Freedom's Wings Glider/Sailplane
I don't know who is adding more features to this website but whatever programme is being used, it's a pain in the butt to post pictures and post, period. Now we have a choice when choosing pictures of small, large, extra large, center, left, right, to position the photograph. Better we have fewer choices and an easier programme to deal with here. This is a glider. Some people may not know what a glider or sailplane looks like; some do. It is towed by a 'tow' plane (which J usually flies) and two men run the wings until such time as the rope is stretched tight on the tow plane. Then the tow plane revs up, slowly takes off and the glider, because it is lighter, ascends higher than the tow plane at first. This can present danger to the tow plane because if the glider begins to rise too quickly and is not properly controlled, the nose of the tow plane can then be forced down and a serious accident can occur. The tow plane heads to the ground. Nearly did two Saturdays ago when J was flying the tow plane, this happened.. A young student from Hong Kong did not latch the plexiglass canopy down properly, it flew up on take off, he momentarily lost control of the glider and quickly, J realized there was a problem He had his hand on the rope release in the tow plane but tried to get the young chap up high enough so that he could glide to the ground and at 5oo ft. released the glider. The young man landed in a field near the airstrip and J made it back down without incident. Many who watched it had their hearts in their mouths anticipating an accident with the tow plane. I could have been a widow. The young man could have died had J not managed to fly the plane high enough to release him and a family in Hong Kong could have been without a son.
Rosey
posted by RoseyP @ 3:28 PM
10 Comments:
Wow, sure glad it turned out all right, Rosey. Big hugs. Lavinia
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How scary that would have been for all involved, Rosey. Glad it all turned out OK in the end. Hugs, Fran
Thanks Fran and Lavinia. J is off towing at the club again today and he went off with the lecture that he did not have to try and save every young pilot who was careless and not well trained. I know everyone has to learn how to fly but not at the expense of the tow pilot and believe me, there have been some very bad towing accidents from which there has been a serious loss of life. While I know and support his passion for flying, I don't want to pick up his bones from the runway.
Rosey
That was scary.At one time didn't himself talk of buying a glider with a motor? Still can't get my head around that one.
Oh Rosey - that was tooooo scary but glad everything turned out OK. What can I say - boys and their toys! At least as quilters we only risk cutting out fingers or running them over with the sewing machine.
You know, keeping track of a nearly 77 year-old retired pilot, tow pilot/glider pilot is almost a full time job when he falls in the bathtub as he did last week or trips over wires at the glider club not looking where he was going. He towed all week-end, telling me that it would take his mind off his pain, which I'm assuming it would do, but today, I believe he's hit critical mass and thinks he's broken a rib or two. His mother was a walking disaster in older age, a six feet tall womsn, which given her age and the times, she was tall but I'll swear she never knew where her feet were going...she was black and blue from her shins down in older age and I suspect her youngest son appears to be following in her footsteps if you'll pardon the pun. I'm just hoping the accident-proness happens on the ground from now on. Thanks for all your kind words...I'm living with the proverbial absent minded professor.
Rosey
I've been preoccupied with a lot of family "stuff" for the last few weeks. Came back to the BB for some light relief yesterday, only to find that Jock has been flirting with death again and causing his wife more anxiety.... So pleased that no one was hurt in the accident. It could have been very nasty.
"Old age" seems to be bringing all sorts of unexpected problems to those of us in that age bracket! Falling is just one of them ! Falling is just one of them.
unnecessary repetition seems to be another .....!
Thanks for the chuckle, Marion. Himself took himself off to the hospital at noon...he did look rather grey and in pain. He was eventually seen, had an X-ray taken, nothing broken, it appears at the moment, though the X-rays were inconclusive?? No punctured spleen, lungs, lots of bruising and he came home with Neoproxine...(pain killer?? I'll have to look this up on the internet). But the moaning that is going on may or may not supercede the injury. I am to keep the pup (1 yr) from jumping on himself. I can see that had I agreed, I would have been dancing attendance following the pup everywhere where himself is lying down. Quickly squashed, I suggested he fend for himself. Yelping when the pup lands near his injury, I suggested only encourages the pup who thinks you're part of the pack and playing. Dogs respond to yelping. I may sound a bit insensitive but this sort of thing happens frequently enough that I know the routine and the first order of business, is to watch where you are walking; get out of the bathtub by not sitting on the edge with a wet bottom which is likely to slip sideways back into the tub. This is the same person who for thirty years transported passengers safely across land and sea and oceon.
Rosey
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