WOW OMG FLYING 217 MILES IN 400 POUND GLIDER CROSS-COUNTY IN 5 HOURS BY ROY DAWSON VIDEO

This was my best flight ever in a low-performance glider. The flight was 350km or about 217 miles. I took off at 1pm and landed by a TSA at 6pm.
This video is about flying The PW-5 glider. This glider makes an excellent cross-country trainer. Our glider club, Texas Soaring Association (TSA) located in Midlothian Texas which is one hour drive south of Dallas Texas. The flight was 3 hrs and about 100 miles back to TSA. The glider rents for about $21 per hr.
The PW-5 was designed for and won a competition held by the International Gliding Commission for a simple, low-cost sailplane that would form the basis for a new competition class, the IGC World Class. Unlike other, soaring competition classes, the World Class designation would guarantee that all pilots participated on an equal footing and that pilots could not gain an advantage by spending large amounts of money.
General characteristics: PW-5
• Crew: One • Length: 6.22 m (20 ft 5 in)
• Wingspan: 13.44 m (44 ft 1 in) • Height: 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in)
• Wing area: 10.2 m2 (109.8 ft2) • Aspect ratio: 17.71
• Empty weight: 190 kg (419 lb) • Gross weight: 300 kg (661 lb)
Performance • Maximum speed: 220 km/h (140 mph)
• Maximum glide ratio: 32 • Rate of sink: 0.65 m/s (128 ft/min)
The Texas Soaring Association (TSA) is a non-profit corporation devoted to motorless flight. Established in 1947, the club is located 15 minutes south of Midlothian, Texas, which is itself at the southern edge of the Dallas/Fort Worth area. The club is maintained and operated by the voluntary efforts of its more than 200 members. The club operates from its own airfield and owns six single and four two-place sailplanes, plus four Pawnee tow planes. TSA operates year-round on most flyable Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. The club also operates on an unscheduled basis on other weekdays when the flying weather is really good!
Why learn to fly gliders?
The Wright brothers knew that the way to get into aviation was through gliders. Their experiments in design and practical application in flying gliders helped them to understand the complexities of powered flight. If you are new to aviation, learning to fly gliders provides basic skills valuable to any aviation pursuit.
If you are an experienced pilot, you could join the rank of glider pilots such as Steve Fossett, Neil Armstrong, Chesley Sullenberger, and many other renowned aviators. Flying sailplanes may re-introduce you to the joy of basic flight which doesn’t require noisy, gas-guzzling engines or complicated technology to fly.
#gliding #soaring #sailplane #glider #aviation #globalgliding #flying #gliderpilot #pilot #plane #sailplanepilot #asw20

[@lautoka63]

Nice video, Roy and a good flight. The PW-5 may be considered a low performance glider nowadays, but it's about the equivalent of the 1960s design wooden K-6, which was lovely to fly. These lighter gliders do let you feel the sky more. You're absolutely right about releasing immediately if you lose sight of the towplane; there are regular (though not frequent) towpilot fatalities from being kited into the ground.

[@flygliders]

That’s a real good response. I appreciate your feedback

[@lautoka63]

@@flygliders Thank you. It also says I must be getting on, as I've been flying gliders since those were the standard machines in clubs!

[@flygliders]

Thanks for sharing. Roy

[@lynnwyman2005]

Good video, Roy. I miss those great soaring days at TSA. I have flown the TSA PW gliders there. Now live in Washington state and fly a Mini LAK fesl (electric self launch).

[@lautoka63]

Do you like the mini-Lak? Asking in case I win the lottery.

[@gtpyyz]

Beautiful flight...thumbs up.

[@flygliders]

Thanks for the positive feedback

[@redbearrc6706]

Awesome. I am watching your videos because I want to understand how you fly the 1:1 gliders. Especially flying into thermals and stay in it for a while and what speed and flap setting you fly in and out thermals. I can not find a good video of that. I know it depends on the glider. I also see you working hard with the rudder. I have never seen that on other video's. Is that because the glider needs these inputs? Thanks for your explanation

[@sdssteward]

Good stuff my friend ! :)

[@TomaszPoz]

Good flight 👍