Backcountry Pilot • Soaring

Soaring

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Mon Jan 23, 2012 2:43 pm

Re: Soaring

I've always thought that there's three kinds of flying that really help you know how to control your airplane: Soaring, flying aerobatics (provided you learn right - from someone who really knows what they're doing), and instrument flying.

They always struck me as different views of the same thing: precision control of your airplane across a big range of conditions.

Hope you do get to pursue it in the future, Zane, but be advised that, more than any other kind of flying I've done, it involves a whole lot of standing around (waiting for a tow, launching other guys if you're in a club, etc.) You can spend a whole day for an hour's flight time. Tough on a young family.

--Tony
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Mon Jan 23, 2012 5:39 pm

Re: Soaring

Zane wrote:Anyone into soaring? The bug has bitten me lately. I took a 15 min ride about 10 years agoin a sailplane in Santa Ynez, and it was so exhilarating. I've also found a new interest in paragliding, which, while not a 3-axis controlled aircraft, is still a great platform for free flying and soaring.

Anybody else here similarly afflicted?

Z


This was 7 yrs ago Zane :lol: :lol:
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Tue Jan 24, 2012 12:10 pm

Re:

Zane wrote:Incredible. That shot of the tall lenticular is awesome.

I trained in a nearly TBO C152 in the Santa Ynez valley, and climbout to get over the coast range to Santa Barbara was sometimes less than inspriing, even solo. So, I would fly out over Lake Cachuma, hugging the north side of the mountains, and if there was a north wind or the day was starting to heat up, I could get about a 1500 fpm climb and be over much faster.

I'm taking paragliding lessons in June, hoping to put some of my soaring theories to the test, but I would also really like to get some dual in some long wing fiberglass.

Z


Are you from there Zane? I know the area well. I often have to park the 180 at IZA because of the marine layer over LPC when I'm down visiting family. I've always wondered what they'd do if I landed in the dirt in front of the glider operation there? Probably nothing, but still curious. And I caught lots of crawdads and blue gill on Lake Cachuma back in "the day".

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Last edited by clippwagon on Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:27 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:22 pm

Re: Soaring

Clipwagon,
They'd probably scratch their head and wonder what did he do that for? We land gliders in the dirt there all the time.
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Tue Jan 24, 2012 1:46 pm

Re: Soaring

Like it or not, soaring and sailplanes are an integral part of the best (and perhaps only future) we have as general aviation sport pilots. Even without any new restrictive regulations, the cost of gas will drive a majority of all decisions made in the future. It already has driven the decisions and designs of zillion dollar airliners, and they have money to work with. As gas gets more and more expensive, awhatever meets the definition of an affordable airplane will start looking more and more like a glider. Those of us who love and lived in gliders will have less of an adjustment to make, but unfortunately it looks like everything will be going that way. In order to fly further or longer on a gallon of gas, you are forced to look at the airplanes that go further and longer with no gas. Simple physics.

Now before anyone gets too mad, I truly hope I'm wrong. I hope that:
1) something happens with oil and energy that makes gasonline cheap again
2) we find so much oil in those Dakota and Canada sands that we can have an unlimited supply
3) some inventor figures out a way to get the oil out of those sands cheaply
4) somebody figures out how to make a battery with the same e-density as gasoline.

But if history and corporate greed in the past is any indication, looks like we're all going to be first in line trying to marry my old girlfriend Laminar Flo :)

Several of us on this website have flown hundreds of miles with no gas on board (640 miles is my high mark 6-87), using only 3 or 4 gallons of gas for a Pawnee tow to 2000 feet. Other friends of mine have gone well over 1000 miles. You mugs all better start taking glider lessons !
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Tue Jan 24, 2012 3:53 pm

Re: Re:

clippwagon wrote:Are you from there Zane? I know the area well. I often have to park the 180 at IZA because of the marine layer over LPC when I'm down visiting family. I've always wondered what they'd do if I landed in the dirt in front of the glider operation there? Probably nothing, but still curious. And I caught lots of crawdads and blue gill on Lake Cachuma back in "the day".

Clippwagon


I grew up visiting our family in Santa Barbara, and then in my post college years I lived and worked there. I got my Private at IZA with Sunwest Aviation, flying with Jeff Millard. They are a great little mom-n-pop flight school, and I really loved flying the valley. Shortly after, I moved to Reno. I don't think anyone would have cared if you landed short in the dirt. The tow plane did it.
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Fri May 18, 2012 7:35 pm

Re: Soaring

EZFlap wrote:You mugs all better start taking glider lessons !


I just got back from my first ride in a glider - boy howdy a shit ton of fun. My brains are still scrambled from all the steep turns catching thermals - but a modest 1 hour ride for the $35 tow to 3000 agl was awesome. Made it up to 11k msl.

Gonna be doing this again for sure.

Image

Image

'Greg
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Fri May 18, 2012 9:45 pm

Re: Soaring

Soy, sorry it was such a crappy day at Boulder Intergalactic, heck only 11k and an hour :lol: And then the air fell apart...

You should check the glider pilots Online Contest (OLC). Some great flights recently =D> =D>

Thanks. cubscout
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Sat May 19, 2012 3:39 am

Re: Soaring

I have a cessna 170a and was flying out in Western Queensland [outback australia] and I had my eyes on the lookout for gliders as I was in a hot spot and was over flying a glider operation airfield. I was at about 3500 ft when I noticed that my VSI showed I had about 750 ft verticle speed. so i started a tight turn and then saw about 800ft on the the VSI. So I kept circling enjoying the climb. I then noticed I had a glider on my left wing tip about 1/4 a mile away doing the same turn as me as if we were in formation. I was still going up and it was nearly 6000ft. I pulled the engine back to idle and we were still going up. I was climbing a little faster than the glider so maddness over came me and I killed the engine . Still going up and then I called up the glider on the radio and stated " Great thermal". My answer I got from him was "smart Arse'. He then turned away and I lost sight of him as I was still going up. At nearly 9500ft I made a radio call . Cessna 170 Alpha Alpha Charlie at 9500 ft over airfield starting engine and tracking for Brisbane . [90 miles away]
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Sat May 19, 2012 7:19 am

Re: Soaring

cubscout wrote:Soy, sorry it was such a crappy day at Boulder Intergalactic, heck only 11k and an hour :lol: And then the air fell apart...

You should check the glider pilots Online Contest (OLC). Some great flights recently =D> =D>

Thanks. cubscout


I said it was modest. It seems we got one of the better rides of the afternoon - it was a lot of work to get that much out of the day. I'm a rank noob - but I had fun.

I know about OLC. I wish I spoke german - because that is just about the crappiest web site I've ever seen - in spite of it containing the coolest data.

'Greg
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Sat May 19, 2012 8:26 am

Re: Soaring

http://soaringcafe.com/ try this one we speak english :D
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Sat May 19, 2012 4:30 pm

Re: Soaring

Soaring has always been my favorite form of flying. It's more expensive in time and money in general than boring holes with my 182.

My first solo in a 2-33 lasted almost an hour and a half at cloud base, over a power plant cooling pond. It was easily the most fun I've had in a flying machine aside from a hang glider.
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Sat May 19, 2012 8:26 pm

Re: Soaring

lesuther wrote:Soaring has always been my favorite form of flying. It's more expensive in time and money in general than boring holes with my 182.

My first solo in a 2-33 lasted almost an hour and a half at cloud base, over a power plant cooling pond. It was easily the most fun I've had in a flying machine aside from a hang glider.


You would think it's cheaper but when you take into consideration the fixed costs like the initial investment and 50k to 100k + for a good competive glider that's pretty expensive. Then insure it, my hull value is $45,000 cost me $1200 per year. If you go to fly it you've get to spend the whole day going to the glider port rigging it flying it then derig it and drinking beer with your buddies. You won't get home till late your wife will be pissed because you didn't spend the day with her.

You will pay $50-$75 for Aero tow nowadays. If the lift is good you will fly 2 to 6 hours maybe go anywhere from 100 km to 500 maybe 700+ km. Unless you live close to a glider port you'll spend time and gas getting there and getting back home.

But the smiles you get after 300 to 500 or up to a thousand kilometer flight is well worth the cost of gasoline and your time. I skipped flying last year and I'm not really motivated to fly this year, I don't know why I'm getting into this backcountry thing not quite as much as some people but I'm really enjoying it.
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Sun May 20, 2012 8:03 pm

Re: Soaring

Zane wrote:Anyone into soaring? The bug has bitten me lately. I took a 15 min ride about 10 years agoin a sailplane in Santa Ynez, and it was so exhilarating. I've also found a new interest in paragliding, which, while not a 3-axis controlled aircraft, is still a great platform for free flying and soaring.

Anybody else here similarly afflicted?

Z


I've been itching to get back into soaring. Anybody know about the outfit that operats at KFLY?
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Sun May 20, 2012 10:27 pm

Re: Soaring

av8ingcouple wrote:
Zane wrote:Anyone into soaring? The bug has bitten me lately. I took a 15 min ride about 10 years agoin a sailplane in Santa Ynez, and it was so exhilarating. I've also found a new interest in paragliding, which, while not a 3-axis controlled aircraft, is still a great platform for free flying and soaring.

Anybody else here similarly afflicted?

Z


I've been itching to get back into soaring. Anybody know about the outfit that operats at KFLY?


Was some guys used to fly out of Kelly Airpark. Some were self launchers. Go to www.ssa.org click on About soaring then search your desired state. Also Mountainmatt does some towing he might be of some help.
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Mon May 21, 2012 9:07 pm

Re: Soaring

KMMV used to / does have a soaring club, but I think I read they recently closed up shop there - did they move? Also, can we still land over there on the 16/34 grass? Anyone know? ~Brendan
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Mon May 21, 2012 9:58 pm

Re: Soaring

crazedpilot wrote:KMMV used to / does have a soaring club, but I think I read they recently closed up shop there - did they move? Also, can we still land over there on the 16/34 grass? Anyone know? ~Brendan


http://www.redtailsoaring.com/index.html
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Mon May 21, 2012 10:13 pm

Re: Soaring

That would be some great add-on training.... may have to give them a visit... thx for the link! I wish I could remember exactly where I read the MMV operation was closing... maybe it was the predecessor to Red Tail with an out of date website. Thx Terry!
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Tue May 22, 2012 6:09 pm

Soaring

I thought I knew how to fly, until I went to get my glider rating in 1975. Now after a few hundred hours in sailplanes and towing for a few years there are no opportunities here in Maine so back to powered flight full time but it still is some of the best flying I have done!! And you learn how to really fly!!


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Tue May 22, 2012 6:34 pm

Re: Soaring

I'll keep that in mind! :)
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