HG converts to sailplanes

[Stewart Kissel]

Any ex or current hg's care to comment on their experience
getting a sailplane ticket? I have a friend considering
this, he is a very experienced HG type...with zip for
powered or sailplane experience. I explained to him
that he quite likely will be able to out-thermal his
instructor...but that is not the point for trying to
get the ticket. I figure things like trying to figure
out what to do with your feet, and staying behind the
towplane, may be two of the more challenging aspect
of this. But I don't hang glide...so input welcome.

[M B]

I was 'checking out' a former HG pilot
new to soaring. We flew the L-13, and I figured it
would be kinda fun. Three hours later I determined
I had done a very improper preflight, as I had forgotten
to use the bathroom before the flight. I didn't think
we'd be up that long, but this 'newbie' knew his thermals
well.

The only thing that was clearly quite new to him was
the penetration and how to estimate landouts. HGs
just don't penetrate well into wind, and of course
selection of landouts is completely different.

I suspect there are a LOT of HG pilots who eventually
get old enough that they want a bit more enclosure.
I know several who gave up HG after a body-bending
accident or too many scares. Two of them are now happy
(older) glider pilots.

This one guy 'sailed' right through the rating, no
problem. I think there's a lot to be said for the
commonality of basic airmanship...

At 18:00 23 April 2005, Stewart Kissel wrote:
>Any ex or current hg's care to comment on their experience
>getting a sailplane ticket? I have a friend considering
>this, he is a very experienced HG type...with zip for
>powered or sailplane experience. I explained to him
>that he quite likely will be able to out-thermal his
>instructor...but that is not the point for trying to
>get the ticket. I figure things like trying to figure
>out what to do with your feet, and staying behind the
>towplane, may be two of the more challenging aspect
>of this. But I don't hang glide...so input welcome.
>
>
>
>
Mark J. Boyd

[Tim Ward]

"Stewart Kissel" > wrote in
message ...
> Any ex or current hg's care to comment on their experience
> getting a sailplane ticket? I have a friend considering
> this, he is a very experienced HG type...with zip for
> powered or sailplane experience. I explained to him
> that he quite likely will be able to out-thermal his
> instructor...but that is not the point for trying to
> get the ticket. I figure things like trying to figure
> out what to do with your feet, and staying behind the
> towplane, may be two of the more challenging aspect
> of this. But I don't hang glide...so input welcome.

I converted a few years ago.
Yeah, he may be able to out-thermal his instructor -- or not.
But you're right, that doesn't matter.
However, he will have the situational awareness that you need for being in a
glider.
The first lesson was kind of busy, what with flailing trying to stay behind
the towplane. We released, and Galen said "okay, now where's the airport?"
I knew. He'll know.
The worst part is you're used to thinking "I'll just fly over there and try
that spot" -- and you just go, you don't think about how far to move what in
which direction. Converting, I had to think about everything, all the time,
and that slowed me down quite a bit.
Oh, and spoilers are MUCH easier for making approaches.

Tim Ward

[toad]

I converted to sailplanes after flying HG for several years and power
for 1 or 2 years.

It was a pretty straightforward transfer of knowledge. The HG time
teaches all of the soaring bits about keeping landing options,
estimating glide ranges, knowing where lift and sink are likely. Of
course the pilot needs to re-calibrate to sailplane performance and
landing field size requirements. Some HG pilots are allready
experience aero-tow pilots. Learning stick and rudder is the main job
that the HG pilot should require.

Todd Smith
3S