Fear of flying cross country

On 27 Jun, 20:08, 126Driver wrote:

Some of this is a general
concern about personal injury, but I think I am also just afraid of
landing out and having to put up with the inconvenience of a retrieve
and getting criticism from other pilots in my club.

I've met a few pilots like that. They are normally the ones who have
bought themselves 40+:1 in glass and use it to waddle round 100km
triangles on good days. Deep down they feel rather ashamed of
themselves, and they criticize landouts because they know that they
normally arise from a bit of adventurousness in flying which they lack
themselves.

But enough psychology. Rather than rely on a club retrieve, why not
form a mutual retrieve pact with a pal? One of you sets off on an
adventure and the other agrees to stay local-ish: you swap roles each
flying day.

The need to get back can really dampen the spirits. Why not have a
good old-fashioned downwind dash one day? Your retrieve crew can
follow you on the ground, and it's surprising just how far you can
get.

Finally, try to avoid routes which go over, or very near airfields.
It's OK and reassuring to pass within gliding range from time to time,
but runways suck gliders towards them. Well known fact.

Ian

Finally, try to avoid routes which go over, or very near airfields.
It's OK and reassuring to pass within gliding range from time to time,
but runways suck gliders towards them. Well known fact.

Ian

You obviously haven't flown much in the US southwest. Over much of our
terrain, you can either land at an airfield or crash into cactus or
tree-strewn mountains. Landable strips are an essential part of our
database.

Landing at a decent strip also has the advantage of getting an aero-
retrieve. More expensive, but less inconvenient.

I overcame my trepidation by flying over tiger country with a mentor
and then with a group of cross-country pilots who have a mutual
retrieve policy (steak dinner and lots of beer!)

Mike

Mike

On 28 Jun, 16:11, Mike the Strike wrote:
Finally, try to avoid routes which go over, or very near airfields.
It's OK and reassuring to pass within gliding range from time to time,
but runways suck gliders towards them. Well known fact.

You obviously haven't flown much in the US southwest. Over much of our
terrain, you can either land at an airfield or crash into cactus or
tree-strewn mountains. Landable strips are an essential part of our
database.

In such places it is obviously sensible to keep landing places in
mind, but I still think it's a mistake to fly directly over them.
There is a strange magnetic attraction at work ...

Ian

Ian wrote:
On 28 Jun, 16:11, Mike the Strike wrote:
Finally, try to avoid routes which go over, or very near airfields.
It's OK and reassuring to pass within gliding range from time to time,
but runways suck gliders towards them. Well known fact.

You obviously haven't flown much in the US southwest. Over much of our
terrain, you can either land at an airfield or crash into cactus or
tree-strewn mountains. Landable strips are an essential part of our
database.

In such places it is obviously sensible to keep landing places in
mind, but I still think it's a mistake to fly directly over them.
There is a strange magnetic attraction at work ...

It also annoys the skydivers...

--
Eric Greenwell - Washington State, USA
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