Matt Michael Posted February 17, 2014 Report Posted February 17, 2014 http://flightaware.com/live/flight/N55LK Quote
Matt Michael Posted February 17, 2014 Author Report Posted February 17, 2014 it's mountain wave soaring season Quote
Joe Zuffoletto Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 That's awesome! I've only flown a glider once. Back in 2002 all the oil went overboard in my Encore 25 miles south of Barstow-Dagget airport. Starting at 17,000' I made it all the way to Palm Springs! Quote
RocketAviator Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 That's awesome! I've only flown a glider once. Back in 2002 all the oil went overboard in my Encore 25 miles south of Barstow-Dagget airport. Starting at 17,000' I made it all the way to Palm Springs! Not the kind of gliding I want to do.... Glad it worked out! Quote
Joe Zuffoletto Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 So glider pilots, how does this work with ATC? How do you legally fly in IFR airspace above FL180 with a glider when it's not IFR-equipped, you don't really know where you're going, how long it will take, or what your altitudes will be? Quote
Matt Michael Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Posted February 18, 2014 IFR equipped, O2, block clearances from ATC. Gordon filed Minden to Rapid City, transponders both quit reporting altitude (probably due to the cold at altitude) so they were instructed to terminate at Riverton WY, transponders came back right when they reached the wave at the Wind River Range so they got clearance to Casper. Final glide to Casper now. Incredible Quote
Joe Zuffoletto Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 IFR equipped, O2, block clearances from ATC. Gordon filed Minden to Rapid City, transponders both quit reporting altitude (probably due to the cold at altitude) so they were instructed to terminate at Riverton WY, transponders came back right when they reached the wave at the Wind River Range so they got clearance to Casper. Final glide to Casper now. Incredible It really is impressive. I think O2 and a blanket would be the most important equipment to have onboard for this flight. Riverton or Casper... that's like trying to decide if you want your leg amputated just above or below the knee. Quote
carusoam Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 25k'. 200kts. If the data is correct.... Sounds like fun.... -a- Quote
chrisk Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 Does this glider have a ram jet? I can't imagine gliding over the mountains without an option to climb out. Some day I will get a glider rating. Quote
Matt Michael Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Posted February 18, 2014 They were showing 235 mph ground speed on final glide to Casper. After sitting in that thing in the cold for 10 hours anywhere is a good place to land! I did an 8 hour glider flight once and I was almost unable to walk after being lifted out of the cockpit. A truly amazing aviation accomplishment. Pioneering flight across the Rockies. New National Multi-place sailplane distance record too. 10.5 hours, 740sm Quote
TTaylor Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 Was fun watching them do the flight today. They went right over my house about halfway through the flight. Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk Quote
Joe Zuffoletto Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 My hat's off to these pilots. A very impressive feat in a part of the sky that is normally quite dangerous this time of year. Edit: The wind gods decided to prove my point! Quote
Matt Michael Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Posted February 18, 2014 http://soaringcafe.com/2014/02/gordo-and-hugh-re-set-u-s-national-multiplace-free-distance-record/ Quote
carusoam Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 Their flight suits are voluminous! -a- Quote
jlunseth Posted February 18, 2014 Report Posted February 18, 2014 I was just reading up on this about a week ago. A glider pilot who has an airplane instrument rating, can legally fly IFR even though a glider is not an "airplane" as defined in the regs. There is a special reg. on it. A glider may fly above 18,000 in class A and does not require an IFR clearance to do so, but must coordinate with ATC, so it probably works out about the same. Practically speaking, they assign an altitude block to the glider. Can't reallly file or adhere to a flight plan because who knows what your altitude is going to be, or your airspeed, or even your direction. I noticed that both Capt. Sullenburger, and the pilot of the "Gimli Glider" that someone mentioned, were glider pilots, so it looks like something to put on the list just for safety reasons, not to mention how much fun it would be! Quote
Matt Michael Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Posted February 18, 2014 If you are in a wave window which is set up semi permanently by letter of agreement you can go above 180 without an IFR clearance as long as you coordinate with ATC. These guys were on an IFR flight plan with block clearances along the route. Quote
Matt Michael Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Posted February 18, 2014 If you are in a wave window which is set up semi permanently by letter of agreement you can go above 180 without an IFR clearance as long as you coordinate with ATC. These guys were on an IFR flight plan with block clearances along the route. Quote
Matt Michael Posted February 18, 2014 Author Report Posted February 18, 2014 If you are in a wave window which is set up semi permanently by letter of agreement you can go above 180 without an IFR clearance as long as you coordinate with ATC. These guys were on an IFR flight plan with block clearances along the route. 1 Quote
AndyFromCB Posted February 19, 2014 Report Posted February 19, 2014 Amazing, simply amazing. That is a feat. All my glides were due to loss of oil pressure. I'm still here. Can I get a rating for that. Quote
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