Do glider pilots make better PPLs?
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Do glider pilots make better PPLs?
Been reading the "attitude for speed" thread, and a few comments popped up implying that the authors' prior time on gliders had given them some advantage.
I learnt to glide before doing a PPL, and I like to think that there are some benefits in this. (there are some drawbacks too!)
Not suggesting that it should be a compulsory pre-requisite for a PPL (that would really get a thread going!), but it seems to me that some of the "handling" fundamentals (stalling & spinning eg.) are taught more thoroughly under the BGA scheme.
What should a PPL gain from a good glider pilot and vice versa?
(This is not meant to start a "fan vs no-fan battle" - we all share the same airspace and the same love of flying!)
I learnt to glide before doing a PPL, and I like to think that there are some benefits in this. (there are some drawbacks too!)
Not suggesting that it should be a compulsory pre-requisite for a PPL (that would really get a thread going!), but it seems to me that some of the "handling" fundamentals (stalling & spinning eg.) are taught more thoroughly under the BGA scheme.
What should a PPL gain from a good glider pilot and vice versa?
(This is not meant to start a "fan vs no-fan battle" - we all share the same airspace and the same love of flying!)
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I venture that microlight pilots make good PPL(A)s, not only have they lots of real handling experience and energy management experience, as glider pilots do, but they usually understand engines too - and have probably operated their own aircraft with the associated maintenance knowledge that goes with that.
G
G
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Having delved into both worlds I am reluctant to say "yes glider jocks make better PPLs"
I agree that there is more energy management and co-ordination (particularly with the feet) in flying gliders but surely there are more aspects of flying which make a powered flyer.
Cross country work, RT coms., radio nav and instrument work spring to mind. How many glider pilots are able to fly into Class D behind British Midlands or whoever?
Horses for courses I suppose.
I agree that there is more energy management and co-ordination (particularly with the feet) in flying gliders but surely there are more aspects of flying which make a powered flyer.
Cross country work, RT coms., radio nav and instrument work spring to mind. How many glider pilots are able to fly into Class D behind British Midlands or whoever?
Horses for courses I suppose.
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Got a silver 'C', then after a three year lay off did my PPL - Solo'd after 3 hours.
Having flown with other PPL's who've done no gliding my main observation is they tend to be 'frightened' of the ground when it comes to landing.
having said that the Nav / RT / IF skills of the power person are more than most glider pilots have - but that's why the shorter conversion course emphasises these points.
Having flown with other PPL's who've done no gliding my main observation is they tend to be 'frightened' of the ground when it comes to landing.
having said that the Nav / RT / IF skills of the power person are more than most glider pilots have - but that's why the shorter conversion course emphasises these points.
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Beagler,
Horses for courses quite...
I do not believe that it is a case of Glider pilots making BETTER PPLs, but would argue that glider flying experience could SPEED UP the process to getting a PPL. Someone who has done no gliding can be very competent in light aircraft but for some glider experience may give them a head start.
arrow2
Horses for courses quite...
I do not believe that it is a case of Glider pilots making BETTER PPLs, but would argue that glider flying experience could SPEED UP the process to getting a PPL. Someone who has done no gliding can be very competent in light aircraft but for some glider experience may give them a head start.
arrow2
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I was fortunate enough to get my PPL in Florida last year, along with a dozen or so other youngsters who had little, or in some cases no flying experience. One guy had extensive microlight experience and 2000+ hours on hang-gliders and he found it a breeze compared to the rest of us. He also found nav and met exams much easier as he was already air-minded.
If you're out there Russel Marshall, you can be my wing man any day.
If you're out there Russel Marshall, you can be my wing man any day.
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Perhaps an interesting variation on the question might be "Do glider pilots make better PPL students?"
Having learned to glide first, I would say that flying a glider develops more control co-ordination [lack of engine to pull you around corners, longer wing span requiring rudder assistance etc.] and this is an advantage.
However, glider pilots also bring prior flying hours to their training, so they have:
(a) previous experience in the environment (b) basic airmanship
(c) perception of height, speed and depth, especially in the landing phase
This is likely to give the impression of them being "better pilots" at each stage of the PPL syllabus, simply because they have more "stick time" than newbies to flying.
Their ability to cope with the multi tasking world of flying should be enhanced by their prior experience.
Of course, there is no such thing as the "average" person, som there will be exceptions.
Having learned to glide first, I would say that flying a glider develops more control co-ordination [lack of engine to pull you around corners, longer wing span requiring rudder assistance etc.] and this is an advantage.
However, glider pilots also bring prior flying hours to their training, so they have:
(a) previous experience in the environment (b) basic airmanship
(c) perception of height, speed and depth, especially in the landing phase
This is likely to give the impression of them being "better pilots" at each stage of the PPL syllabus, simply because they have more "stick time" than newbies to flying.
Their ability to cope with the multi tasking world of flying should be enhanced by their prior experience.
Of course, there is no such thing as the "average" person, som there will be exceptions.
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Another question: do PPLS make worse glider pilots? I've recently acquired a PPL, and have an incipient yen to go gliding (though somewhat put off by all the standing around in windy fields that appears to be involved). I feel that gliding might sharpen up my attitude flying (I have always tended to be far too much of an instrument nugget) and help me in getting a better hang of energy management (especially as I hope to join an aerobatic Group and spend a lot of time viewing the tumbly-tumbly world from interesting angles). I wonder, however, if my wicked and idle PPL habits (cheating a lot with the engine, coshing the thing onto the runway etc.) will make life hard for me (hard is OK, short less so). Still, what the hell? I'm sure that thermal hunting must beat iffy glide approaches and PFLs in the brick-outhouse fondly referred to as a Beagle Pup 150. (Beagler: dont get me wrong: I love and adore Pups, but not so much when they are pretending to be gliders)
Best finish with a fish:
(did that work?)
Best finish with a fish:
(did that work?)
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FNG & R22
Gliding is good fun and sharpens energy management a treat, but I'd recommend trying microlight flying - because of the low inertia you are flying them all the time, especially a flexwing. It also has the advantage of not requiring half a dozen other people to get you airborne.
If a 3-axis microlight isn't adventurous enough for you, try a flexwing! The conversion usually takes about 10-12 hours.
G
Gliding is good fun and sharpens energy management a treat, but I'd recommend trying microlight flying - because of the low inertia you are flying them all the time, especially a flexwing. It also has the advantage of not requiring half a dozen other people to get you airborne.
If a 3-axis microlight isn't adventurous enough for you, try a flexwing! The conversion usually takes about 10-12 hours.
G
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Have you spent much time engine out in a flexwing then?
I have (deliberately, I'm one of the lucky few not yet to have an engine failure in flight), she is not a brick outhouse - admittedly she won't thermal but 6:1 is perfectly adequate for finding a good field, and not much else will land comfortably in 100 yards at MTOW!
G
I have (deliberately, I'm one of the lucky few not yet to have an engine failure in flight), she is not a brick outhouse - admittedly she won't thermal but 6:1 is perfectly adequate for finding a good field, and not much else will land comfortably in 100 yards at MTOW!
G
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Thanks Chilli Monster. I found using my feet a problem when I started flying helicopters; I'd always thought pedals were footrests till I learned to hover. So it's still a problem, but not as much.
Ask Girl Flyday to post a reply on this thread! I've been wondering how come she's not been seen on this forum yet anyway.
Ask Girl Flyday to post a reply on this thread! I've been wondering how come she's not been seen on this forum yet anyway.