 Sailplane ride
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Any of you aviation enthusiasts ever flew in or flown a sailplane. Looking into doing it this summer or early fall.
Sono qui per la birra
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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I was on an admiral's staff and he had one. Never got a chance to fly in it but I always wanted to.
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Oct 2010
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I'm a glider pilot. Have at it!
Do, or do not...There is no try.'- Master Yoda
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Re: Sailplane ride
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This is kinda like a bucketlist thing. I think it would be awesome to be up there with no engine noise.
Sono qui per la birra
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Oct 2010
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Do, or do not...There is no try.'- Master Yoda
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Re: Sailplane ride
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I have been looking at locations in Colorado and Wisconsin. What do I look for when booking a flight? Age of aircraft would be my top concern. But I don't really know what is old when it comes to gliders. This said from someone who flew in a DC3 to Cold Lake, Canada.
Sono qui per la birra
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Oct 2010
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Don't worry about a/c age.
Use a commercial operation if you're just wanting to ride.
Go to a club if you want a more laid back environment.
Either way, plan on taking a few rides, and pay the extra for a high tow. Bring a small camera, hat, sunglasses.
The premium soaring is in the western U.S. Great soaring is also available in states along the application mountains. Good soaring can be found in the central U.S.
Remember, soaring is all about the weather!
Check out SSA.org for places to fly.
Just do it!
Do, or do not...There is no try.'- Master Yoda
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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"the application mountains"
Really?
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 5,720
Check Pants
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Check Pants
Joined: May 2010
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Quote:
"the application mountains"
Really?
Well they aren't as tall as the mountains West of the Missisoupi River, but if you had to hike up one, you would call it a mountain, none the less, Yea Really.
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 2,647
Loquacious
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Loquacious
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I guessing one of those iphone auto correct errors
06 America 904
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Thanks Tom, I see there is a club in SC, close to my daughters home.
Sono qui per la birra
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Mar 2009
Posts: 12,964
Stickman Yogi
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Stickman Yogi
Joined: Mar 2009
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Appalachians? I gotta do me some gliding too, before... well, before too long.
Live to love, love to live.
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,727 Likes: 5
Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,727 Likes: 5 |
Quote:
"the application mountains"
Really?
Need a mountain range? There's an app for that! 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 8,639 Likes: 3
Old Hand
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Old Hand
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Done that. No engine sound but plenty of wind noise. If you fly powered aircraft, you will find the control response time takes a lot of practice to get used to.
Let's hope there's intelligent life somewhere in space 'cause it's buggar all down here. -- Monte Python
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Oct 2010
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Thanks for the back up buddy! 
Do, or do not...There is no try.'- Master Yoda
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 59
Member
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Member
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There's a place near me(in the valley btx the Blue Ridge AND Appalachian mountains) that offer rides. I hear sometimes they're free, maybe trying to get more people involved in the sport.
Either way, I keep saying I'm going to try it. Maybe this spring is my time.
'04 TBA Black
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,690
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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I like the Ultralights, simply because they have a cool little motor....I went up to Cartersville airport to meet a friend who wanted to show me his new Goldwing, and to help out repair an Ultralight that had crashed on takeoff...Once they found out I was an A&P tech, I was an instant celebrity. One of the pilots taxxied up in his 2 seat Ultralight, and asked If I wanted to fly it! I filled the tank with gas and climbed into the left seat. He showed me the controls, and I told him that I taxxied large aircraft at work, and he simply said, Ok, you got it....I pushed the little thottle stick forward, and steered with my feet until we got to about 40 mph or so, and up we went...We climbed over the Etowah river, and up toward Rome, all flying by the seat of my pants....since then, it's been on my bucket list....maybe one day I'll own one....
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,847
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Been in one, one time, as a youth, cause they charged by the pound for flights, thrilling, still one of the most pleasant memories of my dad, he didn't want to spend the money it would take to get him up...
Warren
04 Caspian Blue and Silver America
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Nov 2009
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Loquacious
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Loquacious
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Quote:
Appalachians? I gotta do me some gliding too, before... well, before too long.
Keith if you find yourself over in the Columbia river valley find Trevor at the Invermir airport he took me up for a ride gave me control of the stick and I flew back to the strip chickening out when he asked if I wanted to try a landing. Worth at least a one time go and you live in the mountains the views are spectacular
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Feb 2006
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I haven't had a sailplane ride, but after reading this thread, several flights are on my "Things to do before I die" list. Where is the place between the Appalachains and the Blue Ridge Mtns. Robert? I live near Lynchburg and an America ride to the valley for a sailplane ride sounds like a hoot!
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
Quote:
"the application mountains"
Really?
Well they aren't as tall as the mountains West of the Missisoupi River, but if you had to hike up one, you would call it a mountain, none the less, Yea Really.
Yeah, I live right in the middle of, what we call, the Appalachian Mountains. Where are the 'applications'?
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 59
Member
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Member
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Quote:
Where is the place between the Appalachains and the Blue Ridge Mtns. Robert? I live near Lynchburg and an America ride to the valley for a sailplane ride sounds like a hoot!
Stephen, this is the place: http://www.eaglesnest.aero
It's right outside of Waynesboro. If I remember they start things like this in the Spring so I'll see what I can find out in a month or so. Another member here is also interested so who knows, maybe we could make it an outing. The 3 of us could ride in on our bikes and terrorize the joint. 
Last edited by eighteen98; 02/15/2012 7:52 AM.
'04 TBA Black
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Re: Sailplane ride
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That's 750 miles for me, 460 if I came from SC, but sounds like there would be some awesome scenery to check out.
Sono qui per la birra
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 1,847
Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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Quote:
I live near Lynchburg and an America ride to the valley for a sailplane ride sounds like a hoot!
Plus one to this! 
Warren
04 Caspian Blue and Silver America
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Re: Sailplane ride
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When I was working on my commercial license, my instructor would take me soaring just to break up the routine. After no flying for over 25 years, I went soaring for my birthday a couple years ago. I plan to do it again but it almost cost me my Triumph last time. Started looking at buying a glider;)
2005 Triumph America
2011 BMW R1200RT
2013 V-strom DL650
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Apr 2007
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Loquacious
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What about this kind of soaring. Wingsuit VideoNot for the faint of heart..... 
12 Rocket Roadster
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Dec 2006
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New Tires
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New Tires
Joined: Dec 2006
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My father took me up when I was 12. It was quite amazing, sort of the same as sailing a large boat, speed with no engine sound. But, not as exciting as jumping out of a plane, which brings me to a e-mail I just got http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=BZ-VWJjVoZ8Navy Seals parachuting in to the premier of Act Of Valor
Every normal man must be tempted, at times, to spit on his hands, hoist the black flag, and begin slitting throats.
H. L. Mencken
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Sailplane ride over Highland, IL
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Marked this of the list today. Click here
Last edited by Mango; 09/08/2012 6:31 PM.
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Re: Sailplane ride over Highland, IL
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Joined: Jan 2005
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Learned Hand
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Learned Hand
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"Stephen, this is the place: http://www.eaglesnest.aero" Any interest in this for a ride?
Warren
04 Caspian Blue and Silver America
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Re: Sailplane ride over Highland, IL
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Joined: Aug 2007
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Should be Riding
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Should be Riding
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 10,727 Likes: 5 |
Quote:
Marked this of the list today. Click here
very cool Mark, glad you got to do it! 
Always remember to be yourself. Unless you suck. Then pretend to be someone else.
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Re: Sailplane ride over Highland, IL
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Loquacious
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we should do this every weekend!
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 2,146
Oil Expert
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Oil Expert
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Quote:
When I was working on my commercial license, my instructor would take me soaring just to break up the routine. After no flying for over 25 years, I went soaring for my birthday a couple years ago. I plan to do it again but it almost cost me my Triumph last time. Started looking at buying a glider;)
We had a 26' sailboat when my kids were growing up. It was great. I know some folks like to just shove the throttle forward but, man, you just can't beat sailing. I miss my sailboat every day of my life. My wife would agree to another in a heartbeat, but that's not fair. We just wouldn't use it (we've got 4 motorcycles between us that don't get ridden enough).
If you've never sailed you've never lived.
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Re: Sailplane ride
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 6,060 Likes: 6
Worn Saddle
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Worn Saddle
Joined: Jul 2007
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If I wasn't so into cycles, ultralights would definately be on my list. Only thing is, the days one can use them are kind of limited, at least around here. My dentist had one for years and offered me a ride, never did get around to it, now he got rid of it. Days of use are restrictive because of the degree of "calmness" you have to have. I'd just hate having such a cool toy, and looking at the weather constantly, waiting for the "good" days. Pretty expensive toy, considering the amount of time it's usable.
Fidelis et Fortis
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Re: Sailplane ride
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They were anxious for me to join, but adding up all the fee's made it just out of my budget. But it did get me hooked! There was suppose to be an introductory fee, but the pilot waived it. That was awesome in itself. I did get to fly, hold level flight, turn left, right and a 180 turn. So I'll keep an eye out for glider ports around the country. Tom, thanks for the advice. I couldn't have picked a better day to fly.
Sono qui per la birra
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