On 2005-11-30, Michael wrote:
The particular glider I own, a T-tail HP-11 N821Z, was designed in 1962
but was still competitive in 1969, placing third at major contests.
Truly the design must have been a wonder in its day. But to get the
performance, some things had to be sacrificed. Since the design was
for competition flying, something a novice pilot presumably would not
do, the decision was made to sacrifice forgiving handling
characteristics.

:-)

My third takeoff in that glider was at Coulter Field, in a crosswind
(where they used the taxiway as a glider runway). I have *never ever*
been busier on takeoff than on that takeoff. You'd be amazed at how
having runway lights only three feet from each wingtip (of course, the
lights on substantial short poles) and a 7-10 knot crosswind and bugger
all aileron authority concentrates the mind. That takeoff is forever
etched in my memory. I didn't groundloop though, but I'm sure my heart
rate was through the roof until I got airborne. (What makes it worse in
that ship is that the tow hook is a compromise hitch, rather than a
nosehook, so the tow plane does not aid in directional control).

I decided I'd had enough of that runway. As we climbed out I looked at
the grass runway that was directly into the wind. I decided I would land
on that.

I scratched around for an hour, never getting much above 1200 feet. On
return, I flew the pattern for the grass runway. On very short final
(like 50 feet) - now too low to make the big main runway, too far to
turn and make the normal glider runway or taxiway, I realised that I had
something like an 18 meter wingspan and the grass runway was around half
that width - surrounded by tall grass and a bit of brush.

Oh no.

Not long after touchdown, of course one of the wings starts to drag
through the tall grass, and then I'm merely passenger. The glider shot
off the side of the runway. I couldn't see anything except tall grass
going by the canopy. It's a horrible feeling of having full opposite
rudder in and absolutely nothing happening. Finally I came to a halt. I
dragged the glider out of the tall grass, removing the tufts of grass it
had picked up so to hide the evidence. But it was too late. The girl on
the electric golf cart had already come to tow the glider back in.

"Was anyone watching me land?" I asked.
"Oh yes, we were ALL watching!" she said, with unnecessary glee I
thought.

Fortunately, the long grass stopped a wingtip from banging into the
hard ground, so no damage was done, well, except to my ego. I'm sure if
I turned up at Gary Gandy's place wanting to fly a glider, he'd remind
me of that day.

--
Dylan Smith, Port St Mary, Isle of Man
Flying: http://www.dylansmith.net
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