Glider experience with the
Text & pictures : Serge Van Heertum - S.B.AP. ©
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End of September, I have had the opportunity to live a flying day with the Belgian Air Cadets. After the various important briefings, like meteo and safety, I received also the needed explanations to perform the differents manipulations. How to move the gliders and very important how to lock the towing cable to both planes.
Gliding
activities are a real teamwork and after many rotations, my turn arrived
to make a flight.
My plane was the PL89, a glider from the firm GROB Germany.
The splendid Grob 103 Twin Astir II was awaiting me to show off the real pleasure of
non motorised flight.
After this experience and the other flights of the day, time was come to put the gliders back in their hangar.
As within every squadron after the flights, time was there to have a drink and talk about the experiences and impressions of this day.
It was a valuable experience wich was made possible due the invitation of the COMOPSAIR IPR team.
More than text and explanations, a photographic overview will bring you the joy of a gliding day.
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| Safety briefing | How to attach the towing cable to the plane... | ...and the glider |
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| The towing plane : Piper L21b Super Cub | ||
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| AMS-Flight DG-505 Elan Orion | Grob G.103 Twin Astir II |
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| Grob G.103 Twin Astir II, total elegance | Take off |
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| Ready, awaiting the towing | towing aircraft comes in position | Here we go ! |
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| Cable disengaged, we are free with the wind | Towing plane bringing back the cable for the next towing |
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| Magic of flight | Tienen area | Freedom !! |
 Downwind at Goetsenhoven airbase |
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| On final... | ||
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| The next flight is going up | Landing in the late afternoon |
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Eddy
"Bink" Kellens, the Belgian Air Component photographer... ...on the other side of the camera ! |