Brave Sir Robin

While this first post is pretty mean-spirited, I have been shocked that no one has been talking about this. A very widely known glider pilot crashes at the top of a mountain and walks away is very big news indeed. Why the radio silence?

With his posting on soaring cafe I don't believe it is too soon to start talking about it now...he lived!!! I am thrilled to hear Frank is ok. When I heard from a friend down at the event about it right after it happened and then knowing that Frank was still up on the mountain - I actually got a little emotional thinking a fellow pilot was possibly in harm's way.

There is a lot to be learned by this incident and look forward to getting more info to hopefully help the rest of us be safer flying around rocks. Glad you are ok Frank.

Bruno - B4

On Monday, 3 June 2013 09:49:47 UTC-6, wrote:
While this first post is pretty mean-spirited, I have been shocked that no one has been talking about this. A very widely known glider pilot crashes at the top of a mountain and walks away is very big news indeed. Why the radio silence?



With his posting on soaring cafe I don't believe it is too soon to start talking about it now...he lived!!! I am thrilled to hear Frank is ok. When I heard from a friend down at the event about it right after it happened and then knowing that Frank was still up on the mountain - I actually got a little emotional thinking a fellow pilot was possibly in harm's way.



There is a lot to be learned by this incident and look forward to getting more info to hopefully help the rest of us be safer flying around rocks. Glad you are ok Frank.



Bruno - B4

Bruno, with all due respect there is nothing that can discussed at this point on this forum.

There are only a few, maybe only one, people that has the facts so any discussion on this forum is pure speculation.

It appears that the SPOT trace is no longer there, may have it set to only keep 24 hours worth of data.

It is up to the PIC to report and file appropriate reports to the appropriate authorities. I can find no NTSB or FAA entries online.

I would not expect the contest organizers to weigh in here or on the SSA site, it is not their responsibility.

Yes it is great hear that Frank survived but lets wait for details and not speculate.

Ron Gleason

Track archive, including TA final track, is still available on SSA racing page at http://www.ssa.org/SailplaneTracker/...5&day=2013-6-1


On Monday, June 3, 2013 11:32:23 AM UTC-5, Ron Gleason wrote:
On Monday, 3 June 2013 09:49:47 UTC-6, wrote:

While this first post is pretty mean-spirited, I have been shocked that no one has been talking about this. A very widely known glider pilot crashes at the top of a mountain and walks away is very big news indeed. Why the radio silence?







With his posting on soaring cafe I don't believe it is too soon to start talking about it now...he lived!!! I am thrilled to hear Frank is ok. When I heard from a friend down at the event about it right after it happened and then knowing that Frank was still up on the mountain - I actually got a little emotional thinking a fellow pilot was possibly in harm's way.







There is a lot to be learned by this incident and look forward to getting more info to hopefully help the rest of us be safer flying around rocks. Glad you are ok Frank.







Bruno - B4



Bruno, with all due respect there is nothing that can discussed at this point on this forum.



There are only a few, maybe only one, people that has the facts so any discussion on this forum is pure speculation.



It appears that the SPOT trace is no longer there, may have it set to only keep 24 hours worth of data.



It is up to the PIC to report and file appropriate reports to the appropriate authorities. I can find no NTSB or FAA entries online.



I would not expect the contest organizers to weigh in here or on the SSA site, it is not their responsibility.



Yes it is great hear that Frank survived but lets wait for details and not speculate.



Ron Gleason

On Monday, June 3, 2013 11:49:47 AM UTC-4, wrote:
While this first post is pretty mean-spirited, I have been shocked that no one has been talking about this. A very widely known glider pilot crashes at the top of a mountain and walks away is very big news indeed. Why the radio silence?



With his posting on soaring cafe I don't believe it is too soon to start talking about it now...he lived!!! I am thrilled to hear Frank is ok. When I heard from a friend down at the event about it right after it happened and then knowing that Frank was still up on the mountain - I actually got a little emotional thinking a fellow pilot was possibly in harm's way.



There is a lot to be learned by this incident and look forward to getting more info to hopefully help the rest of us be safer flying around rocks. Glad you are ok Frank.



Bruno - B4

i too think the original post was in EXTREMELY poor taste, and am releaved that frank is ok. i myself was worried about the guy i have always consider to be friendly, nice, and willing to help.

if frank is wiling to write about the events, he is free to do so, but in the meantime, i think we should all simply say thank god he wasn't hurt and leave the discussion at that.

On Monday, June 3, 2013 10:15:43 AM UTC-7, wrote:
On Monday, June 3, 2013 11:49:47 AM UTC-4, wrote:

While this first post is pretty mean-spirited, I have been shocked that no one has been talking about this. A very widely known glider pilot crashes at the top of a mountain and walks away is very big news indeed. Why the radio silence?







With his posting on soaring cafe I don't believe it is too soon to start talking about it now...he lived!!! I am thrilled to hear Frank is ok. When I heard from a friend down at the event about it right after it happened and then knowing that Frank was still up on the mountain - I actually got a little emotional thinking a fellow pilot was possibly in harm's way.







There is a lot to be learned by this incident and look forward to getting more info to hopefully help the rest of us be safer flying around rocks. Glad you are ok Frank.







Bruno - B4



i too think the original post was in EXTREMELY poor taste, and am releaved that frank is ok. i myself was worried about the guy i have always consider to be friendly, nice, and willing to help.



if frank is wiling to write about the events, he is free to do so, but in the meantime, i think we should all simply say thank god he wasn't hurt and leave the discussion at that.

Yep in bad taste, immature and just stupid.

The only thing that matters right now is that Frank is OK.

Darryl

There has been a series of excellent pilots running in to mountains in US contest soaring over the last 10 years. Anyone who takes this lightly or disparagingly in an I'm-such-a-great-pilot I-would-never-do-that sort of way is asking to be next.

Best wishes to Frank the friend for a speedy recovery, to Frank the writer for an illuminating soaring cafe' post to help keep the rest of us out of trouble, and to Frank the pilot for a return to the skies.

John Cochrane

On Monday, June 3, 2013 11:49:47 AM UTC-4, wrote:
While this first post is pretty mean-spirited, I have been shocked that no one has been talking about this. A very widely known glider pilot crashes at the top of a mountain and walks away is very big news indeed. Why the radio silence? With his posting on soaring cafe I don't believe it is too soon to start talking about it now...he lived!!! I am thrilled to hear Frank is ok. When I heard from a friend down at the event about it right after it happened and then knowing that Frank was still up on the mountain - I actually got a little emotional thinking a fellow pilot was possibly in harm's way. There is a lot to be learned by this incident and look forward to getting more info to hopefully help the rest of us be safer flying around rocks.. Glad you are ok Frank. Bruno - B4

I kind of disagree a bit with my friend Bruno. First, there is no time sensitive information here, other than the curiousity factor. Second, it is extremely unlikely that there will be ANY new lessons learned.
Part of the healing process is to talk about what happened, but definitely not in a public forum environment. Hopefully Frank will get to sit down with a friend or 2 and talk it out so he can get on with the healing.
Let's leave him alone. When he's ready to tell his story, I have no doubt he will do so in a good manner.
I've been in his shoes once and been the listener more timesthan I want to count, so I think I know of what I speak.
Patience Folks
UH

On Monday, June 3, 2013 2:36:22 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On Monday, June 3, 2013 11:49:47 AM UTC-4, wrote:

While this first post is pretty mean-spirited, I have been shocked that no one has been talking about this. A very widely known glider pilot crashes at the top of a mountain and walks away is very big news indeed. Why the radio silence? With his posting on soaring cafe I don't believe it is too soon to start talking about it now...he lived!!! I am thrilled to hear Frank is ok. When I heard from a friend down at the event about it right after it happened and then knowing that Frank was still up on the mountain - I actually got a little emotional thinking a fellow pilot was possibly in harm's way. There is a lot to be learned by this incident and look forward to getting more info to hopefully help the rest of us be safer flying around rocks. Glad you are ok Frank. Bruno - B4



I kind of disagree a bit with my friend Bruno. First, there is no time sensitive information here, other than the curiousity factor. Second, it is extremely unlikely that there will be ANY new lessons learned.

Part of the healing process is to talk about what happened, but definitely not in a public forum environment. Hopefully Frank will get to sit down with a friend or 2 and talk it out so he can get on with the healing.

Let's leave him alone. When he's ready to tell his story, I have no doubt he will do so in a good manner.

I've been in his shoes once and been the listener more timesthan I want to count, so I think I know of what I speak.

Patience Folks

UH

UH good advice. I hope Frank is home and has some quiet time to relax. I don't think Bruno's post was so much about needing to discuss the accident now as it was about the 24 hours that many of us waited to hear if Frank was OK. Soaring is a real time sport and many of us saw the help call on SPOT and saw the location and it raised concern in most of us about his safety. We watched RAS for the next 24 hours for an update on his condition.

I wish Frank the best and hope he will come out west and do duel or team flying with some mountain experts to help the healing process. He is always welcome to come fly with me in Utah when he is ready to flying western mountains again.

TT

On Monday, June 3, 2013 2:36:22 PM UTC-6, wrote:
On Monday, June 3, 2013 11:49:47 AM UTC-4, wrote:

While this first post is pretty mean-spirited, I have been shocked that no one has been talking about this. A very widely known glider pilot crashes at the top of a mountain and walks away is very big news indeed. Why the radio silence? With his posting on soaring cafe I don't believe it is too soon to start talking about it now...he lived!!! I am thrilled to hear Frank is ok. When I heard from a friend down at the event about it right after it happened and then knowing that Frank was still up on the mountain - I actually got a little emotional thinking a fellow pilot was possibly in harm's way. There is a lot to be learned by this incident and look forward to getting more info to hopefully help the rest of us be safer flying around rocks. Glad you are ok Frank. Bruno - B4



I kind of disagree a bit with my friend Bruno. First, there is no time sensitive information here, other than the curiousity factor. Second, it is extremely unlikely that there will be ANY new lessons learned.

Part of the healing process is to talk about what happened, but definitely not in a public forum environment. Hopefully Frank will get to sit down with a friend or 2 and talk it out so he can get on with the healing.

Let's leave him alone. When he's ready to tell his story, I have no doubt he will do so in a good manner.

I've been in his shoes once and been the listener more timesthan I want to count, so I think I know of what I speak.

Patience Folks

UH

UH good advice. I hope Frank is home and has some quiet time to relax. I don't think Bruno's post was so much about needing to discuss the accident now as it was about the 24 hours that many of us waited to hear if Frank was OK. Soaring is a real time sport and many of us saw the help call on SPOT and saw the location and it raised concerns about his safety. We watched RAS for the next 24 hours for an update on his condition.

I wish Frank the best and hope he will come out west and do duel or team flying with some mountain experts to help the healing process. He is always welcome to come fly with me in Utah when he is ready to try western mountains again.

TT

I kind of disagree a bit with my friend Bruno. First, there is no time sensitive information here, other than the curiousity factor. Second, it is extremely unlikely that there will be ANY new lessons learned.

Part of the healing process is to talk about what happened, but definitely not in a public forum environment. Hopefully Frank will get to sit down with a friend or 2 and talk it out so he can get on with the healing.

Let's leave him alone. When he's ready to tell his story, I have no doubt he will do so in a good manner.

I've been in his shoes once and been the listener more timesthan I want to count, so I think I know of what I speak.

Patience Folks

UH

I completely agree with you actually on this one Hank. What you read in my post is my emotions on my sleeve at the moment. We are all so close friends and acquaintances in our rather small group of active soaring pilots that when one of them hits a mountain it is hard not to REALLY care and want to know more. We care about each other. Patience is a good now that we know Frank is ok.

John, you were right on once again with your thoughts. Thanks.

Bruno - B4