Glider Flying in Pensacola

[HokiePilot]

I just want to give all those people living in Pensacola a recommendation for Coastal Soaring. We fly most weekends out of Coastal Airport on 9 Mile Road.

I joined about 2 months ago and am over half of the way to getting my commercial transition. Flying around looking for thermals has been some of the most fun flying I have had. I recommend it to anyone with a little extra time on their hands.

http://coastalsoaring.org/

 

[Swanee]

I was a member there while waiting for API and going through primary. They are definitely a good club! They have lot of different aviation backgrounds. For a while it was only myself and one other guy who was flying the Grob 102. I got to take her on quite a few adventures- and only landed her out once (that I'll admit to!).

Soaring is a very pure form of sport aviation. I highly recommend it to anyone who likes flying.


Edit: Said land out in the Grob 102.

 

[HokiePilot]

I have also flown the 102 a few times. It flies real nice. I have yet to experience the pleasure of landing out though.

 

[scoolbubba]

What is landing out? Not making it back to home plate?

 

[scoober78]

Yup.

Usually happens when you are trying to make a XC destination or some sort of out and back and the lift dies. Pretty common in gliding and really not a big deal. Landing requirements are incredibly flexible, the airplanes are designed to be trailered and field selection is a teaching point from your first flight without a motor.

 

[scoober78]

Pretty basic intro to some of the factors you consider...
http://www.pilotoutlook.com/glider_flying/off_field_landing_procedures

Youtube Vid of the same...The crazy kazoo sounding siren in the background is an audible VSI used for finding and staying in thermals. Skip to about 10:30 if all you are interested in is the setup to the landing...

 

[Flugelman]

You guys get to fly all the cool stuff. I soloed (glider) in a Schweizer SGS 2-33 way back when. Made my first land out the next day when I got all catty whompus on takeoff and released at about 200 ft. Just managed to clear the fence at the end of the strip and plunked it down. We hand carried it back over the fence and I was better the next time. I think that would count as a "Land Out".

 

[scoober78]

You guys get to fly all the cool stuff. I soloed (glider) in a Schweizer SGS 2-33 way back when. Made my first land out the next day when I got all catty whompus on takeoff and released at about 200 ft. Just managed to clear the fence at the end of the strip and plunked it down. We hand carried it back over the fence and I was better the next time. I think that would count as a "Land Out".

Ha! My first solo was a 2-33 as well...I think the most entries in my glider logbook were a Schweizer 1-26 that we would take the canopy off of in the summer...of course I also got to fly several Grob products and a Fox MDM-1 with a +9/-6 G envelope. Ouch. Pretty amazing.

 

[Swanee]

I have a little bit of time in a 2-33. Those things fly like a school bus, no thanks!

My old man has a 1-26E and a pilatus that I have a good amount of time in. The pilatus is a fully aerobatic airplane; it's interesting snap rolling a 15m wing.

 

[HokiePilot]

At the club, we have a Grob 103, Grob 102 and a 2-33. I haven't yet flown the 2-33 but I plan on getting checked out in the 2-33 right after I get my lisence. When I first flew the 102, it was the first time I have flown a retractable gear aircraft in 5 years. I remember to put the gear down fortunately.

 

[Rocketman]

I used to own a 1-26E. It was #697 out of 700 so it only had about 200 hrs on it when I first bought it. I sold it to the Pittsburg Soaring Club and I'm pretty sure they still own it. I soloed in a Blanik L-13 but I used to rent a 2-22 because it was cheap as hell and it had a better L/D than my hang glider (barely). I checked out in a PW-5 a couple of years ago and really enjoyed flying that little bird.

Young rocket and toy.....

 

[MD2NZ]

Good folks at Coastal. Been a member twice before and going for a third as I take orders back to P-cola this summer. Will be towing an LS1-F down I-10 during my DITY move.

Everyone should start in gliders. Just about anyone who have flown the things feel the same way.

Hokie,

Good on you for get your add on rating! Good on you again for landing out! Way to push the boundaries but have a safe divert plan in your back pocket.

 

[HokiePilot]

Thanks and welcome back to the club. I have y checkride this Saturday. I hope it goes well. What squadron are you going to?

 

[MD2NZ]

Thanks and welcome back to the club. I have y checkride this Saturday. I hope it goes well. What squadron are you going to?

Don't know yet. We'll see how sequestration plays out. If I do get orders (only have verbals right now) I'll tow my LS1-F up there from Homestead. Will sand the gelcoat before I leave. It is an awesome handling machine (in the top 5 of 70 I've flown, up there with Falcon 20, Stinson 108, AT-6, RV-4). Will offer partnership shares once I get it to Pcola. The opportunity to sell a share for the price someone paid into the partnership means the only cost will be for tows and a very low monthly fee (insurance and MX). That will be cheaper than renting in the long run by a fair amount. Also means pilot A will assemble the machine then fly for an hour or two. That pilot will high five the next, and drive home. Pilot B will fly then disassemble. All of the bad ass single pilot fiberglass ship fun, for only 1/2 the labor.

Barring formation aerobatics, soaring is the best flying I've done (and I haven't tapped into ridge lift or mountain waves yet...just homegrown Florida thermals). Don't listen to me, follow the guidance of Neil Armstrong, Sully Sullenberger, Don Engen, Bob Buck...hell so many other legends.

 

[HokiePilot]

Well, it was bound to happen eventually. I tried to do some cross country flying yesterday but started it too late in the day. I ran out of lift at my first checkpoint and had to put it down at a private airport.