Gliding is brilliant!!!

[mat777]

On the suggestion of a fellow Aero coursemate, I accompanied him to the Bristol and Gloucs Gliding Club today. Though he has been going a while, its the first time I've ever aviated in something smaller than a 737 and by god was it a fantastic experience!

Having been strapped to a parachute and shoehorned into a DG505 2-seat glider, we winch-launched from 0-55kts in 2 seconds on the ground followed by 0-1300ft in 10 seconds. Once I'd retrieved my internal organs from behind my spine, and after trimming the glider, the instructor let me take control for some banking turns and a circuit. He was impressed at how I managed to keep the horizon constant in turns - apparently most first-timers oscillate up and down like a yo-yo. I'm obviously a natural born pilot

[essayer]

Good to hear! Are you going for another flight?

Try an aerotow too, much longer flight than winching, unless you get lucky on a thermal day (which we should be getting plenty of by now, if it wasn't for this weather ..)

[mat777]

I most certainly am going back post-exams! I was supposed to have an aerotow today but the tug had to go out on a retrieve mission - it didnt bother me that much as £7/winch is cheaper than £30/tow!

[Simpo Two]

mat777 said:

He was impressed at how I managed to keep the horizon constant in turns - apparently most first-timers oscillate up and down like a yo-yo. I'm obviously a natural born pilot

Nah, bank, nose drops a little, pull back a tad to correct. Next time you do them together. But what I could never do was get the piece of string straight (yaw indicator!)

[mat777]

Simpo Two said:

mat777 said:

He was impressed at how I managed to keep the horizon constant in turns - apparently most first-timers oscillate up and down like a yo-yo. I'm obviously a natural born pilot

Nah, bank, nose drops a little, pull back a tad to correct. Next time you do them together. But what I could never do was get the piece of string straight (yaw indicator!)

That's what I was doing - pulling back and holding it perfectly each time.
As for the piece of string, that was the subject of my second launch - learning to use the rudder for co-ordinated turns. I was going into the turns ok keeping the string straight, but kept forgetting to use the rudder when straightening up again - which resulted in a few slightly alarming sideslips! I got the hang of it eventually though on the final course adjustment before the instructor took over for landing

[mat777]

Isaac, if there you have any remote glimmer of aviation enthusiasm then you will love it! It's just such a serene experience to be right at the pointy end with the huge canopy giving unimpeded visibility, watching the world sail by underneath with only the faint whistle of the airflow breaking the eerie silence.
By the time of my second flight we were pushing the limits of the daylight, meaning I got to watch a beautiful sunset in the over the Bristol Channel, casting a deep orange glow over the water as we sailed along from our unique vantage point

My hasty iPhone shot earlier in the flight before it set doesnt come close to doing it justice