Wow, what a great day, even though the field was too wet to fly.
First, I (Todd) gave a ground school lesson on Skew-T/Log-P plots and how I use them for forecasting the soaring day.
After the lesson, we took advantage of the beautiful weather and sanded and repainted the doors on the Aviation Center. Pam, Adam, Dak, David B, Dak, and Jason helped all day long and we completed each door (eight of them!). Thanks everyone!
Dak Davis (on the right in the photo), all of 20 years old and a member of the Greater Houston Soaring Association in Walls Texas, is now an FAA Certified Flight Instructor - Glider! He passed his CFI-G practical test today with Designated Pilot Examiner Gregg Squires (left) at Fault Line Flyers in Bertram, Texas. Dak now holds a commercial glider rating, an advanced ground instructor rating and a CFI-G rating. Congratulations to Dak on this huge accomplishment.
This brings Greater Houston Soaring Association's instructor corps to 11 instructors!
Patrick Heer (R) soloed for the first time on Saturday with CFI-G Michael Hunter providing the instruction and sign-off. Looking on was Patrick’s father, Philippe, and also his grandfather. Congratulations Patrick!
Have you ever heard the sound a sailplane makes as it flies overhead? One of the best sounds.
GHSA member and towpilot Adam Harris took these photos of a Blanik L-23 glider landing at our field today.
BERTRAM, TX - Fleeing a bad weather forecast near Houston, Greater Houston Soaring Association member Michael Hunter (R) drove to Fault Line Flyers to take his CFI-G test with Designated Pilot Examiner, and Fault Line Flyer member Gregg Squires (L) on Saturday, September 1, 2018. We're very excited to report that after a lot of hard work, and flying in an unfamiliar glider, Michael has passed his exam and has joined Greater Houston Soaring Association's pool of expert instructors. Congratulations, Michael!
David Buttram (L), Uwe Prigge, CFI-G (R)
On August 11, David Buttram soloed in 4BA! Uwe Prigge was the supervising instructor. Congratulations David!
Wow!
A great spring day at GHSA's Petmecky Field! We had 15 flights today courtesy of the tows from Adam. John and Brad received instruction from Uwe and then Brad then had a solo flight.
Later, the weather improved and we even had some lift so Uwe in Oscar Alpha and Michael Hunter and I (Todd) in 5ST were up over an hour. Dak had a 2+ hour flight in the Ka-6CR (9P). These three gliders were in the same thermal a few times. Does that count as a gaggle? Thanks to all our volunteers who made today possible!
Come on out and check out what soaring is all about.
Chris Barnikow soloed right before sunset in one of GHSA's Blanik L-23s on Sunday. Congratulating Chris is instructor Mike Brooks after being doused by David Coggins. Way to go Chris!
We had an amazing weekend with 40+ flights over both Saturday and Sunday with good lift to 4500+ feet. We had several flights over one hour: Brad (Blanik), Dean (Grob 102), Todd (Blanik, with friends), Mike H (KQ/DG-200), Uwe (Ventus), Jason (Ka-6).
Trevor Mitchell also has his first three tows as a new tow pilot for GHSA on Sunday. Good job Trevor!
[Photo by Michael Hunter]
GHSA's very own David Coggins has been selected to represent the United States in the World Gliding Championships 2018 in the open class. This is a very prestigious and select honor as only two pilots are selected to represent the United States at the WGC in the Open Class. David will take his JS1 to the Pribram airfield in the Czech Republic in July to compete.
David pilots his JS1 glider.
In this photo, Phillipe Heer is congratulating Brad on his first solo. Great job Brad!
