Re: Best instructional book for 12-year-old aspiring glider pilot?

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

The book that I will start with when starting my kids is:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books/BGA/GlidingTheoryOfFlight.htm

I especially like the wonderful illustrations in that book. One example is
available here:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books/BGA/GlidingTheoryOfFlight-p181.jpg

As mentioned, the Ken Stewart books are also very good. Here is one:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/books/Stewart/SoaringPilotsManual.htm

Both of those books are from the U.K., but work great for U.S. pilots. I
have them in stock.

Best Regards,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.

"villinski" > wrote in message
...
> Looking to give my 12-year-old niece a book about learning to fly
> gliders, prior to her starting lessons this summer. Any thoughts on
> the most appropriate/accessible book for someone her age? Thanks--

[villinski]

Gents, thank you for all your suggestions -- any number of these sound
good, and I'll look into them. They'd likely be good additions to my
own bookshelf, too. Can I broaden my question -- probably what I
should have asked in the first place -- and ask for suggestions for
anything that a child her age might find inspiring? Not necessarily
instructional in nature, but material that could fire her imagination
and shed some light on our sport. Let's throw videos into the mix,
too: she's already seen "Windborn," and "Fly Away Home".

Tom, your point that she may not need anything to read at all is well
taken, it's just that we are several months from her first lesson, and
I wanted to give her something to chew on in the meantime. Paul, (sisu
1a) we are in the US, and she will have lessons at Valley Soaring, in
Middletown, NY.

thanks again--

[Alex Potter]

On Tue, 08 Mar 2011 05:44:37 -0800, villinski wrote:

> Gents, thank you for all your suggestions -- any number of these sound
> good, and I'll look into them. They'd likely be good additions to my own
> bookshelf, too. Can I broaden my question -- probably what I should have
> asked in the first place -- and ask for suggestions for anything that a
> child her age might find inspiring? Not necessarily instructional in
> nature, but material that could fire her imagination and shed some light
> on our sport. Let's throw videos into the mix, too: she's already seen
> "Windborn," and "Fly Away Home".

I read Peter Scott's autobiography[1] when I was just a little older than
she is now. I wanted to fly gliders ever since reading it, although I
didn't get the opportunity until I was almost 50.

[1] <http://www.amazon.com/Eye-Wind-Peter-Scott/dp/B0006D9CUA/ref=sr_1_4?
ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1299593598&sr=1-4-spell> or

<http://tinyurl.com/4fpazcx>

--
Alex

[Tom Gardner]

On Mar 8, 1:44*pm, villinski > wrote:
> ask for suggestions for
> anything that a child her age might find inspiring?

Based on my 15 year old daughter's experience:
- handling a glider's wing and sitting in the cockpit
- just being in control of a "large" "dangerous" machine
- a winch launch (that really was really responsible for
hooking her, unlike an aerotow)
- building her own rollercoaster in the sky, both in terms
of thermalling and basic aerobatics
- my not interfering - it was between her and her instructors
- my telling her she didn't have to continue if she
didn't want to, or because she'd flown a complete flight,
or done some spinning, or had her first solo, ...
- helping out at the launchpoint
- "ordering" ancient men around at the launchpoint - and
having them "obey"

In other words, it wasn't just the flying!

> Let's throw videos into the mix,
> too: she's already seen "Windborn," and "Fly Away Home".

This was discussed in the thread
"pleasant" Soaring video on youtube??
started on 17th Feb

[Alex Potter]

On Tue, 08 Mar 2011 07:48:51 -0800, Tom Gardner wrote:

> In other words, it wasn't just the flying!

If you're air-minded, airfields are THE place to be. To fly as well,
that's the cherry on top. If you're not, it won't do it for you. My son
wasn't interested.

--
Alex

[Paul Remde]

Hi,

You mentioned Windborn below. That is perfect for a young woman since it
shows Lucy learning how to fly gliders.

Another one to get is "The Boy Who Flew With Condors". You can find new
copies at Amazon.com. I wish I could get Disney to release it to the
general public - rather than their movie club. You can see details and
screen captures from it here:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/videos.htm#BoyWhoFlewWithCondors

One of my favorites is Ron Howard's "Skyward". It is not available for rent
or purchase. I bought a copy of questionable legality online a few years
ago. It is a somewhat sappy but very likeable movie about a paraplegic girl
learning to fly. There are some nice gliding scenes with Derek Piggott as
the glider pilot. My 2 young girls like that film. I got them to watch it
with me recently. They said they didn't want to watch it, but once it
started they couldn't leave. You can see details on the movie and actors
at:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081526/

Paul Remde

"villinski" > wrote in message
...
> Gents, thank you for all your suggestions -- any number of these sound
> good, and I'll look into them. They'd likely be good additions to my
> own bookshelf, too. Can I broaden my question -- probably what I
> should have asked in the first place -- and ask for suggestions for
> anything that a child her age might find inspiring? Not necessarily
> instructional in nature, but material that could fire her imagination
> and shed some light on our sport. Let's throw videos into the mix,
> too: she's already seen "Windborn," and "Fly Away Home".
>
> Tom, your point that she may not need anything to read at all is well
> taken, it's just that we are several months from her first lesson, and
> I wanted to give her something to chew on in the meantime. Paul, (sisu
> 1a) we are in the US, and she will have lessons at Valley Soaring, in
> Middletown, NY.
>
> thanks again--

[Frank Whiteley]

On Mar 8, 2:09*pm, "Paul Remde" > wrote:
> Hi,
>
> You mentioned Windborn below. *That is perfect for a young woman since it
> shows Lucy learning how to fly gliders.
>
> Another one to get is "The Boy Who Flew With Condors". *You can find new
> copies at Amazon.com. *I wish I could get Disney to release it to the
> general public - rather than their movie club. *You can see details and
> screen captures from it here:http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/videos.htm#BoyWhoFlewWithCondors
>
> One of my favorites is Ron Howard's "Skyward". *It is not available for rent
> or purchase. *I bought a copy of questionable legality online a few years
> ago. *It is a somewhat sappy but very likeable movie about a paraplegic girl
> learning to fly. *There are some nice gliding scenes with Derek Piggott as
> the glider pilot. *My 2 young girls like that film. *I got them to watch it
> with me recently. *They said they didn't want to watch it, but once it
> started they couldn't leave. *You can see details on the movie and actors
> at:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081526/
>
> Paul Remde
>
"Skyward" was produced in 1980. That was the year Anson Williams
(Potsie from Happy Days) got his student glider ticket. Note he has
writer credits for "Skyward".

Frank Whiteley

[Frank Whiteley]

On Mar 8, 2:09*pm, "Paul Remde" > wrote:
> Hi,
>
> You mentioned Windborn below. *That is perfect for a young woman since it
> shows Lucy learning how to fly gliders.
>
> Another one to get is "The Boy Who Flew With Condors". *You can find new
> copies at Amazon.com. *I wish I could get Disney to release it to the
> general public - rather than their movie club. *You can see details and
> screen captures from it here:http://www.cumulus-soaring.com/videos.htm#BoyWhoFlewWithCondors
>
> One of my favorites is Ron Howard's "Skyward". *It is not available for rent
> or purchase. *I bought a copy of questionable legality online a few years
> ago. *It is a somewhat sappy but very likeable movie about a paraplegic girl
> learning to fly. *There are some nice gliding scenes with Derek Piggott as
> the glider pilot. *My 2 young girls like that film. *I got them to watch it
> with me recently. *They said they didn't want to watch it, but once it
> started they couldn't leave. *You can see details on the movie and actors
> at:http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0081526/
>
> Paul Remde
>
"Skyward" was produced in 1980. One of the writers and Ron Howard
collaborator, Anson Williams (Potsie from Happy Days), held a student
glider certificate in 1980.

Frank Whiteley