Bill's Description of the Glider Flight

Courtesy of our children, the flight was fantastic. We went out about 20 minutes under tow, during which the pilot let me take the controls and try to fly stable in the wake or slipstream of the tow aircraft. It is difficult. You can actually swing out to either side of the tow plane and get smooth air, much as a water skier does following a tow motor launch.

We released the tow plane at a little over 10,000 feet and the real flight began. We were very close to the snow capped 14 ers. and had a good view of Gross and Barker reservoirs, Gold Hill, Nederland etc. Then we went looking for thermals and achieved up to 500 feet a minute vertical rise in some situations even at a 45 Degree bank. I was able to fly the glider for about 10 of the 40 minute free flight. It was much easier when we were free of the tow plane.

On the way back to the field, we went right over Green Mountain and the flatirons, so close that we had the rocks about 40 yards off the left wing tip.

Here is the capper. The pilot, John, is a cancer victim who had his chemo therapy pump attached to his belt and a continuous feed to a chest port in his upper body. We joked that it would be best at this time if we achieved a normal landing even though we are both "on final" as they say.

Hope you all have a great fourth.

Bill