Hero emulation

On Friday, February 23, 2018 at 10:21:40 AM UTC-5, Jonathan St. Cloud wrote:

I once did a low pass 20-30 years ago at Minden and pulled up into severe down air. That was not as much fun, never done a low pass on wave day again.

This reminds me of the millions of people that have found out the hard way; that having intercourse may result in pregnancy.

This reminds me of the millions of people that have found out the hard way; that having intercourse may result in pregnancy.

Said another way, having to explain why a pilot would do a low pass that wasn't necessary for landing is like having to explain why someone would have sex for reasons other than procreation.

It's fun. It's exciting. It feels good. So judge me.

Chip Bearden

On Friday, February 23, 2018 at 9:44:58 AM UTC-8, Chip Bearden wrote:
This reminds me of the millions of people that have found out the hard way; that having intercourse may result in pregnancy.

Said another way, having to explain why a pilot would do a low pass that wasn't necessary for landing is like having to explain why someone would have sex for reasons other than procreation.

It's fun. It's exciting. It feels good. So judge me.

Chip Bearden

Thanks Chip. That needed to be said.

Craig
7Q

On Friday, February 23, 2018 at 12:44:58 PM UTC-5, Chip Bearden wrote:
This reminds me of the millions of people that have found out the hard way; that having intercourse may result in pregnancy.

Said another way, having to explain why a pilot would do a low pass that wasn't necessary for landing is like having to explain why someone would have sex for reasons other than procreation.

It's fun. It's exciting. It feels good.

I think you missed my point. I'm all for having sex or doing low passes for fun.

I just think that it is ridiculous, that people first have sex, and then afterwards learn how women get pregnant.

And likewise I think it is ridiculous, that people do low passes, then afterwards learn how sink can ruin an otherwise perfectly good low pass.

So, after reading all of this I'm inclined to ask if anyone actually has put together a training program on how to best evaluate conditions and safely perform a "contest finish" in such a manner that mitigates some of the perceived risks. Shooting from the hip or winging it for a new guy is the most dangerous scenario, but getting mentored and learning the do's and don'ts could help improve the results. Simply decreeing "don't" isn't helping because it still happens every weekend at many gliderports, including mine.

If you can't make it go away, make it safer.

Paul Agnew
Jupiter, FL
ASW-19

In my case I had not seen that type of sink where I found it on my pull. I had a hangar in Minden for years and flew out of there. The only time I had an issue was that one day. I also lost 1500 feet over the course of one mile returning to my home field one day, ended up doing downwind landing as I barely made the runway. Like Sh*t, sink happens. My point was and is for the new guy, it can go wrong, so have a plan B and be careful.

This kind of reminds me of a helicopter accident in FL where a MD600 news helicopter actually transmitted "watch this" as he tried to loop a 600 and immediately had a boom strike, end of flight, and life for two.

Hey I like these as much as the next guy, and have done a ton of NOE flying, mostly in helicopters and war birds. But be very careful and know you might get into a tighter corner than you thought.

On Friday, February 23, 2018 at 2:41:27 PM UTC-8, son_of_flubber wrote:

I think you missed my point. I'm all for having sex or doing low passes for fun.

I just think that it is ridiculous, that people first have sex, and then afterwards learn how women get pregnant.

And likewise I think it is ridiculous, that people do low passes, then afterwards learn how sink can ruin an otherwise perfectly good low pass.

I mentored my younger brother many years ago before his first contest in glass. Moderate summer day in Ohio, not much wind. We briefed it before, did lead-follow, advised the gliderport of our intentions, kept each other in touch via radio all the way in on final glide and through pull up and landing, and debriefed afterward.

I like low finishes. Did I say they were fun? But even when they were commonly allowed, there were places I wouldn't do them: e.g., New Castle and Sugarbush on ridge/wave days, Fairfield on high wind days, Uvalde during a rain shower, Hobbs ahead of a gust front, Minden some days, almost anywhere near a T-storm. Because you just don't know what might be there.

Chip Bearden

Fun - probably. Useful - no. Good for the sport - questionable. Good role model - ehhh. Judgement and risk management - not so great. Having to deal with the aftermath and bad publicity as the local airport and member of the community- not great and as as it's happened before, visiting glider pilot does something profanely stupid and the local folks clean up the mess.

I think I'll "pass".

Tom

Oh, I forgot - there is a good argument that a low pass is not legal. That whole minimum altitude over "a congested area but “not for the purpose of takeoff or landing.� Take a look at 91.119, make your call eyes wide open. Sorry to take all the fun out of it. I know - there's many rationalizations, justifications and arguments. Not trying to pick a fight - just pointing out some issues with the practice of this maneuver.

Tom

I used to do it.Â* Started at, say, 500' AGL and worked my way down on
successive flights.Â* It was a hoot!Â* I'm older now and want to get older
still, so I don't do it any more.Â* I'm still not willing to tell someone
else not to have a good time.Â* As Dirty Harry used to say, "A man's got
to know his limitations."

On 2/23/2018 9:12 PM, Tom wrote:
Fun - probably. Useful - no. Good for the sport - questionable. Good role model - ehhh. Judgement and risk management - not so great. Having to deal with the aftermath and bad publicity as the local airport and member of the community- not great and as as it's happened before, visiting glider pilot does something profanely stupid and the local folks clean up the mess.

I think I'll "pass".

Tom

--
Dan, 5J