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Post by thebfg on Oct 6, 2017 22:29:50 GMT
I signed into this 'cesspit of god's mistakes' in October 2016. The forum has been going longer, and I was a 'lurker' prior to joining up. I feel very comfortable here now, but have noticed recently that some of the regulars who's input I have enjoyed (without necessarily agreeing with) have gone quiet. Not Telemachus of course. So do the 'grown ups' feel that Thunderboat is becoming a serious boaty forum? Rog not to answer the question persay but to show the growth of the forum. one year ago there was a photo competion. with 12 entries and 23 votes. wind forward a year and the were 22 official entries, plus two withdrawn ones and within days we are at 19 votes. here's to the next year🍻🍻
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Post by Deleted on Oct 6, 2017 23:10:39 GMT
The forum is growing without doubt.
I joined a year ago as member 199. We are currently at 349 members, an additional 150 members in 12 months.
Of course, we have become aware that many of this number are 'sock puppets' or 'one offs' who never came back.
There are frequent quiet days, unfortunately, but we seem to rumble along.
I often wonder what the more technically skilled and able contributors make of the place.
Rog
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Post by flatdog on Oct 7, 2017 15:29:44 GMT
I'm an early TB joiner, unfortunately I don't own a boat - not had one for 20 odd years, but i'll be buying something in the future.
I never joined the other place as it didn't appeal.
Hardly post here which I should remedy.
Was a commercial fisherman (trawler skipper) off South Africa's south coast for many years and loved life at sea.
I regularly visit TB but as I've no real experience of narrowboats/barges or the like I don't really have any input and most of the time I'm learning rather than contributing.
…carry on.
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Post by thebfg on Oct 7, 2017 20:00:39 GMT
I'm an early TB joiner, unfortunately I don't own a boat - not had one for 20 odd years, but i'll be buying something in the future. I never joined the other place as it didn't appeal. Hardly post here which I should remedy. Was a commercial fisherman (trawler skipper) off South Africa's south coast for many years and loved life at sea. I regularly visit TB but as I've no real experience of narrowboats/barges or the like I don't really have any input and most of the time I'm learning rather than contributing. …carry on. welcome to the forum. join in, there are lots of us still learning.
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Post by Delta9 on Oct 8, 2017 19:40:51 GMT
Well, I managed to get my first glider solo done today! It turned out to be a nice day, and the club wasn't too busy. I wasn't expecting to solo today, but after getting my cable breaks done the instructor asked me to do a few silent flights (one of which was a surprise release) and then sent me solo as the sun was setting. Really chuffed with myself now. I did it after 35 launches which I'm told is quite good, it would have been 5 less if it hadn't been so bloody windy on Monday.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2017 19:52:11 GMT
Well, I managed to get my first glider solo done today! It turned out to be a nice day, and the club wasn't too busy. I wasn't expecting to solo today, but after getting my cable breaks done the instructor asked me to do a few silent flights (one of which was a surprise release) and then sent me solo as the sun was setting. Really chuffed with myself now. I did it after 35 launches which I'm told is quite good, it would have been 5 less if it hadn't been so bloody windy on Monday. Yes, there is a straight line graph which shows age vs number of launches to go solo. I'm guessing you are in your 30's or maybe late 20's? Well done,it's a great feeling when you go solo....and land safely!
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Post by Delta9 on Oct 8, 2017 19:59:55 GMT
Well, I managed to get my first glider solo done today! It turned out to be a nice day, and the club wasn't too busy. I wasn't expecting to solo today, but after getting my cable breaks done the instructor asked me to do a few silent flights (one of which was a surprise release) and then sent me solo as the sun was setting. Really chuffed with myself now. I did it after 35 launches which I'm told is quite good, it would have been 5 less if it hadn't been so bloody windy on Monday. Yes, there is a straight line graph which shows age vs number of launches to go solo. I'm guessing you are in your 30's or maybe late 20's? Well done,it's a great feeling when you go solo....and land safely! Cheers. It was a good landing too, my best of the day It's a weird feeling when you get up there and it starts to hit home that you are all alone..
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2017 20:15:54 GMT
Yes, there is a straight line graph which shows age vs number of launches to go solo. I'm guessing you are in your 30's or maybe late 20's? Well done,it's a great feeling when you go solo....and land safely! Cheers. It was a good landing too, my best of the day It's a weird feeling when you get up there and it starts to hit home that you are all alone.. I found it was a very peaceful feeling. Nothing between you and the world....well except for a 1000ft or so... In fact you might get to like it so much, you might want to stay up as long as possible (a wish which continues on later in life...ha ha)... It's a brilliant hobby, enjoy.
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Post by tomsk on Oct 8, 2017 20:58:30 GMT
I've been thinking about having a go at gliding off and on for years but never actually made the commitment for various reasons.
I will naturally do my own research, but seeing as a surprising number of Members fly I would be a Twat not to ask advice;
What very roughly speaking are the costs and realistic timeframe for a complete novice to gain their ticket (completely subjective I know)?
Looking at the BGA site I see four clubs within striking distance, two of which make the most appeal on paper, Yorkshire GC at Thirsk or Wolds at Pocklington.
Has anyone any knowledge of these clubs and their facilities with regard to Instruction or would I be better off travelling a little further?
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 8, 2017 21:08:26 GMT
Well, I managed to get my first glider solo done today! It turned out to be a nice day, and the club wasn't too busy. I wasn't expecting to solo today, but after getting my cable breaks done the instructor asked me to do a few silent flights (one of which was a surprise release) and then sent me solo as the sun was setting. Really chuffed with myself now. I did it after 35 launches which I'm told is quite good, it would have been 5 less if it hadn't been so bloody windy on Monday. Excellent, well done. And 35 launches from scratch is pretty good, or had you done some flying previously? Your career in Gliding is only just starting though, there is far more to learn, more skills to develop, than you have done so far - and consequentially more satisfaction to be gained!
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Post by Delta9 on Oct 8, 2017 21:14:13 GMT
I've been thinking about having a go at gliding off and on for years but never actually made the commitment for various reasons. I will naturally do my own research, but seeing as a surprising number of Members fly I would be a Twat not to ask advice; What very roughly speaking are the costs and realistic timeframe for a complete novice to gain their ticket (completely subjective I know)? It has cost me about £430 and three weeks to get to solo. I did a day course for £125 which gave me 7 launches and 2 months club membership. Flying as a club member it has cost £9 per winch launch and 35p for every minute in the air. I did my day course on 14th October, so still have a month of membership left. To become a full member is £420 per year.
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Post by Delta9 on Oct 8, 2017 21:18:53 GMT
Well, I managed to get my first glider solo done today! It turned out to be a nice day, and the club wasn't too busy. I wasn't expecting to solo today, but after getting my cable breaks done the instructor asked me to do a few silent flights (one of which was a surprise release) and then sent me solo as the sun was setting. Really chuffed with myself now. I did it after 35 launches which I'm told is quite good, it would have been 5 less if it hadn't been so bloody windy on Monday. Excellent, well done. And 35 launches from scratch is pretty good, or had you done some flying previously? Your career in Gliding is only just starting though, there is far more to learn, more skills to develop, than you have done so far - and consequentially more satisfaction to be gained! Cheers. I'd had a few flights in a Chipmunk as a kid with the air cadets and a few short lessons in an ultralight about 8 years ago, so pretty much a complete beginner. Next step, I think, is converting to the k8. I'm Looking forward to flying something so tiny.
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 8, 2017 21:22:12 GMT
I've been thinking about having a go at gliding off and on for years but never actually made the commitment for various reasons. I will naturally do my own research, but seeing as a surprising number of Members fly I would be a Twat not to ask advice; What very roughly speaking are the costs and realistic timeframe for a complete novice to gain their ticket (completely subjective I know)? Looking at the BGA site I see four clubs within striking distance, two of which make the most appeal on paper, Yorkshire GC at Thirsk or Wolds at Pocklington. Has anyone any knowledge of these clubs and their facilities with regard to Instruction or would I be better off travelling a little further? Well firstly, there is currently no "ticket" for gliding. A licence is not required to fly a glider in the UK. If you mean to go solo (which is only the tinyest beginning) then it will depend quite a bit on your age. We recently got a 15 year old solo after 27 launches. A 65 year old is likely to take 100+ launches and in fact may never go solo. Then there is the type of launching. Winch launches are fairly cheap and give you more takeoffs and landings for your money, but typically less airborne time, whereas aerotows are more expensive but you get more time at altitude to master flying around in a low stress environment. I suppose a good compromise is aerotows to start with to get the hang of flying generally, then winch launches to master the more difficult bit where the ground is in close proximity. Some clubs have both launching methods, but not all. generally gliding is not particularly expensive in money terms, but it is in time terms. Nearly all gliding clubs are run by volunteers (which is why it is cheap) and one is expected to spend time helping out with all the necessary things - hooking on cables and holding wings at the launch point, retrieving landed gliders etc. Unlike power flying, it is not the case that you pitch up, have a briefing, go flying, have a debrief and then go home. But then power flying is MUCH more expensive. Gliding costs are club membership, launch costs and per minute flying time. Instruction is normally free, provided by volunteers. Clubs have their costs on their websites. Ive never been to Pocklington but I think it's a fairly flat site? Good in summer (thermals) but no good in winter, I suspect. Yorkshire GC is on top of Sutton Bank and I suggest is therefore a better bet for the winter as there is plenty of hill soaring to be had, to keep you airborne in winter whilst you are mastering flying.
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Post by Telemachus on Oct 8, 2017 21:25:04 GMT
I've been thinking about having a go at gliding off and on for years but never actually made the commitment for various reasons. I will naturally do my own research, but seeing as a surprising number of Members fly I would be a Twat not to ask advice; What very roughly speaking are the costs and realistic timeframe for a complete novice to gain their ticket (completely subjective I know)? It has cost me about £430 and three weeks to get to solo. I did a day course for £125 which gave me 7 launches and 2 months club membership. Flying as a club member it has cost £9 per winch launch and 35p for every minute in the air. I did my day course on 14th October, so still have a month of membership left. To become a full member is £420 per year. Blimey, must be a Southern club at that price! Our club is £168 per year! But then that's a pretty short timeframe for you so they must be well set up with full time instructors and winch drivers. Ed: oh I think you said it was Shennington earlier.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2017 21:26:49 GMT
I've been thinking about having a go at gliding off and on for years but never actually made the commitment for various reasons. I will naturally do my own research, but seeing as a surprising number of Members fly I would be a Twat not to ask advice; What very roughly speaking are the costs and realistic timeframe for a complete novice to gain their ticket (completely subjective I know)? Looking at the BGA site I see four clubs within striking distance, two of which make the most appeal on paper, Yorkshire GC at Thirsk or Wolds at Pocklington. Has anyone any knowledge of these clubs and their facilities with regard to Instruction or would I be better off travelling a little further? It varies a bit.There will be a membership fee. Some clubs offer free membership for a few months to encourage you after trial flight. Membership at the most expensive club I know might be around £700 p/a. Then you pay for your launch. That might range from £5-9 for a winch, or £20 to £50 for an aerotow to get higher . Smart cookies launch when there is a lot of lift around (puffy white clouds, wind in right direction for hill soaring or wave). Then release from aerotow ASAP and use nature! You also might be charged for the hours in the air using a club glider. Typically £30 per hour. It's not a cheap hobby but if you help out a lot with experience/corporate flights you should get some reciprocal help to cut down cost.
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