Glider books or movies?

[vic20owner]

Are there any good stories (books & movies, fiction or nonfiction)
which include a lot of glider flying?

A book about cross country gliding would be perfect... a documentary,
etc.

Thanks
-tom

[noel.wade]

On Nov 10, 9:15*am, vic20owner > wrote:
> Are there any good stories (books & movies, fiction or nonfiction)
> which include a lot of glider flying?

Tom -

There are a bunch of glider DVDs out there. Many are old but still
entertaining. My favorites (which focus on glider competition) are:
"A Fine Week of Soaring" and "Gladiators of the Sky"

Both are relatively new and are high-quality. "A Fine Week..." talks
a little bit more about the basics of soaring while also covering a
casual competition in the hills and ridges of Pennsylvania.
"Gladiators..." is more of an adrenaline-ride / suspense-story with 3d
animation and high-definition aerial videos from cockpits and
helicopter-mounted cameras capturing the competitors screaming through
the rugged & beautiful New Zealand landscape (with commentators
explaining the strategy and tough decisions the pilots are having to
make).

There are many books about soaring - but I've found that many of the
fictional ones are mediocre (sorry to any authors I may offend by
this). Instructional books like those from Bob Wander or Knauff &
Grove tend to be excellent, but aren't "stories" per-se. I'm sure
someone else can jump in and suggest a few in particular, though.

It would help if you could tell us a little bit more about your
interest and/or experience-level... Can you share any more details?

Good luck! Take care,

--Noel

[vic20owner]

On Nov 10, 2:09 pm, "noel.wade" > wrote:
> On Nov 10, 9:15 am, vic20owner > wrote:
>
> > Are there any good stories (books & movies, fiction or nonfiction)
> > which include a lot of glider flying?
>
> Tom -
>
> There are a bunch of glider DVDs out there. Many are old but still
> entertaining. My favorites (which focus on glider competition) are:
> "A Fine Week of Soaring" and "Gladiators of the Sky"
>
> Both are relatively new and are high-quality. "A Fine Week..." talks
> a little bit more about the basics of soaring while also covering a
> casual competition in the hills and ridges of Pennsylvania.
> "Gladiators..." is more of an adrenaline-ride / suspense-story with 3d
> animation and high-definition aerial videos from cockpits and
> helicopter-mounted cameras capturing the competitors screaming through
> the rugged & beautiful New Zealand landscape (with commentators
> explaining the strategy and tough decisions the pilots are having to
> make).
>
> There are many books about soaring - but I've found that many of the
> fictional ones are mediocre (sorry to any authors I may offend by
> this). Instructional books like those from Bob Wander or Knauff &
> Grove tend to be excellent, but aren't "stories" per-se. I'm sure
> someone else can jump in and suggest a few in particular, though.
>
> It would help if you could tell us a little bit more about your
> interest and/or experience-level... Can you share any more details?
>
> Good luck! Take care,
>
> --Noel

Hi Noel, thanks for the reply. I'm new to real life soaring. I am 37
and have been flying r/c gliders for 15 years, and am on my third
lesson in the real thing. Over the weekend I worked a little on the
tow, turns, and landings in a Blanik L23. It was a lot of fun and of
course now I can't stop thinking about flying.

I was looking for something entertaining to read in between reading
the glider flying handbook and the test prep book. Something which is
more of a documentary or story, history or fiction ... it could be
about gliding, or just a story about learning to fly (in general) from
childhood through adulthood, etc. But gliding of course would make it
even most interesting for me at the moment.

-tom

[vic20owner]

On Nov 10, 2:09 pm, "noel.wade" > wrote:
> On Nov 10, 9:15 am, vic20owner > wrote:
>
> > Are there any good stories (books & movies, fiction or nonfiction)
> > which include a lot of glider flying?
>
>
> It would help if you could tell us a little bit more about your
> interest and/or experience-level... Can you share any more details?

Hi Noel, thanks for the reply. I'm new to real life soaring. I am 37
and have been flying r/c gliders for 15 years, and just completed my
third lesson in a Blanik L23. Over the weekend I worked a little on
the tow, turns, and landings. It was a lot of fun and of course now I
can't stop thinking about flying.

I was looking for something entertaining to read in between reading
the glider flying handbook and the test prep book. Something which is
more of a documentary or story, history or fiction ... it could be
about gliding, or just a story about learning to fly (in general) from
childhood through adulthood, etc. But gliding of course would make it
even most interesting for me at the moment.

Thanks,
-tom

[Paul Remde]

Hi Tom,

I sell a lot of glider books and videos. You can see them here:
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com.

Feel free to give me a call and I can give you my 2 cents on which are my
favorites. I list my favorite soaring books on my books page. I try to add
a lot of value by giving my opinion of each book and video - especially my
favorites.

Good Soaring,

Paul Remde
Cumulus Soaring, Inc.
http://www.cumulus-soaring.com

"vic20owner" > wrote in message
...
>
> Are there any good stories (books & movies, fiction or nonfiction)
> which include a lot of glider flying?
>
> A book about cross country gliding would be perfect... a documentary,
> etc.
>
> Thanks
> -tom
>

[[email protected]]

On Nov 10, 3:47*pm, vic20owner > wrote:

> I was looking for something entertaining to read in between reading
> the glider flying handbook and the test prep book. *

Anything by Gren Siebels, Mike Bird (aka Platypus), George Moffat,
Philip Wills or Joe Lincoln. See your favorite on-line glider supply
merchant.

-T8

[Wayne Paul]

"vic20owner" > wrote in message
...
> On Nov 10, 2:09 pm, "noel.wade" > wrote:
>
> Hi Noel, thanks for the reply. I'm new to real life soaring. I am 37
> and have been flying r/c gliders for 15 years, and am on my third
> lesson in the real thing. Over the weekend I worked a little on the
> tow, turns, and landings in a Blanik L23. It was a lot of fun and of
> course now I can't stop thinking about flying.
>
> I was looking for something entertaining to read in between reading
> the glider flying handbook and the test prep book. Something which is
> more of a documentary or story, history or fiction ... it could be
> about gliding, or just a story about learning to fly (in general) from
> childhood through adulthood, etc. But gliding of course would make it
> even most interesting for me at the moment.
>

Tom,

You might want to add "10,000 Feet & Climbing - The Aviation Adventures of
Richard E Schreder" by his daughter Karen Schreder Barbera to your list of
books.
(http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder/Schreder/Dick_Johnson_Book_Review.htm)

It can be purchased from most places that sale soaring books. (SSA website,
Cumulus-Soaring, Knauff & Grove Soaring Supply, etc.)

Wayne
HP-14 "6F"
http://www.soaridaho.com/Schreder

[[email protected]]

If you can get a DVD copy of The Sun Ship Games you will enjoy perhaps
the greatest soaring film ever made.

[Frank Whiteley]

On Nov 10, 10:15*am, vic20owner > wrote:
> Are there any good stories (books & movies, fiction or nonfiction)
> which include a lot of glider flying?
>
> A book about cross country gliding would be perfect... a documentary,
> etc.
>
> Thanks
> -tom

I have a fondness for
'New Soaring Pilot' by Frank Irving and Ann Welch
Classics include "Sunship Game", "Dawn Flight", and "The Boy Who Flew
with Condors" (only recently available on DVD). A short DVD called
"Out & Return" is a good example of the day in the life of the glider
pilot and recruiting tool.

There are some good YouTube productions and examples also.
See the About Soaring sections at http://www.coloradosoaring.org

Frank Whiteley

[Martin Gregorie[_4_]]

On Mon, 10 Nov 2008 12:47:28 -0800, vic20owner wrote:

> Hi Noel, thanks for the reply. I'm new to real life soaring. I am 37
> and have been flying r/c gliders for 15 years, and just completed my
> third lesson in a Blanik L23. Over the weekend I worked a little on the
> tow, turns, and landings. It was a lot of fun and of course now I can't
> stop thinking about flying.
>
> I was looking for something entertaining to read in between reading the
> glider flying handbook and the test prep book. Something which is more
> of a documentary or story, history or fiction ... it could be about
> gliding, or just a story about learning to fly (in general) from
> childhood through adulthood, etc. But gliding of course would make it
> even most interesting for me at the moment.
>
Here are a number of suggestions.

----stories about flying. The books in this section are all quite
old, so you'll need to look in used bookstores, etc. None are
particularly rare, so try Alibris (www.alibris.com) or Amazon
used books. Volmar and Georgeson are fairly recent but may be
hard to find.

Dick Wolters: Once upon a thermal
- this first hand story covers the time from when he started to
fly through his first contest win, from the mid 60s to early 70s.

Philip Wills: On being a Bird
- another first-hand story, starting with learning to fly, one of
the first UK cross countries, gliding above the channel to test
radar in preparation for the Battle Of Britain, and through to
winning the Worlds in 1952.

Joe Volmar: I learnt to fly for Hitler
- the SSA may have copies. Joe was born American to German parents.
His dad took the family back to Germany in 1940 and Joe returned
to America in 1951. In between he tells how it was to grow up in
wartime Germany and learn to fly gliders with the Hitlerjugend.
I found it a fascinating book, since his viewpoint is all-American
kid than German boy.

Dick Georgeson: Leading Edge
- an autobiography. Dick got the first Gold Badge issued in NZ
and pioneered long distance wave flying. He worked with Bill
Hamilton when jet boats were being developed by Bill.

----the above are all just stories, so on to marginally more
technical stuff. Everything in this section is in print
except "Winning".

Martin Simons: Sailplanes 1920-1945, Sailplanes 1945-1960,
Sailplanes 1960-2000
- As you have an RC soaring background, you may know these books already.
They have great 3-views and photos and talk about the development
of sailplanes rather than concentrating on competitions and
pilots. They are big, coffee-table style books published by Eqip
in Germany.

George Moffat: Winning
- The original leads up to him winning the 1970 Worlds at Marpha
though it also talks about learning to fly. I have the 1st edition
and haven't seen the recently updated Winning II yet.
Lots of good advice interspersed with anecdotes.

Wolfgang Langewiesche: Stick and Rudder
- primarily aimed at power pilots, but still very good for its
pilot's eye descriptions of what an aircraft does and how to fly it.
Published in 1945 and never out of print.

Derek Piggott: "Beginning Gliding" and "Gliding"
- I read these when I was learning to fly and like them a lot.
I don't know what the American equivalents might be.

Tom Bradbury: Meterology and Flight
- weather from a pilot's viewpoint. It seems to be slanted more
toward gliding than power flying.


--
martin@ | Martin Gregorie
gregorie. | Essex, UK
org |

[glider]

wrote:
> If you can get a DVD copy of The Sun Ship Games you will enjoy perhaps
> the greatest soaring film ever made.


I didn't know that any DVDs existed. The VHS tapes have long been
unavailable - commercially.

Tony V

[vic20owner]

On Nov 10, 7:23 pm, glider > wrote:
> wrote:
> > If you can get a DVD copy of The Sun Ship Games you will enjoy perhaps
> > the greatest soaring film ever made.
>
> I didn't know that any DVDs existed. The VHS tapes have long been
> unavailable - commercially.
>
> Tony V

Martin, Frank, Wayne and others, thanks a bunch! There is enough
material there to keep me interested for a long time.

Thanks!

[sisu1a]

> > > If you can get a DVD copy of The Sun Ship Games you will enjoy perhaps
> > > the greatest soaring film ever made.
>
> > I didn't know that any DVDs existed. The VHS tapes have long been
> > unavailable - commercially.
>
> > Tony V
>
> Martin, Frank, Wayne and others, thanks a bunch! *There is enough
> material there to keep me interested for a long time.
>
> Thanks!

Of course the Gren Seibles and Phillip Wills books are required
reading as well, and fall in the fun/chewable category with lots of
insight...

-Paul

BTW, although DVD copies ofThe Sunship Game have been available for
some time, it IS set to be released from official sources (Drew &
Associates) on DVD in the near future, but the Bee Gees are holding up
the show with music right issues. I casually mentioned to Robert Drew
that he should maybe make it a "collector's edition" and include some
of the scenes/footage that didn't make the final cut, to which he
actually responded positively. What a fabulous movie though!!

[November Bravo]

On Nov 10, 12:15*pm, vic20owner > wrote:
> Are there any good stories (books & movies, fiction or nonfiction)
> which include a lot of glider flying?
>
> A book about cross country gliding would be perfect... a documentary,
> etc.
>
> Thanks
> -tom

Yes. "Free Flight". A novel by Douglas Terman, author of First
Strike. Published by Charles Scribner's Sons, New York. Fictional, of
the future, with great glider chase story. I enjoyed it immensely. A
must read for all glider pilots. The protagonist has a character not
unlike most glider pilots. I think all will agree. A read it in
one night, as it is so compelling of a read you will not put it down
once started. With the darkness of Winter, those extra hours of
darkness can be enjoyed with dreams of flight with a dramatic plot.
You will see yourself as the protagonist. Trust me. If you can get
the book, its a keeper.
Sincerely,
John Iacobucci MD

[vic20owner]

Just thought I'd post some feedback...

So far:

I ordered "Real Men Land Out" and read it in about 4 hours. Not very
good read, felt like I was reading a resume. I think the title must
have changed... because the author kept referring to the book as "200
hours in a 1-26". Nice fellow, the author, but the book was not very
interesting.

Then I ordered "Master of the Wave". This book is expensive, but very
interesting and I can't put it down. I am enjoying it so far.

[Andy[_1_]]

On Nov 20, 11:06*am, vic20owner > wrote:
> Just thought I'd post some feedback...
>
> So far:
>
> I ordered "Real Men Land Out" and read it in about 4 hours. *Not very
> good read, felt like I was reading a resume. *I think the title must
> have changed... because the author kept referring to the book as "200
> hours in a 1-26". *Nice fellow, the author, but the book was not very
> interesting.
>
> Then I ordered "Master of the Wave". *This book is expensive, but very
> interesting and I can't put it down. I am enjoying it so far.

Collected Classics of Soaring is a good read and only $20 in
hardback. Available from Knauff and Grove or direct from Arizona
Soaring Association.

Andy