but are there really glider pilots MENTAL enough to fly in cloud, without transponders etc. etc. ??!!
Well I did - and many of my contemporaries at the time when we were gaining Badges in the 70s.
My first high climb was in a Swallow using an altimeter, ASI and a turn and slip (only other instruments were a vario and a compass) in IMC from 2,500 cloud base to Silver C height at about 6,000 feet (well at least 1,000m height gain).
Gained several thosuand feet of altitude with no problem in cloud all the way, thermalling as I went.
The idea was that if you lost control it was either option (a) enter a spin and recover after breaking cloud or (b) pull the dive-limiting speed brakes and stuff the nose down and exit cloud at a somewhat higher speed.
I just flew out of the side of the cloud and flew back to the airfield.
Happy days.
KR
FOK