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Went to a glider club meeting this evening, after visiting 47N earlier in hopes of trying my hand at soaring (weather was a no-go; a little too convective).
Looks like I've found the perfect solution for my "gotta fly more often but  can't get a plane yet and renting or joining a powered-airplane club will take money I should be saving towards a plane" problem.

The cost of membership, dues, etc. is well under half what I'd pay to be in a club with Cessnas or whatever, you pay by the tow and the altitude you're towed to (just to cover fuel for the Citabria), not by hours; the instructor (my friend Herb, the back of whose head may be familiar to YouTube watchers) teaches for no charge, and when conditions permit, I can get stick time in the front seat of the Citabria they use for towing.

Can't fly tows until I have 100 hours in tailwheels and I believe 25 in type, but hopping in the tow plane and flying the post-release leg or whatever when someone else is going soaring would be a good way to rack up that time.

There are other fringe benefits- it's a small, very laid-back club and the members are just a mixed bag of airport bums from various backgrounds. Might get to fly some other aircraft on a casual basis from time to time, including that Breezy, which I finally got a look at tonight.

As Herb said, "you will make a home here..."

Then there's the flying itself- I'm looking forward to seeing how I do with that, and I know it will enhance my general pilot's toolbag very nicely. Soaring- wow; I've wanted to try that for years.  8-)

Should be a good summer, if I'm not away too often.

Sounds like you found the ideal place.

Wow...  that's something I've been pondering, giving a try... if I can ever get past the not having a throttle thing  :D

Keep us posted,,

Sounds like a great idea!

I've always wanted to soar, and there's a soaring club here in houston but my parents wont let me do anything!  So it'll have to wait at least 3 more years, but then I'll be done with school and working as an engineer and hopefully can find the time and money to fly, whether it be gliders or powered aircraft.

Nice one Sean!

You'll love it! Flying how it was meant to be!
Can you get winched launched as well? That's very fun!  8-)

Finally becoming a real pilot!  ;D

Any questions feel free to ask me, It'll be a pleasure to give you some insight into the wonders of non-powered flight!

Good luck,

Luke.  :)

Might this be you?



I don't think the Champ has that kind of maneuvering capability.

Is this gliding club at 47N? If so, I didn't think they did gliders out of there, just banners.

Might this be you?



I don't think the Champ has that kind of maneuvering capability.

Is this gliding club at 47N? If so, I didn't think they did gliders out of there, just banners.

LOL; someday... the Citabria ( a Champ with about 100 extra horses and aerobatic-rated structure) can do maneuvers that will put a Pawnee to shame.

Yes, these guys fly every Sunday and Tuesday at 47N, and sometimes in between. I was asking how it all works out with them, the banner guys, the ultralights, and the powered aircraft all sharing the pattern, and they said the only real problem was the transient powered-airplane pilots who come in there for fuel. Based on what I've seen myself in that pattern, I'd agree.
These guys actually fly with no radios, allthough they occasionally bring a handheld (which I will likely do as well).

You should come by Sunday and take pictures of me crashing, I mean landing the 2-33.