Glider Fashion
I started flying cross country as a teenager and I gave multiple talks at Soaring Conventions on "How to meet the farmers daughter". I never did meet a farmers daughter. But I did teach pilots how to plan ahead and avoid landing out.
US Team pilot and vice 2nd place Club Class National Champion Sean Franke talks about landing out in the backyard of a girls graduation party. But he has never produced pictures.
So now I show up to the airport wearing something that would make Pez D. Spenser Sailplane Racer embarrassed.
I used to wear shorts, however one good sunburn across the top of my legs, with that angle from the parachute straps... It really made for a long week flying in Hobbs NM.
Since I have surrendered myself to not looking stylish for the Farmer's daughter (I do know one New Mexico pilot that keeps his John Deere hat in the glider...he also has a set of Deer whistles...). I have found good hiking shirts and pants at stores like REI, they are UPF 40 and breathable. Ideal for keeping you cool in hot climates.
One of our old mechanics had his backside graphed to to the top of his ears, so I proudly wear the ever famous Gilligan hat. The issue with a larger brim hat is that it reduces your visibility. This become especially important when thermalling in a gaggle.
Mary Lattimore on the grid one time gave me a pair of thin white cotton gloves, they are used in photo labs. They are light weight and wick the sweat away.
I wear thin sole shoes for walking and also find them more comfortable on the rudder pedals.
I had started with a SPOT 1 when they appeared on the Soaring market. Since then I have switched to an InReach. I enjoy the ability to send and receive messages (more about that next week).
I prefer good quality polarized sunglasses and lots of sunscreen, sometimes some zinc for my nose, just to finish off the look.
The Borgelt B400 (Variometer with Audio and Averager) designed to replace mechanical variometers with modern technology with more useful features.
Built in audio, push button averager and unique to Borgelt Instruments, climb optimiser – green LED lights when vario is above 20 second running average reading – that is, average is getting better. You can select an audio change at this point also.
The B400 is available in both 57 mm and 80 mm sizes for easy installation in existing instrument holes and is only 85 mm deep behind the panel including connectors (20 mm shorter than the B40).
A standby power pack of 4 x AA alkaline batteries will provide at least 7-8 hours of operation in the event of main power systems failure.
Garret Willat holds a flight instructor rating with over 8000 hours in sailplanes. His parents have owned Sky Sailing Inc. since 1979. He started instructing the day after his 18th birthday. Since then, Garret has represented the US Junior team in 2003 and 2005. He graduated from Embry-Riddle with a bachelor's degree in Professional Aeronautics. Garret represented the US Open Class team in 2008 and 2010 and the Club Class team in 2014. Garret has won 3 US National Championships.
