what do the bachelors do for crew?

[[email protected]]

I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems
pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one
person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands
out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the
single guys do?

Johan Larson

[[email protected]]

The place where I fly from has a bulleting board, where pilots can post
their ad indicating their need for a crew on specific dates. You can
try that. Also, when I was new at this pastime and seeking to get some
experience, I placed my own ad volunteering my services as ground crew.
I crewed for many pilots, learned a lot & spent a lot of time chasing
gliders in the Western states. I also experienced many bad meals and
nights in cheap motels in the boonies. It was fun, though.

Cheers, Charles

[Nyal Williams]

Charisma is what you need; I know, mine is all latent!

At 18:36 09 November 2006,
wrote:
>I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing,
>and it seems
>pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs
>at least one
>person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve
>him when he lands
>out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But
>what do all the
>single guys do?
>
>Johan Larson
>
>

[Marc Ramsey]

wrote:
> I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems
> pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one
> person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands
> out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the
> single guys do?

I've flown in a number of regional contests without a crew (my wife
crewed for me in my first contest, never again...). There are usually
other pilots around without crew, so we'd usually work out arrangements
ahead of time for mutual support as needed. This tends to focus ones
attention on avoiding land outs, which actually helped my scores quite a
bit. I don't think I'd attempt a national contest without a crew, but
there are others who do...

Marc

[Ray Lovinggood]

I'm married, but when it comes to anything dealing
with gliders, I'm the bachelor. If I'm reading 'SOARING',
I'm a bachelor. If I'm reading RAS, as I am now, I'm
a bachelor. If I'm loading up my car with my stuff
to fly, I'm a bachelor. When I go to the field, I'm
definitely a bachelor.

So, when I go cross country or to a race, I'm definitely
a bachelor and I have to rely on other pilots to help
me. Yes, there was this one day this past summer where
my 'crew' landed out as did I. I think we got my glider
back to home base around 0530 hrs :-) on a Monday
morning and I ended up taking a day of vacation so
I could get some sleep.

So, I know there is NO WAY my wife would EVER crew
for me. NEVER. So, I have to rely on other pilots
to help and I in turn will help them. Hey, anything
for a free dinner once in a while!

Ray Lovinggood
Carrboro, North Carolina, USA


At 21:12 09 November 2006, Marc Ramsey wrote:
wrote:
>> I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing,
>>and it seems
>> pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs
>>at least one
>> person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve
>>him when he lands
>> out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But
>>what do all the
>> single guys do?

[Jack[_4_]]

Yeah... what Ray said...

Jack Womack

[[email protected]]

Ray Lovinggood wrote:
> So, I know there is NO WAY my wife would EVER crew
> for me. NEVER.

May I ask why not? Your wife would have to find a way to kill a lot of
time while waiting on the ground, but that doesn't sound like such an
unreasonable thing to ask for, particularly if it's just one week per
year.

Johan Larson

[Mike the Strike]

I presume you wouldn't mind spending a week shopping for clothes or
shoes with her in return? Or you could just hang around at the mall -
just for a a week!

Get the picture?

Mike

On Nov 9, 5:00 pm, wrote:
> Ray Lovinggood wrote:
> > So, I know there is NO WAY my wife would EVER crew
> > for me. NEVER.May I ask why not? Your wife would have to find a way to kill a lot of
> time while waiting on the ground, but that doesn't sound like such an
> unreasonable thing to ask for, particularly if it's just one week per
> year.
>
> Johan Larson

[Ralph Jones]

On 9 Nov 2006 10:31:39 -0800, wrote:

>I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems
>pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one
>person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands
>out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the
>single guys do?
>
The same thing the divorced guys who used to make their wives crew for
them do.

rj

[Tony[_1_]]

My girlfriend has crewed for me once. she didnt mind at all, but wasnt
able to chase me as she was busy with other stuff. Thankfully I dont
have a supership so it wasnt that long of a wait for her to get to me.
only a few hours.
the few times ive had a chase, my CFIG, XC coach and mentor, Matt
Michael has followed me. Hes also come pulled me out of fields after a
friendly phone call. One other time a Power flying friend came and got
me after I called him. That was a fun one. Land at 430. Start
Derigging around 9. Home around 2 AM.
Pretty much I get whoever I can.

Mike the Strike wrote:
> I presume you wouldn't mind spending a week shopping for clothes or
> shoes with her in return? Or you could just hang around at the mall -
> just for a a week!
>
> Get the picture?
>
> Mike
>
> On Nov 9, 5:00 pm, wrote:
> > Ray Lovinggood wrote:
> > > So, I know there is NO WAY my wife would EVER crew
> > > for me. NEVER.May I ask why not? Your wife would have to find a way to kill a lot of
> > time while waiting on the ground, but that doesn't sound like such an
> > unreasonable thing to ask for, particularly if it's just one week per
> > year.
> >
> > Johan Larson

[01-- Zero One]

Not a married guy are you, Johan!!!



:-)



Larry





" > wrote in message
oups.com:

> Ray Lovinggood wrote:
> > So, I know there is NO WAY my wife would EVER crew
> > for me. NEVER.
>
> May I ask why not? Your wife would have to find a way to kill a lot of
> time while waiting on the ground, but that doesn't sound like such an
> unreasonable thing to ask for, particularly if it's just one week per
> year.
>
> Johan Larson

[Eric Greenwell]

wrote:
> I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems
> pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one
> person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands
> out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the
> single guys do?

Some of them get a motorglider! My wife thinks motorgliders are great,
since she used pull me out of the ocasional field; 2nd greatest is the
self-rigging dolly. She even likes sailplane pilots, maybe third after
the self-rigging doll, but only one at a time. One is interesting, but
two or more together are pathetic as company, she says.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

"Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website
www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html

"A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

[309]

Ray Lovinggood wrote:
> I'm married, but when it comes to anything dealing
> with gliders, I'm the bachelor. If I'm reading 'SOARING',
> I'm a bachelor. If I'm reading RAS, as I am now, I'm
> a bachelor. If I'm loading up my car with my stuff
> to fly, I'm a bachelor. When I go to the field, I'm
> definitely a bachelor.
>

<snip>

Sombody told me, once upon a time, that "fighter pilots are bachelors
by geography." The same person (a fighter pilot) mumbled something
about a "two TACAN rule" where anything you did that far from home
happened as if it was in Vegas...

Now I'm wondering about glider pilots...

....but I must admit, my usual crew is my wife and daugher. Yes, I do
go to the mall (and Chuck E. Cheeze's) to repay my debt to them. It is
a small price to pay to "look for a diamond in the sky" as my daughter
puts it.

When "crew" is not my very supportive wife and daughter, it's usually a
pair of buddies from past "jobs" who like to THINK they are bachelors
when they are "crewing" for me...and when they are "crewing for me,"
there are vast periods of time when their whereabouts are unknown...to
me, let alone their wives...

If you keep ropes in your ship, in a pinch Elsie the Cow can turn into
your crew, if you choose to think outside the box...

-Pete
#309

[[email protected]]

Eric Greenwell wrote:
> Some of them get a motorglider! My wife thinks motorgliders are great,
> since she used pull me out of the ocasional field; 2nd greatest is the
> self-rigging dolly. She even likes sailplane pilots, maybe third after
> the self-rigging doll, but only one at a time. One is interesting, but
> two or more together are pathetic as company, she says.

Obviously not a connoisseur of "There I was at 1500 feet" stories...

Johan Larson

[Mal]

They dont outland !

[Papa3]

01-- Zero One wrote:
> Not a married guy are you, Johan!!!

> :-)
>
> Larry

There is a rule of thumb which posits that the time spent at the
airport by any significant other varies inversely with the stage in the
relationship:

Just started dating: "This is cool, when can we go back to the
airport"
Dating a while: "This is cool, I'll meet you there later"
Dating a long time: "This is cool, I'll skip today but I'll see you
tomorrow"
Engaged: "This is cool, but I'll meet you for dinner afterward"
Just married: "Do you have to go to the airport today?"
First child: " You're not going to the airport today, are you?"
Second child: "Don't even think about it"

Just in case any of you rat-*******s (and you know who you are) are
thinking of forwarding this to my lovely wife, Mary: Some of us are
lucky enough to wind up with someone who understands that all serious
glider pilots are nuts and have the ability to put up with our many
foibles. They may not always be able to make it out to the field and
crew, but in a pinch, they'll stick two screaming kids in the back seat
and drive with a 30 foot trailer over hill and dale to come get you.
We are the lucky ones.

P3

[Eric Greenwell]

wrote:
> Eric Greenwell wrote:
>> Some of them get a motorglider! My wife thinks motorgliders are great,
>> since she used pull me out of the ocasional field; 2nd greatest is the
>> self-rigging dolly. She even likes sailplane pilots, maybe third after
>> the self-rigging doll, but only one at a time. One is interesting, but
>> two or more together are pathetic as company, she says.
>
> Obviously not a connoisseur of "There I was at 1500 feet" stories...

Oh, I am, but now I just listen and not tell them anymore. The story
loses a lot of punch when "There I was at 1500 feet" is followed by "...
and then the engine started". If the motorglider pilot botches the
restart, it can somtimes be a riveting story, however.

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
Change "netto" to "net" to email me directly

"Transponders in Sailplanes" on the Soaring Safety Foundation website
www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html

"A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation" at www.motorglider.org

[Bruce Greef]

Papa3 wrote:
> 01-- Zero One wrote:
>
>>Not a married guy are you, Johan!!!
>
>
>>:-)
>>
>>Larry
>
>
> There is a rule of thumb which posits that the time spent at the
> airport by any significant other varies inversely with the stage in the
> relationship:
>
> Just started dating: "This is cool, when can we go back to the
> airport"
> Dating a while: "This is cool, I'll meet you there later"
> Dating a long time: "This is cool, I'll skip today but I'll see you
> tomorrow"
> Engaged: "This is cool, but I'll meet you for dinner afterward"
> Just married: "Do you have to go to the airport today?"
> First child: " You're not going to the airport today, are you?"
> Second child: "Don't even think about it"
>
> Just in case any of you rat-*******s (and you know who you are) are
> thinking of forwarding this to my lovely wife, Mary: Some of us are
> lucky enough to wind up with someone who understands that all serious
> glider pilots are nuts and have the ability to put up with our many
> foibles. They may not always be able to make it out to the field and
> crew, but in a pinch, they'll stick two screaming kids in the back seat
> and drive with a 30 foot trailer over hill and dale to come get you.
> We are the lucky ones.
>
> P3
>
Hmm.

Married 20+ years. Two kids (two dogs, two cats, one parrot and a mother-in-law)
balanced by one glider. Lucky enough , said spouse is of the opinion that I
should go flying lest I get grumpy and insufferable. She that must be obeyed
even occasionally brings herself and some friends to picnic at the field. Even
occasionally enjoys a winch launch and a gentle drift around the goldfish bowl.

Certain activities are out of the question:
No aerobatics .
No out of sight of the field.
No towing the trailer - if you land in the middle of nowhere and will die if I
don't come and fetch you - well, I'll miss you...

In return, no expectation other than normal parental responsibilities. An
occasional bunch of flowers go a long way.

Eventually back to the subject - if you are a real or virtual batchelor - then
get one of the others to cover for you on XC.

We are the lucky ones.

[Damien Dyer]

Pay for a crew, or better still get a turbo!



At 15:06 10 November 2006, Eric Greenwell wrote:
wrote:
>> Eric Greenwell wrote:
>>> Some of them get a motorglider! My wife thinks motorgliders
>>>are great,
>>> since she used pull me out of the ocasional field;
>>>2nd greatest is the
>>> self-rigging dolly. She even likes sailplane pilots,
>>>maybe third after
>>> the self-rigging doll, but only one at a time. One
>>>is interesting, but
>>> two or more together are pathetic as company, she
>>>says.
>>
>> Obviously not a connoisseur of 'There I was at 1500
>>feet' stories...
>
>Oh, I am, but now I just listen and not tell them anymore.
>The story
>loses a lot of punch when 'There I was at 1500 feet'
>is followed by '...
>and then the engine started'. If the motorglider pilot
>botches the
>restart, it can somtimes be a riveting story, however.
>
>--
>Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
> Change 'netto' to 'net' to email me directly
>
>'Transponders in Sailplanes' on the Soaring Safety
>Foundation website
> www.soaringsafety.org/prevention/articles.html
>
>'A Guide to Self-launching Sailplane Operation' at
>www.motorglider.org
>

[Bob Kuykendall]

Crews used to be the larval stage of the glider pilot.

[5Z]

On Nov 9, 9:24 pm, wrote:
> Obviously not a connoisseur of "There I was at 1500 feet" stories...

Been flying and ASH-26E for almost 5 years now and have made many saves
from 1500' (that's still pretty high) and sometimes even less... If
near a quiet rural airport, there's no problem starting beloww 1,000'.
But over a mountain meadow with no roads in sight, I'll attempt the
start in a way so I have plenty of time to concentrate on the landing
if the engine fails.

My wife of over 20 years comes with me to the airport every time I fly,
and often volunteers to get the engine challenged members of the club
if one happens to land out :) Oh, and tomorrow we're flying together
in the ASK-21 as she regains currency after a break of flying for a few
years.

-Tom

PS: We met at the airport...

[Mike Lindsay]

In article >, Ralph Jones
> writes
>On 9 Nov 2006 10:31:39 -0800, wrote:
>
>>I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems
>>pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one
>>person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands
>>out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the
>>single guys do?
>>
>The same thing the divorced guys who used to make their wives crew for
>them do.
>
>rj
>
That's the reason for the divorce?

--
Mike Lindsay

[Mike Lindsay]

In article om>, Papa3
> writes
>
>01-- Zero One wrote:
>> Not a married guy are you, Johan!!!
>
>> :-)
>>
>> Larry
>
>There is a rule of thumb which posits that the time spent at the
>airport by any significant other varies inversely with the stage in the
>relationship:
>
>Just started dating: "This is cool, when can we go back to the
>airport"
>Dating a while: "This is cool, I'll meet you there later"
>Dating a long time: "This is cool, I'll skip today but I'll see you
>tomorrow"
>Engaged: "This is cool, but I'll meet you for dinner afterward"
>Just married: "Do you have to go to the airport today?"
>First child: " You're not going to the airport today, are you?"
>Second child: "Don't even think about it"

Many years ago there was an article in S&G by Mike Bird which described
Mrs Bird saying
"You seem to think gliding is a substitute for sex"
"No," he claims he said, "Sex is a substitute for gliding".

There is a Serious Point in there somewhere...
>

--
Mike Lindsay

[Rory O'Conor]

I agree that this has nothing to do with marital status. When I took up
gliding my wife sought the advice of other glider pilot wives and I got
a very negative response when I suggested that she might like to
retrieve me once in a blue moon. This was a key factor in my purchase of
an SLMG (or turbo).
=20
I still try to retrieve fellow club members whenever possible, in the
hope that they may come and rescue me on rare occasions. I think two
forced landings in three years (both without crew properly arranged).
=20
At competitions I find some other competitor without crew and agree to
mutually retrieve if necessary.=20
=20
Not entirely necessary, because I still have the odd friend, I also use
a self-rigging device, which means that, with an SLMG, I am entirely
independant and can rig first thing in the morning and derig if I arrive
back at the Club and no-one is around.
=20
Rory
=20
>> Some of them get a motorglider! My wife thinks motorgliders are
great,

[Claudia Buengen]

Dunno about wives, but my boyfriend crews for me, and he's the best crew
I could wish for.
He's there to support me, fill my camelbak, tape the glider, etc. when
I'm all flustered before setting off, he picks me up either from the
airfield or any other field I happen to end up in, and he also knows how
to mend the gadgets if I break them!

Claudia

[Aleksandar Diklic]

"Claudia Buengen" > wrote in message
...
> Dunno about wives, but my boyfriend crews for me, and he's the best crew
....> Claudia

Yes, a boyfriend would do all right, if you have one, but what if we are
str8?

[Claudia Buengen]

Aleksandar Diklic wrote:
> Yes, a boyfriend would do all right, if you have one, but what if we
are
> str8?
>
I am... :)

[[email protected]]

This one got married :)

[Ralph Jones]

On Fri, 10 Nov 2006 16:09:54 +0000, Mike Lindsay
> wrote:

>In article >, Ralph Jones
> writes
>>On 9 Nov 2006 10:31:39 -0800, wrote:
>>
>>>I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems
>>>pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one
>>>person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands
>>>out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the
>>>single guys do?
>>>
>>The same thing the divorced guys who used to make their wives crew for
>>them do.
>>
>>rj
>>
>That's the reason for the divorce?

That's the general idea...;-)

My wife has crewed for me on occasion, but no way would I expect it to
be a regular obligation. That just isn't fair if you get serious about
XC.

Take turns with your friends, or let your older kids earn their
goodies doing it. Some of the big contest guns use paid crews.

rj

[soarer999]

I usually fly without a crew. One time I landed out on a Sunday
afternoon 100 miles from the airport and hitch-hiked back. After a good
night's sleep I drove to a small town near the landout site and
inquired at a small store about any teens needing a few dollars to help
load the sailplane. Two were found by the clerk and I was back at the
airport by noon.

[Kilo Charlie]

"Mike Lindsay" > wrote in message
...

> Many years ago there was an article in S&G by Mike Bird which described
> Mrs Bird saying
> "You seem to think gliding is a substitute for sex"
> "No," he claims he said, "Sex is a substitute for gliding".
>
> There is a Serious Point in there somewhere...
>>
>
> --
> Mike Lindsay

Now THAT is funny!!!
Thanks,
Casey Lenox
KC
Phoenix

[[email protected]]

This is actually two different questions involving (1) contests and (2)
all the other stuff.

My wife, Tanya, and twin girls, Josie and Tina, enjoy going to regional
and national contests with me. They know the usual cast of characters,
pilots and crews, especially the ones who are fun to be around and who
often have kids the same age as ours. I confess that a lot of planning
sometimes goes into contest selection. Last year, for example, we drove
2 1/2 days to Uvalde, TX for the U.S. Standard Class Nationals because
the Sports Class Nationals--only 3 hrs. away--was held during the
girls' school year and they wouldn't have been able to attend (that was
non-starter with them). I also had to apply pressure to one pilot
immediately before we left to make sure he arrived with at least one of
his daughters so our two would have company. Usually there's a pack of
kids roaming the airport at a nationals but the sparse attendance at
Uvalde called for extreme measures. You can't take anything for granted
in aviation, including providing for a happy crew.

The second question involves crewing around the local airport during
fun and practice flying. My wife used to come with me but that's
uncommon now, especially with all the activities our kids are involved
in. So I'm reliant on fellow pilots. I do the best I can not to land
out but it usually happens a couple of times a year (if you never land
out, you're not pushing hard enough in practice). Aero retrieves are
expensive but I use them occasionally. Sometimes another pilot will
fetch me because he's a great guy...and is making an investment in good
will that will pay off some day in the future. :)

The care and feeding of crews, family and otherwise, is a subject that
could be written about at nearly the same length as competition flying
and likely with greater impact on most pilots' enjoyment of the sport.

Chip Bearden
ASW 24 "JB"

[SAM 303a]

I hope my wingman doesn't land out too.

> wrote in message
ps.com...
> I've been doing some reading about sailplane racing, and it seems
> pretty clear that every racer needs a crew. He needs at least one
> person who can help him ready the plane and retrieve him when he lands
> out. Now, for most guys, I'm guessing crew=wife. But what do all the
> single guys do?
>
> Johan Larson
>

[g l i d e r s t u d]

After my 16th birthday I was off to Hobbs NM crewing. I have taken line
boys from the airport with me to contests to crew. I have had many
students offer their services to crew at contests. I would post
something at the club house if your going to a contest. But now I have
my wife, she enjoys hanging out with everyone at the contests. If im
flying at home, well then I call my mom and ask for a towplane.

[[email protected]]

> But what do all the single guys do?

See the thread on "tail observations"...