That’s intriguing. Is there a benefit of flying IFR? My ignorance of glider flying makes me think it’s just a VFR aircraft.
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Mythbusters to take on: PLANE ON A TREADMILL!!
- Thread starter Tex_Hill
- Start date
That’s intriguing. Is there a benefit of flying IFR? My ignorance of glider flying makes me think it’s just a VFR aircraft.
99.99999% of the gliders out there are VFR only- airspeed, altitude, variometer is about all you get. Some get radios, and transponders, and flight computers, but now you're talking cockpit instrumentation that's worth more than the glider.
FWIW the eastern block countries trained IFR in gliders in the cold war days in Blanik L-13s, but most of those were destroyed.
Equipping one IFR might allow you to get into the flight levels easier on strong wave days. But that whole "climb/descend and maintain" clearance isn't going to work.
Mostly it came with the ADS-B mandate. Some clubs “assumed” gliders were exempt and didn’t want to comply but all the old LOAs with busy centers like Potomac were tossed out and rewritten.
I know about the club in New Castle VA, is there one in Chilhowie? I did some growing up in Marion, just up the road, and nothing like that was there back then...the place must be getting more interesting!
Ermahgerd yaw string, just like an F-14!!!!!1!!!¡!
I saw this the other day... maybe I missed something but I still don't get it. If the wing isn't moving though an Air mass, then the prop is moving all the air backward to equate to forward motion. Right?
Well. My opinion of the FAA remains unchanged- they're a spineless organization that does absolutely nothing to promote sport aviation in this country. They hide behind fear, and cover themselves in legal jargon so they can say, "it's not OUR fault" to congress. The FAA is their own worst enemy, they are a HUGE reason why development in sport aviation, small airplane, and alternative engines is happening in other countries instead of here.
Sarah Arnold is running an operation there, she bought it maybe 10 years ago. It's been around for quite a while now I suppose.
Chilhowee Gliderport
www.chilhowee.com
Cool. Different Chilhowe...I was was thinking of a small town in SW Virginia about 70 miles to the NE. Looks like a nice operation.Sarah Arnold is running an operation there, she bought it maybe 10 years ago. It's been around for quite a while now I suppose.
Chilhowee Gliderport
Should note I agree on the FAA. The Europeans are kicking our ass when it comes to LSA and “light aircraft” advances. I think the FAA would be happy if general aviation in the US just went away.
Sarah Arnold is running an operation there, she bought it maybe 10 years ago. It's been around for quite a while now I suppose.
Chilhowee Gliderport
Man what a small world. I grew up 15 minutes from there, would drive past it heading to the Hiawasee. Back then it didn’t seem too busy. Pretty cool to see it’s doing well.
The video I saw was coming close to the speed of sound and like 99g on the glider. Really wild to watch.
Many of the more advanced glider avionics can display a attitude indicator.
The club has an aviation attorney who is also a CFI-G and CFII who is leading the charge. I'm not completely sure of the requirements yet
The plan is to request block altitudes. Something like 18,000 block FL230
The wing still moves through the air mass even with the tarp moving in the other direction. The tires on the airplane will just spin faster because the movement of the tires are a byproduct of the prop pushing the plane forward. Whereas in a car, the tires are the driving force. So basically the ground speed (or “tarp speed”) of the plane is doubled but the indicated airspeed remains the same, which is what the aircraft needs to fly
I suppose it depends on how you define "portable". If by portable you mean that I can take the O2 bottles out of my Ventus and Pilatus to refill them then yeah they're portable. But they're a full up aviation LOX system, and both of my airplanes have a dedicated space for them in their design. I generally use a nasal cannula with a pulse flow system for the standard big thermal day. But if you're going to go really high, (into the flight levels on a good wave day) you're taking up a full pressure regulator and full mask.
Also it's important to always use aviation grade O2. Medical grade is hydrated, which freezes and clogs your system in cold weather. That's bad.