Gliders and gliding
Thread Starter
Joined: Jan 2002
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From: Earth
Gliders and gliding
With a couple of others, I was fortunate enough today to be invited to drop into a well known gliding site. The three of us landed as per the instructions and I must say I wasn't sure what kind of reception we would receive as I always assumed that powered pilots are held in the lowest regard by the gliding fraternity.
How wrong I was.
Everyone was as friendly as could be expected and watching the launches from just feet away was fantastic. Added to this, being shown around the hangar was an added bonus; it was a memorable couple of hours and a visit that has completely turned my opinion of gliding/gliders around.
I am determined to go up in one soon and will be making suitable efforts to do so in the summer next year.
Thanks to the organiser (you know who you are), it was a memorable and welcoming visit.
How wrong I was.
Everyone was as friendly as could be expected and watching the launches from just feet away was fantastic. Added to this, being shown around the hangar was an added bonus; it was a memorable couple of hours and a visit that has completely turned my opinion of gliding/gliders around.
I am determined to go up in one soon and will be making suitable efforts to do so in the summer next year.
Thanks to the organiser (you know who you are), it was a memorable and welcoming visit.
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 731
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From: Surrey, England
The benefits of some gliding for the 'power' pilot
I started my flying career in gliders before I moved into powered flight.
I always felt that I benefitted greatly from the appreciation that a glider pilot acquires of how the atmosphere works and in particular how airflow interacts with the airframe of your aeroplane.
You develop a kind of instinctive understanding of aerodynamics (,that's the best way I can describe it). This can be handy to have when practicing power off forced landings in your aeroplane.
If you are flying with a gliding instructor in a glider cleared for spinning (as I think most if not all are), try asking him/her to demonstrate a fully developed spin. (Glider pilots practice spinning as a matter of routine because so much of their flying takes place at low speeds in the turn. These days, not all power instructors are willing to demonstrate a fully developed spin and you commonly have to pay a lot extra for a Firefly or a Bulldog to do it in). Recovery procedure is much the same.
Glider aerobatics are fun. Alternatively, try some ridge flying or see if you can occupy the back seat for a cross country. If you do more than one flight, try to arrange for one to be a winch launch and the other an aero-tow. In the aero-tow, get the instructor to demonstrate 'low-tow'.
Enjoy!
Broomstick.
I always felt that I benefitted greatly from the appreciation that a glider pilot acquires of how the atmosphere works and in particular how airflow interacts with the airframe of your aeroplane.
You develop a kind of instinctive understanding of aerodynamics (,that's the best way I can describe it). This can be handy to have when practicing power off forced landings in your aeroplane.
If you are flying with a gliding instructor in a glider cleared for spinning (as I think most if not all are), try asking him/her to demonstrate a fully developed spin. (Glider pilots practice spinning as a matter of routine because so much of their flying takes place at low speeds in the turn. These days, not all power instructors are willing to demonstrate a fully developed spin and you commonly have to pay a lot extra for a Firefly or a Bulldog to do it in). Recovery procedure is much the same.
Glider aerobatics are fun. Alternatively, try some ridge flying or see if you can occupy the back seat for a cross country. If you do more than one flight, try to arrange for one to be a winch launch and the other an aero-tow. In the aero-tow, get the instructor to demonstrate 'low-tow'.
Enjoy!
Broomstick.
Avoid imitations
Joined: Nov 2000
Aviation Qualifications: ATPL
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From: Wandering the FIR and cyberspace often at highly unsociable times
"These days, not all power instructors are willing to demonstrate a fully developed spin......"
Is this true? I'm surprised if so.
Is this true? I'm surprised if so.
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As surprising as it may be, there are two reasons for this...
1 - the PPL syllabus no longer requires spins to be taught, so some FIs may not have done a spin for a while - if they are not comfortable, then best not to
2 - not all school aircraft are cleared to spin, e.g taper wing PA28s.
Back to the thread, I started on gliders and enjoyed every minute - I also learned what rudder pedals were used for
1 - the PPL syllabus no longer requires spins to be taught, so some FIs may not have done a spin for a while - if they are not comfortable, then best not to
2 - not all school aircraft are cleared to spin, e.g taper wing PA28s.
Back to the thread, I started on gliders and enjoyed every minute - I also learned what rudder pedals were used for
Red On, Green On
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 6,490
Likes: 2
From: Between the woods and the water
"These days, not all power instructors are willing to demonstrate a fully developed spin......"
I still reckon that my 13 hrs on the Chippy and 80 on the 'Dog was the best training money she ever spent on me
