Unhappy landings

1/3/04 - Three 2000' tows with a CFI. Chilly and breezy, the day after a storm, a little bit of CU here and there. Still having trouble with takeoffs - letting a wing drop for too long before correcting. Flying well.

Third flight, we found a thermal, about 100-300' up for a while, stretched a normally 10-minute tow into 17. First landing, I didn't use airbrakes properly, came in fast, bounced a bit, overshot, and then overbraked. Not good!

The next two were better, making better pattern adjustments. I need to not be afraid to put in the airbrakes when very low on final, if my speed is high. CFI won't sign me off for solo until I'm more consistent. In Nov. and Dec., I was able to get in only one weekend each month due to trips, Christmas, instructor vacation... it really hurts my consistency!

Clouds

12/14/03 - One flight with a CFI, trying to beat a storm front moving in. We had to release at about 2500' AGL to stay away from clouds. The more we flew, the lower the clouds came, until we were nearly in the soup. Misty rain started, so we headed down. good takeoff, good landing!

CFI went over my pre-solo written test. I did pretty well, about 85%. The next day, CFI emailed the other instructors, saying it's OK for me to solo - two have to approve me.

Rope break!

11/8/03 - Four flights with M. First flight, she pulled a rope break to see if I would put the nose down or just turn. Of course, I just turned.

Three more pattern flights. Takeoffs a bit rocky, overcorrecting with the ailerons. One landing, I used the end of the runway for an aiming point instead of 100' or so earlier. Couldn't figure out why she thought I was too high... She pointed out a pattern to the landing/stopping positions if more than one glider is in the landing area.

Picked up my pre-solo written test, have to take that before the next time with M.

Glider Flying Handbook

10/03 - New Glider Flying Handbook has been published by the FAA.

Autotowing!

10/03 - Club campout at a dry lake. Autotowing behind J's truck. Learned all the signals etc. Instructor: B, first time I've flown with him. Takeoff on autotow is not as steep as I had read that it would be - maybe that has to do with the power of the tow vehicle.

First flight, I got a bit too far away from the camp/landing area, should have done some math first to see how far one really can glide from a 2000' tow with no lift. Realized I need to use flaps and airbrakes as tools for the situation, not as rote mechanisms. Realized that one can really FLY the glider on the ground, to get it where one wants it to be, not just stop as soon as possible. Learned about assembling/disassembling the Blanik.