All Soaring Club Members

Don't be an asshat. You can sit there and argue about how things shouldn't
be generalized and get this thread off topic, or you can take this little
reminder and stick it in the back of your head the next time you go out.

I hate to tell you, but not all people can afford the luxury of a parachute.
This incident was a case where I was thermaling and was unable to see the
approaching glider. By the time he saw me I had 1 second to do something
since he didn't deviate from his course.
"F.L. Whiteley" wrote in message
...
1. How do you know clubs have less activity than commercial operations?
Several clubs are very large and active with 100-200 members. There are a
few commercial hot spots also, but you can't generalize on this.
Commercial
operations are generally a US activity. Club predominate in the US in
numbers, and around the world overall. It can happen anywhere. In a
club,
pilots are generally aware of other members who lack or possess skill,
courtesy, or airmanship. In a commercial environment, you may be more
likely to encounter those who pay their money and take their chances.

2. Wear a parachute. It's often the only second chance in the event of a
mid-air.

3. A couple of days ago, I asked the tow pilot if he had another glider
in
sight as we were towing directly into 'his' thermal. The tow pilot
acknowledged, then commenced a diving right turn.

4. Don't know why you'd have half gone inverted. I generally avoid
inverted manuevars in gliders except at the top of a loop. No radio?

Frank Whiteley

"Slick" wrote in message
...
I know it's not a club issue, but clubs usually have less activity then
commercial operations. I just want to put this back on the table, that
was
way too close. If I had half gone inverted and dived, we would have
collided, and I doubt I would have lived.
"BTIZ" wrote in message
news:ALiRc.6484$xk.6080@fed1read01...
its not a "Club" issue.. it can happen anywhere..

BT

"Slick" wrote in message
...
Make sure you are aware of everything that is around you when you
release.
I
had an extremely close call today from a tow pilot and glider on tow
that
neither saw me. When the glider in tow released, it turned into a
head
on
path with me thermaling at the same altitude and came within 20ft.

This especially goes out to all those local soaring clubs that don't
have
a
whole lot of activity and don't get in close quarters with one
another.
If
you have to fly formation with someone to learn what it looks like
to
be
too
close, do it. I think it should be required before earning your PGL,
but
that is just my opinion. Until you fly next to someone, you really
don't
know how far out to look when clearing.




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