Monthly Archives: May 2019
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- May 29, 2019
When I first started out racing, I graduated High School and hit the road with one of Sky Sailing’s gliders and our not so trusty Astro Van and headed to Turf Arizona. We rolled in with the windows down, enjoying the Pheonix heat with the air-conditioning that wasn’t keeping up. But we toughed it out and camped in tents behind the wing of the glider. After the first night, we realized towels were not
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- May 22, 2019
Soaring Overload
Overload can affect any pilot, at any experience level.
A new student might feel overwhelmed simply trying to fly straight while scanning the instrument panel of a Schweizer SGS 2-33. At the other end of the spectrum, a 10,000-hour pilot can still find themselves deep in unfamiliar mountain terrain, in a new glider, asking: How did I get here?
The common thread is not experience—it’s
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- May 15, 2019
Knowing about the use of oxygen when flying goes beyond the pre-flight planning Area of Operations section during your Private Pilot check ride. Unless you stick to flying in the US midwest then you will need to use supplemental oxygen regularly or occasionally.
The Examiner may ask when oxygen is required? Did you know pilots may need oxygen at a lower altitude than required by FAA regulations?
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- May 08, 2019
I am sure that at some point in your childhood, you played the game connect the dots. It might even be on the back of your cereal box right now. Assuming you are eating something as wonderful and nutritious as it is designed for a four-year-old. The rest of you will have to relive your youth.
Thermals are similar: you have to have a target cloud or point you are trying to reach, and you have to make
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- May 01, 2019
We want to be slow and steep to get the smallest turn radius possible. However, if you get too slow, you do not have the control authority that you need. The sink rate increases as you get too slow or too steep. Plus when the wing stalls it is very inefficient. Thermalling too slow causes lower control authority, higher sink rate, and is inefficient.
Stall recognition
Because we are thermalling