40 years ago, I flew at Sky Sailing, Fremont. That operation is long gone from Fremont, now operating out of Warner Springs in SoCal. I was this close ---||--- to graduating to the SGS 1-26.

I'm training in Grob G-103a's now. I'm finding it a harder plane to fly than I remember the 2-33's being. I'm wondering if that's really true or if it's just me. I see evidence that it's BOTH. On the one hand, I'm 40 years older now, which is known to induce geriatric drag on one's proficiency acquisition velocity. AND I see training videos on U-tube showing students on their 1st, 2nd, 3rd lessons seemingly doing better that I am after approx. 8 hours and 25 flights -- even some videos at MY club with the same instructors I'm flying with now!

OTOH, a whole lot of people do seem to agree that the Grob 103 is just harder to learn to fly. The rudder is way stiff, and I'm still getting a handle on that. (I did get to fly our Grob 103 Acro last week, which I thought handled rather easier.) I'm just getting the knack of staying behind the tow plane, whereas 40 years ago I was wake-boxing by flight #3. (Yes, I still have my old log book!)

I still remember a fair amount from 40 years ago, but as for the "muscle-memory" for flying, I feel I'm starting from scratch -- probably for the better, as the Grob handles so differently from the 2-33.

My longer-term fantasies are
1. Fly our 1-26, which I came so close to flying way back then;
2. Fly a 2-32, in which I had my first glider ride as a teen-ager at Dillingham, Oahu, Hawaii. (There's one at nearby Hollister; also Williams and Crazy Creek);
3. Fly the ASK-21, of which I've only heard and read good things (Hollister and Williams have them);
4. Maybe even try getting into glider aerobatics, the better to feed my growing adrenaline junkie addiction!

-- J. J.
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