Simviation Forums

Hey, im sure theres some of you out there.  I'd like to hear some of your stories from Glider or Power.  For those of you that don't know Canada has a training program where you can go through cadets and get your glider and or Pirvate Liceance for free with no repayment to the program.  In the Glider program we use the good old SGS-2-33-A a metal and fabric glider from the 60's-70's.  Each year each region holds the scholarship at their gliding school, i attended the pacific region school located in Canadian Forces Base Comox.  In B.C. we have 11 gliders and 6 tow planes i believe, 5 towplanes (Ex-RCAF Cessna L-19 Birddogs) and 9 Gliders were used.  Now after 30 odd years these gliders are starting to show their age.  one glider needs left rudder applied at all times to fly staight, another one had one wing replaced which is for some reason heavier than the other so it only spins to the left, not to the right, if you try and spin to the right it just stalls and falls.  The once stressed skin of the wings is now kinda wrinkly and has dents from the inside out, if anyone knows what causes that please let me know.  but the best story i have is when i looked out of the plane right before my 17th solo and both ailerons on the tug were down, the pilot got out pushed the aileron back into the proper position then did a control test and radio'd me saying "sorry it just does that when were on the ground sometimes, don't worry" that was a nervious air tow to say the least.

I'm not Canadian, but I flew Grob. Vikings with the British ATC . I only had a few flights before school work forced me out of the Cadets, so I don't really have too many stories to tell .

For a couple of years now, I've watched the Cadets work up to their wings at Courtenay Airpark, while they take their PPL.  I have also been over to Comox to observe some of the launch and landings which go on, although sadly, the obvious next step of thermal soaring is rarely done with the new trainees....

Unfortunately defence cuts have meant the Royal Air Force flying scholarship has been cut from 40hrs (old ppl), to 30, then to 20 (as like when I did it), to more recently 0hrs. Yes, none...

Nice to see the government supporting the pilots of tomorrow.

Charlie