Recent Posts21
MTC OOC / Re: ...Izee's Thread
« Last post by Izee on January 10, 2024, 03:30:18 AM »...Flying a Kestral... 
I have talked before about flying 'Sailplanes'. Some people call them 'Gliders' since they don't have an engine. But, 'Gliders' just fly straight, our military did use Gliders to bring troops in, but those things just flew straight. Sailplanes can rise up in a thermal, or stay up in a wave.
And, all sailplanes aren't equal. I learned in a Sweitzer 2:34, if memory serves me correct. I was up front, and my Instructor was seated behind me. The 2:34 was a rather ugly plane. The wing was on the top, and the nose was large. The wing was at the height of my head when I stood beside it. But, I flew one from 2,000 feet to 10,000 feet, so it could do well. There was a cute Sweitzer 1:26, it was a single seater, and the canopy was on the top, so your head would be held high, and you could see all around you. But...there was also...the...KESTRAL....
It was a really lovely sailplane. Pure white, with long tapered wings, and a 'T" tail. The tail was shaped like a 'T", with the little wings on top. I fell in LOVE with it, and would wash it down after an experienced pilot had flown it. It was a very High Performance sailplane, and was designed for cross-country flights, or for flying into the Stratosphere. The cost to rent it was expensive, and the Owner wouldn't just let anyone fly it. He required that the pilot be skilled and experienced.
One day, I had flown the 1:26, and was hanging around, talking with the other pilots. I was describing where I had found a wave, and stayed up. The Owner of the Kestral was sitting, listening, and nodding at times. The middle aged guy probably thought it was nice to hear a young woman speak so well about sailing. I was flabbergasted when he said to me, "The thermals are probably getting very strong now, hey, take my Kestral up and see what you can find."
I couldn't believe what he was saying, but 15 minutes later I was settling into the small cockpit of the Kestral. The Owner said, "Take an hour...if you stay up longer I will get in the tug and hunt you and shoot you down." I laughed. But I whooped with joy as the Tug pulled me down the runway. I was in a very reclined position, and the nose of the plane had plexiglass all over, so I could see EVERYTHING!!!! I settled behind the tug, and lightly played with the rudders and the joystick to get a feel for the plane, and then at 1800 feet, I pulled the tow release, and did a soft climbing turn to the right. The tug dived to the left, so the tow rope was well clear of me.
The next hour was...well...better than my Honeymoon. I was alone in the Kestral, and the thing could somehow sniff out thermals. I would be flying straight, and a wing would jump up...the Kestral was saying..."Hey bitch, here is a thermal." I would turn hard in the direction that the wing was rising, and get into a thermal, and ride it up, and then search for another one.
I could have stayed up all afternoon, but, I watched my watch, and flew back to the field, and made a nice landing in an hour. I had to be helped out of the cockpit...I just wanted to stay in the sailplane.
I just couldn't get the experience out of my head. I didn't have much money, but I caddied and did everything I could to earn money. When I helped the Caddymaster wash golfers clubs, I dreamed that I would be able to earn and save enough money to buy a Kestral.
I ended up buying 'Katherine'...my cello...
I have talked before about flying 'Sailplanes'. Some people call them 'Gliders' since they don't have an engine. But, 'Gliders' just fly straight, our military did use Gliders to bring troops in, but those things just flew straight. Sailplanes can rise up in a thermal, or stay up in a wave.
And, all sailplanes aren't equal. I learned in a Sweitzer 2:34, if memory serves me correct. I was up front, and my Instructor was seated behind me. The 2:34 was a rather ugly plane. The wing was on the top, and the nose was large. The wing was at the height of my head when I stood beside it. But, I flew one from 2,000 feet to 10,000 feet, so it could do well. There was a cute Sweitzer 1:26, it was a single seater, and the canopy was on the top, so your head would be held high, and you could see all around you. But...there was also...the...KESTRAL....
It was a really lovely sailplane. Pure white, with long tapered wings, and a 'T" tail. The tail was shaped like a 'T", with the little wings on top. I fell in LOVE with it, and would wash it down after an experienced pilot had flown it. It was a very High Performance sailplane, and was designed for cross-country flights, or for flying into the Stratosphere. The cost to rent it was expensive, and the Owner wouldn't just let anyone fly it. He required that the pilot be skilled and experienced.
One day, I had flown the 1:26, and was hanging around, talking with the other pilots. I was describing where I had found a wave, and stayed up. The Owner of the Kestral was sitting, listening, and nodding at times. The middle aged guy probably thought it was nice to hear a young woman speak so well about sailing. I was flabbergasted when he said to me, "The thermals are probably getting very strong now, hey, take my Kestral up and see what you can find."
I couldn't believe what he was saying, but 15 minutes later I was settling into the small cockpit of the Kestral. The Owner said, "Take an hour...if you stay up longer I will get in the tug and hunt you and shoot you down." I laughed. But I whooped with joy as the Tug pulled me down the runway. I was in a very reclined position, and the nose of the plane had plexiglass all over, so I could see EVERYTHING!!!! I settled behind the tug, and lightly played with the rudders and the joystick to get a feel for the plane, and then at 1800 feet, I pulled the tow release, and did a soft climbing turn to the right. The tug dived to the left, so the tow rope was well clear of me.
The next hour was...well...better than my Honeymoon. I was alone in the Kestral, and the thing could somehow sniff out thermals. I would be flying straight, and a wing would jump up...the Kestral was saying..."Hey bitch, here is a thermal." I would turn hard in the direction that the wing was rising, and get into a thermal, and ride it up, and then search for another one.
I could have stayed up all afternoon, but, I watched my watch, and flew back to the field, and made a nice landing in an hour. I had to be helped out of the cockpit...I just wanted to stay in the sailplane.
I just couldn't get the experience out of my head. I didn't have much money, but I caddied and did everything I could to earn money. When I helped the Caddymaster wash golfers clubs, I dreamed that I would be able to earn and save enough money to buy a Kestral.
I ended up buying 'Katherine'...my cello...
)
But, triplets were being added. They do add a lot of anxiety. Beethovens 5th starts with triplets, and it is in duple time. "Da da da...Dum....Da da da...Dum". Those first three notes are triplets, you play THREE eighth notes when usually only TWO eighth notes occur in the beat.
...but...
