It was a lot drier this weekend, with the ground crunching and the sun beaming down. This made those 2 minutes of sitting on the runway waiting in the glider with the canopy closed just before the tug pulls you into the air really uncomfortable. Although it was hot there was a small breeze but the moment the canopy closes it turns into a greenhouse and like a light switch, you instantly sweat.
A minute later as you take off, the air starts blowing through the small vent and you’re all good.
This time I had Peter then Paul on my second flight.. both great pilots. I was told I’m coming along really well – which is great news! I even got a ‘perfect!’ on the turning to a point exercises.. which is great as I really feel more confident.
The highlight this time was that we practised stalling!,, It was a weird feeling as the glider starts to shudder as you approach the stalling speed, because of the drag vortices that are generated. Normally this is a good warning but I continued to pull the stick back and as you stall its nose just starts to drop away and you pick up speed quickly as you’re on your way again. It seriously feels like the rush of a roller-coaster.
I did my own thermalling today, managing to get up to cloud base, in this case around 7000 feet ( ~2.1km ), we couldn’t go any higher as you aren’t allowed to go into could in a glider in Australia without the right instruments.
I was pretty impressed by today and every time I go gliding and get more confidence I think it couldn’t get much better than this!
..But Peter said, you just wait until you do acrobatics.. ha..
I can’t wait.