Currency (or lack of it) and flying...

[Scott]

Hi Everyone:

I know I (we) have been absent from the local flying community for the past year (maybe more?). Holly and I haven't lost our interest in flying, but it has taken a back seat to other things like increasing commitments/activities with my daughter, job changes for both of us, home improvements, and (admittedly) other more convenient sports like whitewater paddling, bicycling, and motorcycling. (I say "convenient" in the sense that we can do these right from home or within 10 minutes from home.)

In fact, it's been so long---and we're both so non-current---that we've been asking ourselves hard questions like "how little flying is too little flying to do it at all?" After what I've seen (and what Holly's been through) neither of us want to do anything even remotely unsafe.

We're planning to go to Blue Sky this weekend...and though it might seem silly for H3 pilots, we've asked Steve Wendt if we can spend Sunday morning doing scooter tows---mainly to practice glider handling and landing in as safe and controlled an environment as possible. We might also do some truck tows...and even though we've both flown there a hundred times in midday conditions, we're thinking of sticking to late evening dead-calm air.

Are we being a little too paranoid? Possibly...but I'd rather be safe than sorry. I'm dying to fly the mountains again, but I also think mountain flying requires a higher currency level than the flight park.

I hope I can fly often enough in the coming year to get back to the mountains again...but if I can't, then I/we might just have to accept that for now, hang gliding either won't be a part of our lives...or only be limited to calm-air flight park days.

We miss seeing everyone, and I hope to get up to the Fly-In to say hello. I'd love to fly...but (again) would rather wait 'til I've built up my currency in controlled conditions at the flight park.

Regardless, I often remind myself (and tell Holly) that there is no rush to this sport! Seeing folks 20 years older than us still flying reminds us that we have plenty of time ahead to enjoy it!

Scott

[brianvh]

I doubt if anyone will think you're being paranoid by easing your way back. Especially sitting out the Pulpit. You should come and make a run to Kirschners, and think about flying at the HR fly-in.

If the sporadic currency keeps up, trade in your intermediate gliders for falcons or the equivalent. Of course you'll have to get used to those too, but once you have there's less butterflies going back after a long absence. I can attest the butterflies will still be there.

[CraginS]

Scott & Holly,
Neither of you are being paranoid; you are being quite reasonable. Further, when it comes to seeking more training or practice than the average, no one's opinion matters beyond yours. If you want it, or need it, or think you need it, then it is a good and right thing to do. Go for it, relax, and enjoy. You will enjoy the next high flight day (whether mountain, truck, or aero) MUCH more if you start that day without a nagging worry that maybe you SHOULD have taken a practice day first.
Personally, I try to get to Taylor or Smithsburg several times a year, use truck tows or pattern tows to practice landings, and wangle a scooter lesson from Steve any time I spend the night at Blue Sky. Those are all just plain fun ways to fly.

Now, I would like to suggest that the other side of the coin is different. If you think you do not need a brush-up and are ready to go fling yourself into the sky, yet pilots whose judgment you trust (especially instructors) suggest a practice day, take heed. Err on the side of safety and caution.

Welcome back to the sky. Have a great time!

[jimrooney]

Are we being a little too paranoid?
Not even remotely.

I'd say that's an excellent idea! I'm a huge fan of scooter towing... and this is perfect example of why. There is never anything wrong about a training hill flight, a scooter tow flight, a pattern tow (truck or AT). You'd be silly not to take advantage of these wonderful tools.

Brian brings up a good point too. Higher performance gliders not only demand higher skill levels to fly, but also higher levels of currency. If either are lacking, things get less fun and more unsafe. This is something that only you can answer for yourself.

I tell ya though. I'm as current as they come and have every level of glider available to me... know what I fly when I go solo? A Sport 2.
I LOVE the hassle free, worry free, easy-as-pie flying. It's just plain fun.

.02USD
Jim

[mcelrah]

WRT Sport 2 "easy as pie" (maybe this will become a new thread):

I feel similar about my U2 - not as easy as a Sport 2, but pretty damn easy to fly. And I'm told the T2 is the easiest to fly (land) of the topless. So...do the "harder to fly" models really repay the difficulty with superior performance?

- Hugh

[Scott]

Well, though I have nothing against a Falcon, I'd have to say my (now dated) Eagle is about 90% Falcon! It's pretty docile, and I can stuff the bar to my toes and "elevator down" just like a Falcon with no fear of PIOs.

Holly's Sonic is pretty tame too.

We're looking forward to a mellow trip to the flight park. Heck, I'll enjoy just setting my glider up, looking at it, and running it around a bit!

Scott

[brianvh]

yeah, if that's what you're flying there's no need to trade down.

[mikel]

Scott & Holly,
Welcome back !!!
Rhonda and I are thinking about going
to highland on Sunday. You guys are more
than welcome to join us.....
Hopefully, Smithsburg will opening soon
and we all can hit the training hill together...
We look foward to seeing ya'll

'Til then, Mike and Rhonda

[jimrooney]

An Eagle and a Sonic.
Yeah. No worries there. Nice friendly gliders.

Jim

[hang_pilot]

We miss seeing everyone, and I hope to get up to the Fly-In to say hello.

AWESOME to see your name in the forum, Scott! I hope that you and Holly will make it to the Fly-in and if you do, please bring your African xylophone again. Hearing Scott play alone is worth the trip.

I hope I can fly often enough in the coming year to get back to the mountains again...but if I can't, then I/we might just have to accept that for now, hang gliding either won't be a part of our lives...or only be limited to calm-air flight park days.

CHGPA’s history has been as a mostly mountain flying club and so our perspective on what this sport is about in these parts might be, or appear, a little narrowly focused. Your words remind me that as a community we need to let go of the idea that the sport consists mainly of soaring flight commenced via foot launching from a mountainside in thermic conditions.

If soaring did not exist and hang gliding consisted of gliding down from altitude, I'd still feel privileged to participate. And some of my favorite flights have been soaring in gentle late afternoon lift. Midday mountain flying is just one way out of several that people fly.

It would be crazy for a skier to quit skiing because she didn’t feel safe in chutes, cliffs and steep grade powder fields. Nor should a surfer quit surfing because the North Shore is just too gnarly for him. Participate in any way you want. Just come out and play with us again.

Best,
Daniel

[markc]

Participate in any way you want. Just come out and play with us again.

Well said Daniel! There are lots of ways to enjoy the sky.

Scott, you and Holly are obviously being careful. So given
that, whatever niche you find that feels good and is fun for
you is going to be a good choice. Scooter, aero, truck, mtn,
tandems... Whatever your choice, you'll (at the very least)
overlap with everyone else who enjoys slipping the surly
bonds!

Cheers,

MarkC

[drice21037]

It's great to hear from you Scott. I'm glad you and Holly are doing well.

Over the years I have become a pilot who only flies a few times a year. I never set out to do that but my current set of priorities make it the only option short of completely giving up flying. I've tried that before and it didn't work out.

So how do I stay current? That's easy, I don't stay current. I don't think you can be current and fly as infrequently as I do. The trick for me is to be a perpetual Hang 2 (I'm going for the record, George Reeves gave me my H2 in 1990).

I love the mountains but I don't usually fly there because I find the conditions to be more challenging. If I do fly the mountains I will only do so if I've been to the training hill a few weeks ahead of time so I know in my bones that I can still foot launch. Then I avoid midday air and fly a sled in the morning and maybe a glass-off in the evening.

I fly at Ridgely because it's close to home (Annapolis) and it's not as wind direction dependent as the mountains. I have made very few trips to Ridgley and not flown but I've made lots of trips to the mountains without flying. I also like the fact that I'm going to land in a HUGE field. I've never needed more field than would have been available at a mountain site but it's comforting to know it's there if I need it.

I fly a Falcon. It would be great to upgrade but I'm sure the gliders not holding me back more than my lack of currency is. And, much like the huge field that I don't use, it's nice to know that all of it's low performance is there should I ever need it.

But probably the most important part is that I try to be honest about the kind of pilot I am and how much I should expect from myself. I've set the bar pretty low in order to keep myself out of a situation I might regret. That has been and continues to be the hardest part of flying infrequently. I'm not used to being the low performer. It's not how I usually do things. But it has taught me some valuable lessons about patience.

Of course, an evening sled ride is still flying. It's still amazing. And 99% of the rest of the world still thinks I'm insane. So I've got that going for me...

[Scott]

Thanks for the great comments everyone. Hang gliding is way too special and extraordinary for us to give it up. Each time we fly, we think to ourselves, "Isn't this frickin' INCREDIBLE???"

There's no way we'll give it up...so we'll find that balance that allows us to continue safely in the sport!

Though I've never claimed to have perfect foot launch technique (and I've probably said it before), it's never the launches that worry me in the mountains—it's the landings! At a site like the Pulpit—in nice, smooth, blowing-straight-in conditions, I'm confident I can get airborne safely. But mountain LZ's are all so different, each presenting a unique challenge...and that's what always gets my attention!

Scott

[XCanytime]

Scott,
It's good to have you both back. The start and the finish of any flight are the most important parts, so be vigilant on both ends, and in the middle as well. Your Eagle (180, right?) is so much more than a Falcon, plus your colors are the same as the University of Florida's football team .

Bacil

[Dan T]

Scott, after my last accident over a year ago, one of my very best friends offered to accompany me back to the training hill. Without his encouragement I might not have gone. What I quickly learned was that the ability to become current once again is largly about having a realistic attitude, good judgement and for me at least the self confidence to do the things that you know you are capable of doing.

My last accident shattered my self confidence and I suspect that Holly's shattered hers and by proximity yours as well. Starting slow will help you both rebuild your confidence as well as your interest in the sport. I am certain that you are doing the smartest thing that you could possibly do.

For me several trips to the training hill and a subsequent fairly scientific exercise with another pilot friend enabled me to recover most of my self confidence and alter my launch technique so that it was more appropriate to the conditions we experience here in the east. It was basically a return to the technique I had learned from my professional instructor and had drifted away from over the years.

I believe that the members of the CHGPA are amongst the best friends and advisors that you could ask for in this sport. I am sure that you will be welcomed amongst us and offered all the assistance you desire regardless of which path you choose to pursue in this endeavor.

In this sport, conservatism is a very good thing. I applaud you both.

Dan T.