Solo of a different kind...

Solo'd today...in one o'them planes with no engine...Blanik L-13

Well...here in "the groups" we usually hear about power pilot (ASEL)
solos...but few of the others.

I got 'stalled' on my CFI training last spring and decided to work
toward a glider rating. First Flight July 23, after 33 flights I
solo'd today. Awesome...I remember when I solo'd in a power
plane...except now it's ALWAYS a Power-off landing : )

Very quiet...very very quiet...

I was actually high on final and had to slip 'er down...but no sweat.

Am going straight for Commercial rating...only needs a few flights
more + tighter tolerances than PP-Glider

I'm motivated to tackle the ASEL CFI this winter now, too!
Maybe CFI-G in a year or two once I have more experience

--Don Byrer
Don Byrer KJ5KB
Radar Tech & Smilin' Commercial Pilot Guy
Glider & CFI wannabe
kj5kb-at-hotmail.com

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without bending the gear..."
"Watch out for those doves...smack-smack-smack-smack..."

Don Byrer wrote in
:

Very quiet...very very quiet...

I was actually high on final and had to slip 'er down...but no sweat.

Should make your hopefully never to come engine failure a non event.

Congrats on your glider solo. Like you said, we don't hear about these
that often.

Allen

welcome aboard Don... where are you at?
BT (CFIG)

"Don Byrer" wrote in message
...
Solo'd today...in one o'them planes with no engine...Blanik L-13

Well...here in "the groups" we usually hear about power pilot (ASEL)
solos...but few of the others.

I got 'stalled' on my CFI training last spring and decided to work
toward a glider rating. First Flight July 23, after 33 flights I
solo'd today. Awesome...I remember when I solo'd in a power
plane...except now it's ALWAYS a Power-off landing : )

Very quiet...very very quiet...

I was actually high on final and had to slip 'er down...but no sweat.

Am going straight for Commercial rating...only needs a few flights
more + tighter tolerances than PP-Glider

I'm motivated to tackle the ASEL CFI this winter now, too!
Maybe CFI-G in a year or two once I have more experience

--Don Byrer
Don Byrer KJ5KB
Radar Tech & Smilin' Commercial Pilot Guy
Glider & CFI wannabe
kj5kb-at-hotmail.com

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without
bending the gear..."
"Watch out for those doves...smack-smack-smack-smack..."

good on you Don!

"Don Byrer" wrote in message
...

I'm motivated to tackle the ASEL CFI this winter now, too!
Maybe CFI-G in a year or two once I have more experience

Consider taking your CFIG first. That will make your ASEL CFI ticket a
mere "add-on".

Vaughn

Congrats Don, great achievement. I took a glider lesson a few weeks ago
after getting my PPL and it was fascinating to just hear the eiree
sound of the wind. I almost wish they would add a few glider hrs to the
PP-ASEL requirements, similar to the the 3hrs of hood training.

Don Byrer wrote:
Solo'd today...in one o'them planes with no engine...Blanik L-13

Well...here in "the groups" we usually hear about power pilot (ASEL)
solos...but few of the others.

I got 'stalled' on my CFI training last spring and decided to work
toward a glider rating. First Flight July 23, after 33 flights I
solo'd today. Awesome...I remember when I solo'd in a power
plane...except now it's ALWAYS a Power-off landing : )

Very quiet...very very quiet...

I was actually high on final and had to slip 'er down...but no sweat.

Am going straight for Commercial rating...only needs a few flights
more + tighter tolerances than PP-Glider

I'm motivated to tackle the ASEL CFI this winter now, too!
Maybe CFI-G in a year or two once I have more experience

--Don Byrer
Don Byrer KJ5KB
Radar Tech & Smilin' Commercial Pilot Guy
Glider & CFI wannabe
kj5kb-at-hotmail.com

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without bending the gear..."
"Watch out for those doves...smack-smack-smack-smack..."

Thanks for the feedback.

Probably will pursue the ASEL CFI first...I certainly have more
experience there (~300 hours) and barely feel adequate to teach
someone else...much less gliding!. I've been told I do a fine job of
teaching ignition and electrical sytems...but I've been playing with
electronics for 30 years.

Maybe another season of glider flyin before I try to teach it. Will
take a while to get the required 15 hours PIC anyway. I can always
help with ground training, though...especially if I go ahead and get
the ground instructor rating along with my CFI.

FYI, I'm in the Cleveland Ohio area, soaring at 67D, Reader-Botsford
airport in Wellington....about 45 mins SW of Cleveland

Hoping to get the 2nd and maybe 3rd solo out of the way if the wx
cooperates next week.

--Don Byrer
Don Byrer KJ5KB
Radar Tech & Smilin' Commercial Pilot Guy
Glider & CFI wannabe
kj5kb-at-hotmail.com

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without bending the gear..."
"Watch out for those doves...smack-smack-smack-smack..."

Good to Go Don... you are about running out of flyable weather out there..
we do fly year round here.. winter is our "Training Season"

BT

"Don Byrer" wrote in message
...
Thanks for the feedback.

Probably will pursue the ASEL CFI first...I certainly have more
experience there (~300 hours) and barely feel adequate to teach
someone else...much less gliding!. I've been told I do a fine job of
teaching ignition and electrical sytems...but I've been playing with
electronics for 30 years.

Maybe another season of glider flyin before I try to teach it. Will
take a while to get the required 15 hours PIC anyway. I can always
help with ground training, though...especially if I go ahead and get
the ground instructor rating along with my CFI.

FYI, I'm in the Cleveland Ohio area, soaring at 67D, Reader-Botsford
airport in Wellington....about 45 mins SW of Cleveland

Hoping to get the 2nd and maybe 3rd solo out of the way if the wx
cooperates next week.

--Don Byrer
Don Byrer KJ5KB
Radar Tech & Smilin' Commercial Pilot Guy
Glider & CFI wannabe
kj5kb-at-hotmail.com

"I have slipped the surly bonds of earth; now if I can just land without
bending the gear..."
"Watch out for those doves...smack-smack-smack-smack..."

Congratulations Don. I remember one day I was watching some glider
winching when I got to see one land up close. Those things really want
to just keep on flying don't they? The guy approached in what looked
to my rather inexperienced eyes as fairly high, and once he crossed the
threshold just dumped his spoilers and down he came. The short landing
roll impressed me too, but I guess there isn't much inertia in
something so light and the wind was about 6-8 knots on the nose.

Good effort. It's amazing how many radio amateurs also fly gliders...

Dave Kearns
G0HVS