jcarlyle wrote:

Things have changed for you, now that you're gliding.

Only the mission, the money, and the people change.


You've certainly got the flight experience, but I submit that much
of it isn't transferable to what you're doing now....

There's the outline of a potentially interesting topic. What with
patience wearing thin and those of us still with snow on the ground
hoping that the new season is only a few weeks away, it will be a lot
better than casting aspersions on somebody else's glider's esthetics.

Active and retired professional pilots on this list, with both military
and civilian experience, who in addition have a lot more experience with
sailplanes than I, might have some fascinating comments. You'll notice
though, if you are here for awhile, that those with the most to tell
don't like to talk too much about themselves, or about what the rest of
us would call their considerable accomplishments.

But for me, I think all flight experience remains relevant as long as
you can climb, walk, or be lowered into the cockpit. The physical
changes with age add some new challenges and reduce some abilities, but
that's not news. And that's one of the nice things about sailplanes:
they go real slow.

All the things that I've done before, and everything I've experienced in
light planes, fighters, and airliners, relate in some way to all the
things I do in a sailplane. But, I can do some things in a glider that I
could not do in an F-100, in a 757, or in a Cessna. When it comes to
flight experience, it's all additive, John, though not necessarily
linear. Some of the pieces do have to be combined in new ways. Perhaps
one can't really know that, though, without personal experience of some
of the many uses to which we put aircraft.


...(deliberately flying near stall in turbulent conditions,
perhaps within dozens of feet of a ridge, with no "go" handle
to get you out of trouble).

You've actually just described common phases of fighter and FAC
missions, John, but even so we can't ignore all the hours spent between
rotation and clean-up and in the flare over forty years, day and night
and in all sorts of weather. One does learn a little something that way.
And about that so-called "go" handle: the only time I ever thought much
about it was in making sure the safety pins were in before getting in or
out of the cockpit. Only four of the types in my logbook had such handy
devices, so I don't miss them very much. And anyway, they can only save
you from your smaller mistakes.


What are you doing in your new flying career to prepare for the
unexpected...?

I want to keep an open mind about the airplane, the weather, and my own
ability; learn something new on every flight; take on a new challenge,
or three, very season; listen more than talk, and always have a plan B,
and C. It's a LOT more fun that way.

However, preparing for the unexpected is a contradiction. You can only
prepare for those things you are willing to admit can happen. That's the
value of experience, perhaps. It's easier not only to admit that
anything is possible, but to actually believe it.

And now you've made me stay up far too late for an old guy, so good
night -- and good luck.


Jack