any glider pilots out there
 

A while ago, I took an introductory glider flight. Very cool experience. Makes me think it would make a great retirement recreation if my reflexes are still good.

Any personal experiences?

Only a couple times when my ultralight engine quit. ;):D

Yea I was a glider pilot 20 years ago when I turned the gas off in a single when flames were coming out of the cowling, I did make the airport.

One of my less fond experiences. :eek:

I did 5 flights in a glider and that was enough to make me say fuch this, I'm going back to powered flight.

Jackson

I have about 10 hrs in one. Next thing to being a bird. I flew a Grob 103. Easy fliers. I wanted to get more time in but they closed the airport we were flying to no gliders. I would have to go to Lakeland AP to continue. Too far for me so I just quit. It was a great experience though and I would do it again in a heartbeat. I would have to dig for the photos of the actual aircraft I flew but this is a stock photo of a 103. Twin stick of course instructor in the rear.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315871134.jpg

I've always thought it would be a nice way to get into flying, without going "all in". It does not seem to be very popular here though, and it seems better suited for more open / rural areas, so its not practical for me, at least not now. I'm curious to continue to hear others experiences.

Hundreds of German Aces can't be wrong.

It's on my list of things to do once i get around stabilizing the other things i do (house remodeling , stuff)..

Glider
 

Took an introductory flight w/ an instructor about 5 years ago. It is very, very different from powered flight. My experience is in a Maule. A glider flies very "true." It felt as though there was a direct connection between the thought of banking. climbing, etc. The controls were smoother and more pleasant than any plane I have flown. It is a great way to start to learn to fly b/c it teaches great stick and rudder skills. I expect it would also make a student pilot less fearful of engine out drills.

Remember, Capt. Sullivan has many hours in gliders and the skills seemed to serve him well when needed.

Precision flying is about energy management. That is hard to learn when power is available. Most pilots can't even extend a glide correctly, but you don't need to fly gliders to learn. Power off landings in the pattern will teach you most everything you need to known.

I love glider flying of all sorts. Have done tandem flights on a hang glider in queens town N.Z.
Off the side of a mountain, for a 45 min. flight. The pilot slid over and let me fly most of the way including the landing. I did feel some input from him on final approach. He said that in 20 years of flying he had never let a passenger fly to the landing but it had really clicked for me:-)
A para-gliding flight in Switzerland, 35 mins of very comfortable floating around in the sky, really relaxed.
And a couple times up in a sailplane on the N. shore of Oahu, ridge soaring that could have gone on for ever, fantastic flying and scenery. I never go my hands on the controls
on those flight, but would love to, just not so close to the cliffs.

I had always thought when I was young, single and adventuresome, That once I got older
( like I am now) that I would take up hang gliding since I wouldn't have much to loose.

Now that I am here and with a fairly young family. I don't quite feel the same as before.
I think if there were good learning conditions near by I would get into para-gliding. Its affordable, convenient if in the right place. And lots of fun.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1315956868.jpg

Cheers Richard

Bucket list!

Me too! I know they do it at Napa valley.

Sailplanes are such pretty aircraft. I keep coming back to this photo.

I just contacted an instructor to set up Hang Gliding lessons. I am getting bored with powered flight and don't want another engine to maintain.

I tried HG-ing in the mid-1970s by buying a used one and trying to teach myself how to fly it. I am hoping that it gives me a shot of fun.