Silver Distance

1-26 (alt)
PW-5 (dur and dist)

I must say the 5 hour duration part of the
Silver seems like a MUCH harder task than
the alt or dist.

No matter what glider you fly, five hours is
still five hours. At the point I did it, it
was the longest I had ever continuously
piloted any aircraft, despite over 1500 flight hours
before that (also with no bathroom).

Getting all that "official" is another matter.
It took me six tries to get credit for the 50km
distance, and it was ultimately for a 150KM+ flight...

silly rules...
--

------------+
Mark Boyd
Avenal, California, USA

Mark James Boyd wrote:
1-26 (alt)
PW-5 (dur and dist)

I must say the 5 hour duration part of the
Silver seems like a MUCH harder task than
the alt or dist.

No matter what glider you fly, five hours is
still five hours. At the point I did it, it
was the longest I had ever continuously
piloted any aircraft, despite over 1500 flight hours
before that (also with no bathroom).

I agree, who can fly 5 hours probably can do 300k or even 500k in a
"hot" ship.

/Janos

I agree, who can fly 5 hours probably can do 300k or even 500k in a
"hot" ship.


I differ with you there. Each places a different demand on the skills of the
pilot.

A five hour flight can be done "flag poling" around the home field with no fear
of landing out. The only challenge is finding the next thermal, which are
probably all house thermals, relieving your bladder, and staying comfortable.

A cross country flight requires all these elements, plus navigation, strategy,
and technique.

Jim Vincent
CFIG
N483SZ
illspam

Jim Vincent wrote:
I agree, who can fly 5 hours probably can do 300k or even 500k in a
"hot" ship.



I differ with you there. Each places a different demand on the skills of the
pilot.

A five hour flight can be done "flag poling" around the home field with no fear
of landing out. The only challenge is finding the next thermal, which are
probably all house thermals, relieving your bladder, and staying comfortable.

A cross country flight requires all these elements, plus navigation, strategy,
and technique.

What about GPS and glide computers? All you have to do is to believe
what they tell you. So navigation and strategy more or less sorted out.
If we manage to remove the fear of outlanding we are at the same task.
Keep the glider in the air more than 5 hours but choose your next
thermal at a certain direction.
Let's tell the truth: it's not as complicated as most pilots tend to
state it

/Janos

In article , Janos Bauer
writes
Mark James Boyd wrote:
1-26 (alt)
PW-5 (dur and dist)

I must say the 5 hour duration part of the
Silver seems like a MUCH harder task than
the alt or dist.

No matter what glider you fly, five hours is
still five hours. At the point I did it, it
was the longest I had ever continuously
piloted any aircraft, despite over 1500 flight hours
before that (also with no bathroom).

I agree, who can fly 5 hours probably can do 300k or even 500k in a
"hot" ship.

/Janos
OTOH it is possible to do 5 hours on a ridge. Even a low one, 200ft
high. Like at Dunstable. Even in a Tutor.

Not that I did that you understand. Mine was Tibenham to Swanton
Morley, 24 miles in all. As someone said at the time, it's quicker by
bus.
What? Oh yes. Distance was Tibenham to Duxford, 82Km. In the only
Skylark 4 that has its own web-site.
http://members.aol.com/williamsmf/index.htm
--
Mike Lindsay