[Stoubie]

So I had my first lesson this past June. It is now October and I have still yet to go off anything where a glide lasted more than a few seconds. At last count I have done over 140 practice runs and flares from 3 different training hills from conditions that ranged from 90 degree cross winds to 12 knot head winds. I have run down slopes that were a 2 % grade to hills steep enough to jam my toes in the front of my shoes.

I have trained on a 145 WW, a 205 Dream, and I am now on a 205 Tandem. I am 6’4’’ 230lbs, and in good shape. I have been flying airplanes before I actually had a drivers license, so I know a thing or two about airplanes.
So, here is my question. When should I get to actually fly this glider?

I am frustrated. I have been at it for 4 months now, I have spent a lot of money and I have nothing to show for it except some skinned knees. What else can I do? I have gotten to the point now where I feel like I am doing negative training and that I am actually getting worse and not better. I actually dread hooking in and I haven’t even flown yet. Anyone else go through this when learning to fly?

[gluesniffer]

How many lessons? Hill training is the hardest part. If you stick with it, you WILL get it. Be patient grasshopper

[Stoubie]

All told I have 6 lessons done, each lasting a few hours or more. I have been averaging about 20 runs per lesson.

[noman3]

stay at it man.You are stepping into a dream but it takes time.The rewards are more than any ground dweller could understand.

[psilyguy]

Master the basics before moving on. They'll come in handy later!

[Mavi Gogun]

[relate2]

As others have said, stick with it Stoubie, you are in the most difficult phase of learning how to hang glide. It took me 6 months to get signed off, some due to weather some due to my slow learning.

Having really solid basic skills will save your bacon one day.

[AIRTHUG]

6 lessons... over the course of 4 months?

I think I found (one of) your problem(s)...

Also, a 145 is WAY too small to get someone your size flying, so is it safe to assume that was just for flat-ground running and such?

Lastly- think about it from your instructor's perspective. It's his/her job to keep you safe... and the only way to do that is to see you consistently demonstrate the requisite skills before you can go higher on the hill. If you're getting skinned knees and not doing well in general, of course you can't go higher... doesn't matter if it's your 40th lesson. And trust me, if you're struggling down low, it's NOT in your best interest to go higher, even if you think you want to.

Previous flight experience is helpful, but only to a certain extent. Remember that these are weight shift, tail-less flex wings... so while some things are the same as airplanes, some things are going to be very different from what you're used to... some things you'll pick up quickly, some things you'll need to re-learn (or even UN-learn)...

If you're having fun, stick with it. If not, what's the point?

[Bondy]

[ChattaroyMan]

Got any video of your training/short glides? If we see how you're doing we can give some advice/tips depending on what we can see from any videos. Otherwise, it is your instructor(s) who you is/are best to share your feelings with. And, I don't mean for you not to share them here - just that your instructor should know how you feel.

Learning can be very awkward and lengthy. It can take time for the right combination of wind, handling, run, angle of attack to meld into a whopping BIG GRIN

We have all had difficult times in our learning to fly. And, we're all still learning. Your time under a wing on training hills will pay off - as long as you stick with it. The rewards are awesome!

[Tormod]

Stick to it and have more frequent lessons, when I was running courses the students averaged 10 -12 days on the training hill before I let them fly at altitude. Unfortunately, some never got that far, most of these few gave up, I only had to refuse 1 student the sign-off.

[pegasus]

I started in 1999.... went back in 2003 and finally started learning something in 2010.... along the way, I went through 4 instructors...and hundreds... and hundreds of dollars....
With each instructor change , my dream of flight had gotten dimmer and dimmer. ...Until I found my current instructor... we are a perfect match.... These days I am flying close to perfectly off of the 600ft at Ed Levin Milpitas, CA. I am not a bit sorry for the long time it took me to get here.... I look back and think of my learning stages like food that I did not hork down, but rather morsels that I chewed well and digested.
When I get discouraged, I just kept reminding myself that human beings have been around for at least a million years .... and only flew in the last 200. I am so glad it all happened in my lifetime.. I imagine the cave men who looked up and envied the birds... great intelligent men like Da Vinci who never even got a minute of flight.... Who am I to give up......?

[Dan Harding]

When I get discouraged, I just kept reminding myself that human beings have been around for at least a million years .... and only flew in the last 200. I am so glad it all happened in my lifetime.. I imagine the cave men who looked up and envied the birds... great intelligent men like Da Vinci who never even got a minute of flight.... Who am I to give up......?

Well said Pegasus!

Stoubie, Hang in there. Let me relate some of my learning to you. When I started to fly,
in Iowa" there was not an instructor that is like one that is around today, I had to go to the school of hard knocks. Don't get this wrong, "I'm not complaining", the lessons I learned the hard way are ones I will not forget! I can tell you that if I could do it over, I would rather go the route that you are taking.

[jjcote]

It was about my 20th day at the flying school when I managed to get a flight that I consider to have been "soaring", as opposed to a slightly extended sled ride. A little more than three years after I started. Never considered that to be a problem. Would have been helpful if I could have gotten there more often, but that's all that circumstances allowed.

That said, I agree with Ryan that a 145 is way too small for you. What sizes are the other gliders?

[red]

[boarini2003]

I think the training phase is the most difficult. The important thing is to not space your lessons too much and not give up. The rewards are beyond anything you can imagine. Think of these lessons as the price of admission to one of the most exclusive and privileged clubs in the world!

[peanuts]

Stoubie, why were the lessons spaced so danged far apart. for your convience, or the instructor's, or was there that much bad weather somewhere on earth? next question, how did your lessons go? were you progressing or having to repeat phases? i think you mentioned your physical stature, what about your conditioning? you said you were a GA pilot. how much time have you been logging there?

when we find the missing puzzle piece, perhaps you can move forward.

[Windlord]

Patience, patience and patience. Training is the core and foundation to the big picture.
Got to keep in mind also, unlike with your power aviation experience, we only get one chance at getting it right.
The privilege of powering up and going around again for another attempt, does not exist with us. It's a one time only shot.
Hang in there and keep us posted.

[$!><]

[knumbknuts]

stoubie,

I am in carlsbad.

Check this out:
http://bigoloop.com

It's up in San Berdoo. You can get ten flights in in a day on it, I made it to help guys in your situation.

PM me.