Winch to Wave times 5

Maybe not a big deal to NZ pilots with a trade wind and winds aloft from the coast to the big ranges some 60 years ago or even some EU glider port next to a ridge at the foot of the Alps.

But, this young man has been washing gliders, changing tires and working the flight line for his ten intro flights. On Chris' first ever winch launch he went to the ridge to wave to 7,200 ft. Then trying to stay below cloud base with spoilers as the West squalls moved in fast.

The rotor down low almost got him on final approach but he kept plenty of energy and got her on the ground immediately. He gets a little excited on the stick still, but good job Chris for the next generation.

This is the fifth pilot since Rich Hamon, when he was the president of the St. Louis Soaring Association, made a thermal at pattern alt and transitioned to wave in S NV. The last person was 90 year old Bill Brew who had an hour flight to FL140, winch launched in a strong south wind which turned into a very laminar west flow aloft, much as young Chris did in this video.

See:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D25dh...noredire ct=1