June, 2006

Volume 5, Issue 5

NEXT MEETING: 7:00 PM   JULY 20 AT MCL CAFETERIA, CASTLETON, IN.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Larry Pennington Checks out the New Astir!

Arial Photo by Dave Newill

 

 

Hi Ho Silver!

Ø       May 3 – George Saunders earned his Silver Badge distance leg flying the PW-5 to Hagerstown.

Ø       May 6 – Dave Newill got his 5 hour Silver Badge duration leg.

Ø       May 6 – Gerry Simpson got his Silver Badge duration and distance legs flying his LS-4 to Boone county  and back, then floating over Alex  for two hours. He already had his Silver Badge altitude leg.

Ø       May 7 – Dan Dewitt got his Silver distance and altitutde legs flying to Executive Airport and back in his LS-4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

                Dave Newill completes a 5 hour flight.

 

        

 

            

A Great New Book On Soaring I've just read one of the latest books on our favorite subject and have concluded that the game has changed 100%. Never again will it be possible to establish world records in gliders for distance, speed or altitude using thermals. Thermals are a phenomenon of the past!

The book I refer to is titled "Master of the Wave,” by Terry Delore and Rob Dew. It is an amazing collection of record flying accounts by Terry Delore of New Zealand. Terry first hit the headlines at age 17 when he won the World Hang Gliding Championships. Without a doubt, he has now perfected the techniques required to achieve amazing performances in long distance cross country flights in gliders using wave systems.  Over the past decade, Terry has accumulated more than sixty 1000km or better flights (yes! 60 +) in gliders, mostly in New Zealand. He currently holds a large number of world records, the longest of which exceeds 2000kms in a single flight.

Having tried for many distance records in many different places over the past 35 years, I now recognize that only if you perfect wave flying techniques can you ever aspire to set world records in gliders.

As many will know, the earliest successful long distance cross country flights here in the USA using wave were made by Jim Payne in the Sierras just about ten years ago. The other most well known pilot in the glider world today who could perhaps challenge Terry's claim to "Master" of the wave would, of course, be the German dentist ( how come there are so many dentists in soaring ? I've always wondered). Klaus Ohlmann has, by far, the most experience of anyone flying the South American “Andean” wave. Klaus' flights are frequently mentioned in the book (his personal best - more than 3000km).

It's a “must read” for anyone seeking insight into cross country wave flying. Dangerous for sure, terrifying at times, and always mind boggling in terms of what can be done. The whole dimension of surviving on oxygen at these altitudes reminds you that this is not for the timid. One particular account of a failure and a near-death experience, involving Steve Fossett leaves you breathless.

The book is a very well written, well illustrated exposé of the life and achievements of a soaring master who has lived on the leading edge (of many waves) for most of his soaring life.

Read it.  You'll love it!

ZA.  (Ron Clarke)

 

Next Membership Meeting – July 20th at MCL Cafeteria in Castleton.  We are meeting every OTHER month this year.  There will be no June Club meeting.  Our July Club meeting will be at the MCL Cafeteria in Castleton, corner of 86th and Allisonville Rd. We have a private meeting room that holds 85 people.  The meeting starts at 7:00 pm.  If you want dinner, come at 6:30 or before.  If you don’t want dinner, just come to the meeting room at 7:00 pm.  Meeting at MCL is a test.  If we like it, we can make it our permanent meeting location.  Come and help us check it out!

 

Crew Duty Starts at 9:00 AM.  Due to Daylight Savings Time, crew duty starts at 9:00 am instead of 8:30.  Instructional time will be until 1 pm.  Crew days already have been long, so we hope that, as the longer summer days come, a 9:00 am start time will give the crew a little break.  Remember that EVERYONE at the field is on crew.  Let’s all help out and give the crew a break.  Sometimes we are flying until 6:00 pm.  Then the crew has to put all of our toys away.  Let’s lighten the load for each other as much as we can. 

 

Great Attitude! Have you noticed the great attitude we have at CISS.  We are all recruiting new members, improving our fleet, working together and having a great time.  In soaring, attitude is everything.  If your nose is in the air, you slow down and stall.  If your nose is to the ground, you speed up and fly out of control.  If you keep your nose on the horizon (or just below it) you’ll have a perfect flight. 

          So it is in life.  If we keep our nose in the air, if we are proud, hang back, let others do the work because we are too good to do it, we stall out and get nothing done.  If we keep our nose pointed to the ground, focus on the negative, let our anger run out of control, we nothing done.  But if we’ll keep our nose to the horizon, focus on that distant goal, keep a steady temper, help out wherever we can, we soon will find that we have made our goal and have had a great flight.   It’s all about attitude!     

George

 

The CISS Board met May 11, 2006. 

Ø       Gerry Whitson reported we have 60 active members.

Ø       Based on the anticipated maintenance cost (based on the PW5) and the expenses incurred in purchasing the ASTIR, the rental fee for the ASTIR was established at $0.29/min.

Ø       Authorized Don Taylor to obtain an appraisal for Knotts Field for $2000.

Ø       Approved a policy statement for flying the Astir (see below).

Ø       Made crew reporting time 9:00 am until end of operations.  Change instruction preference from noon to 1 pm.

Ø       Weekend memberships will be limited to licensed pilots and cannot be used more than 5 times per year.

Ø       The Board approved the mailing of Wingtips to associate members.

Ø       Approved sending the Grob 103 and PW-5 to Lee Bottom for May 20-21. Ferrying costs of equipment will be paid for by participants and from proceeds from guest rides.

Ø       July 20 Membership meeting will be held at MCL Cafeteria – Castleton – Private Meeting Room. Dinner will be at 6:30 and the meeting to start at 7:00 pm.  Come for dinner or just show up for the meeting.

Ø       At the beginning of the flying season, if necessary for proficiency, a tow pilot may use a tow plane at no charge for up to thirty minutes.  At the beginning of a towing day, a pilot may fly the plane once around the pattern.  Pilots are welcome to fly as much and as often beyond this limit as desired for proficiency or pleasure, with the time billed to the pilot at the current hourly rate established by the Board.

Ø       The Board reiterated that it is the PIC’s responsibility to determine if incidents are reportable to the FAA (as stated in the FARs).  The Club Treasurer is the single point of contact for all insurance matters. 

 

 

The Adventures of Nyal and Gerry

Chasing Gold and Diamond Altitude Badges

 

Read all about Nyal and Gerry’s adventures chasing Gold and Diamond Badges by clicking here.  If you have our print version, go to http://www.CentralIndianaSoaringSociety.org.  Find the June 2006 edition of the Wingtips and click HERE. It's a great read!

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Safety Committee Review of Communications  Some concerns were expressed at the Spring Safety Meeting regarding communications at Alexandria Airport. The UNICOM frequency is 122.8. Glider coordination communications can be made on 123.3.

FAR Part 91.126 addresses operations of all aircraft at uncontrolled airports. It states that airplanes approaching the airport to land must make all turns to the left unless the airport displays markings that indicate turns to the right and that helicopters must avoid the flow of fixed wing aircraft. There is no regulatory requirement to make radio communications. In the absence of specific verbiage the CISS glider operation has habitually chosen to operate with the flow of airplane traffic.  

FAR Part 91.113 addresses right-of-way rules, to include landing right-of-way. Generally the lower aircraft approaching the aircraft has the right-of-way and landing aircraft have claim to the runway over aircraft on the ground.

The Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM) paragraph 4-1-9 and Table 4-1-1 provide recommended traffic advisory practices at airports without operating control towers. Inbound aircraft should make initial contact 10 miles out. Call again when entering downwind, base, final, and when leaving the runway. Aircraft departing should call before taxi and before entering the runway for departure. Pilots conducting other than departure or arrival at altitudes normally used by arriving and departing aircraft should monitor the frequency when within 10 miles of the airport.

Concern was expressed regarding interference with other communications on the same UNICOM frequency. VHF radios are line of sight. Both airborne and ground stations are designed with limited signal power. When you are airborne and being “transmitted over” it is most likely that the ground station will be receiving the distant aircraft not at all or with a less strong signal. Thus, the proximate aircraft is likely to be heard by the ground station. Air-to-Air interference is the most likely scenario.

The instructors have different approaches to radio communications. The common thread is that you should do two things:

  1. Monitor the radio to be aware of other aircraft operations and
  2. Make at least one radio call entering the traffic pattern.

There is a common mistake that has been noted. Many pilots have been heard to call: “303BA turning base and final.” You cannot be on both base and final at the same time. You might be “turning base to final.” The purpose of the radio call is to update your location. If you call “base and final” that does not narrow your location very well. You can indicate “short final,” “long final,” “turning base to final,” or “close in base” to better identify your location.

The use of the UNICOM frequency to obtain “height of tows” and other administrative calls should be limited to those that cannot be obtained in another manner.

Mike Rielage

 

 

 

Scholarship Winner – Cheryl Beckage Congratulations, Cheryl, on winning the Women’s Soaring Pilot Association Maria Faber Scholarship.  This $500 scholarship is for a licensed female glider pilot seeking advanced training in gliders or a tow pilot endorsement.  Cheryl plans to work toward her commercial rating. 

 

 

 

 

Soaring Tips from the Taylor Files

Ø       You can estimate your bank angle by lining up the mounting screws that are diagonally across from each other on your airspeed indicator (or other large instrument at the top of the panel).  If they are parallel to the horizon, you’re banked at 45 degrees.  Using these screws, you can eyeball 30 degrees or 20 degrees.  Rarely is it advantageous to bank more than 45 degrees.  Practice a 20 second turn or an 18 second turn to see what kind of bank angle you have.

 

Ø       When thermalling with one other glider, try to keep your position on the opposite side of the circle, where you can both get a good view of each other.  If you enter his thermal, and he is flying at a speed different than you would prefer, you will need to adjust your speed to his, even if it’s not ideal.  When there are multiple gliders in a thermal, everyone needs to make an effort to space himself around the circle to keep everyone in view of each other.  If there are too many near the same altitude and positions get erratic, the best solution may be to leave the thermal and look elsewhere.  Sometimes, leaving the gaggle is more productive than trying to conform, especially if there are other thermals around.

 

Ø       When landing, once you’ve flared (you do flare, don’t you?) just before touchdown, rather than try to adjust for the last few feet above the ground, just keep your eyes on the far end of the runway and hold the glider off.  The ship will usually settle in and make a nice smooth touchdown.  (This may not work in gusty winds, though.)

 

 

The Prodigal Sun(ship) Returns Congratulate George Saunders when you see him; he earned his Silver altitude and distance legs May 3rd in the PW-5 by flying to Hagerstown.

I went with him, declaring Hagerstown as a turn point for an out and return. About halfway out, we got a radio call from Jeff Melin, who reported that back at Alexandria the lift had completely died!

 

When I made the turn point and looked back at the way home, it was pretty bleak. There were a few scruffy cumulus clouds north of me, but they didn't look like much, and they weren't. Each time I ran into lift, it gave out lower than the time before. I decided to divert toward the Wilson family's private runway, where we had an away weekend last year, and see if anything developed along the way (and I was not very hopeful, because now there were no signs of lift ahead of me whatsoever). I made a radio call that I was heading for The Last Resort.

 

About two miles out from the Wilson’s' airstrip, I ran into lift and made a few turns. It was broken up and hard to work, so I continued on over the runway, where I found more, better organized lift. I started to work it, and was barely breaking even at first, but I gained a few hundred feet. Then I spotted a red-shouldered hawk circling over the Wilson’s' barn. I got a close look at it from above, then from the side, then from below as it out climbed me. I got the impression that it was not too happy about the big white bird hanging out on its turf. I gained about a thousand feet of altitude with its help, though, and turned to the north. A few seconds later, far overhead and just ahead of me, a flight of migrating birds wheeled into a circle as they hit another thermal. I was really saved now. I gained another 800 feet in the lift they marked for me.

 

At that point, I was right on the edge of final glide to Alexandria. Five miles later I ran into another thermal and gained another 800 feet. I think I held my breath for the last 13 miles home.
I landed at Alexandria and didn't see anyone around. When I walked around the corner of the T hangars, there were Dick Hutch and Todd Rutledge, just about to hitch the trailer to my car! They had heard I was heading for The Last Resort and thought I'd need a trailer retrieve.

I was lucky to make it back. Pete Detore retrieved George from Hagerstown

Darren Bedwell

Hagerstown Airport by George Saunders

 

 

 

 

CISS CALENDAR 2006

July

01

13

20

Agenda items for the Board meeting to Jim White

Board Meeting at Jim White’s house

Membership Meeting  7:00 pm MCL Cafeteria in Castleton Dinner at 6:30 pm.

 

 

 

Radio Suggestions from the D.O.  The Director of Operations made three recommendations at the Board meeting that will reduce unnecessary use of the very busy Unicom Channel 122.80.

Ø       The Glider pilot may report his/her tow release altitude in MSL and at the same time let the tow pilot know the glider has released from tow.  “Glider Papa Whisky off tow at 2900 feet over Alexandria Airport.”  This notifies the tow plane and other traffic of our location. Glider ground can record our tow altitudes (subtracting 900 feet) and you don’t have to feel committed to a pre declared tow altitude before you even take off.  This type of communication is allowable under the FAR because it is a safety related broadcast.

Ø       If all glider pilots would add another word (TIME) to their pre-takeoff check list there would be no reason to use Unicom to ask glider ground “what time did I take off… when do you want me to land… ETC.” Use the new checklist with a stopwatch, which have been placed in each of the Club ships.   

Ø       Use the walkie-talkies to communicate on the ground rather than Unicom. Don’t forget to charge them up at the end of the day.

Thanks for your cooperation

Pete Detore

 

 

The following guidelines were passed by the board:

 

Flying the Club Single Seaters

 

Qualifications for Flying Club Astir

 

Flying Club Astir Cross Country

 

Found on the Web   Check out http://landings.com/  Mike Warren uses this site to find the little private airports not covered in the Airport Facilities Directory. Go to Landings.com. Click on “Data Bases” at the top of the home page. Under “Airports/ Flight Plan” click “Information” select “Search for Airports in Area of Primary Airport.”  Specify “Airport Code” I99 (Alexandria), select 30 nautical miles, runways greater than 500 feet to eliminate Heliports (>500 feet) and select return 100 airports.  This will give you all the airports within 30 nm of Alexandria.  Thanks, Mike!

If you have found a great web site, call me or send me an email about it.  Let’s share what we are finding on the Web.  George Saunders

 

Send your newsletter articles to George Saunders or Mario Lazaga.  Deadline for our next newsletter is June 21st