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(17,090 posts)If you mean gliders in general. My ex got her glider license at 14 and pilot's licence at 16. Her old instructor took me up once in a two seater. All you hear are control cables working pulleys and the wind over the wings. Landing is kind of a big deal, as you only get one shot at it.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)Ptah
(33,055 posts)I'd like to.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)trof
(54,256 posts)Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)calikid
(584 posts)As is tailwheel flying I would suppose, it's that stick and rudder thing.
The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,976 posts)It's awesome.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)The Velveteen Ocelot
(115,976 posts)Wanted to get my glider certification, did the ground school, never had time to finish the training. I have a pilot and CFI license but only for powered aircraft. Loved the glider flight; the instructor even demonstrated a go-around, which I didn't think was possible, but it is and it was amazingly fun.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)bluedigger
(17,090 posts)I watched some glider pilots in Germany do that years ago. Looks pretty risky.
Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)HarveyDarkey
(9,077 posts)I love flying but have never been up in a glider or a hot air balloon. I will do both before I die.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)*fingers crossed*
HarveyDarkey
(9,077 posts)although how effective that is I'm not sure.
RebelOne
(30,947 posts)I have flown small planes, did a bit of skydiving and went parasailing. I always wanted to go up in a hot air balloon and in a glider. Maybe some day I will.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)DFW
(54,502 posts)He was very experienced, ex Belgian air force, went down to the south of France every year to fly around in one of those things. One fine day, after about 30 years of glider flying, when he was high above the cliffs near Aix-en-Provence, a huge unexpected gust came up and smashed him and his glider against the side of the cliff at full speed. He never had a chance.
I'm sure it's great fun and safe 99% of the time. My friend was one of the 1% that didn't have such great luck.
calikid
(584 posts)I don't think I've ever been in that one, but I have been in five different models.
One of the premier training and repair centers in the U.S. is five minutes from my house!
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)calikid
(584 posts)If I'm not in the glider or tow plane, I can usually see and always hear them being towed to altitude.
It's also a lot of fun to watch them do aerobatics.
Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)Blue_Tires
(55,445 posts)Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)Major Nikon
(36,827 posts)Tuesday Afternoon
(56,912 posts)edbermac
(15,950 posts)He said it was as close as being a bird as he could get.