Any Full Scale Sailplane flyer here.

[pitviper51]

hi, just wondering who here flys full scale sailplanes, as some of you know i flew for 2 summers with a club in germany but have been at a lack of airtime since i left in 01.. i would like to go after the faa cert for here inthe states some day , anyway let this forum be a place we can share those thermal stories and silent adventures. some old pics to start thigns off.
mike

[pupmeister]

A long time ago I used to do a lot of glider flying, unfortunately circumstances such as university and then work forced me to give it up. Some day I would love to get back into it, but I think for now I will be sticking to one hobby at a time. I have attached some very old (and poor quality) pictures of the Bergvalke, Spatz and Blanik that I used to fly. I also flew a K7 for a short time at a different club.

Cheers
Stephen

[pitviper51]

nice another bergvalke flyer! haha was neat how it creeked when you made tight turns hehe, did you slope the ridge in the backround any?
mike

[merlinsoars]

I'm here in Hemet CA. Currenty with an LS3 and just recently sold my SHK-1. SHK pic in Lone Pine, Owens Valley

MTM

[DA2000]

Darn, those SHK's are great looking.

I was introduced to Soaring very young. My dad competed in the 70's in a 16.5 Diamant. He wasn't very good, did it for the photo ops. He has many pics published in some old soaring books.

I spent the better part of the mid seventies summers at the NATS, and winters at wave camp in Colorado.

I went to Black Forrest GP's youth camp when I was 14. Spent two weeks flew a bunch and soloed.

Right after that, we bought a 1-26 and refinished it.

I moved to Odessa, TX in 88 and went to work full time at the gliderport. Worked there giving intro rides and towing for three years, plus several more part time.

Sold the 26 a few years ago and don't fly gliders too much anymore. Every now and then I get out to the local club and take family for rides in their Blanik.

[pupmeister]

	Quote: Originally Posted by pitviper51
	nice another bergvalke flyer! haha was neat how it creeked when you made tight turns hehe, did you slope the ridge in the backround any? mike

Hi,

Unfortunately it was not a real ridge, it was actually a mine dump from a gold mine. I was only once in a glider while soaring it and that was only due to the fact that I had an instructor that was a lot more experienced than I was.

I have attached a picture from google earth with the dump and runway from the air.

Cheers
Stephen

[pitviper51]

cool, looks like it would been great for a rc sloper!
mike

[alec taylor]

spent 30 years in the local gliding club. owned the odd glider. k6e. bj1b duster that i built. std libelle, ls3a. and a share in a twin astir. alex

[MadMonkey]

I would LOVE to fly sailplanes regularly... as it is, I've flown a Grob 103 once at an airshow. They were giving out rides for $40, and they would let you fly for a good bit of the time.

Man, it was peaceful and fun...

I don't have the resources for it right now. I do have a soaring club fairly close, though.

[N726AC]

I fly the loud, greasy one!




Also a Grob 103, had a great flight in a DG1000.

[pitviper51]

TUG!!. those are soem of the uglies planes out there... but they funtion good.
mike

[N726AC]

	Quote: Originally Posted by pitviper51
	TUG!!. those are soem of the uglies planes out there... but they funtion good. mike

Especially with 260hp and cs prop!

[Scott Gerber]

Not a pilot but took a couple rides in a Grob-103 several years back... Cool stuff..!!!


Scott

[Imac Kiwi]

Haven't flown a glider for 11 years.

Before that I was a qualified "B" cat instructor and owned a Standard Cirrus for 5 years. I have also been fortunate enough to fly a Ventus B, ASW 15, 19 and 20.

It is definitely a sport that I am not finished with yet.

[alec taylor]

i have just had a look at a full size sailplane. its a musger mg 19 a steinadher. rego d1078 on the german register. built in 1957. has any of you out there flown this machine. looks like i have been chosen to fly it. its based down at mandeville. i note the tow speed is max at 80 klm. they have a tiger moth with a tow hook and would put a fine pitch prop on for towing. it has a twist in the rudder from fabric shrinking so will have the trailing edge replaced.flying something like this takes me back to 1970 when i went solo in the rhonlerch( old bravo oscar).glide ratio of a polished brick. 45 degree angle from the field or run the risk of a landout. alex