Landout Laws

On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 03:29:58 UTC, Bruce Friesen
wrote:

: His idea was to get the farmer's youngest _kid_ in the cockpit, take a photo, and promise to send a copy. Instant enthusiastic friend and ally!

I always carry a spare gliding club T-shirt in the back for
child-bribery purposes. I know someone who carries a box of chocolates
for the farmer's wife as well, but even in the UK I think it can get a
bit warm for that ...

Ian

--

On Mon, 16 Feb 2004 19:09:51 UTC, "plasticguy"
wrote:

: I took my Hang glider stuff to a few FFA meetings, and explained how
: I flew and that sometimes, I don't make it home and might accidentally
: become their guest.

My club exhibits a glider at the local agricultural show every year as
part of a very active policy of stying friends with the locals. It
seems to work!

Ian

--

These stories go on forever...

I'll add one more, then retire from the thread.

I landed out during the Sports Class Nats at Cordele, Georgia (89,
90?). It was a field left fallow among the peanuts. No damage, easy
access, no worries. I walked the half mile to the farmer's house and
knocked. The door opened and out he came, about 5'6", 150 lbs, in
overalls, and clearly interested in what I was doing on his doorstep.
He began talking rapidly. I didn't understand a single word he said.
But I recognized why. It was his unusual accent. I needed to break the
code -- understand the music of it -- then I'd be able to understand
him. The key in such situations is to keep your eyes on the person's
lips. It usually only takes several seconds...

I suddenly became aware that he wasn't talking anymore. He was staring
at me, 6'2" tall, 190 lbs, slightly hunched over, slack jawed,
blinking stupidly, staring at his mouth. Add the silly hat, the open
fly, and a decade old Region 4 tee shirt, threadbare and stained, and
he came to the only logical conclusion...

He was very kind to me after that. Speaking slowly. Offering the
phone. Happy to see that my tenders were able to find me and take me
back whence I'd come.

Moral of the story? Those in need typically recieve aid in proportion
to their need. I'm sure this man thought, "There but for the grace of
God," and responded with kindness. Not particularly wholesome for my
ego. But you go with the flow...

And then there was the local gal that landed out at Schurz, NV. A pick-up
roared up and offered her a ride to town. As she was about to get in, she
noticed the two indians were butt naked and declined the offer.

And then there was this guy that landed out in one of the nats at Uvalde, TX.
He tried to talk to a bunch of farm workers, but they all ran away, because
airplanes that landed there usually had something to do with drugs. The tow
plane arrived too late for a safe flight back, so he tied the glider down and
left in the tow plane.

Next morning he was met by no less than 30 Texas Rangers with weapons drawn.
"Don't know 'bout that accent, son? Where you come from? Where's the drugs?
JJ Sinclair

"Charles Petersen" schrieb:

We had two landouts at Seminole yesterday, ...

having read the complete thread, I came to the conclusion that out
landing seems to be rather bizarre in the US. All my time I was
dreaming of flying in your great soaring conditions, now I'm not so
sure anymore ... :-))

As a contrast, I had my share of outlandings too. Most of the time, I
was sitting in a farmer's kitchen, enjoying coffee and cake, or even a
beer offered, and waited for the retrieve crew. One farmer got his
tractor to pull the glider out of the field. No one was offensive.

Also, in germany it is law that gliders have the right to land at all
suitable places. The land owner is allowed to ask for name and
insurance, nothing more. He is not allowed to hinder the retrieve.
Eggert

Eggert Ehmke wrote:
"Charles Petersen" schrieb:

We had two landouts at Seminole yesterday, ...

having read the complete thread, I came to the conclusion that out
landing seems to be rather bizarre in the US. All my time I was
dreaming of flying in your great soaring conditions, now I'm not so
sure anymore ... :-))

As a contrast, I had my share of outlandings too. Most of the time, I
was sitting in a farmer's kitchen, enjoying coffee and cake, or even a
beer offered, and waited for the retrieve crew. One farmer got his
tractor to pull the glider out of the field. No one was offensive.

And that's how most of the outlandings go in the USA, also; however, the
very few that don't are often memorable. It's such a small concern, you
shouldn't let that stop you from visiting some of our outstanding
soaring areas. You'll love the lack of airspace restrictions, compared
to Germany!

Also, in germany it is law that gliders have the right to land at all
suitable places. The land owner is allowed to ask for name and
insurance, nothing more. He is not allowed to hinder the retrieve.
Eggert

Very civilized! With the higher density population, and a far higher
density of gliders landing in fields, trusting to good luck like we do
probably doesn't work. Here, lots fewer people per square mile, and far
fewer gliders per square mile!
--
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change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

Eric Greenwell
Washington State
USA

A few years ago I was participating in our club ASA contest series. The
first day I landed out about 50 miles away at a private residential
airstrip. Of course, the inhabitants were extremely welcoming. The met me
with a golf cart, pushed my glider off the runway, immediately got me my
cold drink of choice (Diet Coke), drove me all around the area showing me
each resident's personal aircraft. At each stop we made, we picked up a new
friend so by the time the towplane arrived and I was taking off I had about
20 wing runners and quite a send-off of waving hands.

The next day, also a contest day, I landed (yes) at the same airport and was
immediately met with "we were hoping to see you again but we didn't think it
would be this soon...you like Diet Coke, right?" It was kind of embarassing
but I had another nice afternoon waiting for the towplane.

I would like to add that being a female I pay particular attention to where
I might have to land. I know that because of that I am not as bold as some
of my male friends in pushing out a flight. I am more conscious of staying
in gliding range of a hospitable landing place than say a dilapidated farm
out in the middle of nowhere. I just am more aware that there still may be
problems to face after I land. And if I do have to land out in a field
somewhere I tend to land away from buildings because I really don't want
anyone to see me, I just don't know who or what I'll run into. I'm not
overly paranoid, just cautious. (I also don't walk through dark parking
lots at night.) But I do absolutely love flying cross-country, the farther,
the faster, the better.

Barb

Earlier, Eggert Ehmke wrote:

...having read the complete thread,
I came to the conclusion that out
landing seems to be rather bizarre
in the US...

That's a conclusion based on a thread that has specifically explored
the more troublesome episodes. In my experience of 25 years of crewing
and one pasture landing, the majority of outlandings are friendly
adventures as you describe.

Thanks, and best regards

Bob K.

Bruce Friesen wrote:
Wonderful post. One wee addition.

A friend of mine swore by a wrinkle to the "offer to take the owner's
picture with the glider using

your digital camera and email him the photo" strategy. His idea was to
get the farmer's youngest _kid_ in the cockpit, take a photo, and
promise to send a copy. Instant enthusiastic friend and ally! Well

That always works here (NL) too. I've heard of people offering a small
bottle of liquor as a bribe. Nothing fancy, not big at all. Bye,

David
NL

I disagree. I think Bob Kuykendall is dead on the money.

No matter what happens in the future, you have to get your ship out. And it
is unlikely that anyone will sacrifice their Ventus for the sake of
soaring's posterity.

Make the offer of a hundred bucks. It is a lot cheaper than what he will do
with a tractor and a chain, or what a dozen cattle with do with their
tongues.

It is not fair. But do it because it is smart. Forget theories and logic.
Get your glider out. The longer he has it, the more it is his.

He voted for the sheriff who is his cousin anyway.

I have dealt with ranchers successfully all my adult life. They are a lot
like suburbanites and apartment dwellers...just more spread out. They object
to people getting inside their space whether it's rational or not. Once
inside, they want to exercise power.

They get tired of people shooting their cattle, dumping garbage on their
land, and living better than them. You are the personification of all those
mysterious "city people" that **** him off. On the other hand, he knows that
you know where he lives and his assets cannot be protected from uncivilized
acts. He is thinking that the whole time you are standing there. Of course,
you wouldn't shoot all his cattle in the ribs or put a hole in his aqua
ammonia tank or put 2, 4-D in his spray rig or Crazy Glue in all his locks,
but he doesn't know that.

You should be willing to show a little starch. Be polite but don't kiss ass.
He did not want you there but once you are, it is a little like the love
scene in Deliverance. If he wanted you gone all that bad, he would help you
leave. He is trying to exercise power. You don't have to threaten to let him
know that he better not screw with your airplane or you will do whatever
ominous and arcane things that city people do to rural people.

I do not recommend doing this at home but once a farmer told me that he was
going to lock the gate. I did all the Bob Kuykendall things and he still
wanted to shove me around. So, I told him I was going to drive through his
fence. I think he got the idea that I wanted to kick his stupid face in more
than I wanted my glider back...and by then, hypoglycemic and tired, I really
really did. I'm not a pretty guy and when I am thinking about cannibalism,
it shows.

More acceptable versions of this exist in the form of straight, un-hurried
talk, eye contact, friendliness, and plain dealing. If he is a jerk, he will
still be one. If he is okay, he will stay okay. But I have seen lots of guys
go in winning and come out losing because of the way they handled it.

That's your first lesson in Rancher 101. There WILL be a quiz.