Sailplanes

[DieselFan]

702 had a small talk about the Sailplane club in the cape competing to fly over 1000km this morning. They also mentioned it's about R500 for 30mins flip

1. Why the price so high compared to trikes / gyro etc?
2. Who in Jhb has one that I can go for a flip in?
3. Who has been in one? How's it compare to other forms...

[AV8]

Hi DieselFan

I went for a ride in one about 6 months ago at Magaliesberg gliding club - a very friendly bunch of people I must say. You just arrive and put your name down, wait and they will take you up. They have a fantastic clubhouse with a pool, beers etc...

I cant remember the exact price I paid, but its around R2.50 a minute of gliding time, the tug was about R200 for a 10 minute tow. R500 is possible if you stay airborne for a long time.

Personally I didn't enjoy it as you are almost always in a steep bank looking for thermals and constantly being subjected to g' force. I asked the pilot to please land as my lunch wanted to depart from the rest of me!!

[Dre'man]

. I asked the pilot to please land as my lunch wanted to depart from the rest of me!!

I have been waiting on the forum for someone the mention this. I was starting to think I was the only Aviator that got airsick

[Junkie]

..... truly a sport of Kings

Yep - this is a form of 'active' flying and the best learning platform going- it has long spells of total silence and serenity, punctuated by thermaling whenever the opportunity is presented - it a technical sport and requires the mind to be engaged fullly in planning flights and assessing speed, height, Wx conditions, distance, etc, etc to make the best of it

.. started back in mid 70's at Baragwanath and from Booker and Dunstable in UK - I used to love winch launches best

Needs a heck of a lot of dedication and willingness to spend full days / weekends at the club to get decent flying time in, and helping out as ground crew is part of the game - patience an absolulute virtue as lots of time is spent waiting your turn for a glider or tow / winch and often flights are then limited to a few minutes

.... probably why I ended up flying trikes, cause I lost mine (mind and patience) somehwere along the way and of course i get lost without my GPS ( and i did loose my lunch on occasion when the temps got high)

[Ratman]

. I asked the pilot to please land as my lunch wanted to depart from the rest of me!!

I have been waiting on the forum for someone the mention this. I was starting to think I was the only Aviator that got airsick

Managed 300 odd flights during my gliding career without once losing my lunch to the elements - maybe just luck
I have to agree with Junkie - a really amazing and active flying experience. Largest difference to trike flying being that you are constantly trying to find the turbulence rather than avoiding it. You also strive to stay high so low flying is really limited to finals or the occasional high speed low pass (and you better have worked your circuit out properly therafter).

Sailplanes are really clean flying machines and as such are pretty aerobatic. You can loop most of them and wingovers are easy and safe provided you maintain minimum hight etc. Landing a glider is also a unique experience - no chance of a go-around and you make sure that you are on the numbers with respect to your circuit planning. I found that gliding actually teaches you a lot of the basics out of sheer necessity.

I have found that I prefer trike flying due to the independance that Junkie eluded to - don't need half a rugby team to get you airborne and you are not limited to club days.

There are days however that I look up at the cumulus and can't stop wondering what it would be like again to cruise around in the cool air, darting from cloud to cloud...

Pity we can't always do it all...

I can recommend going for a flip if you have not manged too yet. Winch launch is great - unreal angle of attack and seriously rapid climb rate

[C205]

Gliding teaches you much about the weather, elements and seat of the pants flying. Aerobatics is what got me hooked on the gliders in the first place as my first flight in a glider included a loop. One of the best experiences was practicing spins in the glider. Its so slick it picks up speed incredibly fast and you have to watch it not to come close to VNE. Gliding is not a ride from A to B - its the journey that counts and you work that rudder! No glider pilot converting to 'fixed wing' is ever lazy on the rudders Its like pedalling a bicycle. :D Got a bit qeasy thermalling once or twice (especially after a heavy night) but never too bad. You get used to it.
They are very strict about landing on the numbers, but I attribute that to the fact that out-landings are very much a part of the sport and if you're faced with a short field, you've got to be able to put it down where you want (That's why I enjoy practicing engine out landings in the trike). Like Junkie and others its the patience that eventually ran out and I decided I wanted to fly when I wanted to. The attraction of sitting on an airfield waiting the whole day/weekend waiting for a few minutes' flight kind of wears thin eventually.
I still miss feeling that slight bump under one wing and centralling on a thermal.

[Redeye]

All the above coments are valid- my 2c- I did the trike thing (about 1200hrs)PPL and aerobatics- I still fly a Cessna- but when I started gliding I found a flying sport I wont give up- Evry flight is difernt- If you stop concentrating on you flying you fall down- I love evry minet of it- Its pain to get a gpl but once thats over its all pleasure- I glide out of Brits- If you want to try it arive on a Saterday after 11 am am and the club will be happy to take you for a ride- The Aerotow is R150 and the glider rental is R2 per min- The instructors work for FREE.

Try it

[DieselFan]

All the above coments are valid- my 2c- I did the trike thing (about 1200hrs)PPL and aerobatics- I still fly a Cessna- but when I started gliding I found a flying sport I wont give up- Evry flight is difernt- If you stop concentrating on you flying you fall down- I love evry minet of it- Its pain to get a gpl but once thats over its all pleasure- I glide out of Brits- If you want to try it arive on a Saterday after 11 am am and the club will be happy to take you for a ride- The Aerotow is R150 and the glider rental is R2 per min- The instructors work for FREE.

Try it

Well I do have a belated birthday present to call in...it was either Gyro or now Sailplane Which one...

R150 + (60x2) = R270 - That's cool. Whats the cruising speeds? Is that Brits airfield?

[Tjoek]

Also have a look at the Whisper motor glider. Russel Phillips in PE is always keen to demonstrate the performance of this great local design. Although it doesn't have the glide performance of a true glider, it is still a great compromise (approx 28:1). You can do gliding, while being independent of a tug. Also, you can go that extra mile to find good lift with its good cross country capability.

[Redeye]

Whats the cruising speeds? Is that Brits airfield?

Yes FABS- The glider boys are normaly at the thresold of Runway 20- Just wonder over- The CFI is Robert Speth and the the other instructor is Maurice Hoffman- both very friendly old Germans.

Cruise speed ??- how long is a piece of string- The club K7 cruises at about 100kph and my Nimbus about 160km /h- but it isnt about going anywhere at speed- you spend a lot of time going around in circles going nowhere its about the purest formof flying you will ever do. :D