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GliderPilot · 09-23-2007, 05:51 PM

Q3. No we don't usually fly ovals.

Sometimes we fly to another destination. For the FAI Silver badge, one of the requirements is to fly a cross country distance of about 50 kilometers, doesn't sound much, but it is a physcological hurdle to fly away from the comfort of your home airfield for what is usually the first time. For my Silver distance flight I flew 70kms in a low performance glider (Alexander Sleicher ASK8). I landed at another gliding site and then the tow plane for my club came out and towed the plane back flown by an instructor, and I sat in the back of the tow plane. (A Piper Cub).

Usually what happens if a pilot "lands out" after failing to find lift or when landing at another airfield is a crew of 3 or 4 helpers will drive to the field towing the gliders trailer. They then take the wings and tailplane off, put it in the trailer, drive back to the airfield and re-assemble the glider. Now you know why we mostly fly triangles to land back at the airfield we took off from. This is where a "Turbo" is great. Pop out the motor and fly home in time for tea and medals. (Blackadder
Goes Forth- British television comedy)

09-23-2007, 05:51 PM	#3
GliderPilot Collector Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: ENGLAND Posts: 481	Re: Dedicated to gliding and gliders Q3. No we don't usually fly ovals. Sometimes we fly to another destination. For the FAI Silver badge, one of the requirements is to fly a cross country distance of about 50 kilometers, doesn't sound much, but it is a physcological hurdle to fly away from the comfort of your home airfield for what is usually the first time. For my Silver distance flight I flew 70kms in a low performance glider (Alexander Sleicher ASK8). I landed at another gliding site and then the tow plane for my club came out and towed the plane back flown by an instructor, and I sat in the back of the tow plane. (A Piper Cub). Usually what happens if a pilot "lands out" after failing to find lift or when landing at another airfield is a crew of 3 or 4 helpers will drive to the field towing the gliders trailer. They then take the wings and tailplane off, put it in the trailer, drive back to the airfield and re-assemble the glider. Now you know why we mostly fly triangles to land back at the airfield we took off from. This is where a "Turbo" is great. Pop out the motor and fly home in time for tea and medals. (Blackadder Goes Forth- British television comedy)