What was your first glider?

A standard Libelle 201b in 2003 which I have since had modified to very non
standard 201b with winglets wing root fairings and a low profile
canopy.Did my first 100k,300k & just recently 500k in the UK.It`s been to
Switzerland twice and the last time I flew it from Zurich to Innsbrook &
back over the top of the Alps up to 13,000ft and that is why I she is
called the FABULOUS CHARLIE MIKE WHISKY ! I have had the pleasure to fly
everything from a T21 - EB28 but nothing is as much fun as CHARLIE MIKE

LS1-f.

This is my second full season with it. It's perfect for me given my
low-time as pic. Just started to stretch out with x-country flying
last season and I'm continuing to learn as I go.

I'm extremely happy with it and feel I made an excellent choice.



Dave Hoppe
West Bend, WI

My first glider (and only) is a SB5e which no will have seen one
before!

Its a wood ship, made in the 70s.

It's lovely to fly a real floater with reasonable performance at
speeds up to 65 knots.

I bought her off Ebay for pennies (£1500) with a syndicate partner.
We have spent quite a bit of time and a little money doing her up.

I borrow the clubs Junior and LS4 however despite the better
perfaformance of the LS4 I still prefer to fly the SB5e.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21RmpxlUi7E

http://www.sb5e.de/

At 03:52 19 August 2009, flgliderpilot wrote:

Out of curiosity, I searched but found no similar thread...

So what was your first glider, how did you find it, how long did
you
fly it, did you keep it or quickly out grow it? Would love to hear
your stories...

My first glider (and only) is a SB5e which no will have seen one
before!

Its a wood ship, made in the 70s.

It's lovely to fly a real floater with reasonable performance at
speeds up to 65 knots.

I bought her off Ebay for pennies (£1500) with a syndicate partner.
We have spent quite a bit of time and a little money doing her up.

I borrow the clubs Junior and LS4 however despite the better
perfaformance of the LS4 I still prefer to fly the SB5e.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21RmpxlUi7E

http://www.sb5e.de/

At 03:52 19 August 2009, flgliderpilot wrote:

Out of curiosity, I searched but found no similar thread...

So what was your first glider, how did you find it, how long did
you
fly it, did you keep it or quickly out grow it? Would love to hear
your stories...

First was a Dart17R, lovely old wooden, gentlemans carrage, kept it for
about 12 years.
Followed with an ASW19, but found that a bit small ( both in span and
cockpit size). That lasted for about 18 months.
Moved up to a Kestrel 19, a lovely old glass gentlemans carrage. After 8
years was seduced by 25.5m worth of Nimbus 3., but after 2 years the whole
thing was just too much, so I have now reverted to a Kestrel again.
"Ben Dawson" wrote in message
...
My first glider (and only) is a SB5e which no will have seen one
before!

Its a wood ship, made in the 70s.

It's lovely to fly a real floater with reasonable performance at
speeds up to 65 knots.

I bought her off Ebay for pennies (£1500) with a syndicate partner.
We have spent quite a bit of time and a little money doing her up.

I borrow the clubs Junior and LS4 however despite the better
perfaformance of the LS4 I still prefer to fly the SB5e.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21RmpxlUi7E

http://www.sb5e.de/

At 03:52 19 August 2009, flgliderpilot wrote:

Out of curiosity, I searched but found no similar thread...

So what was your first glider, how did you find it, how long did
you
fly it, did you keep it or quickly out grow it? Would love to hear
your stories...

At 03:52 19 August 2009, flgliderpilot wrote:

Out of curiosity, I searched but found no similar thread...

So what was your first glider, how did you find it, how long did you
fly it, did you keep it or quickly out grow it? Would love to hear
your stories...



I bought my Cherokee II with Internship money back in the spring of 2005.
Another guy in our club had owned it for a while but needed to convert it
into cash. I've been flying it as much as I can, which still isn't
enough, but about 20-30 hrs a summer. It's nothing pretty with old
fabric but it was built really well and assembles easy and the trailer was
in OK shape. I've spent this summer slowly re-working (restoring) the
trailer. Should've just built one from scratch. Getting in the home
stretch of that now and have been able to have the trailer operational for
the last two months.

I've pretty much fallen in love with the glider and don't forsee getting
rid of it anytime soon. I'm strongly considering putting new fabric on it
this winter, the old fabric and paint is showing its age. Will be a good
opportunity to go through the glider and make sure it is in good shape for
its next 20 or 30 years of flying. Be careful about falling in love with
an aircraft, it gets expensive.

I've done some pretty significant panel upgrades on it since i got it
including a few new varios and a Microair radio and the associated
electrical system. I also am working on installing a transponder but
haven't had a lot of time for that with the trailer work.


-Tony Condon
Cherokee II N373Y

On Aug 18, 11:52*pm, flgliderpilot wrote:
Out of curiosity, I searched but found no similar thread...

So what was your first glider, how did you find it, how long did you
fly it, did you keep it or quickly out grow it? *Would love to hear
your stories...

First glider was a Schweizer 1-26D. Did my Silver badge in it in the
first 6 months I owned it. Kept it for many years and it became one of
our club ships back then. It's gone to another owner, but we still
have 3 1-26's in the family. Oldest is #002 which is our club glider
set aside for our juniors to fly. My 14 year old grandson recently
checked out in it and is working toward his Silver. I fly it a couple
times a year for fun when it isn't worth rigging one of the fancy
ships.
Still have fun with those old basic ships. Fun per dollar is
unmatched.
UH

First ship was a Russia AC-4CK. Nicely built by a guy in Oregon.
Super sweet handling with reasonable performance for a short wing
ship. Big cockpit that fit my 6'3" frame. I was a low time glider
pilot when I got it, absolutely no issues with the transition. I flew
the Russia alot and that ship took me beyond 300Km. I cannot imagine
that there is a glider that is easier to rig or derig. Flew it for 4
years and then sold it to get a 15 meter ship.

Second and current glider is a DG-303 Acro. I REALLY like the DG.
Good looking, amazing visability, super comfortable cockpit, great
performance, easy to rig. I've already done three 500km flights and
spent over 7 hours comfortably in the DG. This could be the start of
a long relationship!

WS

On Aug 19, 5:30*pm, wrote:
First ship was a Russia AC-4CK. *Nicely built by a guy in Oregon.
Super sweet handling with reasonable performance for a short wing
ship. *Big cockpit that fit my 6'3" frame. *I was a low time glider
pilot when I got it, absolutely no issues with the transition. *I flew
the Russia alot and that ship took me beyond 300Km. *I cannot imagine
that there is a glider that is easier to rig or derig. *Flew it for 4
years and then sold it to get a 15 meter ship.

Second and current glider is a DG-303 Acro. *I REALLY like the DG.
Good looking, amazing visability, super comfortable cockpit, great
performance, easy to rig. *I've already done three 500km flights and
spent over 7 hours comfortably in the DG. *This could be the start of
a long relationship!

WS

Oops! The Russia was built by a guy named Brad in Washington state,
not Oregon. (To give credit where credit is due!!!) Nice guy, great
ship.

My first was an HP-16. Found it in Iowa, via Trade-A-Plane (aka, The
Dreaded Yellow Pages. Dreaded because it is full of things you just
can't pass up!). Dad and a friend went partners in it, then I bought the
friend's share. Flew it a season, then bought my Zuni 2, which I still
have today, some 22 years later. She is a "til death do us part" ship.

But, since then, I have added an HP-14, 604, BS1, Ka-6CrPE....

Steve Leonard
Wichita, KS