In case you have not yet heard, my return to HR was less than glorious. Launched fine and stayed up maybe 20 minutes or so in light stuff. Set up for a landing from the north and pulled in sharply to lose altitude. I was flying the talon so I wanted to come in as close to the trees to the west as possible in order to get it down by the set up area. Over did it and in my mind let the bar out a little to reclaim some of the altitude. But I clearly did more than that -- came over the trees in mush mode. I did not realize that I was stalled or close to it until I tried to manuever for my turn to final. Got the speed back up but not in time.. Went into the trees on the east side maybe 10 ft up. Wasn't hurt. Glider damage minimal.
But. Two HR flights two crashes. I was considering trying to run up there and fly a couple of times real quick so I could say I only crashed 50% of the time.
I didn't just get unlucky (despite suggestions from friends to this effect). My flying just isn't as sharp as it was and it is hard for me to come to grips with this. But, after thinking about it a while I think I can still fly safely. I just need to keep it simple. I could have come in higher over the trees. There is plenty of field. And I can fly the Sport 2 instead of the Talon. The Talon is henceforth a flight park glider.
Thanks to Glen and Tim for help.
Sigh
Moderator: CHGPA BOD
Glad your safe Steve. I know what you're going thru and as an aviator its sometimes hard to acknowledge your skills are diminishing. I sold my Talon a few weeks ago after realizing that I don't fly as often as I did and that it was becoming a burden to even put my Talon down in something as large as Highlands LZ. My declining skills made me not even attempt to fly in the mountains like I once did due to the fact that I had to face that I wasn't current anymore. I'll be purchasing a U2 after I return from my Honeymoon and that will be more than enough glider to keep my feet off the ground yet remain in some sense of control.
Chris
Chris
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theflyingdude
- Posts: 359
- Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 11:40 pm
- Location: Cumberland, MD
Don't get too discouraged, Steve. Your just a little rusty from not having flown much, lately. Once you start flying more often, you'll get more current on your skills and will feel more comfortable flying the Talon. To be honest, I've been flying the Sport a lot more often than my T2, but it's nice to have a blade-wing for those stronger days or when it looks like a booming x-c day.
JR
JR