what do the bachelors do for crew?

"Mike Lindsay" wrote in message
...

Many years ago there was an article in S&G by Mike Bird which described
Mrs Bird saying
"You seem to think gliding is a substitute for sex"
"No," he claims he said, "Sex is a substitute for gliding".

There is a Serious Point in there somewhere...


--
Mike Lindsay

Now THAT is funny!!!
Thanks,
Casey Lenox
KC
Phoenix

This is actually two different questions involving (1) contests and (2)
all the other stuff.

My wife, Tanya, and twin girls, Josie and Tina, enjoy going to regional
and national contests with me. They know the usual cast of characters,
pilots and crews, especially the ones who are fun to be around and who
often have kids the same age as ours. I confess that a lot of planning
sometimes goes into contest selection. Last year, for example, we drove
2 1/2 days to Uvalde, TX for the U.S. Standard Class Nationals because
the Sports Class Nationals--only 3 hrs. away--was held during the
girls' school year and they wouldn't have been able to attend (that was
non-starter with them). I also had to apply pressure to one pilot
immediately before we left to make sure he arrived with at least one of
his daughters so our two would have company. Usually there's a pack of
kids roaming the airport at a nationals but the sparse attendance at
Uvalde called for extreme measures. You can't take anything for granted
in aviation, including providing for a happy crew.

The second question involves crewing around the local airport during
fun and practice flying. My wife used to come with me but that's
uncommon now, especially with all the activities our kids are involved
in. So I'm reliant on fellow pilots. I do the best I can not to land
out but it usually happens a couple of times a year (if you never land
out, you're not pushing hard enough in practice). Aero retrieves are
expensive but I use them occasionally. Sometimes another pilot will
fetch me because he's a great guy...and is making an investment in good
will that will pay off some day in the future.

The care and feeding of crews, family and otherwise, is a subject that
could be written about at nearly the same length as competition flying
and likely with greater impact on most pilots' enjoyment of the sport.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"

I hope my wingman doesn't land out too.

wrote in message
ps.com...
I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems
pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one
person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands
out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the
single guys do?

Johan Larson

After my 16th birthday I was off to Hobbs NM crewing. I have taken line
boys from the airport with me to contests to crew. I have had many
students offer their services to crew at contests. I would post
something at the club house if your going to a contest. But now I have
my wife, she enjoys hanging out with everyone at the contests. If im
flying at home, well then I call my mom and ask for a towplane.

But what do all the single guys do?

See the thread on "tail observations"...