17-May-13 Gliding Hawaii

Gliding Hawaii
17-May-13



--------------------- From: Peter Stephenson Date: Fri, May 17, 2013 at 9:06 PM Subject: Gliding Hawaii To: cgcmemlist@vicnet.net.au



One of the highlights of our cruise across the Pacific was a short glider flight to 3500'at Dillingham Airfield, Oahu. (Look it up on Google earth). It was in Schweizer 2-32, the big brother of Kevin Rodda's Orange rocket and the only three seater glider other than a special Blanik that I know of. I can tell you it was very cosy for us passengers and we only just made the 159kg limit! :-) There was no joystick in the back. With two in the back, there was just no room for one!



The east/west bitumen strip was 1600 metres long and both ends had displaced thresholds, with the undershoot areas for the use of the gliders. No radios were carried by the gliders, even though the eastern end had meat-bombers! The eastern end was the meat bomber HQ, and the western end was the gliding HQ. There was a slight cross wind so both ends were being used. Usually there was a wind from the north giving strong ridge lift from the 1000' mountain range immediately beside the strip. Evidently, a 700' launch to a downwind leg beside the mountain enabled them to have very cheap launches! i.e. one circuit of the tug was all it took! Unfortunately, there was no breeze. :(



Cost was very reasonable. As I booked on line, (but did not pay on line) I got a $20 discount to $159.00 for 20mins plus a placarded "a tip for the pilot would be appreciated"! If you go to Hawaii, I thoroughly recommend you have a flight there.


Peter Stephenson