PPRuNe Forums - Gliding stories

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Quote:

Originally Posted by JW411 (Post 11175541)

I remember a chap from my old days in the RAFGSA (1960/70s) who had barbed wire marks either side of his mouth which he had collected from an out-landing in Holland or Germany. He was lucky he didn't lose his head. The first glider I ever flew fitted with the protection bar fitted was Ian Smith's old Skylark 2 (497) in 1969.

He was from our club in Germany.

I got quite a shock when I saw the wreckage the next day. There was nothing left and the amount of blood in the cockpit was horrifying to this 17 year old!

Fortunately he made a full recovery.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JW411 (Post 11175541)

Don't recall GGA having the bars fitted, but, this was the reason I plonked Bruggen.s K18 into a field. Went to Helmond, came back in still air ! ..fantastic but then got near Weert. John Willy said yes, the brain cell said no. Between me and Bruggen was Roermond, marshy ground, with lots of barbed wire, rising ground with forest and the Maas..which sucks,as they say. Every X country brief stressed the dangers of the encounter you witnessed.

However, having arrived back in earth, next step is to call Bruggen to come and collect. Wander across to Dutch "farmhouse" and notice a lot of expensive cars. Get to front door and sign says "Chateau de Sade "...undeterred, knock on door and then notice the bel.l..well you know, easy to miss. Door opens and am greeted by a lady "suitably attired"...ask politely can I use the phone, showing 1250..being Dutch, she was fluent in English so "No. (rude word) off !!" came the reply. Well you can't see a sign on the door from 2000 ft can you !

To be fair, she did have some justification as the sight in front of her hadn't actually shaved for a couple of days and the sartorial elegance of the grow bag had been " somewhat stained " over time. I was reliably informed by ECW the venue had mysteriously caught fire one night some time later.

Quote:

Originally Posted by biscuit74 (Post 11175222)

On a gliding theme - does anyone know what the story is behind the two seat sailplane, possibly a Duo Discus - which landed out on a hill in North Wales last weekend. Appears to have landed out ON the hillside itself, amongst the heather/bracken near the top of a slope. No-one hurt, but getting it down without damage may have been, or may still be, a challenge.

Stretched the glide? Sudden loss of lift due to a wind shift? Or, as nearly happened to me once, mis-assessed the glide angle over gently sloping ground?

Better than putting one into the drink, at Beachy Head.

Quote:

Originally Posted by nevillestyke (Post 11176241)

Better than putting one into the drink, at Beachy Head.

Yes I agree, I thought that a particularly fine demonstration of how not to ridge soar. Awkward when the wind shifts and the dependable ridge isn't any more. I've had that 'aargh' moment a few times. 'Plan B' not as much in evidence as perhaps it should have been then, either !

I was slope soaring the hill once when there was a partial eclipse. Sorry can remember if it was a solar or lunar. Sky darkened but not too dark but the wind suddenly stopped blowing leading to a quick low circuit landing!