Pictures from my first glider contest

tlewis95

tlewis95

I drive planes
I am just bored and looking around my photobucket account and thought that I would share these.

This was back in June 2008, at the "Caesar Creek Soaring Club" in Waynseville, OH (half way between CVG and DAY) and was my first sanctioned glider race.

A 6 day event, with me flying my dad's Genesis 2 sailplane, and I ended up 3rd out of 12 pilots in my class (sports) after flying 5 out of 6 days, in mostly marginal soaring weather, with the last day being rained out.

A little page about "soaring" http://ssa.org/sport/whatissoaring.asp

The evening that we arrived (2 days before the first race day)
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Hanging out with the youth group/ground crew.
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Morning assembly
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Making strategy
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Grid (where all 50 or so gliders stage on the runway before launch) Meeting
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Day 1 Launch
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Finish (at about 150kts)

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Rolling in
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Getting ready for another launch
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And...my first off-field (off airport) landing, in a bean field about 10 miles north of the home airport
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Very fun event. I will be doing two more races next year, and if I do ok on those, I get to fly on the US Team in the world competition in Germany sometime in 2011.
 
tlewis95

tlewis95

I drive planes
Champcar said:
Was your off airport landing planed?
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Thanks.

And no, it was a really weak day (very little "thermal" activity) and the 3 clouds that I was counting on to have lift (rising air) had none, so, I ended up in this nice bean field.

In glider racing, it is a pretty routine event though, we usually try to make it to other airports, but if you are competitive enough, and the land you are over is landable, putting one in a field is generally no big deal.

We had it in its trailer and on the road back home 55 minutes after I landed.
 
JumpWake

JumpWake

Well-Known Member
Great shots! What is the make of that glider...looks like it'd a be a blast to fly that 'lil thing!
 
tlewis95

tlewis95

I drive planes
JetsGoWhee said:
Great shots! What is the make of that glider...looks like it'd a be a blast to fly that 'lil thing!
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"Ab Sportine Aviacija" is the official make, model is a "Genesis 2" with some extra custom modifications to make it climb a little bit better. It was designed by a group of 3 or 4 guys that called themselves "Group Genesis."

It is number 8 out of 23 built in Lithuania, by the Aviacija factory.
 
tlewis95

tlewis95

I drive planes
DPApilot said:
it's a Genesis, Very nice glider, beats the Lark any day, doesn't it Curt?
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Ya it is!

It also beats you and Chris in the ASK-21 when I do 3 turns inside of you and end up 300 feet higher than you are. Then race towards Sandwich at 80kts! :laff:

Thanks again for that marker though, if not for you, I probably would have landed at Hinckley with another 60nm to go on the task.
 
DPApilot

DPApilot

GUYSH! GUYSH! GUYSH!
you know chris is afraid of speed!
tlewis95 said:
Ya it is!

It also beats you and Chris in the ASK-21 when I do 3 turns inside of you and end up 300 feet higher than you are. Then race towards Sandwich at 80kts! :laff:

Thanks again for that marker though, if not for you, I probably would have landed at Hinckley with another 60nm to go on the task.
Click to expand...
 
Murdoughnut

Murdoughnut

Well sized member
Nice pics - but those hats are some kind of queer. I keep waiting for the skipper to come and slap you in the back of the head .... little buuuuuuuudy

:insane:
 
tlewis95

tlewis95

I drive planes
Scandinavian13 said:
What is the white tube by the stick?
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that would be "the lav" :rolleyes:

On an average 5 or 6 hour race flight, most pilots drink 1 to 3 liters of water to stay hydrated... so... you figure out the rest.


Nice pics - but those hats are some kind of queer. I keep waiting for the skipper to come and slap you in the back of the head .... little buuuuuuuudy
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Haahaha ya. But it's kind of international glider pilot wear. You can probably tell from the pictures that there isn't much shade in these gliders, and the ventilation isn't always that great. So to keep from frying from the heat and UV rays, they do a great job.

They definitely aren't worn for the look, but the utility. :rolleyes:
 
Murdoughnut

Murdoughnut

Well sized member
tlewis95 said:
Haahaha ya. But it's kind of international glider pilot wear. You can probably tell from the pictures that there isn't much shade in these gliders, and the ventilation isn't always that great. So to keep from frying from the heat and UV rays, they do a great job.

They definitely aren't worn for the look, but the utility. :rolleyes:
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Roger that! :)
 
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