New to Gliders

[buick07]

I have been flying in FS9 and have been enjoying all the props and jets and helo's, how do i get the gliders to take off?  I haven't messed with the gliders because when i first got FS9 I was too excited to get into the pilot's seat.  I would like to try a glider out, and not a jet with not fuel coming in on approach...ha ha ha  ;D

[wealthysoup]

There are 2 ways you can do this that I know of.

1. Slew up to a certain height then fly from there (default key for slew is y)

2. Select a different aircraft e.g. Cessna 172 (this is a plane you will use to simulate the tow for the glider) take off then when you are at the altitude you want switch to a glider (which simulates the release from the tow aircraft.)

I think some one may know of a download that allows you to get a tow plane to actually pull you off the ground altough i've never seen anything like this.

[Jakemaster]

There are some addon gliders that have VET which simulates winch launch.  http://www.fsglider.de Has alot and some have vet technology. http://www.virtualsoaring.org/goto.html The asw28 on this page has the VET, and it is the best glider ever made for flightsim.

Hope this helps,

Jake

[Nav]

The other thing about gliding is how to stay up!

In real life (I used to do it) you have to find either thermals (up-currents of warm air) or 'waves' (up-currents formed by wind blowing on the face of a ridge). Unfortunately FS9 doesn't usually model these effects.

There are two areas where the default FS9 setup models gliding conditions. From memory, one of them is the coastline just north of the Golden Gate at San Francisco, and the other one is in Oregon somewhere (see the Learning Centre for more info.).

Alternatively you can download additional 'gliding scenarios'. Try googling 'FS2004 gliding' and you should find some, or there's a 'Glider' section here in Simviation.

The basic techniques are to fly tight circles in a thermal, or alternatively fly up and down the face of a ridge; watching the 'Rate of Climb' indicator in both cases, to make sure that you are going up and not down. Much more fun when you can find lift rather than just spiralling gently down all the time.