[Bob Kuczewski]

I have a Friend/Pilot wo says what We all feel to be. He says that He just loves to Fly. But when I bring up launching from a Mountain and having a Flight, hopefully a nice long Flight. Yes going on an XC Flight. His response tpo Flying XC is a dreadful one. But You are your spending time in the Air. My friend responds talking about launching from a Mountain and Flying XC as a Dirty thing. I told Him that: "You say that You just love to be up in the Air Flying" I responded by sayin: "You know You have the Mental attributes that an X-C Pilot should have to help enable Him or Her to Fly X-C routes". Yo just simply love to be up in the air Flying. For We have all been Flying X-C routes, When we are getting quite low, so low that We must consider that dreaded option This option is one that none of us want to consider, That is: "TO LAND!" I know I just typed a Four letter Cuss Word, "LAND". Boy I sure hope that I do not getting Banned for typing a Cuss word.

I have as many of You have been. I have been Flying an X-C route where I find Myself so low that I am able to see individual birds perched upon Tree Limbs. Then I would go into that Desperation Mode. I mean I would Scratch, Scratch, Scratch My way back up. when I was Flying , and I was of say 5 Miles from a road. It was time to stop looking at Birds Perched upon Tree-Limbs, and Climb back up. "BECAUSE I JUST LOVE TO FLY!"

I'm not sure about your friend, but I'll give you my own perspective on XC.

First, I think everyone should pursue the kinds of flying that they enjoy. If you love flying XC (cross country), then that's what you should pursue. There's no need to argue about whether you prefer Ginger or Mary Ann. Find what you like and pursue it.

Now for me, I just like being in the air. So I make choices to maximize my time in the air on any given flight. So I tend to stay where I find the most reliable sources of lift. I use the rule "never leave lift to find lift", and I hear myself repeating that when I'm tempted to stray.

Now I also understand boredom and the desire to push yourself. But pushing limits means that you will sometimes bump into those limits (literally). That's a risk that I don't feel the need to push. So rather than looking longingly at where I might want to be, I try to appreciate where I already am. It's a little bit of "Love the one you're with" applied to lift.  

Now there is another aspect of XC flying that also deserves some discussion, and that's the danger of not having a suitable landing zone when you need one. But I'll pass on that discussion for now other than to say that I like knowing that I have a safe landing area within the glide limits of my glider.

[Chris McKeon]

{HEADING HOME}

Well, the way I see it, we are all in the same situation. For We al seem to have an unadulterated love For Free-Flight. Free -Flight. those two words speak Volumes. I mean Who does not feel free when They take Flight? Heck even when I flew almost every Week-End, I felt a sense of Raw-Relief each time I took to the Air. I can only imagine How I will feel when I return to the Sky! So Here is My Future Flight possibility. X and I talked today. We are both going to keep an eye on the Predictions for the Weather. Well we will exchange ideas as to if and which day We should try to get My But in the Air. I will keep You guys in the loop regarding how My Quest to return Home is developing. My Home by the way is up n the Sky!

[Chris McKeon]

Well "FLIGHT FANS" In Just two more Days, I will once more take Flight! That is that dreaded aspect to achieving Flight does not rear it's Ugly Head. I do mean that it's Head is Ugly. Good Judgement killed My last opportunity that I had to Fly.

But this Saturday, or this Sunday. Good Judgement be dammed, I am going to fly! It has been t=Twelve Years Three Months since I last Flew. I am bouncing off the walls.

[Chris McKeon]

LANDING OUT, NO PROBLEM.

OK, I will address two of the age old issues that Confront us HG Pilots. One is When Flying an X route where We would need to compromise our route regarding where We would Fly, based on conditions that if We were to land out We would have a Heck of a Time getting our Glider to the nearest road. That is why I am interested in that Short Pack post Short Packing. FOR WHEN I am in an XC situation where the Clouds say; {CO THIS WAY}. I want to go to where I feel the Best lift might be. Under the Clouds! Then if I have the capability to short Pack My Predator. So be it I would simply short Pack My Predator. Then start wheeling My Predator to a Road.

[Chris McKeon]

I mean I so want to be able to Fly wih an Headset. So that I can Fly My Predator while I listen great Music, Any ideas out there?


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zx4CwKV20Yc

[Chris McKeon]

Ginger or Mary Ann; Well Why not, either would be nice.

FLYING: I just saw it this way. I had My first HG Flights at a Beach down in New Zealand back in January of 1991. I came back to The US after spending like three Months down in New Zealand. I came Home and Continued My quest to Fly. My first Glider was an Wills-Wing 225 Falcon. My second Glider was an Altair Predator! Predator, ewhat can be said about a 158 Predator? The Predator is hands down no race the greatest Hang Glider that was ever made. All I can say is; You can not Argue with Success. What a Bird! I love My Predator, thank You John for designing this an incredible Wing.

Oh regarding who was hotter Mary-Ann, or Ginger? Really I see it as an non-contest deal. Mary Ann!

[Bill Cummings]

My recommendation is to put the music on the back burner and ready radio communication between yourself and your instructor. Once you have determined that your abilities are satisfactory figure out the music hookup.

[JoeF]

While flying, it might be best to be 100% open to hearing:
Urgent sounds from the wing.
Sounds from other aircraft.
Thunder
Vario sounds
Nuances from the sub-conscious
Changes in airspeed
Emergency sounds from the environment below
Self-speak as one keeps watch over all flight matters

[Chris McKeon]

https://ushawks.org/forum/viewtopic.php ... =10#p31638

Instructor, Instructor, INSTRUCTOR You Say? I find Myself being discredited as a Pilot. I want to say, this id for those of You who ddo not know Me. i have Flown since January of 1991. I will state here on this Forum that I Fly fairly well. So please no more comments belittling My Pilot Proficiency. In 29 Years of Flying, I had one Very Bad Day! So Please do not write me off. I have already been written off By My Kaiser Doctors. Trust Me, being written of as a {Potato} sucks!

[Chris McKeon]

Sorry about those Spieling errors. I sort of hit the wrong Keys.