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#1
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Touring the USA with glider
On a whim I said to my long suffering wife that I would like to tour the
USA with my glider, see the sights and enjoy the soaring. Surprisingly she said that she would come with me! I have a time budget of 2-3 years but modest financial resources. So gents...where and what time of year? If I could construct a tour that starts in up state NY went South down the Appalachians then W to the Sierras then N up the Rockies and back to the East coast that would seem sensible. I guess I could ship to anywhere on the East Coast and go from there. Advice on itinerary, welcoming clubs (with aero tow), great soaring, good things to see, places to stay etc. by email would be great. Thanks in advance Jim BTW I am very happy to help run HDT task days / weeks / competitions along the way if you would like. |
#2
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Touring the USA with glider
On Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 7:45:06 AM UTC-5, Jim White wrote:
On a whim I said to my long suffering wife that I would like to tour the USA with my glider, see the sights and enjoy the soaring. Surprisingly she said that she would come with me! I have a time budget of 2-3 years but modest financial resources. So gents...where and what time of year? If I could construct a tour that starts in up state NY went South down the Appalachians then W to the Sierras then N up the Rockies and back to the East coast that would seem sensible. I guess I could ship to anywhere on the East Coast and go from there. Advice on itinerary, welcoming clubs (with aero tow), great soaring, good things to see, places to stay etc. by email would be great. Thanks in advance Jim BTW I am very happy to help run HDT task days / weeks / competitions along the way if you would like. You should probably start in Franconia, NH, from there fly to Sugerbush, VT then down to Springfield VT and then turn west to upstate NY. Ship your glider via RORO to a port near Providance, RI (about Euro 2k + insurance). That is where we ship our gliders from factories in EU for East Coast destinations. I shipped two gliders from Europe without any issues and the third one is on the way. I am sure you will find many helping hands as people here are very nice, contrary to what you might expect by reading RAS . Enjoy great soaring and great country. Andrzej |
#3
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Touring the USA with glider
At 13:24 26 December 2015, Andrzej Kobus wrote:
On Saturday, December 26, 2015 at 7:45:06 AM UTC-5, Jim White wrote: On a whim I said to my long suffering wife that I would like to tour the USA with my glider, see the sights and enjoy the soaring. Surprisingly she said that she would come with me! I have a time budget of 2-3 years but modest financial resources. So gents...where and what time of year? If I could construct a tour that starts in up state NY went South down the Appalachians then W to the Sierras then N up the Rockies and back to the East coast that would seem sensible. I guess I could ship to anywhere on the East Coast and go from there. Advice on itinerary, welcoming clubs (with aero tow), great soaring, good things to see, places to stay etc. by email would be great. Thanks in advance Jim BTW I am very happy to help run HDT task days / weeks / competitions along the way if you would like. You should probably start in Franconia, NH, from there fly to Sugerbush, VT then down to Springfield VT and then turn west to upstate NY. Ship your glider via RORO to a port near Providance, RI (about Euro 2k + insurance). That is where we ship our gliders from factories in EU for East Coast destinations. I shipped two gliders from Europe without any issues and the third one is on the way. I am sure you will find many helping hands as people here are very nice, contrary to what you might expect by reading RAS . Enjoy great soaring and great country. Andrzej Just recounted this thread to my wife: her response: "Jolly good, off you go!" |
#4
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Touring the USA with glider
First get a self-launching glider. Otherwise you severely limit what days you can fly on. Most clubs only operate on weekends and the best weather is not always on a weekend as you know. Secondly you will save thousands in towing fees over the course of 2 to 3 years. Thirdly, this tour will not require 2 to 3 years when you can fly from almost any airfield you can drive to..
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#5
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Touring the USA with glider
I understand that Jim doesn't believe in the technology required for this
recommendation... At 16:14 26 December 2015, Soartech wrote: First get a self-launching glider. Otherwise you severely limit what days y= ou can fly on. Most clubs only operate on weekends and the best weather is = not always on a weekend as you know. Secondly you will save thousands in to= wing fees over the course of 2 to 3 years. Thirdly, this tour will not requ= ire 2 to 3 years when you can fly from almost any airfield you can drive to= .. |
#6
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Touring the USA with glider
Yes most clubs only operate on the weekends. There are many commercial operations that operated most days of the week. I think EU has more clubs and less commercial operations if that is correct? I also think that commercial operations have more camping opportunities and/or a room to rent.
The SSA website has most all clubs and commercial operations listed on this google map: http://www.ssa.org/WhereToFlyMap.asp I have not been, but Carolina Soaring Association is a club in Spartanburg, SC and has a great winch I hear. I think some clubs in PA have winches as well. Many commercial sites have tow planes. The climate is varied in the US and soaring is better in different parts of the country at different times of the year. Well, some may be good almost all the time, but I have not been all over neither. Florida is good in winter and early spring. Really hot during the rest of the year. Seminole Lake Gliderport in Fl, is a commercial site and has some accommodations, pool, and camping hook ups. You may consider renting an RV which will give you more options and a semi permanent residence. I live in Eastern NC where soaring is limited but I have a spare room if you would like to get out of the RV for a couple days, or you are just passing by on the way south. Anyway, I think I would start North around mid summer, drive south to Florida for mid winter, then head to west coast via south route stopping in TX, AZ, NV, CA by end of winter to early spring. Then head to Washington state for early summer, then head across the northern US stopping in PA and then back to port of entry to ship glider back. That is just saying 1 yr but you could stay longer is some places but the key would be to miss the mid summer in some places and mid winter in others. |
#7
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Touring the USA with glider
I spent 6 months in 2013 touring the USA across spring, summer and autumn. My itinerary worked pretty well, although I bought the glider and RV over there (FL) and shipped the glider back to Australia at the end of the trip (from CA).
The RV meant that my partner and I could combine the gliding holiday with a more ' normal' holiday, visit loads of National Parks and other attractions, as well as spending time at the best flying sites and timing it with comps as well. I started in April in FL, flying Seminole, then moved on up the Appalachians, flying Knoxville City TN and Mid Atlantic Soaring PA before attending the first comp at Mifflin PA. Great ridge soaring. Then it was up to Ionia Michigan (in hindsight, the weather in this part of the US is too unreliable and I would happily exclude from a future itinerary). After that, across to Ephrata WA (would have been great to fly in Montana but time did not allow). Ephrata is a fabulous spot. Then down to Montague CA (another fabulous site, with Mt Shasta giving me my Diamond Height), and across to Lake Tahoe and Air Sailing NV. After that we headed east again to Ely NV and Parowan UT (both brilliant) before heading across to Uvalde TX for the end of the Worlds. Then west again to fly at Marfa (highly recommended) before finishing off at Warner Springs gliderport prior to shipping the glider home and selling the RV in September. Overall a fabulous trip with a good mix of flying and sightseeing. I would focus on the west and mountains - the flying in the east is much more European and patchy. It would be a tough trip to do without support - I don't think I would be brave enough to attempt even with a motorglider. flOn Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 9:37:47 AM UTC+11, Casey Cox wrote: Yes most clubs only operate on the weekends. There are many commercial operations that operated most days of the week. I think EU has more clubs and less commercial operations if that is correct? I also think that commercial operations have more camping opportunities and/or a room to rent. The SSA website has most all clubs and commercial operations listed on this google map: http://www.ssa.org/WhereToFlyMap.asp I have not been, but Carolina Soaring Association is a club in Spartanburg, SC and has a great winch I hear. I think some clubs in PA have winches as well. Many commercial sites have tow planes. The climate is varied in the US and soaring is better in different parts of the country at different times of the year. Well, some may be good almost all the time, but I have not been all over neither. Florida is good in winter and early spring. Really hot during the rest of the year. Seminole Lake Gliderport in Fl, is a commercial site and has some accommodations, pool, and camping hook ups. You may consider renting an RV which will give you more options and a semi permanent residence. I live in Eastern NC where soaring is limited but I have a spare room if you would like to get out of the RV for a couple days, or you are just passing by on the way south. Anyway, I think I would start North around mid summer, drive south to Florida for mid winter, then head to west coast via south route stopping in TX, AZ, NV, CA by end of winter to early spring. Then head to Washington state for early summer, then head across the northern US stopping in PA and then back to port of entry to ship glider back. That is just saying 1 yr but you could stay longer is some places but the key would be to miss the mid summer in some places and mid winter in others. |
#8
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Touring the USA with glider
One great way to do this and not worry about tows, ground crew, and so forth, is to follow the US race season around. Go to ssa.org then racing and racing calendar. Starting with the seniors in florida, there is usually a 6 month schedule that follows the best weather around the country.
John Cochrane |
#9
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Touring the USA with glider
Allan, your post strikes a chord with a cunning plan I'm developing for 2017 or 2018. Can you give me an idea of the likely cost of buying a small camper van - I'm considering shipping mine from the UK and, apart from the cost, I'm uncertain as yet about the requirements regarding the temporary importation of a foreign registered vehicle (emissions and the like). Buying and selling may be an easier alternative. I assume that shipping the glider to Oz was in a trailer and RORO ferry? Any advice and costings for that would be appreciated. Jim At 00:34 27 December 2015, Allan J Barnes wrote: I spent 6 months in 2013 touring the USA across spring, summer and autumn. = My itinerary worked pretty well, although I bought the glider and RV over t= here (FL) and shipped the glider back to Australia at the end of the trip (= from CA). The RV meant that my partner and I could combine the gliding holiday with a= more ' normal' holiday, visit loads of National Parks and other attraction= s, as well as spending time at the best flying sites and timing it with com= ps as well. I started in April in FL, flying Seminole, then moved on up the Appalachian= s, flying Knoxville City TN and Mid Atlantic Soaring PA before attending th= e first comp at Mifflin PA. Great ridge soaring. Then it was up to Ionia Mi= chigan (in hindsight, the weather in this part of the US is too unreliable = and I would happily exclude from a future itinerary). After that, across to= Ephrata WA (would have been great to fly in Montana but time did not allow= ). Ephrata is a fabulous spot. Then down to Montague CA (another fabulous s= ite, with Mt Shasta giving me my Diamond Height), and across to Lake Tahoe= and Air Sailing NV. After that we headed east again to Ely NV and Parowan = UT (both brilliant) before heading across to Uvalde TX for the end of the W= orlds. Then west again to fly at Marfa (highly recommended) before finishin= g off at Warner Springs gliderport prior to shipping the glider home and se= lling the RV in September. Overall a fabulous trip with a good mix of flying and sightseeing. I would = focus on the west and mountains - the flying in the east is much more Europ= ean and patchy. It would be a tough trip to do without support - I don't th= ink I would be brave enough to attempt even with a motorglider. flOn Sunday, December 27, 2015 at 9:37:47 AM UTC+11, Casey Cox wrote: Yes most clubs only operate on the weekends. There are many commercial o= perations that operated most days of the week. I think EU has more clubs a= nd less commercial operations if that is correct? I also think that commer= cial operations have more camping opportunities and/or a room to rent. =20 The SSA website has most all clubs and commercial operations listed on th= is google map: http://www.ssa.org/WhereToFlyMap.asp =20 I have not been, but Carolina Soaring Association is a club in Spartanbur= g, SC and has a great winch I hear. I think some clubs in PA have winches = as well. Many commercial sites have tow planes. =20 The climate is varied in the US and soaring is better in different parts = of the country at different times of the year. Well, some may be good almo= st all the time, but I have not been all over neither. Florida is good in = winter and early spring. Really hot during the rest of the year. Seminole= Lake Gliderport in Fl, is a commercial site and has some accommodations, p= ool, and camping hook ups. You may consider renting an RV which will give = you more options and a semi permanent residence.=20 =20 I live in Eastern NC where soaring is limited but I have a spare room if = you would like to get out of the RV for a couple days, or you are just pass= ing by on the way south. =20 Anyway, I think I would start North around mid summer, drive south to Flo= rida for mid winter, then head to west coast via south route stopping in TX= , AZ, NV, CA by end of winter to early spring. Then head to Washington sta= te for early summer, then head across the northern US stopping in PA and th= en back to port of entry to ship glider back. That is just saying 1 yr but= you could stay longer is some places but the key would be to miss the mid = summer in some places and mid winter in others. |
#10
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Touring the USA with glider
You might want to compare container
costs to RORO. The trick is getting the trailer out of container at destination - you want to sort out ahead of time. At 12:16 27 December 2015, Jim Crawford wrote: Allan, your post strikes a chord with a cunning plan I'm developing for 2017 or 2018. Can you give me an idea of the likely cost of buying a small camper van - I'm considering shipping mine from the UK and, apart from the cost, I'm uncertain as yet about the requirements regarding the temporary importation of a foreign registered vehicle (emissions and the like). Buying and selling may be an easier alternative. I assume that shipping the glider to Oz was in a trailer and RORO ferry? Any advice and costings for that would be appreciated. Jim |
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