There is hope for aviation
07-20-2012, 05:35 PM
#1
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Joined APC: Oct 2007
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There is hope for aviation
So it's my day to be tow pilot at the glider club. The club had been hosting a regional contest for 13 meter gliders and the national championship for Schweizer 1-26s. The 1-26 is a 1960s, single seat glider that can't get out of its own way, dirt cheap (8 grand with trailer, the trailer may be worth than the glider) and barely a 20 to 1 glide ratio. 1-26 races are the Formula V of the glider world.
I get down there late morning and the regular cast of characters is there plus a 1-26 that's not local. Turns out there was a team entry (two pilots take turns flying the same ship) and they were going to hop and skip their glider home. Get a tow, fly off in the general direction of home and when they land trailer the glider to another field where they can get a tow and keep going.
First thing to keep in mind - we're south of Dallas. Home for these folks is New Jersey. You're lucky to average 40 knots in a 1-26. They said they had two weeks and they were just going to have fun. I talked to the pilot while the tow rope was being hooked up - "I figure you want to go east and into lift, right?" He said that would be a good plan, I took him up 2000 feet and under a nice CU, he released and went on his way.
Heard him a couple times checking in with his chase crew east of Dallas. After about 3 hours he was running out of lift and had lost his chase crew. We were able to relay from a glider over head to our clubhouse and called the chase crew and told them where he was going to land.
He'd made it 90 miles in a bit over 3 hours. The real kicker, the pilot was 18 years old.
I get down there late morning and the regular cast of characters is there plus a 1-26 that's not local. Turns out there was a team entry (two pilots take turns flying the same ship) and they were going to hop and skip their glider home. Get a tow, fly off in the general direction of home and when they land trailer the glider to another field where they can get a tow and keep going.
First thing to keep in mind - we're south of Dallas. Home for these folks is New Jersey. You're lucky to average 40 knots in a 1-26. They said they had two weeks and they were just going to have fun. I talked to the pilot while the tow rope was being hooked up - "I figure you want to go east and into lift, right?" He said that would be a good plan, I took him up 2000 feet and under a nice CU, he released and went on his way.
Heard him a couple times checking in with his chase crew east of Dallas. After about 3 hours he was running out of lift and had lost his chase crew. We were able to relay from a glider over head to our clubhouse and called the chase crew and told them where he was going to land.
He'd made it 90 miles in a bit over 3 hours. The real kicker, the pilot was 18 years old.
07-20-2012, 08:29 PM
#4
I'm a man of my word.
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Devil's Advocate
Posts: 2,883
Excellent story. Always good to hear of a young'n learning how to utilize them stick'n'rudder skills and properly manage energy.
Which airport y'all operating out of? I intend to drop in on the local soaring scene in DFW once I start making some money again.
Which airport y'all operating out of? I intend to drop in on the local soaring scene in DFW once I start making some money again.
07-20-2012, 08:42 PM
#5
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: May 2011
Position: 737 CA
Posts: 959
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07-21-2012, 05:31 PM
#9
I'm a man of my word.
Joined APC: Jul 2008
Position: Devil's Advocate
Posts: 2,883
Just kiddin'. I feel like glider flying should be mandatory somehow...
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