I'm a glider pilot too

[johnpeace]

Just got back from Chilhowee, TN where I passed my PPL glider add on checkride. All of the transition training (4-5 dual + 10 solo flights) and the checkride was $1549.

http://www.chilhowee.com

It was awesome! I am doing this to broaden my experience, gain a mastery of stick and rudder skills, have a little fun and become qualified to fly in another capacity once I get my commercial.

It's a blast. After the checkride I went up for a solo. It was windy and the ridge was working and I got about an hour of running back and forth on the ridge in 0 sink to 600fpm ridge lift! I got about 400' over release altitude and was quite pleased.

I reccomend it to all the pilots I know. It's a way more pure form of flight, you feel more of what the air and the plane are doing and it is a great educator about how to more properly fly the wing through the air. It's also very, very fun.

 

[minitour]

Congrats man...that sounds like so much fun! I'd love to get my commercial glider and CFI-G.

-mini

 

[johnpeace]

Yeah, once I have the commercial, I'll be able to go up there and spend the weekend and give the tourists glider rides = free flying!

I'm planning on doing about 50 hours of Champ time down in Macon so that I'll be insurable in the Pawnee...so I can tow too. I need the 50 hours for my comm...the champ is way cheaper than the 172s I fly...the tailwheel time will make me a better pilot and open doors that would otherwise remain closed...there's a justification in there somewhere.

I'm going to miss training when it's over...I'm getting to do all this cool stuff in the name of training.

 

[MauleSkinner]

Congrats!

Back when I did my Private-Glider add on, it cost me 400 bucks for the training and a bottle of Bombay Gin for the examiner's fee

I agree...it's great experience...everybody should do it!

Fly safe!

David

 

[chongololo]

good job on your add on..
hey whats the deal with getting the tow pilot endorsement? who can give it and what does it entail?
thanks
pb

 

[johnpeace]

I don't know about an endorsement...that's the first I'd heard of an endorsement being required. I thought training must be required in towing operations...and you're good.

It'll be a long time before that's a hurdle for me (comm airpane and a bunch of tailwheel time before I can even think about it), so I haven't really looked into it.

 

[Lead Sled]

Congrats.

'Sled (Commercial/CFI-Glider)

 

[Lead Sled]

Whats the deal with getting the tow pilot endorsement? Who can give it and what does it entail?

I don't remember the specifics, but it's not that big of a deal.

'Sled

 

[great cornholio]

hey whats the deal with getting the tow pilot endorsement? who can give it and what does it entail?
thanks
pb

I used to tow gliders. Its been over 3 years since I've done it so the specifics for the endorsement are rusty and they might have changed. Anyways from what I remember any pilot who is current in towing can give you the endorsement. The training was a few simulated tows and a few real tows under the supervision of the current pilot. You must also take at least one flight in a glider that gets launched via aerotow. Also must know the hand / tow plane / glider hand signals.... IE wag the rudder for ready for takeoff. To stay current in towing gliders all you have to do is tow so many tows in a time period. I think it was less than 5 tows every 12 months. Maybe as low as 1 tow every 12 months. Anyways you'll have to look at a current FAR for that it was 61.something. Towing gliders was the most fun I've ever had in an airplane. If I could make a living at it I would do it forever. Flying gliders is fun to its the only time I can think of when you start to get a little scared when you hear an engine.

 

[tuna pimp]

Congrats! There's nothing like a good soaring flight.