New Student Advice

On 3/28/2016 8:28 AM, Reuben Bakker wrote:
I'm beginning my soaring journey. Have visited the gliderport twice
(Bermuda High Soaring in Jefferson, South Carolina). Supposed to go up
this Saturday for the first time if the weather cooperates.

I did ground school and a few hours in a 172 about 6 years ago, and I've
been up in a glider once about 15 years ago. I'm 35 now. Aviation has
always been a passion of mine but life has kept me busy and I haven't been
able to fulfill my dreams... Hoping to change that now. Goal is to get my
glider license and become the best pilot I can be, continuing on to powered
planes and hopefully a commercial rating (and beyond). The more I learn
about gliders though the more I can see sticking with it long term, as well
as the many benefits of learning to fly via this route.

Just wanted to say hi, and if you have any advice or things you wish you
had known when you were starting out, let me know!


Congratulations on finding the sport, making a wise decision...and welcome!
Soaring: it'll change your life, and *you* get to control whether for the
better or not!

I haven't seen any dubious advice offered to-date, but I'd like to second
agcatflyr's sentiments. Stating what he's already advised you, but in a
different manner, "useful soaring performance" lies (far) less in the glider
you fly than it does inside your head, and anyone who tries to tell you
otherwise is really admitting they haven't learned a very basic truism of the
activity. You'll grow your soaring/flight skills most rapidly, safely and
"funly" by flying every opportunity you can, in whatever ship(s) are most
available and most affordable to you, L/D be hanged! Moreover, every single
one of the skills (judgment and mechanical) you learn from soaring
participation will carry directly over to future fixed-wing power flying,
while the reverse isn't true.

I'd also encourage you to join the Soaring Society of America (if you haven't
already - you're not yet present in their member database). Though disparaged
by some soaring nuts (not me!), its monthly magazine has been a font of
enjoyment and knowledge for me for (gasp) over 40 years. Membership also
offers you - among other things - electronic access to essentially all (but a
few recent years' worth) of back issues of "Soaring" magazine, a *tremendous*
resource!!!

My only wish when I began was that I'd learned of the sport earlier! (I was
just out of college.)

Just out of curiosity, how did you learn of RAS? You'll find that it
(presently) seems "inhabited" (in the routinely-posting sense of things)
mostly by "somewhat experienced" sailplane pilots, but I gather may be
relatively regularly visited by all skill levels of "lurkers." Feel free to
post bearing in mind the underlying principle that there isn't any such thing
as a silly/dumb question! Or, simply to exult in new-found joy...

Bob W.

On Monday, March 28, 2016 at 6:02:34 PM UTC-7, BobW wrote:
Feel free to post bearing in mind the underlying principle that there isn't
any such thing as a silly/dumb question!

But beware the myriad dumb answers! ;-)

-Tom

Thank you everyone for your advice and encouragement! Bob, I found this group by simply searching for a sailplane forum (which there don't seem to be too many out there, surprisingly...)

Bermuda High has several 2-33's and that's probably what I'll be learning in, until I solo and can fly some of the single seaters. They do have a duo discus as well which I'd love to learn to fly, but I don't mind flying the bigger slower trainers to start.

I would definitely love to have my own sailplane someday. I've heard a lot about the 1-26, and I believe Bermuda High has at least one of those as well. That's one thing that has really drawn me to gliding - it's a lot more accessible (financially) than just about any other type of aviation - and it will build nicely for my power ratings, etc in the future.

I went ahead and downloaded condor - already had a logitech 3d joystick. I've put in several hours on it already - what a great sim. Being able to spend a good deal of time practicing being on tow, flying the pattern, and even finding thermals has been a lot of fun, and I'm sure will help when it comes time for the real thing.

I have also learned about the fluidity of scheduling already - the first day I went to check out the field they had cancelled everything because of a very bad weather forecast - it turned out to be beautiful. The next weekend the forecast looked good and I was supposed to have my first lesson, but I woke up to dense fog that really never lifted. Still had a good day at the field though - helped install a tow hook on a Cessna 185 they recently acquired. Bermuda High is actually hosting the 18m nationals this year (in May), so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what that is all about!

Thanks again and I'm sure I'll be a frequent visitor with more questions!

On Tuesday, March 29, 2016 at 10:01:37 AM UTC-4, Reuben Bakker wrote:
Thank you everyone for your advice and encouragement! Bob, I found this group by simply searching for a sailplane forum (which there don't seem to be too many out there, surprisingly...)

Bermuda High has several 2-33's and that's probably what I'll be learning in, until I solo and can fly some of the single seaters. They do have a duo discus as well which I'd love to learn to fly, but I don't mind flying the bigger slower trainers to start.

I would definitely love to have my own sailplane someday. I've heard a lot about the 1-26, and I believe Bermuda High has at least one of those as well. That's one thing that has really drawn me to gliding - it's a lot more accessible (financially) than just about any other type of aviation - and it will build nicely for my power ratings, etc in the future.

I went ahead and downloaded condor - already had a logitech 3d joystick. I've put in several hours on it already - what a great sim. Being able to spend a good deal of time practicing being on tow, flying the pattern, and even finding thermals has been a lot of fun, and I'm sure will help when it comes time for the real thing.

I have also learned about the fluidity of scheduling already - the first day I went to check out the field they had cancelled everything because of a very bad weather forecast - it turned out to be beautiful. The next weekend the forecast looked good and I was supposed to have my first lesson, but I woke up to dense fog that really never lifted. Still had a good day at the field though - helped install a tow hook on a Cessna 185 they recently acquired. Bermuda High is actually hosting the 18m nationals this year (in May), so I'm definitely looking forward to seeing what that is all about!

Thanks again and I'm sure I'll be a frequent visitor with more questions!

Fly as regularly as possible.
Bermuda High is a great place to learn- they have been at it a long time.
People that show up on the flyable but not great soaring days have the place and instructors to themselves.
People that pitch in commonly go the the front of the line.
Have fun
UH

On Monday, March 28, 2016 at 10:28:21 AM UTC-4, Reuben Bakker wrote:
I'm beginning my soaring journey...

Reuben, none of the respondents have warned you about a big
problem you'll face: Airsickness.

Fortunately, there's an easy remedy available.

To one glass of orange juice, add:
- 3 ground jalapeno peppers, hotter the better
- 2 ground garlic cloves
Some RAS posters also add a dash of horse-radish,
but that's not strictly necessary.

Drink one of these about 15 minutes before flight,
and you'll be all set!

Enjoy your journey,
Best Regards, Dave

Sounds like an April fool's joke
On Friday, April 1, 2016 at 6:37:48 AM UTC-7, Dave Nadler wrote:
On Monday, March 28, 2016 at 10:28:21 AM UTC-4, Reuben Bakker wrote:
I'm beginning my soaring journey...

Reuben, none of the respondents have warned you about a big
problem you'll face: Airsickness.

Fortunately, there's an easy remedy available.

To one glass of orange juice, add:
- 3 ground jalapeno peppers, hotter the better
- 2 ground garlic cloves
Some RAS posters also add a dash of horse-radish,
but that's not strictly necessary.

Drink one of these about 15 minutes before flight,
and you'll be all set!

Enjoy your journey,
Best Regards, Dave

On Friday, April 1, 2016 at 11:09:57 AM UTC-4, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:
Sounds like an April fool's joke
On Friday, April 1, 2016 at 6:37:48 AM UTC-7, Dave Nadler wrote:
On Monday, March 28, 2016 at 10:28:21 AM UTC-4, Reuben Bakker wrote:
I'm beginning my soaring journey...

Reuben, none of the respondents have warned you about a big
problem you'll face: Airsickness.

Fortunately, there's an easy remedy available.

To one glass of orange juice, add:
- 3 ground jalapeno peppers, hotter the better
- 2 ground garlic cloves
Some RAS posters also add a dash of horse-radish,
but that's not strictly necessary.

Drink one of these about 15 minutes before flight,
and you'll be all set!

Enjoy your journey,
Best Regards, Dave

Or...... it may make you sick BEFORE the flight, thus not much of an issue DURING the flight.

As someone that has had to deal with airsickness my whole flying life (I have to "re-acclimate" every spring), I can sympathize.

On Monday, March 28, 2016 at 7:28:21 AM UTC-7, Reuben Bakker wrote:
I'm beginning my soaring journey. Have visited the gliderport twice (Bermuda High Soaring in Jefferson, South Carolina). Supposed to go up this Saturday for the first time if the weather cooperates.

I did ground school and a few hours in a 172 about 6 years ago, and I've been up in a glider once about 15 years ago. I'm 35 now. Aviation has always been a passion of mine but life has kept me busy and I haven't been able to fulfill my dreams... Hoping to change that now. Goal is to get my glider license and become the best pilot I can be, continuing on to powered planes and hopefully a commercial rating (and beyond). The more I learn about gliders though the more I can see sticking with it long term, as well as the many benefits of learning to fly via this route.

Just wanted to say hi, and if you have any advice or things you wish you had known when you were starting out, let me know!

Besides getting Condor, buy a copy of Tom Knauff's book "Glider Flight Training Manual" and study it cover to cover. Also, join the SSA (www.ssa.org). Finally, hang out at the airport and get to know the local pilots; I am sure they would be happy to give you pointers. You might even be able to snag a flight in someone's two place.

Good luck and great flying!

Tom

Thanks for all the advice so far! (I think I'll pass on that drink though, blech!)

I've been having a great time with condor and I'm reading my books. Unfortunately the last two attempts at scheduling a first lesson have been foiled by bad weather. I'm on the schedule for Saturday so hopefully the weather will finally cooperate!

On Wednesday, April 6, 2016 at 9:23:47 PM UTC-4, Reuben Bakker wrote:
Thanks for all the advice so far! (I think I'll pass on that drink though, blech!)

I've been having a great time with condor and I'm reading my books. Unfortunately the last two attempts at scheduling a first lesson have been foiled by bad weather. I'm on the schedule for Saturday so hopefully the weather will finally cooperate!

2 full days of lessons under my belt and loving every minute of it. Can't wait to solo! Still have a ways to go though...