Children in gliders?

I took my grandson at the age of two. We removed the normal seat from
the club L-23 and used the regular harness to secure his FAA approved
car seat into the rear cockpit area. This secured him and also
elevated him enough to see out.

For two weeks before the flight, we went to the club and strapped him
in the back while I was in the front. We would then raise the wing and
make small bounces and motions sitting there on the ground. This got
him used to the eventual motion of flight. I also gave him a
disconnected microphone so he 'talk' on the radio. He really liked the
phrase 'roger dodger'.

The flight took place during morning calm and was a sled ride from
pattern altitude. He thoroughly enjoyed it and talked about it for
many months afterward.

Horst
L33

Thanks to all for the suggestions! I'll take a look at how a car seat with a
back will work in our Blanik L13. Should be do-able.

My 4-year-old granddaughter is a real thrillseeker (e.g. loves Space
Mountain and Matterhorn at Disneyland), so I think she's going to want to go
up soon.

"Roger Worden" wrote in message
...
Are there some common guidelines about how big or old kids should be
before going for a glider ride? My concerns are around the safety
harnesses being intended for adults...

How do you ensure the harness is safe and is not going to slip around or
off a kid?

Are there safe ways to use a booster seat to enable a small one to be up
high enough to see out, without a possibility of it becoming a loose
object in the cockpit?

Anyone have experience with this subject?

We use one in our Blanik L13 - works fine.

Roger Worden wrote:
Thanks to all for the suggestions! I'll take a look at how a car seat with a
back will work in our Blanik L13. Should be do-able.

My 4-year-old granddaughter is a real thrillseeker (e.g. loves Space
Mountain and Matterhorn at Disneyland), so I think she's going to want to go
up soon.

"Roger Worden" wrote in message
...
Are there some common guidelines about how big or old kids should be
before going for a glider ride? My concerns are around the safety
harnesses being intended for adults...

How do you ensure the harness is safe and is not going to slip around or
off a kid?

Are there safe ways to use a booster seat to enable a small one to be up
high enough to see out, without a possibility of it becoming a loose
object in the cockpit?

Anyone have experience with this subject?

Vaughn Simon wrote:

Parachute? What parachute? Chutes are neither required nor common in two
seat gliders in the USA. They are fairly common in single seat gliders, but in
non-aero flights in airplanes they are virtually unheard of.


I do not use a parachute for non-aerobatics flights unless all
occupants have parachutes, and are trained in their use. With or
without chutes, all occupants will know how to escape from the
cockpit in an emergency and will be reasonably capable of doing
so, or they do not fly. This prevents me from carrying young
children, or certain adults.

C'est la Vie.


Jack