Any sailplane pilots?

"Chuck" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Jim Buckridge" wrote in message
om...
"Chuck" wrote in message
link.net...
My cousin just bought a Schweizer 1 36 sailplane.

We took it to the airport today where he is going to hanger it today,
and
put her together so the FAA could give the stamp of approval with the
airworthiness certificate.

Looks like the sailplane could be alot of fun.

I have never been around them before.

Just wondering how many guys fly gliders...

I do! I just got my rating yesterday (Sunday 12/21). It wasn't an
add-on, which makest the rating even sweeter. Still grinning :-)


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...

Common misconception. He has a Private Pilot certificate. He is a
Private Pilot. Easier is a relative thing, it depends on a person's
aptitude.

"Casey Wilson" wrote in message
...

"Chuck" wrote in message
ink.net...

"Jim Buckridge" wrote in message
om...
"Chuck" wrote in message
link.net...
My cousin just bought a Schweizer 1 36 sailplane.

We took it to the airport today where he is going to hanger it
today,
and
put her together so the FAA could give the stamp of approval with
the
airworthiness certificate.

Looks like the sailplane could be alot of fun.

I have never been around them before.

Just wondering how many guys fly gliders...

I do! I just got my rating yesterday (Sunday 12/21). It wasn't an
add-on, which makest the rating even sweeter. Still grinning :-)


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...

Common misconception. He has a Private Pilot certificate. He is a
Private Pilot. Easier is a relative thing, it depends on a person's
aptitude.


OK... maybe I should have worded it differently.

You hold a Private Pilot Certificate with the Glider rating, but do not hold
an Airplane Single Engine Land or Airplane Multiengine Land rating?

"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.