chicagoland glider council

ChicagoLand Glider Councilwww.chicagolandglidercouncil.com

PresentersJohn Baker

FAA Certificates:Flight Instructor

GliderGround Instructor

AdvancedCommercial Pilot

Glider Civil Air Patrol Operations Qualifications:

Glider Pilot Orientation Pilot Flight Instructor Check Pilot Check Pilot Examiner

Michael (Mike) Vaughn FAA Certificates:Flight Instructor

Airplane Single And Multiengine Glider

Ground Instructor Advanced Instrument

Commercial Pilot Airplane Single Engine Land Airplane Multiengine Land Instrument Airplane Glider

Senior Parachute Rigger Back Chest

 Civil Air Patrol Operations Qualifications:

Glider Pilot Orientation Pilot Flight Instructor

Why a Glider? Learn Something New

Flying closer to “like a bird”Flying a glider takes the mystery out off

power off landingsLearn to manage the energy better when

landingLean to fly more coordinated to have longer

flightsLearn tight Formation Flying

Background on Gliders

Age to solo a glider (14) vs drive a car or solo in an airplane.

AOPA Flight training magazine Dec 2009 – What else can you do?

Do I need a current medical or Drivers License?

Do I need a student pilot certificate? Do some gliders have motors?How safe is it?Position of the United States Air Force

Academy

The one fatality in Illinois between1/1/2002 and 12/31/2012 NTSB Factual – Accident on 7/4/2010.

Physician treating the pilot indicated that he was:

Under treatment with tablets and injections for diabetes,

Medication for attention deficit disorder, Medication for anxiety. Prescribed a continuous positive airway

pressure (CPAP) device for sleep apnea.

One fatality in Illinois between1/1/2002 and 12/31/2012 From NTSB Probable Cause : On-scene examination of the wreckage

revealed no preimpact anomalies that would have precluded normal operations,

The investigation could not determine what role, if any, the pilot’s medications or medical conditions may have played in the accident.

The United States Air Force Academy

Colonel; Joseph L. Coates USAF (Retired) pioneered the “Soar for all program”. When asked why?

“I was charged with ensuring that all cadets were thoroughly schooled in the basic principals of flight before they ever advanced to specialized flight training. I could think of no aircraft more practical, economical and motivational than a glider”

“Miracle on the Hudson”US Airways jetliner lost power and landed

soon after takeoff in New York’s Hudson River on January 15, 2009.

The United States Air Force Academy

Capt. Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1973.

Sullenberger served as a glider pilot instructor at the Air Force Academy.

United States Air Force Academy

United States Air Force Academy

FAR/AIM – Knowledge Test Required?

Sec. 61.63 Additional aircraft ratings(b) Additional category rating. An applicant

who holds a pilot certificate and applies to add a category rating to that pilot certificate: (5) Need not take an additional knowledge test,

provided the applicant holds an airplane, rotorcraft, powered-lift, or airship rating at that pilot certificate level.

FAR/AIM – Transition Pilot Sec. 61.109 (f) For a glider category rating.

(1) …not logged at least 40 hours of flight time aircraft, …must log at least 10 hours of flight time in a glider...

(i) 20 flights in a glider...

(ii) 2 hours of solo flight time in a glider..., with not less than 10 launches and landings being performed.

(2) …logged at least 40 hours of flight time in a heavier-than-air aircraft, …must log at least 3 hours of flight time in a glider...

(i) 10 solo flights...and

(ii) 3 training flights with an authorized instructor...

FAR/AIM – Transponder91.215 ATC transponder and altitudereporting equipment and use.

(1) All aircraft. In Class A, Class B, and Class C airspace areas;

(2) All aircraft. In all airspace within 30 nautical miles of an airport listed in appendix D, section 1 of this part from the surface upward to 10,000 feet MSL;

FAR/AIM – TransponderSec. 91.215 (b) All airspace…(5) All aircraft except any aircraft which was

not originally certificated with an engine-driven electrical system or which has not subsequently been certified with such a system installed, balloon, or glider—

FAR/AIM – Towline§ 91.309(3) The towline used has breaking strength not less

than 80 percent of the maximum certificated operating weight of the glider ...and not more than twice this operating weight.

However, the towline used may have a breaking strength more than twice the maximum certificated operating weight of the glider…if—

(i) A safety link...at the...glider...with a breaking strength not less than 80 percent of the maximum certificated operating weight of the glider...or greater than twice this operating weight;

(ii) A safety link ...at the..towing aircraft with a breaking strength greater, but not more than 25 percent greater, than that of the safety link at the towed glider ...end of the towline and not greater than twice the maximum certificated operating weight of the glider

Gliderport OperationsAre there extra steps when pre-flighting a

glider? Positive control check Remove External Equipment - tail dolly, wingtip

wheels, aileron, rudder, elevator locks and pitot tube cover

What about the towrope (a.k.a. towline)?First thing you do after attaching the towrope

to the towplane and glider.

Positive Control Check

Towline How long?FAA Glider Flying Handbook Page 8-2

...use a towline of adequate length—200 feet is the minimum length for normal operations.

A longer towline provides more isolation from towplane wake during aerotow launch.

Short towlines, on the other hand, keep the glider closer to the towplane and its turbulent wake, complicating the problem of controlling the glider

Wing RunnerGet’s by standers outside the wing tipShows Glider Pilot the ring on the rope and gets

approvalAttaches ring on rope to gliderMotions for tow plane to take up the slackMotions for the tow plane to stopWaits for thumbs up from glider pilot that he is readyDoes visual check that Airbrake is closedScans sky for traffic in patternLifts wingAfter pilot starts to waggle rudder, motions to begin

takeoffRuns a few steps with wing

Wing Rings to attach to the Glider

Blanik Tow Hook

Schweizer Tow Hook

Once rope is attached…

Visual SignalsGlider Pilot

Thumbs upReady for take off - Rudder waggle

Wing RunnerOpen and close Tow HitchTake up slackSlack has been taken out/Hold position

Tow PilotRelease nowCheck your configuration

Signal to glider

Signal Towplane to take up slack

Signal Towplane to

take up slack

Signal Towplane

to stop taking

up slack

Glider pilot signals they are ready with a thumbs up

Wing runner lifts the wing

Glider pilot signals to tow place that he is ready

Wing runner also signals to Towplane that glider is ready

Towplane confirms that glider is ready for takeoff

Towplane confirms that glider is ready for takeoff

Wing runner

Emergency Stop

Taking off on TowWho takes off first?Emergency planRisks include:

ConfigurationNot preflightedRope Break

Who takes off first?

Flying on TowFlying in Formation Turns on Tow – Arc of Turn and Aim point

during turnsDoes the planes wake cause issues for the

glider?Introducing rope slackHow to take out slack rope.Steps prior to releaseWhich way does the tow plane and glider turn

Flying on Tow

Flying on Tow

High Tow

Low Tow

Turns on Tow Arc of Turn

and Aim point

during turns

Blanik Interior

Tow Release Handle

Pulling Tow Rope Release

Towplane makes a 90 degree turn to the left

Glider makes a 90 degree turn to the right

Glider Traffic Pattern What can I learn?

Are there go arounds? You will learn the discipline of making a dead-stick

landing everytime.Now that I can make the runway are there PTS

standards on where I should stop? Yes 200 feet for Private and 100 foot for

Commercial.Practicing downwind landing.

When you can make the glider port but not with enough altitude for normal pattern.

Glider Traffic PatternAltitude at IP for 45 degree entry leg – 1,000What is FUSTALLWhat if I am high – What if I am low in downwind?How do I control energy in the pattern without

a throttle?Spoilers and Airbrakes vs. slips

Blanik Interior

Blanik Rudder Pedals

Blanik Trim Tab Control

Blanik Trim Tabs

Blanik Spoiler Control

Blanik Spoiler Control

Blanik Brake Handle

Blanik Landing Gear Handle

EmergenciesRopebreak or towplane issue during initial

rollout.Ropebreak after take off?Towplane issueWhat if you can’t release the tow rope?What if you can’t make it back?

Advanced landingsShort FieldWithout altimuter

What if you can’t make it back?

Find a spot to Land Out

Just Landed

Wait for support crew

What is used to control energy in a typical training glider?

Wheel BrakesFront SkidYaw StringDrag

Less drag Increased drag

Yaw String(points to the

pedal to step on)

Inclinometer(step on the ball)

GliderYaw String

Glider AerodynmacsWhat is different about flying a glider?

Longer wings causes more ground effect on take off and landing

Induced drag is greater because of the longer wings in a glider

Over banking more lift on outside wing which is stronger because it is longer

Glider Polars and Speed to FlyBest Glider is also called best L/DWhat is a glider PolarMinimum SinkSpeed to fly in a headwind

What is the rule of thumb if you do not have a polar

Glider Polar

GliderVariometer

Slow Flight, Stalls and Maneuvers

Proximity to Airport during trainingStalls are like Power off stall in an airplaneHow to recover from a stall in a gliderAre spins required for a Private or Commercial

Glider add-on?Steep turns 45 degree bank, unlike power

maintaining altitude is not required.

Weather for SoaringBumpy Air - Updrafts from surface heat

(Thermals)DowndraftsCumulus clouds Blue sky soaring – soaring birds, dust devils,

rising dust, smoke If I hit sink is their lift near by?How to work the lift in a thermalWhich direction to turn in a thermal?How can I tell if I am centered in a thermalHow high are thermals in northern Illinois?

Thermals (a.k.a. that bumpy air…)

Radio Communication and Right of Way

Is a radio required?Do local glider operations use radios?Do gliders have the right of way?

Yes, but don’t wear out our welcome at other airports

Do planes with gliders on tow have the right of way?

Dehydration and Heatstroke“I can do it attitude” (Macho)Have the longest flight for the day.Make the distance to earn a badge.Stop drinking water so I won’t need to use the

washroom.Stop drinking water because I don’t have a

system in place relieve myself on a long flight.

Hypoxia (Lack of Oxygen)20,000 feet MSL Time of Useful Consciousness 30 min.22,000 feet MSL Time of Useful Consciousness 5-10

min.25,000 feet MSL Time of Useful Consciousness 3-5 min.

Soaring Diamond Altitude gain 16,404 feet (5,000 meters).

From a Soar Minden blog - It took only 58 minutes to go from take-off to 27,331 feet (8,330 m) to landing on an overcast, rainy day. Release occurred at 7,510 feet, for an altitude gain of 19,820 feet (6,041 m).

References for the next step…FAA Glider Flying HandbookFAA PTS – GliderFAA FAR/AIMSporty’s DVD - “So you want to fly gliders”

(formally called “Transition to Gliders”)

Links for the next step…http://www.ssa.org/ – Soaring Society of

Americawww.chicagolandglidercouncil.com

ChicagoLand Glider Councilwww.chicagolandglidercouncil.com