Gliding

[ahramin]

Yesterday, after 13 years of not touching a glider, I finally flew over to Port Alberni and got current again. Andrzej's team at Vancouver Island Soaring Center run a good show and it was great fun to get checked out in their PW-6. Took the wife for a ride in the afternoon and despite my being all over the sky trying to unsuccessfully center several thermals (was it a lumpy day or was it just my lumpy flying?) she not only didn't barf, but really, really enjoyed the flight. I would highly recommend anyone in the lower mainland with an interest in improving your flying give Andrzej (On-Jay, I think) a call and head over there.

[Panama Jack]

+1

Andrzej really does run a fine operation and his enthusiasm for gliding is immediately evident and contagious.

It is disgraceful that the Soaring Association of Canada (SAC), unlike the Soaring Society of America, do not publicize better the handful of commercial soaring operations in the country.

[Big Pistons Forever]

+2

I did my glider conversion last year. Andrzej is an excellent instructor and runs a good operation.

ahramin.

I just missed you as I was up yesterday flying the PW5. The lift fairies were frisky too

[single_swine_herder]

Commercial?

I've been interested in gliding for a long time, but clubs are simply too disorganized and wasteful of my time.

I'd certainly strongly consider a commercial operation like I've seen in Boulder, Colorado several decades ago.

[ahramin]

Exactly. Every time I thought about going to Hope to get current again it was just way too much time, effort, money. Rudy's dead. Then it occurred to me we still have a commercial glider operator within an hour of Vancouver. No bs, no runaround. A checkout. A second circuit from the rear seat to satisfy the CARs and off we went.

[Panama Jack]

Commercial?

I've been interested in gliding for a long time, but clubs are simply too disorganized and wasteful of my time.

I'd certainly strongly consider a commercial operation like I've seen in Boulder, Colorado several decades ago.

That is the point. SAC doesn't want to promote commercial operations because they want gliding to be a club activity. However, as you point out, you like many other people don't have the time to head out on only on Saturdays and Sundays, push gliders around all day and hangar-fly with other members, while waiting for your turn for your 10 minute flight.

Commercial operations like the one in Port Alberni allow a guy to do intense training and get 'er done in a much more compressed time frame and more on your terms.

I don't get why SAC doesn't get this. Commercial operations compliment clubs-- most glider pilots eventually join clubs anyhow and I feel that those who spend the time and money to get their qualifications from a commercial operation (usually more mature, economically sound individuals) are more likely than former Air Cadets to end up in clubs and take up gliding as a lifelong hobby. Not trying to say anything against the Air Cadet program, but lets face it. Gliding, like all aviation hobbies, is expensive and young people starting out often do not have that kind of disposable income to keep up with it.

[single_swine_herder]

Exactly. Every time I thought about going to Hope to get current again it was just way too much time, effort, money. Rudy's dead. Then it occurred to me we still have a commercial glider operator within an hour of Vancouver. No bs, no runaround. A checkout. A second circuit from the rear seat to sayisfy the CARs and off we went.

My experience in Hope .... a long, long time ago ..... was a totally disappointing waste of time and effort, leaving me with an admiration for sailplanes but zero enthusiasm for a gliding club atmosphere where nobody seemed in charge and conveyed an attitude they are doing you the favour of the century by giving you the privilege of paying them money.

Out of three trips driving from Kits to Hope and spending all day there, I got in one single flight in all that time. As neat as it was to be on the winch launch and then slope soar along the ridge for about 20 minutes, it simply wasn't at all gratifying enough to go back.

Other clubs in several sections of the country were equally as disappointing and disrespectful of my time, effort, and meagre money capability at the time.

Now that I can plunk down the cash in return for service, there is pretty well zero opportunity to do so.

I'm glad to hear about Port Alberni, its a beautiful part of the country.

[M. Essaie]

Do not fail to try Soar the Rockies in Invermere. A well-established and well-run commercial operation with a PW5 and a CS77 for rental. Outstandingly picturesque also.