Monday afternoon I hurried up to the gliding club in Gørløse.
I learned flying there some years ago, and looked forward to meet both the pilots I flew with at that time, and the new members. The weather was just perfect: warm, sunny, 5 kts wind, +17C in October! Gliding season ends in October, and it was the right time to get a flight.
Flemming, who went with me on a tour to Anholt in July, promised a tour in a glider – and of course I held on to that. And after Flemming sent off Victor Charlie, it was our turn.
We flew in Kilo India, another ASK-21 trainer. On take-off:
Finn aerotowed us, and Roskilde Approach gave permission to go to FL35 – one has to get the most of such a day!
When a glider releases the rope from the powered aircraft, the latter one turns to the right, and the glider – to the left (at least in Gørløse). Here Finn does an appealing steep turn:
And we go to the left:
We flew around, and enjoyed the views. Note the beautiful reflection of a forest on the wing:
Last time I had a flight in a glider was last summer, when the Gørløse gliding club celebrated its 75 years anniversary. It was in a Kranich from 1943, together with Klaus Degner.
We did some turns here and there, and it was time to go on landing.
Turning on final RWY10:
I love taking photos of the aircraft’ shadows I’m flying in:
One more, about 50 meters before the touch down:
After the flight I just hanged out, mingled with other pilots, watched aerobatics, and took pictures.
A lot was going on. Gliders were lined up quickly after landing. Trine, one the few female glider pilots from the club:
Both winch and a powered aircraft were used as take-off methods:
Perle, another female pilot, preparing for a take-off. She got her glider license that day, and we celebrated it later.
46 take-offs (and landings) were registered during the day!
Trine and Flemming on landing:
The last take-off takes place just before 18:00. After that all gliders are cleaned and washed with the great care, and stored in hangars, with dust covers on.
I found Egon in one of the hangars, fixing something on a lather machine:
In the end we all had dinner together, prepared by Stella, another female glider pilot. Stella made “boller i karry”, much loved Danish dish which is meat balls in curry sauce, served with cooked rice; and for desert – delicious cheese cake. That’s the way glider pilots finish their flying practice!
It was a wonderful day, and I felt at home in my former flying club. It was very nice to spend time there.