OCR Text |
Show i i Wednesday, July -C- OALITION 17, 1974 Story and Photos by Scott Nelson Heber about 1:30, towed to the ridge and cut off at 7,800 feet. I hit 800 feet per minute lift and climbed to 12,000 feet, moved up the ridge a bit and climbed to 14.000 feet over the pines. I headed off toward lamas, following a cloud street with good lift and maintained 14,000 foot altitude. I was tempted to head farther east to the Uintas, but would have had to buck too strong a headwind coming back. I decided against it and instead headed back to Heber, arriving just east of Deer Creek. My attempt to fly over Timpanogos was thwarted by turbulence, so instead I flew over Alta, Brighton, and Park City, thermalingalong the way to maintain altitude. I managed to 16,500 feet at one time and was on oxygen most of the 4 hours I was airborne. So spoke Bob Matheny last weekend in describing his just completed flight in a home-buiexperimental wooden Cherokee sailplane. He is but one of many licensed glider pilots in this area who, each day, are discovering the thrill known previously to eagles and other soaring birds . On any weekend, Bobs experience would be just about average for any flight flown in a high performance sailplane. Of course, there are others who will get higher and go farther, and some that will never get above 8,000 or 9,000 feet. Successs in glider flying is dependent upon a combination of skill and luck, with each playing an almost equal part. You can never be absolutely certain of just where and when you can find lift, although by experience you have a good idea of where to look. Even experience can fool you at times, for the most peaceful days have at times yielded g lift, while a cumulus-fille- d sky has produced nothing but down currents. Lee Stewart can attest to this. He currently holds the state altitude record of 27,200 feet. Ironically, his record flight was made on a deceptively smooth clear day when I took off from lt record-breakin- r other pilots felt it was not worth flying. The Heber Valley, just south of Park City, is one of the best soaring areas in the country. Every favorable lift condition can be found there at different times of the year. The soaring center has been there for about 8 years and is presently run by Larry Winterton, a man with enough patience and experience to teach even me to fly. The last few months have been an awakening for me; an awakening to the power and complexity of the weather, and the total thrill and joy of soaring. When your e at 10 or 12.000 feet and stop to think, Okay, just how did I get here, it can be quite a shock when you realize it was nothing more than warm air rising, the design of your plane, and your skill. In soaring, you become so much a part of your aircraft. You actually feel like a bird. There are no sounds to contend with, only the rushing wind and your own breathing. It can be a very beautiful experience. You know you are doing something right when you look out the cockpit window and see a hawk or an eagle soaring beside you in the same thermal. Its happened to me. You know he isnt there hunting. Hes out for a good time, just as you are. When every attempt to find lift has failed, you can be sure that if there are any gulls, hawks, or eagles in the area, they will find the lift if it is there. Look for them; many times they have saved the day for a pilot losing altitude. It would be nice to think that in a sport as pure as soaring we could remain free from machines. Unfortunately, we cant. We need some way to ties to polluting piston-drive- n get off the ground. Although auto tow and winch launch are possible, in Heber the Aero Tow is the common way of becoming airborne. Aero Tow is a cross between formation flying and water skiing. Anyone who has ever shot outside the wake of the tow boat on skis will know what I mean when he first attempts to follow the tow plane. You wouldnt believe how little coordination you have on your first few flights, at least I didnt. You quickly learn, and before you know it, you will actually find yourself enjoying tow. Once free of the tow plane, its a whole new world. Your variometer shows lift and a tightly banked turn into it will immediately show as an increase on your altimeter. Youre on your own! From now on, everything you do will be a coordinated move designed to lift you higher and higher. Before you know it, you will be at 14,000 feet, where the FAA requires the use of oxygen. Use it, for gross errors in pilot judgment have been made at these altitudes without oxygen . Upon reaching your desired altitude, be it 16,000 or 10,000 feet, you are free to fly y around or head off on a flight. Always have some idea of where you are going. Dont just head off into the wild blue yonder. Plan your flight and weigh the possibility of error and bad weather. Youll enjoy it much more if you dont have to worry about whether or not youll make it back. Believe it or not, half the fun of soaring is telling others about it when you get back to the field. cross-countr- to turn you on to soaring. Hes got some fine inLarry Winterton is structors working for him: Buck, Phil, Jerry, Dave, and Kent. Youll enjoy learning from any of them. Larry has soaring flights, demonstration rides, and instruction available for all licenses; in fact, his is one of only two glider schools in the country approved for VA instruction. The Utah Soaring Association is headquartered in Heber and is always looking for new for member use. In addition, many members. They maintain three different the for at individual use. With the exception of airport private sailplanes are kept to field is the open the public from 9 AM to 6 PM daily. If you Tuesday and Wednesday, are anything like me, and hundreds of others, it wont take you long to get the itch to go flying. Its a high youll never forget. well-equipp- ed sail-plan- es wmdbmtWwp din atm )qjBmfaamaaOwm mwmflllHkMV ftflrflEaraa2rfwm0s (BbvmtoQB&ii (Urn auDfjibsst Wfb3i VmOQan&QtmwitmOs OtoQumanmtam am Omits OemQarD&mW&mnm Otn oa 0n&oDathm flmft avnltotm QBa |