soaring history.

It's one of those hills where you could probably launch with a winch and long cable.
We towed off behind a plane and flew a short distance to release point. Then flew around to the windward side of the hill to use some updraft there. Flew around for a half an hour or so With a few other sailplanes in sight. Then landed back at the hill top field. Easy peasy, it's fun listening to the vario altimeter sound letting you know your rate of sink or climb.

I've also enjoyed trying hanggliding in New Zealand, Queenstown. And parasailing in Interlaken Switzerland. Both very fun experiences , flying tandum with experienced pilots showing me the ropes as we flew. I love the simplicity of engineless flight.
The pilot of the hangglidder in Queenstown slid over shortly after launch and let me fly for most of the flight. At one point he found a nice column of up going air for us to circle tightly in, climbing nicely with a hawk circling just below us. And our vario chirping nicely as we climbed.

That landing was quite thrilling as when flying with a passenger they don't try to land on their feet. Rather use big balloon tires on the corners of the control bar, so you land prone and with your head about 18" off the ground. The pilot was so comfortable with me at the control bar that he let me fly right down to the landing. I could feel him giving slight inputs in the last few seconds. He told me that he had never done that before on a first time passenger. It just felt that natural to me.

As a lifelong sailor and former hardcore windsurfer. Its like taking those sports into three dimensions of the sky.

Cheers Richard

[tevake]

Would like to add that the sailplane/glider is the Cadillac of engineless flight. Comfortable and highest performance levels. With controls are very like flying an airplane.

The parasail is very comfortable sitting position and slow airspeed give lots of time for enjoying the views. Control lines make sense but take a little getting used to.

The hang glider seemed most bird like, except till that hawk flew out of our updraft and started flapping its wings and flew away. But it flys at similar speeds and hanging prone there under the wing its allmost like that wing is on your back.

All such good fun.

Cheers Richard

[Discseven]

New Zealand...

[GH85Carrera]

Originally Posted by WPOZZZ

This is probably a dumb question. Does it get hot in the cockpit?

The hot part is right after you get in, waiting to get going, and the first 2,000 feet. And on the way down, that last 1,000 feet and the time it takes to land, come to a stop, and get out of the glider.

Much like any small aircraft, it does get dang hot on the ground.

One of my friends is a glider instructor. Or he was. He is 88 years old now, so not flying much anymore. He took my wife and I each on separate flights. The best areas are outside of the city, and about an hour drive away. They have a glider club, and a pilot on standby all day to tow the glider. And you can just rent a glider if you join the club.

[rcooled]

Originally Posted by Discseven

---no engine, no noise, no vibration.

I've flown as a passenger a couple of times. Loved the instant sensation of quiet as soon as the tow cable's released...just the sound of the wind flowing over the canopy.

Somewhat similar to going out on a sailboat...that point when you first cut the engine and wind power takes over.

[Tobra]

Gliders fly out of a small field about half way to SF from Sacramento, this thread is precipitating a bit of an itch I might have to scratch.

[Discseven]

Originally Posted by Tobra

Gliders fly out of a small field about half way to SF from Sacramento, this thread is precipitating a bit of an itch I might have to scratch.

NCSA... Byron Airport? Last I heard they have a couple of gliders and instructors. If you go there Tobra, would appreciate some commentary on the place.
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[Rikao4]

on Helo's..
your gear is very important..
roll of Duck tape is helpful as well..

Rika

[tevake]

I came across this video shot in Colo. Of an attempted cross country triangle flight.
It's long but very interesting in that there is thermal soaring as well as terrain generated lift. Plus great scenery.

The pilot does a good job of explaining what happening and what he is looking for.

Watch out you may get sucked into watching the whole thing. I did and really enjoyed it.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=4-LfoZ1GcpI

Cheers Richard