Rolf is right. A DuoDiscus or similar is an easy and pleasant way to fly a
cross country training flight. However not all and probably a minority of clubs
have access to a two seater glider costing perhaps $200,000 new.
Please don’t discount what is achievable in a glider of the capability of an
ASK21 on a moderately good soaring day. At Gulgong we had K7 competitions with
up to 7 X K7s flying and the odd Berkfalke or Blanik. Without the benefit of
currently available meteorological information, the tasks were in the range of
over 100 km up to 250 km. Nearly all gliders got around the tasks. Sure it took
a bit longer with maximum speeds about 60 knots but they were a lot of fun.
These gliders may not go very fast between thermals, but they certainly feel
the lift and climb well. Pretty useful in a training situation with an
experienced pilot on board.
At lake Keepit we have a data base of airfields and it is possible to set tasks
which keep the gliders pretty close to one. Landing on an airfield either
allows an aerotow or easy retrieve. Distances are not all that huge and
retrieves no great problem with a reasonable trailer.
So please don’t frighten off those clubs or pilots without the latest and
greatest,
Harry Medlicott
From: rolf a. buelter
Sent: Monday, February 16, 2015 1:18 PM
To: aus soaring
Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Early X/C pilots
Dear Gary,
I beg to differ from your opinion. On a lazy Sunday afternoon I'm happy to
embark on a cross country coaching flight in our Duo as I expect to be back in
time for a refreshing drink and still return to my home at a christian time.
With an ASK 13 and an crappy old trailer I expect to outland, spend three hours
in a fly blown paddock and then 2 hour in the dark to put the glider into a
crappy old trailer, return to the airfield around mid night and be in my bed
earliest 1 am Monday. Besides all that I inflict the same fate on at least 3
other fellow club members. N.B. - a flight within gliding range of an ASK 13 to
the aerodrome does not qualify as a x-country coaching flight. At best it
represents some thermalling practice.
To conclude a couple of personal questions, which you don't have to answer if
you prefer not to:
How many cross country coaching flights have you conducted over the last 24
months?
How many of those were in an ASK 13 or similar performance glider?
How many of these gliders had a crappy old trailer?
How many ended in an out landing?
Come to think of it - how many out landings did you do last 24 months? To out
myself - I have done 4 or 5 pre-arranged training ones and none in anger.
With kindest Regards - Rolf
> From: [email protected]
> To: [email protected]
> Date: Sun, 15 Feb 2015 20:44:57 +1100
> Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Early X/C pilots
>
> Hi Derek,
> Hope you are well. This is a very late response to your email, but as no one
> else seems to have made comment on your suggestion, let me say that you have
> summed up the entire discussion in a single line. Well done.
>
> As a rule of thumb, early X/C flights (dual or solo), should not exceed 3
> hours.
>
> There has been some suggestions that a good trailer is almost essential for
> road retrieves. What a load of rot! A good trailer is a great asset, but it
> is by no means essential. What IS ESSENTIAL is that the pilot intending to go
> X/C is totally familiar with the workings of the trailer that IS available.
> Quite simply, if the pilot is not familiar with the trailer, then NO X/C for
> that pilot until this exercise is done.
>
> Just possibly, said pilot might get off his a*se, and make a few improvements
> to said trailer, if the trailer is a bit marginal (almost always!), but in my
> experience, this is a rare occurrence indeed.
>
> Gary
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Derek Ruddock
> Sent: Saturday, 31 January 2015 7:54 PM
> To: 'Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.'
> Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Two Seater Nationals
>
> You don't need a DG1000: take the K13! (but don't go as far :) )
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [email protected]
> [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of DMcD
> Sent: Saturday, 31 January 2015 6:02 PM
> To: Discussion of issues relating to Soaring in Australia.
> Subject: Re: [Aus-soaring] Two Seater Nationals
>
> >>the GFA pilot training programme for more cross-country exposure during the
> >>ab-initio stage.
>
> Who said that!
>
> If only that happened more during training. IMHO, that's the single most
> important thing for a club to do when trying to make the conversion from
> student pilot to addicted and committed flyer. Having done enough HG flying
> to know what I was up for, the endless circuit training did not kill my
> enthusiasm but it can.
>
> My son said at one point that he was wondering what it was all about until he
> got to cloud base on day… and I don't think anyone ever took him XC during
> training.
>
> I have tried to persuade our club to stop the clock and some point and say to
> students at some point, "this is not being charged for… we're going to fly
> somewhere for an hour to show you why we all do it."
>
> I'm sure it would make a big difference to the number of pilots who drop out
> after going solo. But then we don't have something like the DG which would
> make getting home more likely than in a Grob or K21
> :-)
>
> D
>
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