HIGHLIGHTS:
 

1. Two ambitious young people, Julie Butler and Daniel Solis decided a couple of months ago that they wanted to become soaring pilots. Daniel began on July 26th and Julie began on August 30th. Julie was able to come out on a very regular basis while Daniel had a few weeks between some of his first glider lessons. But they kept at it, and today, both enjoy a level of achievement not enjoyed by most of the population. There are 590,349 registered pilots in the U.S. of which 21,274 are glider pilots. So we already make up only 3.6% of the pilot population and a mere fraction of the entire U.S. population. Only 1 out of every 12,222 people in the U.S. is a glider pilot. Indeed it is a rarefied level of achievement to say the least. What's really nice about our club members is that every one of them is happy when new members solo. Egos are put aside and all of us welcome our newest solo pilots into the fold. No non-pilot can imagine the thrill of being thousands of feet in the air, piloting an aircraft 26 feet in length with a wingspan of 51 feet, and weighing 1040 lbs. And doing that all alone. You can't think of how to relate that to someone who has never flown solo. It's just too unique a level of achievement. CONGRATULATIONS JULIE AND DANIEL. WE WELCOME YOU TO THE WORLD OF SOARING PILOTS AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO SHARING THERMALS WITH YOU IN THE FUTURE.

2. I wasn't sure Julie would be ready today and she wasn't terribly anxious to solo. She was telling the truth when she remarked that when she's ready she'll probably know it. So today, after a few shakeout flights, and refreshing a few maneuvers, I knew she was ready. And just like a few students before her, she did far better on her solo flights than she ever did with me in the glider. Hmmm, ... not sure what that says about my instructional technique. But it's always a thrill for me to see my students do far better on solo because it confirms my belief that soloing early is the best boost one can get in pilot training. Confidence and command of the aircraft are the prizes for soloing and both Julie and Daniel's flight techniques will never be the same halting, unsure moves they made while I was along for the ride. Whether I'm in the back or not, their attitudes about their own command and control have changed for the better forever.

3. No reason to go into the details of Julie's flight. Morgan did an excellent job of that on a website he controls. If you're interested go to http://landseaandsky.blogspot.com/2008/11/julie-pilot.html and have fun looking at the great flights Julie made. Low launch, wings level, nice descent rate, good sharp turns downwind to base to final, smooth touchdown, and best of all, she managed the energy of the glider well enough to roll all the way back to almost the perfect point where she launched before. Now that was an impressive demonstration.

4. Doug Staudmeister was here today and originally scheduled to fly the 1-26, then changed to the Blanik when it seemed that the 1-26 wouldn't have its annual completed in time. But sure enough, Mike Schoenau and Joe Anastasio conspired to get it done before lunch time. That was great news and so instead of the Blanik, Doug flew the 1-26.

5. After lunch, Daniel Solis and I made two flights to check on his preparation because I thought Daniel might solo today as well. I wasn't totally sure because we had a few minor issues with turn method and stick rudder coordination. But those two flights after lunch confirmed that Daniel had gained proper control over those skills and we stopped after two flights in order for Daniel to take the presolo written exam, as did Julie earlier in the morning before her solo flights.

6. While Daniel was agonizing over the test, I took Lisa Dixey for her first glider ride. She didn't anticipate going because she and her sister, Amanda, were there to let Amanda's son, Anthony, go for his first ride. But, at only 7 years old, he wasn't quite prepared for the ride, and decided, after being strapped in the back seat, that he should be back with his mother, and not in some engineless aircraft way up in the sky. So Lisa went for Anthony's ride and really enjoyed the thrill of being aloft and flying without an engine.

7. As you can imagine, the day was wearing on, and getting later and later. By the time Daniel was ready to solo, the sun had nearly set behind the West Ridge. But I really wanted Daniel to solo today so off he went. He did great, and not only landed beautifully but rolled up just abeam of the tie-down area so we could put it away for the evening. It was so late that another flight was out of the question for today. Next time he comes out to Avenal, we'll finish the other two solo flights and get rid of his shirttail as well.

8. It was a fun day, and one of accomplishment for our two new solo  pilots. Next time, we'll see Julie flying alone, and Daniel completing his two remaining supervised solo flights. Then he can join other members aloft, perhaps as high as 3800 msl, searching for thermals, free of the constraint of a loud and demanding flight instructor in the back seat.