Communications

Student #5: “Student #5 is over Blue Roofs* at 1000 meters” (* Blue roofs is the ground Marker that gives the most Westerly limit that Post-Solo Student was allowed to reach from Base Field Torino Aeritalia ICAO code LIMA before they had their license and it’s about 5 km from LIMA).

Glider Base: “Really?! Then who’s the Ka21 at 2500 mt. over Monte Civrari*?” (a 2300 mt tall Mountain 25 km west from LIMA)

Student#5: “huuu, Glider Base, please repeat transmission?”

Glider Base (not really): “Look toward Colle del Lys. I’m on the DG500, and I can read your Registration Fabry; now head back to the field Land and wait at the field till I come back”.

Student #5: “Rgr that, will comply.”

One hour after that, I was at the field waiting for my CFIG Carlo Grinza return, wondering what my punishment might consist of, certainly I was bound not to fly the club’s glider for some time. The DG500 entered the pattern, and I was ready on the ground with our little stripped-down FIAT Panda car to tow them back to the hangar after landing.

Carlo: “Never do that again, do not lie to me ever, I’m responsible of your flights till you get the Ticket and there is a reason why I set Students Limitations.”

Fabry:”I know, but I’ve couldn’t resist I have 50 hrs and the Master CFIG examiner for the final test keep delaying his availability, those Cu over the Mountains were irresistible”.

Carlo:” I know how you feel, and I was observing you earlier from a distance, your Ridge Soaring was safe and correct, and your Transitions from ridge to thermaling over the ridge were executed with a good safety margin. I know you can do it, but Ka21 are for training, not for XC. They need to be available for Training and Commercial flights; you will not use a Ka21 solo till I say so; if you want to fly for a longer time and further than Blue Roof, you can pass the Club’s Ka6Cr”.

Fabry:” But it’s a wood and fabric 1956 piece of junk. No one wants to fly it; everyone knows that with a 28:1 Glide ratio, you can’t fly XC!”

Carlo:” You have no idea what you’re talking about! No better time than now to do your first flight in it; air is smooth, I’ll help you pull it out the hangar, we’ll do the ground training, and I’ll tow you with the Stinson”.

Thirty minutes later I was strapped on the very cramped Cockpit of this Vintage Glider, giving the Ok to the wing runner, the Stinson released the brakes, and I was surprised to have such a good aileron response from very low speed, the tail was easy to lift and balance on the main wheel wasn’t an issue at all, tow was very easy due to a previously unexperienced by me immediate and crisp control response.

I was the last glider out for the day enjoying the last part of a late spring soaring day ("The glass-out" as John calls it) when after 5pm thermals become wide and smooth and Mountain shadows project themselves deep down on the valleys, I was now feeling ashamed that I had underestimated the Ka6, it was my first time in a single-seater, even if it’s vintage the Ka6 is a Racing thoroughbred, feeling alive to my control inputs, no delays typical of a two-seater trainer, the climb performances and feeling was just unbelievable for me at that time, I had no doubt in my mind, with this machine if I find a thermal I WILL center it and Core it, while in a Ka21 was kind hit and miss due to the slow response.

Surprisingly even acceleration was good, the 28:1 Glide ratio was never a real problem because when you have such good control authority and swift acceleration you learn to use the top of the thermal to gain speed instead of climbing and slingshot yourself out of the thermal at high speed to penetrate the surrounding downdraft.

I did my FAI Silver Badge in the KA6Cr I-EDEC and later I’ve purchased a Ka6E as my first glider which I used for my Gold Badge and Regional Club Class Contests; my flying buddies had Libellees, Cirrus, ASW-15, yes, I was somewhat slower in glides, but I was able to almost always get to the same thermals and regain time with my climb performances.

I’m sharing this just hoping to explain something that it’s hard to believe till you experience it yourself, Single seat 15m competition gliders, even 60 years old ones, are very different than trainers or shorter winged Light gliders like Pw-5 or 1-26; they inspire much more confidence, and they let you finally free to learn soaring instead of struggling to fly the glider, and when I moved to the ASW-19, I was surprised once again of how much more of a performer it is compared to my old Ka6.

This is difficult to experience in a small club, and honestly, I know hard to believe, but it is the unlocking key to the best human flight form that there is; it’s in our hands, the very few Glider Pilots among the already small Pilot population to protect it and help other non-initiated pilots to approach it, seems normal to us but let me remind you that even the least experienced pilot among us is still performing the magic to safely and effectively fly an aircraft with no engine using the Power of Nature to boost its performances, how incredible is that?

Let's do this more in 2023!

Thanks

Fabrizio "Fabry" Di Stefano CFI-G