On Wednesday, 30 October 2013 19:17:44 UTC, wrote:
Good evening,



I need some assistance!



I am an early solo pilot looking to buy my first glider, but don't really know what to go for! I want it for local soaring, but eventually to go cross country in it.



The slight issue is that I am 6`4 tall and 17.5 stone - arguably too heavy, but the question is what to go for.



I'll obviously need a roomy cockpit!



Any thoughts would be appreciated!

Here is My 5p worth I am 6 ft 2. A PPL but not renewed my PPL licence and took up Gliding in Oct 2012. I went solo 010113 the problems I had were, my weight and size, being 242lbs naked ... so diet and got down to 230lbs ok I like red wine and approaching 60 years of age ... so hard and still going down reduce portions eat slower don't snack, drink less alcohol. Its a hard decision. work on the assumption everything you put in your mouth is 100 calories except water and tea. So 1700 calories a day Max. Clues, I slice of toast 100 calories one boiled egg 100 calories cup of tea no sugar 4 cals water zero. They are all less than that but 100 cals ! But 100cal a slice works! Trust me ! I'm a Chef.

Second in my view most clubs don't like older pilots, they like 21 year olds not 50 to 60 year olds, lots of reasons why ( but if you are that keen put up with the **** and enjoy the flying, take your time.

Third. Gliders, because I have wide shoulders narrow hips and a paunch .... I don't fit well in a K13 but fine in a K21, now most clubs are NOT happy for you to hog their prize ship ... so that becomes and Issue, If the Club you fly at are more interested in flying red letter days than members, move club. Not all clubs are the same.

First glider .... I think I missed the bit in the club manual where it says don't buy a glider till you have spoken to your CFI .... OOps ! Now thats when the CFI had a major tantrum, well it was his 10th tantrum actually, so moved club. I went and visited 4 clubs before I found a very sympathetic CFI who patted me down and we discussed all my problems flying vices, strengths and weaknesses ... progress was rapid once again. and I am enjoying the new club, so quickly out of the K21 and into the Junior as I don't fit in any wooden gliders!

Junior great little Glider to fly Air brakes like an escalator and great early single seater, "God I was scared on that first aero tow". As an Extra, nearly all my early flights apart from 5 were winch and I enjoyed the winch once I got over the fear! but aero tow can be just as challenging.

Own Glider ... The one I bought was a Standard Cirrus, Perhaps not the best Glider to buy as a first ownership Glider, but being a PPL and have many hours in LAA aircraft + others including Longez, Katanas, Arrows, Robins, Airtourer, Slingsby T67 to name a few of my power aircraft in my log book. I felt confident I got it right. Std Cirrus, big cockpit, and will take 6ft 4 depending on your build, everything is to hand and the only problem so far is pulling up the undercarriage leaver, Putting it down is fine but up is a pain in the ass! Problem 2 like most early solo pilots you can get a bit over confident in your glider everybody wizzing about and you struggling to find the thermals! Workload goes up ! You come down faster and faster till you go off in a really good 2 seater .... My club has a Duo Discus and I have been fortunate to fly it three times cross country with a really good pilot who is considerate and takes his time to explain what sensations I should be feeling ( it helped a lot ).
My Glider...... would I buy a glider outright on my own again? .....Maybe but thats me, My view is perhaps next I might share a glider in a very small group, but i have been in a group before and every time you want to fly it it's gone !

Over confidence, When you have flown your glider several times and it is quicker than the club aircraft and more slippery and retractable and smaller airbrakes !!!! and a bugger to get out of the trailer and rig every time you want to fly it ! Lots of bad language here ! ..... don't rush to buy a glider, wait look and sit in plenty !

Did I get it wrong .... Only once so far on finals... but it was in my Std Cirrus over confident and poor decision making made me beat myself up for weeks.... Is the Cirrus right as a first Glider .... it was for me, but perhaps not for everybody, Skills, ability, practice. Winter is over its now March 2014 I am back in the K21 for 3 or 4 flights one or two in the Junior and one in the Duo when its a nice day and back in my Cirrus ... Hope this helped.

Bronze Exam to finish and renewal of my RT licence and cross country experience on my own this year is the goal, As a addition I have bought a very expensive set of covers for the Cirrus so I don't have to rig it every time..