Gliding Lesson - Soaring Intro Flight with Cockpit Audio with Multiple Cameras

I've been invited to go gliding once before and highly enjoyed the experience. My friend, and fellow roboticist, Alex has always wanted to know more about soaring, but didn't know where to get started. I promised him that if I ever had the chance again, I would take him along to meet Fred, an accomplished sailplane instructor based in Sterling MA as part of the Greater Boston Soaring Club. I highly recommend soaring for any powered aircraft pilot to get more in touch with the skies we live in.
Hey, did you guys know that the FAA actually certifies flight instructors to tell you everything that I try to convey in these videos? You should definitely talk to one of them instead of trusting some video you found on the internet, because who am I to tell you how to fly? I'm just a pilot sharing my experiences with the world, and these videos are not meant to be instructional or advisory in any respect.
For a full explanation of this disclaimer, see: friendlyskiesfilm.com/episodes
Season 1, Episode 12 - The Soaring Special
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$10 - Jayson Liddle

[@czarekmaliszewski5214]

Your whole flight was with unlocked canopy, before flight you don't lock your canopy. You've been really lucky.

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

+Czarek Maliszewski I reviewed my complete footage of Alex's flight, and found the canopy to be partially locked, as it is clearly engaged, but not as solidly as on my flight afterwards. Right you are, that we were lucky most of the Gs were positive, then. How you managed to catch that without the rest of the footage that I have, I haven't a clue, but my guess is that you are one experienced sailplane pilot ;) Thanks for sharing your observation! At least I personally will be able to identify the lever position on my next sailplane flight.

[@czarekmaliszewski5214]

+Friendly Skies Film the canopy was fully unlocked see 6:32

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

I definitely see what you are saying. Not being as familiar with the Puchaz myself, I was merely speaking to the footage I have that shows the handle being manipulated before and after the flight. I don't know exactly how engaged the locking mechanism was, I was just indicating that it was not forgotten entirely. It's thanks to comments like yours that we can all learn from aviation videos. I am but a humble conversation starter. Thanks again.

[@BruceDuncan]

I love the Puchacz and I learned to fly in them. The canopy locking mechanism has a tendency to wear, which means the lever can become easily dislodged or unlock itself over the course of the flight. There is adjustment in the mechanism which mitigates this problem and it should be inspected every year. There is a specification for the force required to open the lever (12kgf I think) in the maintenance manual. There is also a mod (approved by the BGA in the UK, don't know the rules in the US) to add a spring to the lever at the rear, which helps to prevent it from coming open. I also noticed that there is also a Super Blanik on the ground. The Blanik has a similar mechanism but it operates in the opposite sense! I'm not certain about the Super Blanik but it's entirely possible that the pilot thought he was locking the canopy when in fact it was being unlocked. Don't underestimate the human factors! I know this is an old thread but if you're still in contact with the gliding club I think it might be helpful to point out the mod. Great video, please do more gliding :)

[@StevieMoore]

Czarek Maliszewski what would have likely occurred if the canopy flipped open? Would it have still been fly able or would the effect on drag and balance have caused loss of control?

[@piotrdubanowicz2058]

Next time lock the canopy.. :)

[@gveduccio]

his reactions are priceless...the guys in Civil Air Patrol keep asking me if I want to drive down when they do gliders with cadets...I say I glide enough when I come in high

[@sologhostxx8010]

Gary Veduccio lol im in civil air patrol i haven't done my glider flights

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

+pilot sammy The two planes featured in this video are both Piper PA-25 Pawnee. The club also has a Cessna L-19 Bird Dog. All of the tow planes were former crop-dusting aircraft. I tell people that air tractors resemble planes just about as much as farm tractors resemble cars!

[@declan_odonnell]

Finally made the plunge a couple weeks ago and joined a Gliding Club here in Queensland, Australia. Had 4 flights now and absolutely loving every minute. Your videos have definitely given me the push to make my dream of being a pilot real :)

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Excellent! I'm so glad you decided to take the leap. Isn't it worth every penny while you're getting started? That also makes my day to hear that my channel played a part in helping you make that decision!

[@declan_odonnell]

It is most definitely worth every single dollar. Though gliding costing considerably less then power flights helps. I plan on going to a flight school near me after I finish high school, so I'm very excited for what lies ahead of me.

[@jurgensgoose]

Very nice, fun to see GBSC's operations from this perspective!

[@Mitch_Bito]

Awesome video! How does one get involved with the club? I am from the Boston area and would love to get to watch a day of gliding.

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

+Mitch Mirabito Head on out to Sterling! They are such great people, that all you have to do is say hello. If you're looking to set something up with an instructor, or get your intro flight to soaring, check out their website here: www.soargbsc.com/

[@VirtualCLD]

Great to see Prof Looft is still with GBSC! Thanks for making the video!

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

+Chris David My pleasure! The GBSC guys are great to work with. So welcoming. Fred is one of my favorite professors at WPI, and a fantastic project advisory too. I hope to work with him many times again on both engineering and flying fun too. Thanks for the comment!

[@czarek6350]

I am glad to See puchacz in this movie, its one of my favourite gliders, greeteings from poland :D

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Hello fellow Polish friend! :D

[@carpenterfamily6198]

Sorry, what was that variable beeping tone and what does it indicate ?

[@glider1232]

That is the audio indicator on the variometer (very sensitive rate of climb indicator, that is compensated for aircraft movement so they know what the air around them is doing). Basically, the higher, faster it beeps, the greater the rising air and the better opportunity to climb.

[@JELB1960]

Well shot and excellently edited video. Love the different angles / perspectives. And what a great day for gliding. Liked and subbed.

[@WORRO]

What an awesome video. Thank you for sharing! Thumb's up~John

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

This might be my favorite episode ever, actually. I wish it received more love.

[@randomkid2877]

Where are my fellow members here?

[@jasonargyropoulos2674]

Plan on doing any more glider videos??

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Probably sometime, maybe this summer. Glad it sounds like you enjoyed :)

[@jasonargyropoulos2674]

Awesome! Recently found your channel and I really like how you do your videos but gliders are what I want to get into. Never flown a plane before and hoping to get to at least once this year.

[@Failincorporations]

Did he fainted? it kind of looks like he did

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Lol no, but I was worried the first time I watched the video!

[@gamerzhistory2621]

do g forces experienced on roller coaster feel the same on a plane

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Yes, but more fun ;) The big difference is that because there are no rails, everything is much much smoother.

[@jacobforsterrothbart]

I like this one!

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

That's probably my favorite episode ever :)

[@samlutz5075]

were they taking off on a taxiway?

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

+Sam Lutz The sailplanes use a short (700ft) "starter strip" that parallels the runway. Since gliders can lift off the ground much sooner than powered aircraft, that's all they need! All soaring operations are offset parallel to the runway as to not interfere with the normal traffic pattern. Good question!

[@samlutz5075]

ok cool thanks for replying!

[@StevieMoore]

I never got any parachutes when I went up.

[@jayerjavec]

Great video, thanks for sharing the experience! One question, which type is that? I see one Blanik but others are a mystery to me. Thanks.

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

It's a Puchaz. Polish, just like me :)

[@jayerjavec]

Slav brother then ;) Myself flew DG500 from Elan and Blanik of course, the legendary sailplane.

[@pilotsammy]

what are the tow planes?

[@gablebug]

piper pawnees

[@gablebug]

did he pass out on the loop

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

+Rakesh Allen Nah. I was worried for a second too, but it looks like he was just having a good time. Alex loves adrenaline rushes, like scuba diving, skiing, and roller-coasters.

[@gablebug]

Ok

[@henrikcarlsen1881]

The good ol' howling Puchacz. I schooled in one of those. They got dropped right in sink air.

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Haha you guys have such a great community, I love it!

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

The Nerdy Approach I wish I knew more about the sailplanes to tell you! Sorry! I hope somebody else will see your comment and answer.

[@juhakettunen7971]

Hi, a glider pilot with experience on both K21 and Puch here! You are correct, the 21 doesn't even get into a proper spin unless CG is right at the rear limit. Puchaz on the other hand is a perfect example of a "classical" spin behaviour. It willingly goes into a spin when provoked but gives ample warning before doing so, it doesn't "sneak up" on you. Pull into a stall and give rudder, it spins. Do a coordinated turn and stall, it drops the nose in a banked attitude but doesn't spin. Do a slipping turn and stall, it spins. The spin is very stable and predictable, standard recovery takes half a turn and 150-ish feet of altitude. I fondly remenber my FI course, we would lose three miles of altitude in a spin during one day (several flights, of course). Friendly Sky Films: Thank you for these videos! I'm especially enjoying how you interact with passangers of varying experience.

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Juha Kettunen So glad you're enjoying the channel! Thanks for the thoughtful comment :)

[@Echin0idea]

You can actually buy a "spin kit" for the K21, with ballast weights that you bolt into the tail, to allow it to spin for the purposes of spin training.

[@UltimateMTB]

Wow! What a coincidence, I was there just two weeks before, taking my first flight lesson!

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

The aviation world is a very small one ;) Next time you're headed over there and the weather is nice, shoot me an email :)

[@UltimateMTB]

Friendly Skies Film haha yeah, it sure is! I'll definitely be sure to send you an email next time I'm out there in good weather!

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

I look forward to it :)

[@HeliPadUSA]

An excellent video...not sure why it has a thumbs down. Very nice!

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Thank you :) As my channel has grown, I guess I've just accumulated the few haters out there that every channel has. This is one of my favorites, though!

[@craighermle7727]

I belonged to that club when it was located in Pepperell, Mass.

[@csmihaly]

I would love to fly with him.

[@aperson6408]

You said holy cow too many times

[@FriendlySkiesFilm]

Probably because I told him not to swear :P