The audience of earth-bound people cannot appreciate the joy, sights
and feelings of a sailplane pilot; high above the traffic jams and
millions of TV sets polluting minds and wasting useful lives.
No earth bound person can understand the many motions and boundless
energy of the atmosphere. Few airplane pilots know the secrets that
sailplane pilots use to travel hundreds of miles with no engine, using
no fuel and landing safely without an engine to make a second attempt.
The majestic lenticular clouds signal mesmerizing energy and an unreal
smoothness...an eerie quietness that suddenly envelops the sailplane and
its pilot. The lifting motion of the atmosphere is able to carry the
sailplane to altitudes high above the cruising altitude of a 747. The
world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave California.
While pilots of powered airplanes suffer in bouncy turbulence through
valleys, sailplane pilots may be traveling the same direction, moving
along in utter bliss. It's knowing and using the many variations of
atmospheric motion.
Sailplane pilots are drawn to the high mountains, soaring above Mount
Whitney and the Rockies while many airplane pilots avoid them like a
disease. Sailplane pilots often use oxygen while some airplanes cannot
even reach the same altitude with their propellers churning in furious
rotations.
Unless you soar with the hawks and eagles, you cannot appreciate the
fun that the birds seek daily. I have had birds fly inside my wingspan
perfectly confident that I too was a bird and look at me eye-to-eye.
What a joy!
My life as a sailplane pilot and instructor is so full of unexpected
pleasures that in my 56 years of being a pilot, the pleasures only
increase and now I am living the best years of my life still teaching
others and flying just for fun.
Fred Robinson March 28, 2003
Revised November 31, 2007
Now it has been over 60 years as a licensed pilot, airplanes and
gliders.
Now after 30,000 flights and not counting, I still feel the same.
Without my life of flying, I would not have enjoyed my life as much.
My hope is that more people enjoy life as much. Learn, fly, teach and
learn some more. Fred Robinson

On Oct 31, 10:23 pm, fred > wrote:
> The audience of earth-bound people cannot appreciate the joy, sights
> and feelings of a sailplane pilot; high above the traffic jams and
> millions of TV sets polluting minds and wasting useful lives.
> No earth bound person can understand the many motions and boundless
> energy of the atmosphere. Few airplane pilots know the secrets that
> sailplane pilots use to travel hundreds of miles with no engine, using
> no fuel and landing safely without an engine to make a second attempt.
> The majestic lenticular clouds signal mesmerizing energy and an unreal
> smoothness...an eerie quietness that suddenly envelops the sailplane and
> its pilot. The lifting motion of the atmosphere is able to carry the
> sailplane to altitudes high above the cruising altitude of a 747. The
> world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave California.
> While pilots of powered airplanes suffer in bouncy turbulence through
> valleys, sailplane pilots may be traveling the same direction, moving
> along in utter bliss. It's knowing and using the many variations of
> atmospheric motion.
> Sailplane pilots are drawn to the high mountains, soaring above Mount
> Whitney and the Rockies while many airplane pilots avoid them like a
> disease. Sailplane pilots often use oxygen while some airplanes cannot
> even reach the same altitude with their propellers churning in furious
> rotations.
> Unless you soar with the hawks and eagles, you cannot appreciate the
> fun that the birds seek daily. I have had birds fly inside my wingspan
> perfectly confident that I too was a bird and look at me eye-to-eye.
> What a joy!
> My life as a sailplane pilot and instructor is so full of unexpected
> pleasures that in my 56 years of being a pilot, the pleasures only
> increase and now I am living the best years of my life still teaching
> others and flying just for fun.
> Fred Robinson March 28, 2003
> Revised November 31, 2007
> Now it has been over 60 years as a licensed pilot, airplanes and
> gliders.
> Now after 30,000 flights and not counting, I still feel the same.
> Without my life of flying, I would not have enjoyed my life as much.
> My hope is that more people enjoy life as much. Learn, fly, teach and
> learn some more. Fred Robinson



You are so right Mr. Robinson.
Soaring life is starting simply with the pleasures of removing ones
mind from the petty things of daily life, and than is naturally
evolving into the discovery of someones deep self. With all that it is
bringing.....
rk

On Oct 31, 7:23 pm, fred > wrote:
> The audience of earth-bound people cannot appreciate the joy, sights
> and feelings of a sailplane pilot; high above the traffic jams and
> millions of TV sets polluting minds and wasting useful lives.
> No earth bound person can understand the many motions and boundless
> energy of the atmosphere. Few airplane pilots know the secrets that
> sailplane pilots use to travel hundreds of miles with no engine, using
> no fuel and landing safely without an engine to make a second attempt.
> The majestic lenticular clouds signal mesmerizing energy and an unreal
> smoothness...an eerie quietness that suddenly envelops the sailplane and
> its pilot. The lifting motion of the atmosphere is able to carry the
> sailplane to altitudes high above the cruising altitude of a 747. The
> world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave California.
> While pilots of powered airplanes suffer in bouncy turbulence through
> valleys, sailplane pilots may be traveling the same direction, moving
> along in utter bliss. It's knowing and using the many variations of
> atmospheric motion.
> Sailplane pilots are drawn to the high mountains, soaring above Mount
> Whitney and the Rockies while many airplane pilots avoid them like a
> disease. Sailplane pilots often use oxygen while some airplanes cannot
> even reach the same altitude with their propellers churning in furious
> rotations.
> Unless you soar with the hawks and eagles, you cannot appreciate the
> fun that the birds seek daily. I have had birds fly inside my wingspan
> perfectly confident that I too was a bird and look at me eye-to-eye.
Good post, Fred
Thanks for your 60 years dedicated to our
sport........................from my log book; "I have flight tested
this applicant for a private glider rating. All requirements were met.
Fred J Robinson 7-31-72". I have enjoyed 4700 hours in sailplanes
since then and haven't regreted a minute of it.
Keep on trucking, we need people like you!
JJ Sinclair


> What a joy!
> My life as a sailplane pilot and instructor is so full of unexpected
> pleasures that in my 56 years of being a pilot, the pleasures only
> increase and now I am living the best years of my life still teaching
> others and flying just for fun.
> Fred Robinson March 28, 2003
> Revised November 31, 2007
> Now it has been over 60 years as a licensed pilot, airplanes and
> gliders.
> Now after 30,000 flights and not counting, I still feel the same.
> Without my life of flying, I would not have enjoyed my life as much.
> My hope is that more people enjoy life as much. Learn, fly, teach and
> learn some more. Fred Robinson

A delightful post Fred. I always enjoy reading your thoughts. It
reminded me of something Wolf Hirth wrote that I've included below.
Hope to see you at the convention. Regards, Matt Michael CFIG,
Woodstock N20609 Ames Iowa



Twelve Commands for Soaring Pilots

Wolf Hirth (1900-1959)


1st Command
Whoever wants to become a soaring pilot must have a pure and strong
desire to make the heavens a second home---as the sailor, the sea.

2nd Command
And as the sailor must know and love the elements of the sea, thus
must the soaring pilot know and love the elements of the sky; it's
winds, clouds, storms, and dangers.

3rd Command
You must fly for flying's sake.

4th Command
You must also have an eye and a heart for the beauty which flying
opens up in the blue expanse of the sky with it's radiant mountains of
clouds and the new strangely changed earth; otherwise your heart
remains empty and you would be blind with seeing eyes.

5th Command
You must want to know the element of air better and better, to be an
investigator eager for knowledge so that each flight leads to ever
greater performances, opening up all possibilities of the air-ocean.

6th Command
You must love the struggle with the forces of nature and there must be
an obstinacy within to be stronger than the storm and tempest.

7th Command
Never should you risk more than can be accomplished

8th Command
You should offer a pure being to the pure element, air. When you
climb into your plane you should be in top form, bodily, mentally, and
spiritually.

9th Command
As sailors their ships, and riders, their horses, you must know and
control your plane exactly; you must know it's flying characteristics
and limits of performance, and it's special inclinations and
aversions.

10th Command
And as sailors carefully care for and maintain their ships, and
riders, their horses, you must do the same for your plane. You must
foster it, take care of it, and be fond of it as a living thing.

11th Command
You must gradually become one with your plane as if the wings were
your own.

12th Command
One must be able to recognize soaring pilots not only by the white
gull on a blue background, but also by the bright free glance, the
ever helpful comradeship, and the complete lack of vanity and petty
convictions. Then we can be found anywhere among the people and
unite; we will form the beginning of a new nobility, and at the same
time be the first citizens of a free, peaceful, and unified world.

On Oct 31, 9:23 pm, fred > wrote:
"The world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave California"

Actually, time for an update: this was broken by Steve Fosett on
august this year and it is now at 50,699 feet.

Not too distract from this thread. Carry on.

Richard
Phoenix, AZ

fred wrote:
>The audience of earth-bound people cannot appreciate the joy, sights
>and feelings of a sailplane pilot; high above the traffic jams and
>millions of TV sets polluting minds and wasting useful lives.
>No earth bound person can understand the many motions and boundless
>energy of the atmosphere. Few airplane pilots know the secrets that
>sailplane pilots use to travel hundreds of miles with no engine, using
>no fuel and landing safely without an engine to make a second attempt.
>The majestic lenticular clouds signal mesmerizing energy and an unreal
>smoothness...an eerie quietness that suddenly envelops the sailplane and
>its pilot. The lifting motion of the atmosphere is able to carry the
>sailplane to altitudes high above the cruising altitude of a 747. The
>world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave California.
>While pilots of powered airplanes suffer in bouncy turbulence through
>valleys, sailplane pilots may be traveling the same direction, moving
>along in utter bliss. It's knowing and using the many variations of
>atmospheric motion.
>Sailplane pilots are drawn to the high mountains, soaring above Mount
>Whitney and the Rockies while many airplane pilots avoid them like a
>disease. Sailplane pilots often use oxygen while some airplanes cannot
>even reach the same altitude with their propellers churning in furious
>rotations.
>Unless you soar with the hawks and eagles, you cannot appreciate the
>fun that the birds seek daily. I have had birds fly inside my wingspan
>perfectly confident that I too was a bird and look at me eye-to-eye.
>What a joy!
>My life as a sailplane pilot and instructor is so full of unexpected
>pleasures that in my 56 years of being a pilot, the pleasures only
>increase and now I am living the best years of my life still teaching
>others and flying just for fun.


Ditto

--
Message posted via AviationKB.com
http://www.aviationkb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/soaring/200711/1

At 15:12 01 November 2007, Jeplane wrote:
>On Oct 31, 9:23 pm, fred wrote:
> 'The world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave
>California'
>
>Actually, time for an update: this was broken by Steve
>Fosett on
>august this year and it is now at 50,699 feet.
>
>Not too distract from this thread. Carry on.
>
>Richard
>Phoenix, AZ
>
Not to pick nits, but that update needs an update...
It actually stands at 50,721.78' (15,460m according
to the FAI, but 50,727' according to Steve) set on
August 29th of LAST year (2006), not this year, but
who's counting. Now carry on.

Paul

On Nov 1, 11:07 am, Paul Hanson
> wrote:
> At 15:12 01 November 2007, Jeplane wrote:>On Oct 31, 9:23 pm, fred wrote:
> > 'The world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave
> >California'
>
> >Actually, time for an update: this was broken by Steve
> >Fosett on
> >august this year and it is now at 50,699 feet.
>
> >Not too distract from this thread. Carry on.
>
> >Richard
> >Phoenix, AZ
>
> Not to pick nits, but that update needs an update...
> It actually stands at 50,721.78' (15,460m according
> to the FAI, but 50,727' according to Steve) set on
> August 29th of LAST year (2006), not this year, but
> who's counting. Now carry on.
>
> Paul

Are there separate catagories for single and multi-place altitude
records?

MM

On Oct 31, 9:23 pm, fred > wrote:
> The audience of earth-bound people cannot appreciate the joy, sights
> and feelings of a sailplane pilot; high above the traffic jams and
> millions of TV sets polluting minds and wasting useful lives.
> No earth bound person can understand the many motions and boundless
> energy of the atmosphere. Few airplane pilots know the secrets that
> sailplane pilots use to travel hundreds of miles with no engine, using
> no fuel and landing safely without an engine to make a second attempt.
> The majestic lenticular clouds signal mesmerizing energy and an unreal
> smoothness...an eerie quietness that suddenly envelops the sailplane and
> its pilot. The lifting motion of the atmosphere is able to carry the
> sailplane to altitudes high above the cruising altitude of a 747. The
> world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave California.
> While pilots of powered airplanes suffer in bouncy turbulence through
> valleys, sailplane pilots may be traveling the same direction, moving
> along in utter bliss. It's knowing and using the many variations of
> atmospheric motion.
> Sailplane pilots are drawn to the high mountains, soaring above Mount
> Whitney and the Rockies while many airplane pilots avoid them like a
> disease. Sailplane pilots often use oxygen while some airplanes cannot
> even reach the same altitude with their propellers churning in furious
> rotations.
> Unless you soar with the hawks and eagles, you cannot appreciate the
> fun that the birds seek daily. I have had birds fly inside my wingspan
> perfectly confident that I too was a bird and look at me eye-to-eye.
> What a joy!
> My life as a sailplane pilot and instructor is so full of unexpected
> pleasures that in my 56 years of being a pilot, the pleasures only
> increase and now I am living the best years of my life still teaching
> others and flying just for fun.
> Fred Robinson March 28, 2003
> Revised November 31, 2007
> Now it has been over 60 years as a licensed pilot, airplanes and
> gliders.
> Now after 30,000 flights and not counting, I still feel the same.
> Without my life of flying, I would not have enjoyed my life as much.
> My hope is that more people enjoy life as much. Learn, fly, teach and
> learn some more. Fred Robinson

wonderful Fred

I had not seen this before. It is wonderful. Thank you for sharing it with
us!

--
Hartley Falbaum
DG808C "KF" USA

> wrote in message
ps.com...
>A delightful post Fred. I always enjoy reading your thoughts. It
> reminded me of something Wolf Hirth wrote that I've included below.
> Hope to see you at the convention. Regards, Matt Michael CFIG,
> Woodstock N20609 Ames Iowa
>
>
>
> Twelve Commands for Soaring Pilots
>
> Wolf Hirth (1900-1959)
>
>
> 1st Command
> Whoever wants to become a soaring pilot must have a pure and strong
> desire to make the heavens a second home---as the sailor, the sea.
>
> 2nd Command
> And as the sailor must know and love the elements of the sea, thus
> must the soaring pilot know and love the elements of the sky; it's
> winds, clouds, storms, and dangers.
>
> 3rd Command
> You must fly for flying's sake.
>
> 4th Command
> You must also have an eye and a heart for the beauty which flying
> opens up in the blue expanse of the sky with it's radiant mountains of
> clouds and the new strangely changed earth; otherwise your heart
> remains empty and you would be blind with seeing eyes.
>
> 5th Command
> You must want to know the element of air better and better, to be an
> investigator eager for knowledge so that each flight leads to ever
> greater performances, opening up all possibilities of the air-ocean.
>
> 6th Command
> You must love the struggle with the forces of nature and there must be
> an obstinacy within to be stronger than the storm and tempest.
>
> 7th Command
> Never should you risk more than can be accomplished
>
> 8th Command
> You should offer a pure being to the pure element, air. When you
> climb into your plane you should be in top form, bodily, mentally, and
> spiritually.
>
> 9th Command
> As sailors their ships, and riders, their horses, you must know and
> control your plane exactly; you must know it's flying characteristics
> and limits of performance, and it's special inclinations and
> aversions.
>
> 10th Command
> And as sailors carefully care for and maintain their ships, and
> riders, their horses, you must do the same for your plane. You must
> foster it, take care of it, and be fond of it as a living thing.
>
> 11th Command
> You must gradually become one with your plane as if the wings were
> your own.
>
> 12th Command
> One must be able to recognize soaring pilots not only by the white
> gull on a blue background, but also by the bright free glance, the
> ever helpful comradeship, and the complete lack of vanity and petty
> convictions. Then we can be found anywhere among the people and
> unite; we will form the beginning of a new nobility, and at the same
> time be the first citizens of a free, peaceful, and unified world.
>

On Oct 31, 7:23 pm, fred > wrote:
> The audience of earth-bound people cannot appreciate the joy, sights
> and feelings of a sailplane pilot; high above the traffic jams and
> millions of TV sets polluting minds and wasting useful lives.
> No earth bound person can understand the many motions and boundless
> energy of the atmosphere. Few airplane pilots know the secrets that
> sailplane pilots use to travel hundreds of miles with no engine, using
> no fuel and landing safely without an engine to make a second attempt.
> The majestic lenticular clouds signal mesmerizing energy and an unreal
> smoothness...an eerie quietness that suddenly envelops the sailplane and
> its pilot. The lifting motion of the atmosphere is able to carry the
> sailplane to altitudes high above the cruising altitude of a 747. The
> world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave California.
> While pilots of powered airplanes suffer in bouncy turbulence through
> valleys, sailplane pilots may be traveling the same direction, moving
> along in utter bliss. It's knowing and using the many variations of
> atmospheric motion.
> Sailplane pilots are drawn to the high mountains, soaring above Mount
> Whitney and the Rockies while many airplane pilots avoid them like a
> disease. Sailplane pilots often use oxygen while some airplanes cannot
> even reach the same altitude with their propellers churning in furious
> rotations.
> Unless you soar with the hawks and eagles, you cannot appreciate the
> fun that the birds seek daily. I have had birds fly inside my wingspan
> perfectly confident that I too was a bird and look at me eye-to-eye.
> What a joy!
> My life as a sailplane pilot and instructor is so full of unexpected
> pleasures that in my 56 years of being a pilot, the pleasures only
> increase and now I am living the best years of my life still teaching
> others and flying just for fun.
> Fred Robinson March 28, 2003
> Revised November 31, 2007
> Now it has been over 60 years as a licensed pilot, airplanes and
> gliders.
> Now after 30,000 flights and not counting, I still feel the same.
> Without my life of flying, I would not have enjoyed my life as much.
> My hope is that more people enjoy life as much. Learn, fly, teach and
> learn some more. Fred Robinson


Hey Fred

You are getting sentimental at Age. When I visited you with my
Supercub and flew with you for a while
in the late 60s, you were just staying alive, like many of the glider
operations.
Still I feel the same way, very close behind you with the flight
numbers and age. Checked out your homepage and finally figured out
your history with buying back the glider port.

My airport got over run with jets, with not enough room to even park
gliders, so I semi retired at 65 about 10 years ago, flying a Stemme
now, which can keep up with anything on the ground and still can get
to the old hunting grounds in the air.

Make sure you take that "After Lunch nap" once in a while. I am a
happy "Audience" here, and a little contribution from the heart of the
Rockies.

We are waiting for snow now
Happy flying Fred

Dieter Bibbig
Gliders Of Aspen Inc ret.