Glider Pilots of PPRuNe
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Londonish
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Yup, 115hrs, bronze, silver height and distance, but not got around to duration, 5hrs is just too much like hard work! Originally out of booker, flew a bit down in aus, and got sidetracked by stubby winged heavy things with propellors.
Still consider myself a glider pilot, and will be back.. my most memorable flying of any kind was a week out of omarama in NZ, dual in a duo discus.
However, IMHO it's true - gliding is value for money, but not time. Powered value for time, but not money... Booker is/was a long way ahead of anywhere else I've flown for value for time, however I'm pretty sure you'll not get far in any gliding club if you turn up, fly and leave. Even if you own your own, there's always the risk of landing out etc. Granted spamcans do 'land out', but it's generally rarer
Still consider myself a glider pilot, and will be back.. my most memorable flying of any kind was a week out of omarama in NZ, dual in a duo discus.
However, IMHO it's true - gliding is value for money, but not time. Powered value for time, but not money... Booker is/was a long way ahead of anywhere else I've flown for value for time, however I'm pretty sure you'll not get far in any gliding club if you turn up, fly and leave. Even if you own your own, there's always the risk of landing out etc. Granted spamcans do 'land out', but it's generally rarer
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: Inverness-shire
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About 750 hrs, 2 diamonds & a curious disposition towards old gliders made of wood & preferably topless (the gliders as well 
)
Gliding may be time consuming but it comes with a whole social life too.
)Gliding may be time consuming but it comes with a whole social life too.
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: London, UK
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Went solo in Sept after about a year learning, on and off. Based out of Booker, a very professional operation. Have about 25 hours total and 8 hrs solo, now doing Bronze lectures and hoping to get Bronze/Cross Country endorsement by the start of the summer.
Wish I was in the States though! $23 for a tow to 2000' ...
Wish I was in the States though! $23 for a tow to 2000' ...
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Northamtptonshire
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Late starter, only 60 hrs learnt, mostly at Hus Bos but also now have US PPL with glider rating. Agree it takes time but much more social than power at most places.
Glider pilot in remission here........... Silver C approx 110 Hrs. Have not flown unpowered for many years mainly due to time constraints.
Have to satisfy the urge with things such as this...................YouTube - Gliding Video
Does anyone know about the incoming EASA glider pilot licence rules ? will I qualify for Grandfather rights ?
Have to satisfy the urge with things such as this...................YouTube - Gliding Video
Does anyone know about the incoming EASA glider pilot licence rules ? will I qualify for Grandfather rights ?
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: uk
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Sailplanes
How refreshing to have a Gliding thread.
Some have mentioned time, yes Gliding is time consuming but the rewards are great if you have the time.
Owning or part owning a sailplane is the way forward for more flying time, I have a share in a DG500/22 and usually manage 50/60 hours a year in it.
My tall stories include flying out of Fuentemilanos (Spain) and having completed one of the milk run 500`s on a day with 13000` amsl cu bases. The conditions were so good that when I got back I picked a tp 100Km away and did an o/r.
Am a CFI with over 3000 hrs gliding, 3 diamonds, 1300 hrs Tugs, been doing it for 43 years, only wish I could do another 43!
Often seen in the wave in good old Yorkshire!
Some have mentioned time, yes Gliding is time consuming but the rewards are great if you have the time.
Owning or part owning a sailplane is the way forward for more flying time, I have a share in a DG500/22 and usually manage 50/60 hours a year in it.
My tall stories include flying out of Fuentemilanos (Spain) and having completed one of the milk run 500`s on a day with 13000` amsl cu bases. The conditions were so good that when I got back I picked a tp 100Km away and did an o/r.
Am a CFI with over 3000 hrs gliding, 3 diamonds, 1300 hrs Tugs, been doing it for 43 years, only wish I could do another 43!
Often seen in the wave in good old Yorkshire!
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Scotland
Age: 84
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I wonder if I am a bit odd!! 4 first solo's? (1) 1956 RAF Hawkinge age 16 ATC, T21. (2) 1980 Portmoak, T21, followed by a share in a K6E, Bronze & Silver height, total about 50hrs. (3) 1987 Fife Aero Club, Cessna 150, 3 & 1/2 hrs. (4) 2006 Tayside Aviation, Cessna 152, followed by NPPL & Tailwheel checkout, bought an Emeraude last April. Finally made it to the dream I had when I was 12.
Still think the gliding was the best way to fly, apart from the time involved per airtime.
I still spend time picking fields every few minutes & get nervous over water or mountains. Engines driving gliders are a lot bigger & more reliable than a 90HP Continental!
Still think the gliding was the best way to fly, apart from the time involved per airtime.
I still spend time picking fields every few minutes & get nervous over water or mountains. Engines driving gliders are a lot bigger & more reliable than a 90HP Continental!
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: South Norfolk, England
Age: 58
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IMFU
Hi, I also fly at Harris Hill, but only on our club simulator via 'Silent Wings'. My club is the Derbyshire and Lancashire club in northern England. We chose Harris Hill for the sim because its on a hill, just like us!
Me; Silver C and currently flying an ASW15b. I've tired a bit of power flying and enjoyed it, but I was so glad to get back in my glider and not have all that radio chatter to deal with, just the freedom of flight for flight's sake.
Hi, I also fly at Harris Hill, but only on our club simulator via 'Silent Wings'. My club is the Derbyshire and Lancashire club in northern England. We chose Harris Hill for the sim because its on a hill, just like us!
Me; Silver C and currently flying an ASW15b. I've tired a bit of power flying and enjoyed it, but I was so glad to get back in my glider and not have all that radio chatter to deal with, just the freedom of flight for flight's sake.
Join Date: May 2002
Location: In a nice house
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Well I think the Bookerites might know me....if they were at the club in the 1990s.....Silver 'C', a hundred or so hours, flown abroad too, good fun, never enough time!!!!
Of course I agree the club was very well run back then.....not sure about now though, hearing various stories!!!
Of course I agree the club was very well run back then.....not sure about now though, hearing various stories!!!
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: An ATC centre this side of the moon.
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Sailing took over from gliding about 25 years ago...... Bronze C , silver height and silver duration.....Done at feshie in K6 during a snow storm!!!.......learnt to fly at Strathaven in K7 then bought share in Pilatus B4 at Portmoak......many happy hours spent soaring Benarty and the Bishop but without doubt the best bits tyhe expeditions to Feshie........now spend my living looking after the light aircraft and helo's flying around Scotland......if you use Scottish Info 119.875 we may have spoken...
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Colchester
Age: 32
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I fly at Rattlesden and have been solo for nearly a year with just over 31 hours TT. I should be completing my bronze in the spring and will try for silver this summer.
Its a great sport for young people, I have spent many great summer weekends there. I cant wait for the season to start again.
Roger
Its a great sport for young people, I have spent many great summer weekends there. I cant wait for the season to start again.
Roger
-- IFMU
IFMU
We only winch at my club. Its an all grass field and it slopes in all directions. If we get a cable break when launching onto the ridge we have two small emergency fields about 600ft below us. Its a nice ridge with access to others nearby. Good wave - one of our pundits was at FL195 this autumn. He also has the club record for an official 750km.
If you ever get over to this side of the pond, come and see us - and if the weather's crap, we can use the sim to fly at Harris Hill.
snapper
If you ever get over to this side of the pond, come and see us - and if the weather's crap, we can use the sim to fly at Harris Hill.
snapper
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: East Sussex
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I started gliding at Ringmer G.C, in 1983, then converted to power in 87, via the Silver "C" conversion, £400 at the time! Still go thermaling now, but usually borrow a mates self launching ultra-light glider, got a clip of it on You-Tube under Alatus-M glider(UK) along the south coast.
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: Isle of Man
Age: 73
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I to started off gliding (Husbands Bosworth and then Bicester) before PPL (MG) and then PPL. I absolutely LOVED gliding and it was only RAF postings to inaccessible places that stopped me. I'm now very seriously thinking of restarting this Spring if I can just make sure I don't exceed the CofG limits...! 157 hrs and Silver
Started on a glider when I was 16 and became heavily involved with the RAFGSA organisation from 1963 until 1979. I instructed for 15 years and was a CFI for about 7 of those. Gold C with one diamond.