Off field landings...are not technically emergencies.

Hmm...
What _do_ you call it when an aircraft loses power and has to land?


I got a couple email responses to this advising me that the discussion was
about sailplanes, not powered planes.

The words were chosen to introduce the argument that there's no difference
between a powered airplane that loses power and a sailplane that loses
power, other than the fact that one is externally powered and the other
internally powered and that a well maintained engine may be more predictable
than thermals, ridge lift and wave.

So, if it is an emergency when a powered aircraft loses power and is forced
to land, why would it not also be an emergency when a sailplane is unable to
connect to its source of power and is forced to land? Shouldn't those on
the ground treat them the same?

FWIW, I've not had a bad experience with a landowner.
My favorite was last summer. I landed out on a ranch strip that hadn't seen
an aircraft in a decade. One of the ranch hands--straight out of central
casting--said,
"I saw you circling with those buzzards pretty low over the auction pen."
"Yeah, sailplanes use the same lift as soaring birds do" said I.
"Looks like they're a little better at it" said he.
"Yeah, they are" I said shaking my head and laughing.

Brent


"303pilot" brentUNDERSCOREsullivanATbmcDOTcom wrote in message
...

On 2/18/04 6:38 PM, in article ,
"plasticguy" wrote:

Off field landings...are not technically emergencies.

Hmm...
What _do_ you call it when an aircraft loses power and has to land?