Silver Distance

Bryan.. are you still in NV?
BT

"Bryan" wrote in message
...
Schweizer1-26 from what was then Henderson Sky Harbor, NV, to Searchlight,
NV. I arrived with only 10,000 feet to spare. I'm a little bit
conservative.


"Graham Hodgson" wrote in
message ...
What aircraft did you do your silver distance qualifying
50k flight in?

Hi BTIZ,

No, I moved away in 1979. I understand that the Las Vegas soaring scene has
changed considerably since then. I should have added to my post that after
arriving over Searchlight with 10,000 AGL I proceded to land downwind and
downhill. Felt like I was flying a Nimbus rather than a 1-26. I learned a
lot of "never do agains" from that flight.

Kind regards,
Bryan

"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:EFNxc.7642$fZ1.4420@fed1read03...
Bryan.. are you still in NV?
BT

"Bryan" wrote in message
...
Schweizer1-26 from what was then Henderson Sky Harbor, NV, to
Searchlight,
NV. I arrived with only 10,000 feet to spare. I'm a little bit
conservative.


"Graham Hodgson" wrote in
message ...
What aircraft did you do your silver distance qualifying
50k flight in?

"Graham Hodgson" wrote in
message ...
What aircraft did you do your silver distance qualifying
50k flight in?

Silver badge #565 flown in 1963 (I think)
SGS 1-26
5+ hours to fly 50km mostly below 1000 feet AGL.

Bill Daniels

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

Graham Hodgson wrote in message ...
What aircraft did you do your silver distance qualifying
50k flight in?


I did all three legs in a Schweizer 1-34.



John Cochrane wrote:

( Gold means "I've done a
really substantial cross country flight. I'm ready to go to a
contest." )

I really take don't think that earning a gold badge has anything to do
with contests.
Not everyone who is into Soaring is interested in contest flying.

I think a "Gold" badge means a pilot has improved his skills to the
point where he can
comfortably navigate across country, keep his ship in the air for an
extended duration
and can gain significant altitude above his release point.

By completing the FAI minimums to complete this badge the pilot can
wear this insignia
as a sign to others of his proficiancy, or as an award to himself for
having achieved this
significant milestone in his soaring career.

I did mine in a asw27b in the Sierras. It was fun but I don't think
it or the gold distance means as much if you do it in a 1-24 or even a
30 to 1 glider.

(willie) wrote in message . com...
Graham Hodgson wrote in message ...
What aircraft did you do your silver distance qualifying
50k flight in?


I did all three legs in a Schweizer 1-34.



John Cochrane wrote:

( Gold means "I've done a
really substantial cross country flight. I'm ready to go to a
contest." )

I really take don't think that earning a gold badge has anything to do
with contests.
Not everyone who is into Soaring is interested in contest flying.

I think a "Gold" badge means a pilot has improved his skills to the
point where he can
comfortably navigate across country, keep his ship in the air for an
extended duration
and can gain significant altitude above his release point.

By completing the FAI minimums to complete this badge the pilot can
wear this insignia
as a sign to others of his proficiancy, or as an award to himself for
having achieved this
significant milestone in his soaring career.