My 1st gliding experience
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My 1st gliding experience
As a follow up to previous thread (“Looking for pointers/advice/ideas’) I started regarding my experience hitting mountain rotors over the Scottish highlands in the Maule, several replies to that thread advised that I try gliding to better understand updrafts/thermals/rotors and mountain waves etc. Well i finally did it !!
Last Monday on my way to Vegas I stopped off at Crystalaire Soaring Academy situated at 3400ft at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains to the South and the Mohave desert to the north, I was told that several records had been set from this field.
The 90 minute flight started with a tow from a 285hp piper Pawnee (at least I think that what is called) which I was told is a converted Ag sprayer with a reel for retracting the tow line where the hopper would be. Released at 8000ft the hunt for lift was fascinating, the instructor seemed to be able to read the sky like a POH explaining about cold air coming up the valleys from the beach causing sink etc. he intuitively know where the lift would be both in the mountains and over the desert which was impressive, after a few “ lets head over to our X o’clock” we were at 12000ft MSL and skirting round the tops of Mount Baldy (closer than I would dare to in the Maule) then headed out over the desert and followed some birds who must have attended the same lift training school my instructor went too. The descent took forever and on short final I was somewhat apprehensive as it seemed my ass was about 2 inches off the ground just prior to landing, the slight knock I received on touchdown was nowhere near the one my wallet took that evening on the blackjack tables.
All in all an absolutely amazing experience, can’t wait to get back to Scotland and stop by Roundyhill and score another flight.
Last Monday on my way to Vegas I stopped off at Crystalaire Soaring Academy situated at 3400ft at the foot of the San Bernardino Mountains to the South and the Mohave desert to the north, I was told that several records had been set from this field.
The 90 minute flight started with a tow from a 285hp piper Pawnee (at least I think that what is called) which I was told is a converted Ag sprayer with a reel for retracting the tow line where the hopper would be. Released at 8000ft the hunt for lift was fascinating, the instructor seemed to be able to read the sky like a POH explaining about cold air coming up the valleys from the beach causing sink etc. he intuitively know where the lift would be both in the mountains and over the desert which was impressive, after a few “ lets head over to our X o’clock” we were at 12000ft MSL and skirting round the tops of Mount Baldy (closer than I would dare to in the Maule) then headed out over the desert and followed some birds who must have attended the same lift training school my instructor went too. The descent took forever and on short final I was somewhat apprehensive as it seemed my ass was about 2 inches off the ground just prior to landing, the slight knock I received on touchdown was nowhere near the one my wallet took that evening on the blackjack tables.
All in all an absolutely amazing experience, can’t wait to get back to Scotland and stop by Roundyhill and score another flight.
Last edited by piperboy84; 24th Aug 2012 at 03:27.
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My 1st gliding experience
Wow that sounds amazing!
Ive also wantedto try it and based on what you said i think i will!
Shame it will probably be in the midlands!
Ill leave the gambling out... I tend to loose
Ive also wantedto try it and based on what you said i think i will!
Shame it will probably be in the midlands!
Ill leave the gambling out... I tend to loose
Now you know why the birds sing!!
You can do all of that in Scotland and you wont need an 8,000ft tow. Check out the British Gliding Association's website at gliding.co.uk, look for 'Find a club' and take your pick. My recommendation would be the Deeside club at Aboyne.
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Gliding in Scotland
You don't say whether you were flying in wave or thermal lift. There is a difference you know. However if you want to sample similar conditions in Scotland without heading for the Highlands (Aboyne) I can recommend two clubs near here in the Scottish Borders where there is a good chance of wave flying to quite high altitudes - 14000 -16000ft. One is Portmoak near Kinross and the other is Millfield almost on the border itself. Portmoak mostly winch launch which by the sound of it you haven't tried yet (strongly recommended for the sensation) and Millfield is aerotow only. Portmoak is a full time club - Millfield is weekends only.
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Suspect the release was AMSL, not AAL. It was still a very long tow though, the height of the launch point is given as 3400'. No wonder his wallet took a beating. What kind of glider was it? The DG1000? They are lovely to fly.
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here is a couple of vids from the flight, the light bit of desert you see in the disxtance is El Mirage lake bed next to Edwards Air Force base and General Atomics where the predator drone is built
