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I'm planning to join the local soaring club and had my first ride last
weekend. I was eager to take the controls while being towed and was enormously humbled by the experience. I've had my ppsel for several years, but do not have many hours under my belt. Never the less, I was looking forward to this and thought: How difficult could it be? No P factor, just hang in there behind the tug. I was embarrassed. I could not keep the glider (a Blanik) anywhere close to remaining calmly behind the tug. I was all over the sky and was acutely aware that I must be yanking the tug's tail back and forth and up and down. Three times I was rescued by the guy giving me the ride, although by the last time I was beginning to understand that the tow rope itself could bring the nose back. I had not prior instruction before the ride, I really thought it would not be a problem. BZZZZZT wrong. Once we cast off, holding headings, holding airspeed and just keeping the wings level wasn't a problem. I was astonished at how far we could travel at 60 mph without seeming to loose much altitude. Heck, I've lost more altitude than that when I was flying cross country and TRYING to hold my cruise altitude. :-) One of the more expert glider pilots reassured me that all first timers have the same problems, and told me that I should concentrate on holding the wings the same as the tug, and using the rudder to stay behind it. I wasn't doing it that way, I was sawing back and forth with the stick and getting into all kinds of trouble. I'm eager to try again, but I thought I'd drop in here and ask how folks stayed behind the tug... If you all can remember back when you were at my stage. ;-) Thanks, Corky Scott |
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