Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2015/06/07
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Douglas, That launch system sounds like a lot of fun, but with a potential collision if the cable should break. I had one glider ride, many years ago, but it was an airplane tow. The sailplanes now being produced are a far cry from the gliders I first encountered in the late 1940s. The materials are much lighter, and the finishes are so smooth that they appear very delicate. Jim Nichols Tullahoma, TN USA On 6/7/2015 4:13 PM, Douglas Barry wrote: > Nice looking sailplane or glider as we call them over here. I used to > glide back in the late 60s/early 70s when there were no towed lifts in > Baldonnell aerodrome. We were at on one end of the runway with a wire > running to the back of an old stripped V8 - a chassis with seats - via > a pulley at the other end. At a signal, the V8 would move towards us, > pulling the wire through the pulley. The wire would tighten and we'd > be pulled towards him. Gradually speed was built up and we would climb > sufficiently high enough to release the cable. At that stage the V8 > would accelerate hard to maintain strain on the wire and stop it > kinking - a small drogue chute helped. Slowing was fun at the end of > the runway. > > Douglas > > > ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jim Nichols" > <jhnichols at lighttube.net> > To: "LUG at Leica-Users.org" <lug at leica-users.org>; "Olympus Camera > Discussion" <olympus at thomasclausen.net> > Sent: Sunday, June 07, 2015 3:16 AM > Subject: [Leica] IMG: After Dinner, at the Airport > > >> It was a beautiful day, so I decided to see what the late day >> activity might be at the airport. While attending a ball game, I had >> seen a Cessna towing a sailplane overhead. It seems the Civil Air >> Patrol had some checkout activity going on. I walked onto the ramp >> as the sailplane was returning to the hangar. >> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Two-Place+Sailplane+Rolling+Home.jpg.html >> >> >> >> This sailplane has a snug, two-place cockpit beneath the hinged canopy. >> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/Tandem+Cockpit.jpg.html >> >> I walked out to take a look at a visiting CAP Maule aircraft from >> Alabama. I had never seen a Maule in CAP colors. >> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/CAP+Maule.jpg.html >> >> The CAP recently purchased a group of new Cessna 172s, and there was >> one of these on the ramp. The new landing/taxi light caught my eye. >> http://www.gallery.leica-users.org/v/OldNick/New+Cessna+172+Landing+Light.jpg.html >> >> >> >> This airplane smelled new all over. Even the alternator behind the >> cooling air inlet was shiny, with no bug spatter. >> >> All with the Fuji X-E1 and 27mm Pancake lens. >> >> Comments and critiques welcomed. >> >> -- >> Jim Nichols >> Tullahoma, TN USA >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Leica Users Group. >> See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more information >