Scottish visitor to Arizona and Ohio - want to fly!!!

[Valerie Alexander]

Will be visiting Tuscon last week of March 07 and Ohio
first week of April 07 and would really like to fly
if I can.

I have found the arizona sailplane association website
and hence links to Turf Soaring School and Tucson Gliding
Club.

Struggling a bit on the Ohio side of things. I will
be in Lebanon, Ohio which is roughly between Dayton
and Cincinnati. A trawl of google this afternoon has
only uncovered Adrian Soaring Club for Michigan / NW
Ohio.

I would be really interested to hear of any other clubs
in the Dayton / Cincinnati area. Also whether they
are a year round 7 day a week organisation etc.

Many thanks in advance for any URL posts or advice.

[Kilo Charlie]

Turf Soaring is currently closed (unless it has changed since I've been out
of the country the past 3 weeks) so in Arizona I would contact the El
Tiro/Tucson Soaring Club to fly....they are a wonderful group of pilots and
will help in any way that they can to make your time in Arizona worthwhile.
Sometimes April is a bit early for our best conditions but it should still
be great compared to Ohio even during their best days! ;-)

Casey Lenox
Phoenix
KC

[GM]

Valerie,

check out the web-site of the SSA : www.ssa.org
>From there, find the 'Where to fly' page, which is an interactive map
of the US showing all clubs and commercial operations.

Enjoy,

Uli Neumann


Valerie Alexander wrote:
> Will be visiting Tuscon last week of March 07 and Ohio
> first week of April 07 and would really like to fly
> if I can.
>
> I have found the arizona sailplane association website
> and hence links to Turf Soaring School and Tucson Gliding
> Club.
>
> Struggling a bit on the Ohio side of things. I will
> be in Lebanon, Ohio which is roughly between Dayton
> and Cincinnati. A trawl of google this afternoon has
> only uncovered Adrian Soaring Club for Michigan / NW
> Ohio.
>
> I would be really interested to hear of any other clubs
> in the Dayton / Cincinnati area. Also whether they
> are a year round 7 day a week organisation etc.
>
> Many thanks in advance for any URL posts or advice.

[flying_monkey]

Lets not forget the outstanding operation at Estrella Sailport in
Maricopa, Arizona. About 25 or so miles from Phoenix, lots of
different ships to rent, good instructors, good weather, what else
could you want. I know I'd sure like to go back there, what with
having the winter doldrums here in the northeast.

Ed

[Tuno]

<snip> what else could you want </snip>

The management there is not receptive to regular fliers. Their revenue
is generated mostly from student instruction and rides, so if you put
your glider together and push it to the line, don't be surprised if the
2-33 that just landed gets pushed in front of you again while you're
sitting there baking in your cockpit.

One other thing -- don't take your leads on what is allowable from
watching the staff; non-staff pilots must follow a separate set of
field rules. Which should not be a problem if you don't race or
practice contest finishes ...

~ted
Ventus 2C "2NO"
Estrella class of 2003
Graduate studies at Turf Soaring
now delighted to be a Tucson Soaring Club regular

[Roy Clark, B6]

On Jan 7, 9:21 am, "Tuno" > wrote:
> <snip> what else could you want </snip>

> The management there is not receptive to regular fliers.

1. Unlikely a foreign visiting pilot would become a "regular" flier.
2. Nevertheless, have yet to meet management there or elsewhere not
receptive to me when I became a "regular."

> Their revenue
> is generated mostly from student instruction and rides, so if you put
> your glider together and push it to the line, don't be surprised if the
> 2-33 that just landed gets pushed in front of you again while you're
> sitting there baking in your cockpit.

3. Student pilots are the most important pilots. They become the
pilots who
grow our sport, join our clubs, and buy our glider when we are
ready
to move up or retire.
4. Revenue is what keeps any soaring business or club in the U.S. there
so
we can purchase a tow.

> One other thing -- don't take your leads on what is allowable from
> watching the staff; non-staff pilots must follow a separate set of
> field rules.

5. Management has the right to have a separate set of field rules for
staff and
non-staff pilots. They are directly responsible for the actions of
staff.

> Which should not be a problem if you don't race or
> practice contest finishes ...

6. Inital post did not ask about sites to "race or practice contest
finishes".
>
> ~ted
> Ventus 2C "2NO"
> Estrella class of 2003
> Graduate studies at Turf Soaring

7. Not clear that you are a happy alum.

FYI, have enjoyed flying at both Estrella and Turf and would
recommend the one that meets a visiting pilot's schedule better.

> now delighted to be a Tucson Soaring Club regular

Have not yet visited the Tucson Soaring Club. Note their
website indicates rides are available on Wednesday afternoon,
Saturday, and Sunday.

[Raphael Warshaw]

As a private owner and non Arizona resident, I've flown my private ship
at Estrella several times and never had to wait long for a tow, even on
days when the ASA racers were flying from the field. The local rules
seemed reasonable and unobtrusive, having mostly to do with keeping out
of the Phoenix Class B.

A real plus for a visitor is the bunkhouse at the field. All-in-all, a
really nice place to visit and fly.

Ray Warshaw
1LK


Tuno wrote:
> <snip> what else could you want </snip>
>
> The management there is not receptive to regular fliers. Their revenue
> is generated mostly from student instruction and rides, so if you put
> your glider together and push it to the line, don't be surprised if the
> 2-33 that just landed gets pushed in front of you again while you're
> sitting there baking in your cockpit.
>
> One other thing -- don't take your leads on what is allowable from
> watching the staff; non-staff pilots must follow a separate set of
> field rules. Which should not be a problem if you don't race or
> practice contest finishes ...
>
> ~ted
> Ventus 2C "2NO"
> Estrella class of 2003
> Graduate studies at Turf Soaring
> now delighted to be a Tucson Soaring Club regular

[Kilo Charlie]

"flying_monkey" > wrote in message
ups.com...
> Lets not forget the outstanding operation at Estrella Sailport in
> Maricopa, Arizona. About 25 or so miles from Phoenix, lots of
> different ships to rent, good instructors, good weather, what else
> could you want. I know I'd sure like to go back there, what with
> having the winter doldrums here in the northeast.
>
> Ed

Not "forgetting" but have chosen to not fly at Estrella for the reasons
listed by Tuno. I guess that I can sum it up by saying that many of us in
Arizona feel that the management there has taken advantage of Turf closing
by furthering their own agenda which does not include racing pilots.

One example is being told that it was now policy (a change from all prior
years and after Turf closed) that all racing pilots would need to hand push
(no car tows) their fully watered gliders up hill to the front of the 2-33's
on the line and over half way down the runway, so that they would not have
to move the 2-33's. At gross weight and 110 degrees that was the final
straw for me anyway. None of us have taken this lightly as we all had great
times soaring out of Estrella in the past and wish that there could be some
reconciliation however will not compromise my safety to do so.

Casey Lenox
KC
Phoenix

[LOV2AV8]

Alex, sent you a personal reply about flying with the premier Soaring
Club in Arizona, Tucson Soaring Club. Looking forward to hearing from
you.

Randy "AV8"

Valerie Alexander wrote:
> Will be visiting Tuscon last week of March 07 and Ohio
> first week of April 07 and would really like to fly
> if I can.
>
> I have found the arizona sailplane association website
> and hence links to Turf Soaring School and Tucson Gliding
> Club.
>
> Struggling a bit on the Ohio side of things. I will
> be in Lebanon, Ohio which is roughly between Dayton
> and Cincinnati. A trawl of google this afternoon has
> only uncovered Adrian Soaring Club for Michigan / NW
> Ohio.
>
> I would be really interested to hear of any other clubs
> in the Dayton / Cincinnati area. Also whether they
> are a year round 7 day a week organisation etc.
>
> Many thanks in advance for any URL posts or advice.

[LOV2AV8]

I had trouble with your email so here's the personal reply minus my
phone number.

Alex, I am a CFI and member of the Tucson Soaring Club. Please
contact me with the particulars of your visit. ie are you wanting to
rent a ship? I am sure we can get you up with one of our members in a
Grob 103 or PW6 but can't solo or rent. We have many visitors that
come visit more than once. One caution, you're liable to make friends
and have someone come to visit you too.

Not sure of what my schedule will be in Mar but again, I'm sure we can
get you up flying with a club member or myself.

Regards, Randy "AV8"

[Valerie Alexander]

Hello and cheers to everyone who replied.

Really looking forward to trying some flying at TSC
and CCSC. Many thanks also thanks for the Alaskan (wow!)
tip on the museums in Dayton. Maybe Alaska soaring
is next on the list..how cool? Hah hah, hope that british
humour's not lost on you yanks...

Will definately be visiting those museums with the
rellies if I have anything to do with the itenerary
- beats a trip to kentucky horses or 'antiquing' for
me personally anyway.

Randy, LUV2AV8 - didn't get your personal reply could
you maybe try again, think TSC is the closest airfield
to where I'll be AZ wise.

Many thanks again to all and best wishes, I'll pick
up on and reply to personal contacts asap.

Valerie