My first flight in a glider... finally!

I realize this is old hat for most of you guys, but I figured I'd post
something for lurkers who are interested in this sport but have yet to
take the first step.

I posted here about a year ago asking about flying gliders, and I was
pointed to a local gliderport (www.soarfl.com). Here is the follow
up.

I've been flying R/C gliders for the past 20 years, always dreaming of
flying the real thing. Well, many jobs and a child later, here I was
a 37 still having not even attempted to achieve that goal. Time is
running out!

I took the first step.

I signed up for that intro flight.

Then, I spent some time flying on a simulator and reading the glider
flying handbook. I wanted to learn as much as I could before the
intro flight so I would have a good idea of what was going on and
why. I spent a few months flying on the simulator, learning to
thermal, take off and land.

Last weekend the day had finally arrived and I made the drive to the
glider port. The weather was perfect. Blue sky with small puffy
cumulus clouds scattered across the sky. Within a mile of the
gliderport I could see a glider circling and then disappearing into
the distance. Incredible. Something about the shape of a glider is
just beautiful.

When I finally arrived, the instructor, welcomed me in shorts, t-
shirt and no shoes. It is sunny Florida after all, so this is not
unusual but I still got a chuckle out of it. The laid back and
relaxed attitude sort of took me off guard. This attitude reminded me
of sailing more than the uptight instructor attitude I was expecting.
I was immediately comfortable. I was also taken back by the
gliderport. Nice grassy field surrounded by just a few houses (all of
them with hangers) and very quiet. This was also not at all what I
expected. This was a place you could just hang around, watch, and
relax.

We pulled the glider onto the runway, I got strapped in, and within a
minute or two the towplane was there and we were off. I was
frantically snapping pictures with my disposable camera as we towed up
to 4000'. After circling in a few thermals he asked me if I knew how
the controls worked at which point I naturally said YES YES YES!!

Well, sort of, I hadn't used rudder pedals on my simulator. The lack
of rudder pedal experience became immediately obvious as the nose
oscillated back and forth every time I tried to bank into a turn.

After some practice and tips from the instructor I finally managed to
get a few coordinated turns and also managed to catch my own thermal.
I felt that bump in the rear, started circling, and up we went. Whooo
hooo. cool!

After eventually losing the thermal, the instructor took the controls
back and worked a few more thermals to buy us some more time in the
air. I was handed the controls a few more times and of course did
some more poorly coordinated turns. :P

Regardless of my absolute lack of coordination, I was having a great
time. I expected to be a bit nervous in the air but I wasn't at
all... we did a few "roller coaster rides", and then came in for the
approach.

I looked at the altimeter... just over 500'. half spoilers ...
Downwind leg ... base leg... (at this point I am proud of myself for
knowing how to land even though I am not the one flying) ... approach
and touchdown.

While I may not have expressed my excitement enough to the instructor
(I'm a fairly quiet guy) this was an amazing experience. I thanked
him and I was so excited and so busy replaying the flight in my head I
forgot to hand him the gratuity I had for him in my pocket! Argh! No
problem I will be back soon and he will get it then

When I arrived home I installed a set of rudder pedals on my simulator
and practiced winch launches, coordinated turns, and landings all
night long.

I've also planned out a budget so I can start my flying lessons. I
guess that means I am hooked.

I posted some pictures he
http://www.floridakiteboarder.com/soaring/1/

-tom