Any sailplane pilots?

"Chuck" wrote:
Congrats!

So... you are not a PP, but are a glider pilot, huh?

Did you have any problems? Would it have been easier to become a PP, then a
glider pilot?

I'm thinking of getting a slider certificate...

That's right... no powered just glider. I didn't have any problems
other than the weather. Also the operation was closed last winter
(Thanksgiving thru end of March) and then the NY ADIZ got in the way.
I had 13 solos (FAA minumum is 10). Compared to the others I know I
got my rating fairly quickly tow-count wise. But my 53 tows were
spread out over 17 months. An average of just over 3 per month.
Yuck!

I've been told that if I go for powered lessons now it'll be a breeze.
I think cost wise it's cheaper to get the glider rating first, and
then go on to powered. Would it have been easier to go powered first?
Maybe, but I found the cost to be prohibitive. I got my glider
private rating for less than $3000 including all costs... books,
exams, flights, etc.

On 23 Dec 2003 08:13:37 -0800, (Jim
Buckridge) wrote in Message-Id:
:

I got my glider private rating for less than $3000 including all costs...
books, exams, flights, etc.

During the early '70s, the Southern California Soaring Association ran
a glider operation at El Mirage Dry Lake (Antelope Valley) under the
guidance of Leonard Sharp. We had a 2-33, 1-26, and Blanik B-13 (?),
that we aero-towed to El Mirage Dry Lake, and an old Buick with a
1,500' cable for cheap auto-tow launches to well over a 1,000' all day
long. Dues in the club ran $10/month, and auto-tows were $2/each.
Instruction was provided (gratis) by many very experienced and
competent CFIG members.

The SCSA cub operation was inexpensive, and provided the camaraderie
and manpower that is characteristic of soaring.

ny
Larry Dighera wrote in message . ..
On 23 Dec 2003 08:13:37 -0800, (Jim
Buckridge) wrote in Message-Id:
:

I got my glider private rating for less than $3000 including all costs...
books, exams, flights, etc.

During the early '70s, the Southern California Soaring Association ran
a glider operation at El Mirage Dry Lake (Antelope Valley) under the
guidance of Leonard Sharp. We had a 2-33, 1-26, and Blanik B-13 (?),
that we aero-towed to El Mirage Dry Lake, and an old Buick with a
1,500' cable for cheap auto-tow launches to well over a 1,000' all day
long. Dues in the club ran $10/month, and auto-tows were $2/each.
Instruction was provided (gratis) by many very experienced and
competent CFIG members.

The SCSA cub operation was inexpensive, and provided the camaraderie
and manpower that is characteristic of soaring.