Gliding over Arizona

[IZ]

I was finally able to take advantage of my birthday present yesterday morning. 

4000' glider ride at Turf Soaring School in Peoria, AZ.

Here are a couple video clips.  Unfortunately, I had to put the camera away during the aerobatics.
   

Take off..
Glider ride in Arizona

Lake Pleasant..
Glider Ride over Arizona, part 2

Pics to follow.

[Randimus Maximus]

doesn't look like you were doing much 'gliding'.

[IZ]

doesn't look like you were doing much 'gliding'.

Couple more videos to upload.  In the second video, you hear him say 3000'.  We didn't cut away until 4000'.

[Randimus Maximus]

Couple more videos to upload.  In the second video, you hear him say 3000'.  We didn't cut away until 4000'.

Is 'cut away' the jargon they use for 'release'?

[IZ]

Is 'cut away' the jargon they use for 'release'?

Is it?!  I heard him use both.

[Greg]

How much did that set you back?

[Dietrich]

IZ - I just got Dawn a coupon for a glider ride for her birthday...looks like fun! 

[IZ]

Bday present but I think about $150

[hoyden]

IZ - I just got Dawn a coupon for a glider ride for her birthday...looks like fun! 

Heehee! I was just going to write that...Such an excellent present from my sweetie!

I'm planning on going after Devil's Highway ride.
I can't wait!

What are you taking the video on? Do you have a little camera?
Also, it sounds really noisy - is that just when you are being towed?

[IZ]

Regular camera. Cannon.  Yes, being towed on runway was noisy but only lasted a few seconds. No engine during gliding you really hear the wind ”wooshing" by. Do the aerobatic flight! You'll love it!

[Randimus Maximus]

Is it?!  I heard him use both.

No clue.

I figured you were trying to be hip and were using their jargon like you were an old hat at gliding.

Well, you've got the old part down.

And I thought you had more vids?

[hoyden]

Regular camera. Cannon.  Yes, being towed on runway was noisy but only lasted a few seconds. No engine during gliding you really hear the wind ”wooshing" by. Do the aerobatic flight! You'll love it!

Cool! It does good video.
Dietrich got me the Aerobic flight! What happens? Loop-de-loops? Did it make your tummy do flip-flops?

[IZ]

Cool! It does good video.
Dietrich got me the Aerobic flight! What happens? Loop-de-loops? Did it make your tummy do flip-flops?

I arrived about 40 min early, registered, learned about the glider interior and how to use the parachute in case of emergency.  This took about 25 minutes and I was already being towed down the runway!

It took about 20 minutes to get up to altitude and I "released" (FU RM) us from the plane.  The pilot (Karl) didn't waste anytime as we took a nose dive to do our first loop!  We did wing-overs, cloverleaf, hammerhead, loops and a low pass.  In all, about 20+ minutes gliding.  I also took control of the plane after the first round of aerobatics.  I'm sure the pilot felt my feet shaking through the pedals.  That first dive was quite a rush!! 

When I gave him back the controls, we did more aerobatics and then a low pass by the spectators.  The landing was a smooth as it could be on the gravel filled runway and we stopped about 5' from the glider ready to go in front of us.

YOU WILL LOVE IT D!!   

[Grampa]

did they have a phone book to sit on?




I got lm a flight package as a b-day gift for up in the Tehachapi mountains east of Bako..... turns out she's afraid of flying...oops

[hoyden]

I got lm a flight package as a b-day gift for up in the Tehachapi mountains east of Bako..... turns out she's afraid of flying...oops

I'm afraid of flying too, but I've always wanted to fly - sans accouterments. When I was a kid, I would practice flying, in a very Douglas Adams manner, by throwing myself at the ground and hoping I stayed in the air. If I was in "flight" a nanosecond longer than I thought I ought, I thought I could fly; I just needed more practice. Unfortunately, I never did get good enough to fly on my own except in my dreams.

I used to fly in airplanes a lot as a young'un and was fine with flying then. As I got older, I got less happy with flying until now I pretty much hate it. I decided that I stopped liking flying when I stopped being able to meet the pilots. 

Dietrich knew about all these things, and the fact that every time we ride our bikes down the Carefree Highway towards Lake Pleasant I point at the "Glider Plane Rides" sign and bounce in my seat. His present to me was a complete surprise and a wonderfully thoughtful gift. (I'm gonna make him blush)

Anyway, I'm looking forward to my flight with glee and trepidation. I definitely want to take video of the event.
I'm not sure I'll do the loop-de-loops though. Maybe I can decide once I'm in the air?