Comments on: Stars Aligning for Brighter Aviation Future

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 20:48:17 +0000

Learning to fly gliders WILL make you a better power pilot (if you pay attention). And not even so much in a stick and rudder way (though probably that too), but in the things that you have to pay attention to, that a power pilot too often ignores: Micro-meteorology, cloud shapes, smells, birds, feeling the accelerations in the seat of your pants, applying knowledge about performance curves to know the best speed to fly at any one time, energy management, the list goes on.

Here’s some resources for those that might be interested in soaring (yes, even for “the clueless”):

http://www.ssa.org – See the right hand side of the page under New To Soaring (what is soaring, where to fly, take a flight, etc.)

http://www.bobwander.com – Bob Wander’s Soaring Books and Supplies. Bob is probably the leading soaring author today – and has been a top recruiter and supporter of general aviation for some time.
Click on the Beginnners section in the menu on the left and Check out:
Millenium Gliding Video – From New Zealand comes this stunning (and remarkably low priced) video about the fascination of soaring. At this price, this thoughtful and scenically spectacular video belongs in everyone’s
tape collection. Period! I’ll even throw in the mountains and the glaciers and sheep and pastures for free. $4.95 -

Everybody’s First Gliding Book
2008 Edition, 112 large-format pages. The 45 articles that comprise Everybody’s First Gliding Book! answer the questions that newcomers want to have authoritative answers for.
“Can an ordinary person like me learn to fly gliders?”
“Where can I go to learn to fly gliders?”
“How many lessons will it take for me to go solo the glider for the first time?”
“How much will it cost to get to solo standard in a glider?”
“What risks am I undertaking if I learn to fly?”
“What are the medical requirements to become a glider pilot?”
“I am an airplane pilot. Will my airplane skills help me in glider flight training?”
“If I get airsick, what can I do about it? Does it mean that I cannot learn to fly?”
“Are there national standards for glider pilot training? If so, where are they found?”
“What tests do I have to take to become a glider pilot?”
“What books and materials will help me to learn to fly? Where can I buy them?”
“Does the FAA know about this glider thing? Does the FAA set training standards?”
“Are gliders maintained as carefully as airplanes are required to be maintained?”
And many more.

By: Robert Mark

Robert Mark — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:14:34 +0000

To Bill’s point on soaring. I live in the big city, Chicago. Getting to a soaring center is a long drive, I think.

But honestly, I’ve never looked that closely into it although I think many of us thought much differently about flying gliders after the US Airways’ crash.

Does the Soaring Society have sessions for us folks who are clueless about even what questions to ask?

By: Robert Mark

Robert Mark — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 19:11:37 +0000

To Phil’s point about the NAFI tent at AirVenture.

I had no idea the Red Bird Flight simulator was going to be there and was absolutely fascinated when I stood in back to watch. I couldn’t wait for a turn because the line was too long. Congrats on that.

I watched this young boy in the sim flying around with the instructor. He did well up to the landing, but then there are days mine are pretty poor too.

Then he comes out and I realzied the kid must have been maybe 8. His dad asked what he thought and all the kid kept saying was that “Flying was so cool.”

Obviously we had a convert.

By: Bill

Bill — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:37:24 +0000

People’s interest in flying may come from many aspsects of it (seeking a practical alternate means of transporation, just like the idea, future career, etc).

Their decision (or indecision) to not learn to fly must be met with answers aimed at what their real goals in aviation are, in order to break down the barriers that they perceive exist.

The person who declares he wants to be an airline pilot, one seeking an airline alternative for his buisness travel, and the one who has learning to fly on his list of “things to do before I die” could – or should – be steered down, or offered, different paths. The options available to the prospect (power fixed wing, rotary wing, soaring, ultralight, etc) need to be address to achieve their goals while addressing cost, subject matter appropriate for their flying goals and interests, availability of facilities in their area, and others.
Check out http://www.ssa.org (Soaring Society of America) for a nice selection of resources for getting going on the pure-fun side of aviation.

By: Phil Poynor

Phil Poynor — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 15:23:36 +0000

Bill, you make an excellent point.
Almost as soon as the NAFI/EAA Learn to Fly Center opened, we realized we had a total conceptual bias toward fixed wing airplanes built into the Center’s concept. Before the close of AirVenture, we had already had meetings at the highest levels of NAFI and EAA to explore ways in which we can expand next year’s event to include a much broader array of other ways to access learning to fly. Gliding is one of the first we will seek to include next year. Others could include rotorcraft, seaplanes and various LSA modes. We welcome comments such as yours as to suggestions of how we can be attractive to as many of the varied interests in flying that we can be.
Phil Poynor, Chairman, Nat’l Assn of Flight Instructors (NAFI)

By: Linda

Linda — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 15:14:31 +0000

The stars are aligning but the focus is still too narrow. We’ve been working on putting together a multi-airport aviation extravaganza in NJ and have broadened our goals to reach the 99% of the population that doesn’t fly and would never think of it. These people only think of aviation as the latest crash on the “breaking news” report. If we can get these people out and leave them with a good feeling about GA, we’ll be ahead of the game. New pilots will be the gravy on top.

You should check out Leaders Take Flight.com – here’s a person taking a new approach.

By: Dee

Dee — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 20:20:11 +0000

The Redbird Flight Simulator was set up in the Learn to Fly/NAFI tent at OSH. It is an FAA Approved, Full Motion AATD. It was there to encourage individuals of all ages to experience flight, for both current and future training. Over 1000 individuals sat in the cockpit and left with huge smiles on their faces. Flight simulation is the future in flight training. It’s unfortunate Redbird Flight Simulations, Inc. did not get due recognition for their part. They were invited sponsors in the Learn to Fly tent.

By: Bill

Bill — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 17:40:34 +0000

I would urge you not to forget the soaring community in the push to promote general aviation.

Soaring is a great way to learn to fly, or add a “pure fun” dimension to pilots with power experience. There are glider schools, clubs, and places to fly them all over the world, and many excellent ones throughout the U.S.
The focus is entirely different than the point A to point B – drilling holes in the sky burning expensive fuel- power plane approach. As the glider pilot learns to pick up on micro-meteorology, just having fun, personal challenges on time aloft, altitude and distance goals, or just flying around having a good time literally soaring with the birds (how many Cessna drivers will tell about the time they’ve spent in a thermal with a bald eagle?).

There is a huge transfer of knowledge between soaring and powered flight, so a pilot with experience in one can quickly acquire a license in the other.
However, the lessons and perspective learned by flying a glider will add a whole new dimension to the power pilot’s knowledge tool kit. Captain “Sully,” besides being a veteran A320 pilot, was also a glider pilot. Glider/airline pilots (such as myself and others) quietly credit his ability to evaluate where he could go (i.e., not back to LGA) with the understanding gained by flying a glider – which is what that A320 became that day.