|
|
|
|
| Author |
|
|
Registered
|
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?
__________________
Garage is empty Gone:96 TVR Chimaera, 05' Mazdaspeed MX5/89' Caterham Super Seven/84' Carrera/81' 911 SC targa/74' MGB |
||
09-12-2011, 12:59 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: OK
Posts: 12,730
|
__________________
76' 911s Signature Edition |
||
|
09-12-2011, 01:25 PM
|
|
|
MAGA
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 10,779
|
Only a couple times when my ultralight engine quit.
 
__________________
German autos: '79 911 SC, '87 951, '03 330i, '08 Cayenne, '13 Cayenne 0% Liberal Men do not quit playing because they get old.... They get old because they quit playing. |
||
|
09-12-2011, 01:29 PM
|
|
|
Registered Abuser
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Southwest Montana
Posts: 2,738
|
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. 
__________________
MT 930 1987 930 - Gone but not forgotten A man with priorities so far out of whack doesn't deserve such a fine automobile. I would rather wake up in the middle of nowhere than in any city on earth - Steve McQueen американский |
||
|
09-12-2011, 03:22 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Apr 2010
Posts: 3,003
|
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 |
||
|
09-12-2011, 03:29 PM
|
|
|
Double Trouble
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: North of Pittsburgh
Posts: 11,705
|
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.
Last edited by targa911S; 09-12-2011 at 03:48 PM.. |
||
|
09-12-2011, 03:45 PM
|
|
|
Registered
|
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.
|
||
|
09-13-2011, 04:23 AM
|
|
|
Registered User
|
Hundreds of German Aces can't be wrong.
|
||
|
09-13-2011, 06:54 AM
|
|
|
Gon fix it with me hammer
|
It's on my list of things to do once i get around stabilizing the other things i do (house remodeling , stuff)..
__________________
Stijn Vandamme EX911STARGA73EX92477EX94484EX944S8890MPHPINBALLMACHINEAKAEX987C2007 BIMDIESELBMW116D2019 |
||
|
09-13-2011, 09:38 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Sep 2006
Posts: 68
|
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. |
||
|
09-13-2011, 09:46 AM
|
|
|
Registered User
|
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.
|
||
|
09-13-2011, 12:25 PM
|
|
|
B58/732
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Hot as Hell, AZ
Posts: 12,313
|
__________________
ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ I don't always talk to vegetarians--but when I do, it's with a mouthful of bacon. |
||
|
09-13-2011, 12:34 PM
|
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Fla panhandle / Roaming in my motorhome
Posts: 4,332
|
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.  Cheers Richard |
||
|
09-13-2011, 03:37 PM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Sandton, South Africa
Posts: 916
|
Bucket list!
__________________
'70 911T (AKA Bottomless Pit) - Undergoing restoration '13 Audi A4 1.8T - Surprisingly fun means of getting to work |
||
|
09-14-2011, 06:22 AM
|
|
|
least common denominator
Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: San Pedro,CA
Posts: 22,506
|
Quote:
__________________
Gary Fisher 29er 2019 Kia Stinger 2.0t gone  1995 Miata Sold 1984 944 Sold I am not lost for I know where I am, however where I am is lost. - Winnie the poo. |
||
|
09-14-2011, 06:40 AM
|
|
|
Registered
|
Quote:
|
||
|
09-14-2011, 06:43 AM
|
|
|
Registered
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: So Cal and So Oregon
Posts: 2,193
|
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. |
||
|
09-14-2011, 01:32 PM
|
|
1984 Porsche 911 3.2
Romad
2007 BMW 550i
BimForce the Third, Esquire
