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aeajr
477 Posts |
 Posted - 08/30/2006 : 11:52:27 PM
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For all of you beginners, let me share some experience and advice that has
been posted many times in many places. Thermal Soaring is a great solitary
activity but it is much better when shared with others.
Unlike power planes, where the planes are loud, or fast, thermal duration, TD,
planes are slow and quiet. The flying style is one of skill, and reading the air.
I have often compared it to fishing. Well, fishing is more fun with a friend
or 6. You can talk quietly while you fish and when you find a good spot, you
tell your friends where the fish are hiding. Same with thermaling.
Thermal pilots usually enjoy sharing the lift. Since the planes are flying
slowly and smoothly, the risk of hitting one another is small and a shared
thermal is just simply better! If I am not flying with another person, I
really love it when some birds join me in the climb.
So, go find some friends and get them flying!
With the dawn of the Multiplex Easy Glider, you can have a great flying
plane that is hard to break and is cheap. It is now available receiver ready
for $129 which means truly, no building at all in a 4 channel that is simple
to fly. Or get a Sprit Select for $149, all built including the radio. They
can launch off your hi-start. Fantastic!
Or better yet, join a club. Yes, I know I have brought this up before, but
darn, it is fun to fly with people who are just as hooked on flying as you
are. Your spouse, your girlfriend or boyfriend don't want to hear about your stupid
planes but these guys will talk planes all day! And they will help you get
to that next level.
Finally, get involved in soaring competition. What you will find is that the
American style of thermal duration contest is fairly laid back. Most of the
advanced pilots are happy to take on a new guy and give him some pointers.
There is so much you can learn. It is like fishing. Anyone can toss in a
line, but if you have an experienced friend, they can tell you the right
hook and bait to use for each kind of fish.
In these competitions, one of the best things you can do is offer to be a
timer. This would be like being caddy to Tiger Woods. You don't even have to
fly if you are not ready, but you can enjoy and learn so much.
As a timer you time the task, perhaps 8 minutes, starting when the plane
comes off the top of the launch. You also watch the sky to see who is in
lift and you advise the pilot.
Now, if he is an experienced pilot, he doesn't need much from you, but you
can learn tons by watching him. And most don't mind sharing what they are
doing, how they spot the lift, how they work it and so on.
Some are quiet and some don't like new guys. Don't worry about them,
they will find their own timers so don't worry about offering.
I have been flying now for just over three years. I joined a club and have
made some great friends who have put up with me and helped me along the way.
I went from parkflyers to a 2 channel Spirit RTF to 3 channel Spirit with
spoilers, same plane, to a Sagitta 600 with spoilers to a full house
Airtronics Legend. Nothing competitive but all fun and all a learning
experience.
Then they encouraged me to start competing. I generally come in dead last
but finished, but I have such a good time and it motivates me to improve. I
have been flying in the Eastern Soaring League, www.flyesl.org which is like
a softball league that spans up and down the east coast.
What is the point?
Soaring is a social thing. It is like fishing in that it is better with
buddies! And even when you are in competition, you find you can bond and
grow with these guys and it makes it all so much more fun.
Sorry for the rambling writing, but I just love soaring.
There is no cost to join the ESL and there are no qualifications to fly. If you can fly
your plane and land it on the field, you can compete. We will help you! We will even
launch your plane for you if you don't know how to use a winch. At my first ESL event,
others did all the launching for me, and they were happy to do it!
ESL members will guide you, and become your mentors, if you will let them. It is a wonderful thing!
Believe me, it is more fun when you soar with others. Even the birds like
to thermal with friends!
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Best regards,
Ed Anderson
Long Island Silent Flyers
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Edited by - aeajr on 11/09/2010 10:24:00 AM |
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Soaring is more fun with friends!
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