Transition To Gliders

1. Transition To Gliders ChicagoLand Glider Council www.chicagolandglidercouncil.com

2. Presenters

3. Why a Glider? Learn Something New • Flying closer to “like a bird” • Flying a glider takes the mystery out off power off landings • Learn to manage the energy better when landing • Lean to fly more coordinated to have longer flights • Learn tight Formation Flying

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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.

7. 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”

8. “Miracle on the Hudson” • US Airways jetliner lost power and landed soon after takeoff in New York’s Hudson River on January 15, 2009.

9. 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.

10. United States Air Force Academy

11. United States Air Force Academy

12. What's required by the FAA?

13. 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.

14. 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...

15. FAR/AIM – Transponder • 91.215 ATC transponder and altitude • reporting 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;

16. FAR/AIM – Transponder • Sec. 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—

17. 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

18. Let’s Get Ready to Fly

19. Gliderport Operations • Are 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.

20. Positive Control Check

21. 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

22. Does a “Wing Runner” pick up the wing and run with it?

23. Wing Runner • Get’s by standers outside the wing tip • Shows Glider Pilot the ring on the rope and gets approval • Attaches ring on rope to glider • Motions for tow plane to take up the slack • Motions for the tow plane to stop • Waits for thumbs up from glider pilot that he is ready • Does visual check that Airbrake is closed • Scans sky for traffic in pattern • Lifts wing • After pilot starts to waggle rudder, motions to begin takeoff • Runs a few steps with wing

24. Wing Rings to attach to the Glider

25. Blanik Tow Hook

26. Schweizer Tow Hook

27. Once rope is attached…

28. Visual Signals • Glider Pilot • Thumbs up • Ready for take off - Rudder waggle • Wing Runner • Open and close Tow Hitch • Take up slack • Slack has been taken out/Hold position • Tow Pilot • Release now • Check your configuration

29. Signal to glider

30. Signal Towplane to take up slack

31. Signal Towplane to take up slack

32. Signal Towplane to stop taking up slack

33. Glider pilot signals they are ready with a thumbs up

34. Wing runner lifts the wing

35. Glider pilot signals to tow place that he is ready

36. Wing runner also signals to Towplane that glider is ready

37. Towplane confirms that glider is ready for takeoff

38. Towplane confirms that glider is ready for takeoff

39. Wing runner

40. Emergency Stop

41. Taking off on Tow • Who takes off first? • Emergency plan • Risks include: • Configuration • Not preflighted • Rope Break

42. Who takes off first?

43. Flying on Tow • Flying in Formation • Turns on Tow – Arc of Turn and Aim point during turns • Does the planes wake cause issues for the glider? • Introducing rope slack • How to take out slack rope. • Steps prior to release • Which way does the tow plane and glider turn

44. Flying on Tow

45. Flying on Tow

46. High Tow

47. Low Tow

48. Turns on Tow Arc of Turn and Aim point during turns

49. Blanik Interior

50. Tow Release Handle