First Solo

[vic20owner]

Well, It's been about 1 year asked about where to learn to fly gliders
in Central FL on this newsgroup. Several of you directed me to
Seminole Lake Gliderport, and my mom purchased an intro flight for me
for my 37th birthday 6/21/2008. I did my 1st flight (my intro) on Dec
12 2008, and today, 06/20/2009, the day before my 38th birthday, I
soloed!

I would just like to thank all of you for the help, advice, and
encouragement. A new glider pilot has been born. Yes, I am going to
continue to my PPL. I understand from my instructor 50% do not
continue training (seems like a waste to me, but ....). I would also
like to thank everyone at Seminole Lake Gliderport in Clermont, FL. I
am very happy with the staff. I had a great time and made some
friends. Looking forward to spending a lot of time there.

To bed now, I did not sleep well last night ;) I have video, but I am
sure you are well familiar with what a Blanik L-23 looks like
landing :)

Thanks!!!
Tom

[David Chapman]

hello Tom, congratulations !!!

Why do a PPL? Focus on gliding - cross country and task/competition
flying is fantastic fun! A big fan in front is just like flying a
computer game!

Happy landings,
David.


At 04:24 21 June 2009, vic20owner wrote:
>Well, It's been about 1 year asked about where to learn to fly gliders
>in Central FL on this newsgroup. Several of you directed me to
>Seminole Lake Gliderport, and my mom purchased an intro flight for me
>for my 37th birthday 6/21/2008. I did my 1st flight (my intro) on Dec
>12 2008, and today, 06/20/2009, the day before my 38th birthday, I
>soloed!
>
>I would just like to thank all of you for the help, advice, and
>encouragement. A new glider pilot has been born. Yes, I am going to
>continue to my PPL. I understand from my instructor 50% do not
>continue training (seems like a waste to me, but ....). I would also
>like to thank everyone at Seminole Lake Gliderport in Clermont, FL. I
>am very happy with the staff. I had a great time and made some
>friends. Looking forward to spending a lot of time there.
>
>To bed now, I did not sleep well last night ;) I have video, but I am
>sure you are well familiar with what a Blanik L-23 looks like
>landing :)
>
>Thanks!!!
>Tom
>
>
>
>

[John Smith]

> Why do a PPL? Focus on gliding - cross country and task/competition
> flying is fantastic fun! A big fan in front is just like flying a
> computer game!

I second that. But the expression "continue to PPL" shows that you are
not yet a glider pilot. You should rather continue to cross country
flying to discover what gliding is all about. Power flying is a step
*backwards* from gliding.

[Scott[_7_]]

David Chapman wrote:
> hello Tom, congratulations !!!
>
> Why do a PPL? Focus on gliding - cross country and task/competition
> flying is fantastic fun! A big fan in front is just like flying a
> computer game!
>
> Happy landings,
> David.
>
>

>>
>>
>>
>>
Isn't PPL "Private Pilot License"? Won't he need to get that so he can
take passengers if he desires and be able to fly more than a 25 mile
radius of his training airport? Maybe "PPL" means something else?

Scott

[vic20owner]

> > Why do a PPL? *Focus on gliding - cross country and task/competition
> > flying is fantastic fun! *A big fan in front is just like flying a
> > computer game!
>
> > Happy landings,
> > David.
>
> Isn't PPL "Private Pilot License"? *Won't he need to get that so he can
> take passengers if he desires and be able to fly more than a 25 mile
> radius of his training airport? *Maybe "PPL" means something else?
>
> Scott

Thanks guys, yes, I was referring to a Private Pilot's License, not
the powered license (although I add that later) ... I am definitely
focusing on gliding and cross country, and will eventually be buying
my own glider (once I get more experience and the PL). An interest in
gliding is why I started flying.

Here's the solo video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zygu756sZto

Tom

[Randy[_2_]]

Congratulations Tom !!!
Soaring is such a wonderful thing and it is great that you have been
able to get your first solo flight. Getting from solo to license is
really
not that far away now. Fly as much as you can and get into the books
so that you will so be ready for your exam. I find that most student
never finish their license, because they will not study to get the FAA
written test completed. Here is link that you can use to do practice
written test. http://www.mywrittenexam.com

Thanks for sharing your video.

Randy

[Scott[_7_]]

vic20owner wrote:

>
> Thanks guys, yes, I was referring to a Private Pilot's License, not
> the powered license (although I add that later) ... I am definitely
> focusing on gliding and cross country, and will eventually be buying
> my own glider (once I get more experience and the PL). An interest in
> gliding is why I started flying.
>
> Here's the solo video:
> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zygu756sZto
>
> Tom

WAAAAAY COOOOOL! Congrats! I'm a powered pilot with a few glider
flights but haven't soloed a glider yet and envious of you! Keep at it :)

Do you collect Commodore VIC-20s? I have a couple myself along with a
C-64....fun old computers ;)

Scott
http://corbenflyer.tripod.com

[[email protected][_2_]]

*I did my 1st flight (my intro) on Dec
> 12 2008, and today, 06/20/2009, the day before my 38th birthday, I
> soloed!


Congratulations and welcome to what is possibly the most addictive
activity known to man!

Kirk
66

[sisu1a]

On Jun 20, 9:24*pm, vic20owner > wrote:
> Well, It's been about 1 year asked about where to learn to fly gliders
> in Central FL on this newsgroup. *Several of you directed me to
> Seminole Lake Gliderport, and my mom purchased an intro flight for me
> for my 37th birthday 6/21/2008. *I did my 1st flight (my intro) on Dec
> 12 2008, and today, 06/20/2009, the day before my 38th birthday, I
> soloed!
>
> I would just like to thank all of you for the help, advice, and
> encouragement. * A new glider pilot has been born. *Yes, I am going to
> continue to my PPL. *I understand from my instructor 50% do not
> continue training (seems like a waste to me, but ....). I would also
> like to thank everyone at Seminole Lake Gliderport in Clermont, FL. *I
> am very happy with the staff. I had a great time and made some
> friends. *Looking forward to spending a lot of time there.
>
> To bed now, I did not sleep well last night ;) *I have video, but I am
> sure you are well familiar with what a Blanik L-23 looks like
> landing :)
>
> Thanks!!!
> Tom

Congratulations, AND Happy Birthday Tom!

-Paul

[vic20owner]

Thanks, I I should have said GPL?

Thanks
-tom

[vic20owner]

> Do you collect Commodore VIC-20s? I have a couple myself along with a
> C-64....fun old computers ;)
>

Yes, well, I did at one time have a large collection of C= computers
and Amigas. My vic20 was my first computer... sold them awhile back
because i was spending too much time inside instead of outside
actually doing something. I still miss them but I do not the clutter
of having them in storage! I never changed my email address because I
am still a fan of the old machines.

-tom

[vic20owner]

> written test completed. Here is link that you can use to do practice
> written test.http://www.mywrittenexam.com
>
> Thanks for sharing your video.
>
> Randy

Hmmm look promising until I discovered that none of the figures will
display correctly :( Looks like a problem on their site.

I have been studying for the exam since my first flying lesson... just
need to cram now and make sure I remember it all.

I have an FAA practice test on my iPhone with figures which works
well, except it's not restricted to gliders which makes the practice
test a little confusing.

-tom

[Scott[_7_]]

vic20owner wrote:
>> Do you collect Commodore VIC-20s? I have a couple myself along with a
>> C-64....fun old computers ;)
>>
>
> Yes, well, I did at one time have a large collection of C= computers
> and Amigas. My vic20 was my first computer... sold them awhile back
> because i was spending too much time inside instead of outside
> actually doing something. I still miss them but I do not the clutter
> of having them in storage! I never changed my email address because I
> am still a fan of the old machines.
>
> -tom
>
>
>

Cool! The VIC-20 was my first computer as well. Nice little machine
back in the early 80s :)

Scott