Hi, I know there's quite a number of pilots here, so it might be an interesting group, just for the fun.

To start off;

What: Just sailplanes, started doing this in 2005. Solo-ed the same year, after some years of less flying, now working on getting GPL.
Countries flown: the Netherlands, Germany and Czech Republic.
Types flown: Grob G-103, ASK13, ASK4, LS-4a/b

How I got into it: well, always interested in planes, helicopters and spaceflight. I often saw gliders thermalling above our city, but never taken the step to actually go and find out if I could do that too. Once I finally did it, and made an introduction flight, I was sold directly. If I would have known before, I would have started much earlyer because you can start flying at our club as young as the age of 14!

I got a private pilot cert in the early 90s, mostly flying Cessna 150s and 172s, but I haven't been current in at least ten years, now, flying's too expensive to do just for fun. I already have too many expensive hobbies. I'm looking to get into flying again in some form or other, maybe hang gliding or ultralights, although I have no place the fly the UL's right now.

I've always been an airhead. At heart a spacehead, but spaceflight is even more expensive!

always loved flying, joined the air training corps when i was 15, had my first flight in a grob tutor (RAF version of the herron) in the same year. next year i started a scholarship at RAF 635 VGS in samlesbury, went solo in 5hrs 20 mins airtime. after that i was asked to come back as staff, did so and got my wings about a year down the line. didnt fly for 9 months due to a bad ECG on a routine medical but it turns out the ECG machine itself was faulty and i was cleared to fly again. passed my G1 about 6 months ago and now i teach air cadets to fly.

PS. if anyone was wondering i fly a grob 109-b MkII, i wouldnt exactly call it a hypersonic masterpiece, but it gets the job done lol.

Ah the G109-b motorglider looks quite a bit like our Diamond super Dimona. Never seen it, pretty neat. Do you also do towing with it? (don't know if it's even possible with that TMG?)
Also, what about gliding? Even though they're called motorgliders, I only know a few people that actually glide (thermal) with it occasionally, engine turned off. I still want to do this some time with the dimona.

in our orders JSP550 and our local orders prohibit towing of other A/C but i have seen pictures of the non military versions towing a viking glider!

as for thermaling and engine off we use this quite often to teach about gliding range of the aircraft (1 in 28 with the prop fully feathered) not the best ratio but its saved more than a few of us! on a good thermal day if i have time after my teach and my student is game for it i may go engine off and do an un-official teach of thermaling/wave soaring

Hi.

Seems I'm always a late reply.


Soloed a Cessna 150 in 1988. Private Pilot in 1992 At Embry-Riddle. Graduated ERAU in 1994 with a commercial-multi. I didn't fly for a few years, bad market in the mid 90's. Got my CFI in a Piper Commanche 250 in 2000. Taught at a local FBO in Nampa Idaho for a few months as my first Job. Did a lot of flight reviews and taildragger stuff. My wife hated coming out and seeing me hand-prop the Aeronca Champ. Taught as an instructer at ERAU in 2001 and 2002...was inflight with a student when 9/11 happened. Got hired from there at ACA which became Independence Air. Flew the Jetstream 4100 and the CRJ-200 there. When they folded I spent 2006 building my house, and started working for Skywest flying all three variants of the CRJ in 2007.

I'm George, I'm 15 years old, and I am currently training for my PPL; approaching my 10th hour. I am also a member of the ATC, and have flown the Grob Tutor too. I train in the C152, which is a great aircraft, and I am currently in the circuits, and have done a number of takeoffs and landings myself, which is very rewarding.

When I complete my PPL, I would like to spend a lot of time flying abroad - I'm not planning a large trip or anything, but I would like to live somewhere like America where flying is much cheaper than here in the UK.

Expanding my list;

Grob G-103, ASK13, Ka4 Rhönlerche, LS-4a, LS-4b, Ka8, Slingsby Skylark, Diamond HK36 Super Dimona, ASW-28 (my favorite now), ASW-20BL.

Now really got the hang of cross country flying, and learning the flaps on the ASW-20. Great stuff....
Too bad the season's almost over. Maybe some more motorgliding this winter.