"Vaughn" wrote in message ...
"TravelMan" wrote in message
om...
I'll be taking my first glider ride this week (not soaring, just
gliding) and was wanting a description of what to expect.

As another sage noted, the experience is individual. After your flight,
please come back here and tell us what it was like for you.

I've never
flown in anything but a passenger jet, so that's my only frame of
reference. We'll be using an ASK 21 model. I've been told gliding is
like floating down with no sound, but that sounds too easy. What is
the turbulence like? Is it shaky at all? Cold up there?
How safe are the newer gliders?

Excellent or the FAA would not let them fly. I haven't lost a passenger
yet! There is, however, a distinct danger that you will find soaring to be
habit forming.

Thanks for any info on what to expect, it is
appreciated.

Welcome to our world
Vaughn

Thanks for all the responses. Had my first glide last weekend. It was
fabulous! You folks have an awesome sport here!

We went up in an ASK-21 to about 4,000 feet and took about 25 minutes
to get back down. It was a perfect day, about 65 degrees, not a cloud
in the sky, and 10-15 MPH winds. Almost no turbulence in the air. The
bumpiest part was bouncing across the grass runway for about 15
seconds before we took off. From up there was could see all the way to
the Chicago skyline, about 50 miles away. I got to pilot the glider
from shortly after release until we set up for our landing. It was a
little weird trying to use the rudder and control stick at the same
time. I would get a little out of synch and the nose would dip, but a
little movement on the stick and we were right back in place. The
ASK-21 is awazingly responsive and easy to handle. My apprehension
meleted away as soon as we got up a few hundred feet. I was surprised
(and relieved) at how safe I felt.

I can't wait to go up again, although this time I want to go much
higher. I see what you mean about getting hooked.