Dennis Wright - Cross Country Pilot

[Larry Pardue]

Soaring Society of America Executive Director, Dennis Wright, came to SSA
from powered flight but made a commitment to get a glider rating. He did
that quickly after taking the position.

This afternoon, Dennis made the most significant flight a glider pilot can
make, in my opinion. He flew silver distance, and he did it the old
fashioned way, with low technology and a low performance glider. The way,
it seems, that the badge leg was originally meant to be earned.

About 2:30 Dennis took off from Hobbs, NM, hooked to some discarded
oil-field wire being pulled by the club Chevy pick-up truck. After climbing
up to about 6,000 feet AGL he lit out north for Tatum with a nice tailwind.
His equipment was a chart, a barograph and a camera. Dennis made it to his
goal of Tatum fairly quickly but his intent was to return to Hobbs, in order
to avoid a retrieve. He quickly found out about 1-26's and headwinds, which
were as high as 15 knots. He told me that it felt like there was a giant
bungee pulling him back toward Tatum.

Dennis persevered, and never did get too low. Patience was needed for the
many climbs while drifting backward with the wind. Judy will be the judge
of the technicalities but I watched the takeoff, the turnpoint and the
landing and know it was a flight to be proud off.

Sometimes I am a bit afraid the sport is being suffocated with high
technology and high prices but all that stuff is surely not necessary. This
flight will be billed by the club at the sum total, including tow, of $18
(with a discount for the flight time on a badge flight).

I find it refreshing that our (US) Executive Director not only sees to the
office but does grunt work at contests, drives the launch car for the local
club and gets a big kick out of flying a 1-26.

Larry Pardue 2I

[Kevin Anderson]

Larry,

Thanks for the update, and tell Dennis he is invited and expected at the
1-26 Championships next year in Parowan UT, the last two weeks of June.

Kevin R. Anderson
192

"Larry Pardue" > wrote in message
...
> Soaring Society of America Executive Director, Dennis Wright, came to SSA
> from powered flight but made a commitment to get a glider rating. He did
> that quickly after taking the position.
>
> This afternoon, Dennis made the most significant flight a glider pilot can
> make, in my opinion. He flew silver distance, and he did it the old
> fashioned way, with low technology and a low performance glider. The way,
> it seems, that the badge leg was originally meant to be earned.
>
> About 2:30 Dennis took off from Hobbs, NM, hooked to some discarded
> oil-field wire being pulled by the club Chevy pick-up truck. After
> climbing up to about 6,000 feet AGL he lit out north for Tatum with a nice
> tailwind. His equipment was a chart, a barograph and a camera. Dennis
> made it to his goal of Tatum fairly quickly but his intent was to return
> to Hobbs, in order to avoid a retrieve. He quickly found out about 1-26's
> and headwinds, which were as high as 15 knots. He told me that it felt
> like there was a giant bungee pulling him back toward Tatum.
>
> Dennis persevered, and never did get too low. Patience was needed for the
> many climbs while drifting backward with the wind. Judy will be the judge
> of the technicalities but I watched the takeoff, the turnpoint and the
> landing and know it was a flight to be proud off.
>
> Sometimes I am a bit afraid the sport is being suffocated with high
> technology and high prices but all that stuff is surely not necessary.
> This flight will be billed by the club at the sum total, including tow, of
> $18 (with a discount for the flight time on a badge flight).
>
> I find it refreshing that our (US) Executive Director not only sees to the
> office but does grunt work at contests, drives the launch car for the
> local club and gets a big kick out of flying a 1-26.
>
> Larry Pardue 2I
>

[John Sinclair]

Way to go, Dennis and congratulations on successfully
cutting your umbilical cord. Cross country flying is
what this sport is all about. I remember my Silver
C in a Duster, like it was yesterday. Great sense of
accomplishment.
I too wonder where this sport is headed when I see
1/4 million investments in ship & motorhome at our
contests. Little wonder we don't attract new blood
to this sport when newcomers see what is perceived
as 'rich old men, playing airborne polo'.
Welcome to the club,
JJ

At 04:00 24 July 2005, Larry Pardue wrote:
>Soaring Society of America Executive Director, Dennis
>Wright, came to SSA
>from powered flight but made a commitment to get a
>glider rating. He did
>that quickly after taking the position.
>
>This afternoon, Dennis made the most significant flight
>a glider pilot can
>make, in my opinion. He flew silver distance, and
>he did it the old
>fashioned way, with low technology and a low performance
>glider. The way,
>it seems, that the badge leg was originally meant to
>be earned.
>
>About 2:30 Dennis took off from Hobbs, NM, hooked to
>some discarded
>oil-field wire being pulled by the club Chevy pick-up
>truck. After climbing
>up to about 6,000 feet AGL he lit out north for Tatum
>with a nice tailwind.
>His equipment was a chart, a barograph and a camera.
> Dennis made it to his
>goal of Tatum fairly quickly but his intent was to
>return to Hobbs, in order
>to avoid a retrieve. He quickly found out about 1-26's
>and headwinds, which
>were as high as 15 knots. He told me that it felt
>like there was a giant
>bungee pulling him back toward Tatum.
>
>Dennis persevered, and never did get too low. Patience
>was needed for the
>many climbs while drifting backward with the wind.
> Judy will be the judge
>of the technicalities but I watched the takeoff, the
>turnpoint and the
>landing and know it was a flight to be proud off.
>
>Sometimes I am a bit afraid the sport is being suffocated
>with high
>technology and high prices but all that stuff is surely
>not necessary. This
>flight will be billed by the club at the sum total,
>including tow, of $18
>(with a discount for the flight time on a badge flight).
>
>I find it refreshing that our (US) Executive Director
>not only sees to the
>office but does grunt work at contests, drives the
>launch car for the local
>club and gets a big kick out of flying a 1-26.
>
>Larry Pardue 2I
>
>
>

[Stewart Kissel]

>I too wonder where this sport is headed when I see
>1/4 million investments in ship & motorhome at our
>contests. Little wonder we don't attract new blood
>to this sport when newcomers see what is perceived
>as 'rich old men, playing airborne polo'.


JJ-Don't forget the part about these same guys have
a bunch of spare time...:)

This subject gets batted around on a somewhat regular
basis here, I don't begrudge those with the bucks and
time to do what they choose. And for that matter,
I suspect this situation has always been present in
the sport. Pilots can choose whether to enter the
arms' race, or go sports class or 1-26, or not race.
How much time and energy we members want the SSA
to put into high dollar racing...is something we can
discuss as a group. I recently read an article on
the Seniors Contest in Soaring...and the author started
the article stating he though the SSA was making a
mistake not being more supportive of this type of racing.
I don't necesarily agree with that author...but that
is for another thread.

[Bob Whelan]

Major Cool - thanks for the vignette. Congratulations to Dennis!

And if he hasn't already been pointed in the direction of "Soaring" mags
from the early 1970's, review of the badge pages therefrom will provide some
fun reflective moments concerning how fundamental 1-26s were to badge
collectors then. (For those lacking magazine issue access, it wasn't
uncommon to see more than 50% of badge legs through the Gold level being
accomplished in 1-26s.)

Looking forward, in soaring there's a lot to be said for learning the basics
WITH the basics.

Regards,
Bob Whelan


"Larry Pardue" > wrote in message
...
> Soaring Society of America Executive Director, Dennis Wright, came to SSA
> from powered flight but made a commitment to get a glider rating. He did
> that quickly after taking the position.
>
> This afternoon, Dennis made the most significant flight a glider pilot can
> make, in my opinion. He flew silver distance, and he did it the old
> fashioned way, with low technology and a low performance glider. The way,
> it seems, that the badge leg was originally meant to be earned.
>
> About 2:30 Dennis took off from Hobbs, NM, hooked to some discarded
> oil-field wire being pulled by the club Chevy pick-up truck. After
climbing
> up to about 6,000 feet AGL he lit out north for Tatum with a nice
tailwind.
> His equipment was a chart, a barograph and a camera. Dennis made it to
his
> goal of Tatum fairly quickly but his intent was to return to Hobbs, in
order
> to avoid a retrieve. He quickly found out about 1-26's and headwinds,
which
> were as high as 15 knots. He told me that it felt like there was a giant
> bungee pulling him back toward Tatum.
>
> Dennis persevered, and never did get too low. Patience was needed for the
> many climbs while drifting backward with the wind. Judy will be the judge
> of the technicalities but I watched the takeoff, the turnpoint and the
> landing and know it was a flight to be proud off.
>
> Sometimes I am a bit afraid the sport is being suffocated with high
> technology and high prices but all that stuff is surely not necessary.
This
> flight will be billed by the club at the sum total, including tow, of $18
> (with a discount for the flight time on a badge flight).
>
> I find it refreshing that our (US) Executive Director not only sees to the
> office but does grunt work at contests, drives the launch car for the
local
> club and gets a big kick out of flying a 1-26.
>
> Larry Pardue 2I

[[email protected]]

<<I find it refreshing that our (US) Executive Director not only sees
to the
office but does grunt work at contests, drives the launch car for the
local
club and gets a big kick out of flying a 1-26. >>

This says it all. While this thread threatened to degenerate :) :) into
a diatribe against the high costs of soaring and a paean to the 1-26
(worthy causes, both), the most significant thing to me is that the
SSA's top full-time executive joined the ranks of cross-country soaring
pilots.

I watched him do a great job helping to run the Standard Class
Nationals in Hobbs last summer. And this latest achievement provides
further hope that our SSA will have the enthusiastist's inside
understanding to be able to meet our sport's needs in the U.S.

Congratulations, Dennis!

Chip Bearden

[M B]

It is wonderful to see top management getting a very
clear idea of the exact challenges we face in growing
this sport by actually doing it.

Beyond that, he seems to also be ENJOYING it. Dennis'
flights and efforts, and the amazing things done by
Garret Willat really broaden the appeal for soaring.
And both pilots do so while still being supportive
of the 'big sky' theory that all comers are welcome
and whether you are young or old, rich or poor, or
fly metal, fabric, or plastic: soaring is FUN.

It's nice to see good news! Yeah!

At 23:06 25 July 2005, wrote:
>>
>
>This says it all. While this thread threatened to degenerate
>:) :) into
>a diatribe against the high costs of soaring and a
>paean to the 1-26
>(worthy causes, both), the most significant thing to
>me is that the
>SSA's top full-time executive joined the ranks of cross-country
>soaring
>pilots.
>
>I watched him do a great job helping to run the Standard
>Class
>Nationals in Hobbs last summer. And this latest achievement
>provides
>further hope that our SSA will have the enthusiastist's
>inside
>understanding to be able to meet our sport's needs
>in the U.S.
>
>Congratulations, Dennis!
>
>Chip Bearden
>
>
Mark J. Boyd

[Alistair Wright]

Congrats to Dennis for earning his badge in the way the original founders of
gliding intended. Though long retired from the sport I can well understand
how Dennis must feel. I did my five hours in smoky thermals over
Stoke-on-Trent (UK), my height off a very low launch at Sutton Bank in
Yorkshire both of those in an old wooden Olympia 2. Distance was in a Ka8
from Dunstable. It took fourteen years all told because I was instructing
within a year of going solo and could never get into a single seater. In my
view all sports are going the same way -- high performance equipment being
used against the old low performance goals. I guess the Silver distance
should be at least 150Km to level the playing field.

Alistair Wright
UK Silver 4769

[Robin Birch]

In message >, Alistair
Wright > writes
>Congrats to Dennis for earning his badge in the way the original founders of
>gliding intended. Though long retired from the sport I can well understand
>how Dennis must feel. I did my five hours in smoky thermals over
>Stoke-on-Trent (UK), my height off a very low launch at Sutton Bank in
>Yorkshire both of those in an old wooden Olympia 2. Distance was in a Ka8
>from Dunstable. It took fourteen years all told because I was instructing
>within a year of going solo and could never get into a single seater. In my
>view all sports are going the same way -- high performance equipment being
>used against the old low performance goals. I guess the Silver distance
>should be at least 150Km to level the playing field.
>
Or done in a T31 :-)

Robin
>Alistair Wright
>UK Silver 4769
>
>

--
Robin Birch

[Alistair Wright]

"Robin Birch" > wrote in message
...
> In message >, Alistair
> Wright > writes
>>Congrats to Dennis for earning his badge in the way the original founders
>>of
>>gliding intended. Though long retired from the sport I can well
>>understand
>>how Dennis must feel. I did my five hours in smoky thermals over
>>Stoke-on-Trent (UK), my height off a very low launch at Sutton Bank in
>>Yorkshire both of those in an old wooden Olympia 2. Distance was in a Ka8
>>from Dunstable. It took fourteen years all told because I was instructing
>>within a year of going solo and could never get into a single seater. In
>>my
>>view all sports are going the same way -- high performance equipment being
>>used against the old low performance goals. I guess the Silver distance
>>should be at least 150Km to level the playing field.
>>
> Or done in a T31 :-)
>
> Robin

That's a bit harsh! I did know a guy who did it in a T21b though. The cross
country was always the challenge in the UK in the 60s -- there were some
quite competent aircraft around but most of us did not own or get to fly
them. I scored the 1971 Nationals at Husbands Bosworth and setting a 300k
O/R was a big deal -- and only a few got round. Plastic hadn't been
invented and everybody flew wooden ships. We got a lot of outlanding
practice in those days.

Alistair Wright

[Malcolm Austin]

Hi, I wonder then if we need to review the Silver distance?

When I went solo in Cyprus in 1971 in my trusty T21, it would have been
relatively
easy to do a 50k. The thermals were/are so good my 10th solo flight was to
7000' and nearly 3 hours (shorts and tee shirt in an open cockpit - great!)

The same task in the UK with cloud base 2 to 3000 feet lower, and much
weaker thermals is a different job all together!

So what do we say, glide angle below 1:30 = 50k, 1:40 = 75k,
>1:40 = 150k ?

And add 50% for distances in hot countries with BIG thermals?

Malcolm...


"Alistair Wright" > wrote in message
...
>
> "Robin Birch" > wrote in message
> ...
>> In message >, Alistair
>> Wright > writes
>>>Congrats to Dennis for earning his badge in the way the original founders
>>>of
>>>gliding intended. Though long retired from the sport I can well
>>>understand
>>>how Dennis must feel. I did my five hours in smoky thermals over
>>>Stoke-on-Trent (UK), my height off a very low launch at Sutton Bank in
>>>Yorkshire both of those in an old wooden Olympia 2. Distance was in a
>>>Ka8
>>>from Dunstable. It took fourteen years all told because I was
>>>instructing
>>>within a year of going solo and could never get into a single seater. In
>>>my
>>>view all sports are going the same way -- high performance equipment
>>>being
>>>used against the old low performance goals. I guess the Silver distance
>>>should be at least 150Km to level the playing field.
>>>
>> Or done in a T31 :-)
>>
>> Robin
>
> That's a bit harsh! I did know a guy who did it in a T21b though. The
> cross country was always the challenge in the UK in the 60s -- there were
> some quite competent aircraft around but most of us did not own or get to
> fly them. I scored the 1971 Nationals at Husbands Bosworth and setting a
> 300k O/R was a big deal -- and only a few got round. Plastic hadn't been
> invented and everybody flew wooden ships. We got a lot of outlanding
> practice in those days.
>
> Alistair Wright
>

[Kevin Brooker]

Silver Distance is the most difficult leg to achieve regardless of
what is being flown. The actual flying is relatively simple. The real
achievement is making the commitment to leave the comfort of the home
field and start off into the unknown. A no wind 50k in a Discus is a
one thermal and one long glide flight but the pilot still has to
believe it will work. There are plenty of pilots who have high
performance gliders and never venture out more then 5 miles from home
and admit they don't have the confidence to fly x/c. As cross country
pilots, think about what you take for granted now that seemed like
complete magic when you began flying sailplanes. This list is what the
pre-silver distance pilot is concerned about and then some. Any pilot
who achieves silver distance deserves great praise and should not
considered a cheater because they used a Nimbus 4 and not a primary.
Style should be last on the list and carry no weight when evaluating
this achievment. Berating a pilot who flies a high performance ship to
make this flight is doing nothing but supporting the idea that glider
pilots are snobs and this attitude only hurts our sport which is
trying to grow. Kevin

[JC]

On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 11:51:45 GMT, Kevin Brooker
> wrote:

>Silver Distance is the most difficult leg to achieve regardless of
>what is being flown. The actual flying is relatively simple. The real
>achievement is making the commitment to leave the comfort of the home
>field and start off into the unknown. A no wind 50k in a Discus is a
>one thermal and one long glide flight but the pilot still has to
>believe it will work. There are plenty of pilots who have high
>performance gliders and never venture out more then 5 miles from home
>and admit they don't have the confidence to fly x/c. As cross country
>pilots, think about what you take for granted now that seemed like
>complete magic when you began flying sailplanes. This list is what the
>pre-silver distance pilot is concerned about and then some. Any pilot
>who achieves silver distance deserves great praise and should not
>considered a cheater because they used a Nimbus 4 and not a primary.
>Style should be last on the list and carry no weight when evaluating
>this achievment. Berating a pilot who flies a high performance ship to
>make this flight is doing nothing but supporting the idea that glider
>pilots are snobs and this attitude only hurts our sport which is
>trying to grow. Kevin
>

Very well put. I agree completely.

[Alistair Wright]

"JC" > wrote in message
...
> On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 11:51:45 GMT, Kevin Brooker
> > wrote:
>
>>Silver Distance is the most difficult leg to achieve regardless of
>>what is being flown. The actual flying is relatively simple. The real
>>achievement is making the commitment to leave the comfort of the home
>>field and start off into the unknown. A no wind 50k in a Discus is a
>>one thermal and one long glide flight but the pilot still has to
>>believe it will work. There are plenty of pilots who have high
>>performance gliders and never venture out more then 5 miles from home
>>and admit they don't have the confidence to fly x/c. As cross country
>>pilots, think about what you take for granted now that seemed like
>>complete magic when you began flying sailplanes. This list is what the
>>pre-silver distance pilot is concerned about and then some. Any pilot
>>who achieves silver distance deserves great praise and should not
>>considered a cheater because they used a Nimbus 4 and not a primary.
>>Style should be last on the list and carry no weight when evaluating
>>this achievment. Berating a pilot who flies a high performance ship to
>>make this flight is doing nothing but supporting the idea that glider
>>pilots are snobs and this attitude only hurts our sport which is
>>trying to grow. Kevin
>>
>
> Very well put. I agree completely.

Well I agree partly. The bit about cutting the apron strings is well put.
However a good club CFI will take pilots who are near Silver up in a two
seater and take them well away from the club just to get them used to the
risk of not getting back. It is the fear of out landing which seems to be
uppermost in many pilot's minds. I actually landed out by mistake on my last
field landing check for Silver distance. I got my log book signed and then
was grounded for two weeks!! I think I then had at least four attempts at
Silver Distance, all falling short, but involving a field landing -- I
actually enjoyed the sensation of landing neatly in a strange farmer's
field.

However I cannot accept a one thermal Discus trip as being equivalent to my
Silver in an wooden Ka8. Looking at the trace of my distance flight I see I
used seven thermals and got horribly low at one point which greatly
concentrated my mind! Now, I had to find these thermals in places I had
never seen. Local soaring with passengers at our club on a good day was
like running a bus service, as I knew exactly where to find the lift and it
seldom failed. No; I think the idea of grading the distance in accordance
with the published polar for the machine being flown has a lot of merit. I
don't think this is a 'snobbish' attitude. The playing field ought to be
level, or at least as level as we can make it.

Alistair Wright

[Bill Daniels]

"Alistair Wright" > wrote in message
...
>
> "JC" > wrote in message
> ...
> > On Wed, 27 Jul 2005 11:51:45 GMT, Kevin Brooker
> > > wrote:
> >
> >>Silver Distance is the most difficult leg to achieve regardless of
> >>what is being flown. The actual flying is relatively simple. The real
> >>achievement is making the commitment to leave the comfort of the home
> >>field and start off into the unknown. A no wind 50k in a Discus is a
> >>one thermal and one long glide flight but the pilot still has to
> >>believe it will work. There are plenty of pilots who have high
> >>performance gliders and never venture out more then 5 miles from home
> >>and admit they don't have the confidence to fly x/c. As cross country
> >>pilots, think about what you take for granted now that seemed like
> >>complete magic when you began flying sailplanes. This list is what the
> >>pre-silver distance pilot is concerned about and then some. Any pilot
> >>who achieves silver distance deserves great praise and should not
> >>considered a cheater because they used a Nimbus 4 and not a primary.
> >>Style should be last on the list and carry no weight when evaluating
> >>this achievment. Berating a pilot who flies a high performance ship to
> >>make this flight is doing nothing but supporting the idea that glider
> >>pilots are snobs and this attitude only hurts our sport which is
> >>trying to grow. Kevin
> >>
> >
> > Very well put. I agree completely.
>
> Well I agree partly. The bit about cutting the apron strings is well put.
> However a good club CFI will take pilots who are near Silver up in a two
> seater and take them well away from the club just to get them used to the
> risk of not getting back. It is the fear of out landing which seems to be
> uppermost in many pilot's minds. I actually landed out by mistake on my
last
> field landing check for Silver distance. I got my log book signed and
then
> was grounded for two weeks!! I think I then had at least four attempts at
> Silver Distance, all falling short, but involving a field landing -- I
> actually enjoyed the sensation of landing neatly in a strange farmer's
> field.
>
> However I cannot accept a one thermal Discus trip as being equivalent to
my
> Silver in an wooden Ka8. Looking at the trace of my distance flight I see
I
> used seven thermals and got horribly low at one point which greatly
> concentrated my mind! Now, I had to find these thermals in places I had
> never seen. Local soaring with passengers at our club on a good day was
> like running a bus service, as I knew exactly where to find the lift and
it
> seldom failed. No; I think the idea of grading the distance in accordance
> with the published polar for the machine being flown has a lot of merit.
I
> don't think this is a 'snobbish' attitude. The playing field ought to be
> level, or at least as level as we can make it.
>
> Alistair Wright
>
>

I tend to agree that the 50km Silver Distance task is out of date. Those
who did it under poor soaring conditions in low performance gliders deserve
the bragging rights. Nonetheless, one's first real XC is a nail biter
regardless of the glider or conditions.

Silver Distance isn't just about soaring the distance, it's also about
navigation. High performance gliders combined with strong thermals can get
a pilot lost a lot faster than an old wood floater.

I seem to remember a story about a pilot who, after getting thoroughly lost,
landed 300km away after failing to identify his 50km goal.

Bill Daniels

[Kevin Brooker]

>> Well I agree partly. The bit about cutting the apron strings is well put.

This was the point I was trying to make in my post. 50k is far enough
away that it takes some psyching up for. Most pilots who stick with
the sport fly x/c. Why not encourage participation and give these
pilots a goal they can achieve? Leaving on a cross country flight is
so much easier after we make the first one or two. Are we also
supposed to handicap the altitude gain by wing loading? I'll agree
that a pilot making a flight in a lower performance glider most likely
worked a bit more and quite possibly had a richer learning experiance
but does this reduce the achievement of letting go and heading out? No
way.



>>
>> However I cannot accept a one thermal Discus trip as being equivalent to
>my
>> Silver in an wooden Ka8.
I never said it was. I believe the flight is more about leaving then
covering 50k.
>>
>
>I tend to agree that the 50km Silver Distance task is out of date. Those
>who did it under poor soaring conditions in low performance gliders deserve
>the bragging rights.

There are pilots who earned Silver distrance when the 1-26 or 1-23 was
the hot ship equivilant to the Discus. Did these types of bragging
rights take place then? How many of us were flying the latest hot ship
when we finished the leg? Is our accomplishment any less valid then
the pilot who made the flight in 15 year older equipment?

>
>Silver Distance isn't just about soaring the distance, it's also about
>navigation. High performance gliders combined with strong thermals can get
>a pilot lost a lot faster than an old wood floater.
>
>I seem to remember a story about a pilot who, after getting thoroughly lost,
>landed 300km away after failing to identify his 50km goal.

Cool. Did he claim a Gold flight?
>
>Bill Daniels

[Bill Daniels]

"Kevin Brooker" > wrote in message
...
> >I seem to remember a story about a pilot who, after getting thoroughly
lost,
> >landed 300km away after failing to identify his 50km goal.
>
> Cool. Did he claim a Gold flight?
> >
Yep.

Bill Daniels

[Bill Gribble]

>"Robin Birch" > wrote
>> Or done in a T31 :-)

Sure. You offering to lend me yours, Robin? I promise not to scratch
that lovely silver paint-work :p

--
Bill Gribble
http://www.scapegoatsanon.demon.co.uk
- Learn from the mistakes of others.
- You won't live long enough to make all of them yourself.

[Alistair Wright]

"Bill Daniels" > wrote in message
news:kdSdncLVZoeII3rfRVn-

> I seem to remember a story about a pilot who, after getting thoroughly
> lost,
> landed 300km away after failing to identify his 50km goal.
>
> Bill Daniels
>
Ha, ha. One of my syndicate partners (Oly2b) went C/C on a very windy day
from Meir (S-o-T) and managed to tear his map badly en route. He flew on
for a bit and thought he recognised a building below him. He took out his
packet of ciggies (we were always trying to stop him smoking in the glider)
and saw that the packet (Capstan) had a picture of this building on the
back. It was Nottingham Castle! Plenty far enough for Silver, so he landed
in a public park nearby. When we arrived with the trailer he was still
arguing with the park keeper as to whether or not any byelaws had been
broken! This guy became a 'park' landing specialist and did it again in
Stoke. He left the glider in the care of the parkie and carrying his 'chute
and barograph returned to the Club by bus! It was quicker than phoning the
clubhouse.

I have to admit to my shame that I generally had no exact idea of where I
was when I landed out. the question 'Am I near.....' always allowed me to
say 'Of course! I thought that was where I was....' when my actual location
was revealed.

Alistair Wright

[Nyal Williams]

I did all my silver in a TG-3, about 40 years ago.
I tried the Gold Distance downwind in a Ka-8 about
5 years later and got about 170 miles downwind, all
in North Carolina while I was in grad school. Last
month I tried again, in a Discus in Moriarty, with
flight computer, moving map GPS, etc., and finally
did a 300k declared triangle. I consider the Ka-8
flight much more noteworthy - just a compass, watch,
and a sectional.

At 13:56 28 July 2005, Alistair Wright wrote:
>
>'Bill Daniels' wrote in message
>news:kdSdncLVZoeII3rfRVn-
>
>> I seem to remember a story about a pilot who, after
>>getting thoroughly
>> lost,
>> landed 300km away after failing to identify his 50km
>>goal.
>>
>> Bill Daniels
>>
>Ha, ha. One of my syndicate partners (Oly2b) went C/C
>on a very windy day
>from Meir (S-o-T) and managed to tear his map badly
>en route. He flew on
>for a bit and thought he recognised a building below
>him. He took out his
>packet of ciggies (we were always trying to stop him
>smoking in the glider)
>and saw that the packet (Capstan) had a picture of
>this building on the
>back. It was Nottingham Castle! Plenty far enough
>for Silver, so he landed
>in a public park nearby. When we arrived with the
>trailer he was still
>arguing with the park keeper as to whether or not any
>byelaws had been
>broken! This guy became a 'park' landing specialist
>and did it again in
>Stoke. He left the glider in the care of the parkie
>and carrying his 'chute
>and barograph returned to the Club by bus! It was
>quicker than phoning the
>clubhouse.
>
>I have to admit to my shame that I generally had no
>exact idea of where I
>was when I landed out. the question 'Am I near.....'
>always allowed me to
>say 'Of course! I thought that was where I was....'
>when my actual location
>was revealed.
>
>Alistair Wright
>
>
>

[Bill Daniels]

50 KM in a TG-3 is pretty notable too. I thought I was the only one dumb
enough try XC in that heavy pile of lumber. I got about 70 km and landed on
an unopened stretch of Interstate 80 in Wyoming.

Bill Daniels

"Nyal Williams" > wrote in message
...
> I did all my silver in a TG-3, about 40 years ago.
> I tried the Gold Distance downwind in a Ka-8 about
> 5 years later and got about 170 miles downwind, all
> in North Carolina while I was in grad school. Last
> month I tried again, in a Discus in Moriarty, with
> flight computer, moving map GPS, etc., and finally
> did a 300k declared triangle. I consider the Ka-8
> flight much more noteworthy - just a compass, watch,
> and a sectional.
>
> At 13:56 28 July 2005, Alistair Wright wrote:
> >
> >'Bill Daniels' wrote in message
> >news:kdSdncLVZoeII3rfRVn-
> >
> >> I seem to remember a story about a pilot who, after
> >>getting thoroughly
> >> lost,
> >> landed 300km away after failing to identify his 50km
> >>goal.
> >>
> >> Bill Daniels
> >>
> >Ha, ha. One of my syndicate partners (Oly2b) went C/C
> >on a very windy day
> >from Meir (S-o-T) and managed to tear his map badly
> >en route. He flew on
> >for a bit and thought he recognised a building below
> >him. He took out his
> >packet of ciggies (we were always trying to stop him
> >smoking in the glider)
> >and saw that the packet (Capstan) had a picture of
> >this building on the
> >back. It was Nottingham Castle! Plenty far enough
> >for Silver, so he landed
> >in a public park nearby. When we arrived with the
> >trailer he was still
> >arguing with the park keeper as to whether or not any
> >byelaws had been
> >broken! This guy became a 'park' landing specialist
> >and did it again in
> >Stoke. He left the glider in the care of the parkie
> >and carrying his 'chute
> >and barograph returned to the Club by bus! It was
> >quicker than phoning the
> >clubhouse.
> >
> >I have to admit to my shame that I generally had no
> >exact idea of where I
> >was when I landed out. the question 'Am I near.....'
> >always allowed me to
> >say 'Of course! I thought that was where I was....'
> >when my actual location
> >was revealed.
> >
> >Alistair Wright
> >
> >
> >
>
>
>

[Nyal Williams]

It was a bit risky, Bill. We had no trailer. I went
64 miles to another airport and waited for a tow retrieve.

At 02:30 29 July 2005, Bill Daniels wrote:
>50 KM in a TG-3 is pretty notable too. I thought I
>was the only one dumb
>enough try XC in that heavy pile of lumber. I got
>about 70 km and landed on
>an unopened stretch of Interstate 80 in Wyoming.
>
>Bill Daniels
>
>'Nyal Williams' wrote in message
...
>> I did all my silver in a TG-3, about 40 years ago.
>> I tried the Gold Distance downwind in a Ka-8 about
>> 5 years later and got about 170 miles downwind, all
>> in North Carolina while I was in grad school. Last
>> month I tried again, in a Discus in Moriarty, with
>> flight computer, moving map GPS, etc., and finally
>> did a 300k declared triangle. I consider the Ka-8
>> flight much more noteworthy - just a compass, watch,
>> and a sectional.
>>
>> At 13:56 28 July 2005, Alistair Wright wrote:
>> >
>> >'Bill Daniels' wrote in message
>> >news:kdSdncLVZoeII3rfRVn-
>> >
>> >> I seem to remember a story about a pilot who, after
>> >>getting thoroughly
>> >> lost,
>> >> landed 300km away after failing to identify his 50km
>> >>goal.
>> >>
>> >> Bill Daniels
>> >>
>> >Ha, ha. One of my syndicate partners (Oly2b) went
>>>C/C
>> >on a very windy day
>> >from Meir (S-o-T) and managed to tear his map badly
>> >en route. He flew on
>> >for a bit and thought he recognised a building below
>> >him. He took out his
>> >packet of ciggies (we were always trying to stop him
>> >smoking in the glider)
>> >and saw that the packet (Capstan) had a picture of
>> >this building on the
>> >back. It was Nottingham Castle! Plenty far enough
>> >for Silver, so he landed
>> >in a public park nearby. When we arrived with the
>> >trailer he was still
>> >arguing with the park keeper as to whether or not
>>>any
>> >byelaws had been
>> >broken! This guy became a 'park' landing specialist
>> >and did it again in
>> >Stoke. He left the glider in the care of the parkie
>> >and carrying his 'chute
>> >and barograph returned to the Club by bus! It was
>> >quicker than phoning the
>> >clubhouse.
>> >
>> >I have to admit to my shame that I generally had no
>> >exact idea of where I
>> >was when I landed out. the question 'Am I near.....'
>> >always allowed me to
>> >say 'Of course! I thought that was where I was....'
>> >when my actual location
>> >was revealed.
>> >
>> >Alistair Wright
>> >
>> >
>> >
>>
>>
>>
>
>

[Go]

Congratulations to Dennis!

> I find it refreshing that our (US) Executive Director not only sees to the
> office but does grunt work at contests, drives the launch car for the local
> club and gets a big kick out of flying a 1-26.

He is also willing and able to assist with retrieves. During the World
Class Nationals last year Dennis volunteered to assist my wife Pat on
her first retrieve (it was Dennis' first too). This when he was wearing
four or five hats at the contest and running SSA at the same time. It
IS refreshing.

John Downing

[Go]

Well put Kevin.

It is a difficult challenge within our sport to encourage people to
attempt XC.

No matter what the ship or the technology we should applaud each and
every pilot who takes the first step with Silver Distance. Then offer
praise and advice on how he/she can continue their progression.

My club trains a lot of people through solo and for some a pilot
rating. But it is sad to see so few retained past these thresholds.
Encouraging and appreciating XC can help improve this retention rate.

John

[309]

With all this talk about Silver Distance the "old" vs. "new" way and
wether we should revise the requirements, it seems to me that folks
have neglected to discuss HOW Dennis started his flight.

Kudos to Dennis for doing it the manly way: from an AUTO tow. Yeah,
yeah, I can hear the old(er) timers starting to whine like jet engines
about how that was the ONLY way, way way back in the day... Yup, I've
flown away from a winch launch: ONCE. It was a thrill and an event
I'll never forget -- and I was down to 300 feet on final when I found
"lift." I never turned my back on the field until I was above 1000
feet AGL and noticed that the guys on the ground were madly scrambling
to fetch the other 2-33 (implying permission for me to take the student
pilot in the back for more ride than he'd ever had for six bucks).

I digress; We all owe Dennis a great deal of respect for adding to his
personal challenge in opting for a sligtly more difficult handicap,
both in the ship and launch method chosen!

-Pete
#309