Re[2]: lessons and fun in Florida (Lauren)

[rs54263]

>> Did the people from Quest consider the pilots actions as acceptable?


Good question - did they? (Enquiring minds want to know.)

~Ralph


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from: Joseph Schad (02/17/2005 18:44)
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Hi Lauren,
?
Reference the pilot who dove by you at "perhaps 10 feet"? off your nose
wires:? Did the people from Quest consider the pilots actions as
acceptable?
?
Joe
?
-----Original Message-----
From: Paul Tjaden [mailto:tjadenhors@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 17, 2005 8:05 AM
To: hg_forum@chgpa.org
Subject: lessons and fun in Florida (Lauren)
?
Tuesday. At peace and learning. I glide along at 3500 feet, and try to
find the line with the least sink in between clouds like Mike Barber
says to do. I concentrate, brow furrowed. 4 seconds at a 45 degree
angle into sink, turn and count seconds back to my original track...
Suddenly, I am distracted by a strange sound, a whistling sound, like
the sound a diving glider makes. My heart stops beating when a
millisecond later a hang glider plummets downward directly in front of
me, perhaps 10 feet off my nosewires.
Adrenalin blocks out any politeness I might possess. After I have
gained enough control of my glider -- after being rocked by the other's
wake -- I use my hands to flip off the pilot, and scream at him, using
every foul word that has been invented. He turns towards me for a
second, and I know he is saying something, but I can't make it out. I
imagine he is yelling back.
My heart slows to a more normal rythm and I worry about being kicked
out of Quest after I land, for my vulgarity. (I find out later the
other pilot is immensely pleased by his trick and overjoyed that I
flipped him off and had a melt down).
Shortly after, I see another pilot circling in a thermal, a good
friend. I venture too close and he screams to warn me. My face flushes
with embarassment underneath my helmet. Yeesh. I better find my own
lift.
I land after 2 exhilarating hours, but am dissapointed in my ability
to fly where I want to go, to use the clouds as stepping stones. The
big boys -- Ron, Greg, Mitch -- include me in their plans for tasks,
but what flying with them has done most is make me realize their
incredible skill flying and ability to multitask, and my lack in these
areas.
That evening, I am instructed to talk much slower on the radio, and in
a lower voice. This is all absolutly correct and meant in the most
constructive of ways, but for the first time in a long time, my
positive thinking wavers.
I dissolve into self pity and disgust, and tell Paul (who is flying
brilliantly, BTW) that I should quit. Instead of slapping me, he hugs
me and makes me dinner; tells me I am just low after having such big
plans that morning. Wow.
Wednesday: I wake with renewed hope. After riding, I drive to Quest
for a late launch, because of earlier solid cloud cover. The tow and
flying are rowdy, and the wind is marginally strong. Pete L. has joined
us for the day, as well as the crowd from Blue Sky and Mark Fink (who
has joined us for several days, as well).
Smoke from a nearby fire mixes with the air, and the air bucks when I
fly close to its boundaries. My only goal is to stay over the field,
since the wind is West, which will quickly push me to the East and
restricted airspace. (The Sky Gods have decided on an upwind task). My
GPS reports that in one direction thermalling my ground speed is 48,
and the other anywhere from 12-18.
I am congratulated on my radio voice. However, when I fly over to join
Paul in a thermal, just as I reach him, lift unexpectedly raises me to
his altitude. Uh, hi honey. I try to turn Griffin, but her VG is full
on and she ignores my requests to turn. Paul saves the day with an
abrupt turn. This time HIS voice is high on the radio.
Gawd, honey, he says, I thought you had me.
Sorry, I say. I guess I need to allow more clearance in the future, or
at least yank off my VG as I get close to another pilot.
I land after 45 minutes, when I bail out of a thermal into an
uninviting sky. Ron explains that I could have checked to see if my
glide to goal (Quest) was increasing or decreasing in the thermal, to
see if I needed to leave my thermal when I did. Never occured to me.
Pete abandoned the marginal lift I stayed in originally for more
promising prospects upwind. He explains in great detail why this was a
good bet. He is totally right on. I need to think about these things on
the ground to speed up my learning in the air.
The level of talent here is amazing, as is their generosity to help an
aspiring pilot. Thanks guys. I will try not to run into you or swear at
you or hug you too much when I have too much gin.
Lauren


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