Mifflin, Pa. (warning dial up guys, picture heavy)

Mifflin, Pa. sits in a valley between a series of ridges running north to south that are 1500 - 2000 AGL. When the wind is from the east or west, it hits the ridge and rolls over the top. Put a glider anywhere on the face and you're booking. This weekend it was 3 - 8 mph; working but it's been better. The ridges are in parallel series, with enough altitude you can hop from one ridge to the next. Go five ridges west and you hit the big banana that can take you to Alabama.

Remember, you have to come back .....

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_qf.&biw=1366&bih=587&wrapid=tlif134909787215310&q=mifflin+pa+topo+map&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hq=&hnear=0x89c936baf8198529:0xde9b517f73335062,Mifflin,+PA&gl=us&t=p&sa=X&ei=mZlpULS8MOzH0AGWt4HwAQ&ved=0CB4Q8gEwAA

All day long I kept hearing what sounded like a hit & miss machine or a one cylinder diesel engine. On the second day the farmer with property next to the airport was cutting the field nearby. The noise I heard was the mechanical clanking of his two horsepower sickle bar.

Mifflin Soaring's new club house. Restrooms, showers, nice kitchen, small living area, big table. The loft above, or "bunk house" is where you camp if it rains through your tent.

Ridge Running with Tony.

Saturday the local Sky Divers came out. They jumped at 10,000 feet, but as the cloud cover became more dense they packed up. They cannot fall through clouds.

Tony (back seat) saw a trailer he liked in Italy. Why ship an empty trailer? So he bought this Grob to fill it. He'll sell it after the season.

Someone "landed out", that is to not make the airport. He was 14 miles away and turned away from the Ridge, barreling down the valley. He swooped in a mile short. Worse, he didn't see the power lines until he was right on top of them, he slid under.

Tradition dictates he buy dinner for all his rescuers. He picked up breakfast the next morning after everyone ordered the $2.99 special.

The Grob 103 I flew all weekend. Had to get signed off on Ridge Soaring and Thermalling. Got both.

The world's coolest hangar pit bike!

Great pics, I lol'd at the sign over the urinal XD

I'd like to get into this someday, doesn't seem to cost any more than tracking a high-end sports car. For now sims will have to do. I've spent plenty of time sim-sailing a Grob.

Outstanding man! I really love your gliding updates!

Yeah, very cool.
How grassroots is this/can this sport be? I don't mean to peer into your personal finances, but who better to talk about the ways to do it cheaply?

My dad flew soarplanes for years as a member of a club and never had his own aircraft. Dad's a notorious cheapskate, so I'm confident it can be done on a budget

Terribly picturesque.

DrBoost wrote: How grassroots is this/can this sport be?

My club charges a $500 membership fee, this can be paid in installments and covers all the instruction you will need until you get a license. You also pay $20/month dues plus pay for tows.

Tows are $15 for 1000 ft., $20 for 2000 and $30 for 3000. A commercial glider port will be more. At Mifflin this weekend it was $45 for 1500, but on a good day you only need one.

One member added up his $500 + monthly dues + every single tow up until the day he got his ticket; it came to ~$2500.

Powered license go for about $8500.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have, I'm not easily offended.

Dan

Awesome pics, thanks for sharing.

As soon as I start my real job, I have a feeling like this may be in direct competition with my car habit.

Great pics!

914Driver wrote:

DrBoost wrote: How grassroots is this/can this sport be?

My club charges a $500 membership fee, this can be paid in installments and covers all the instruction you will need until you get a license. You also pay $20/month dues plus pay for tows. Tows are $15 for 1000 ft., $20 for 2000 and $30 for 3000. A commercial glider port will be more. At Mifflin this weekend it was $45 for 1500, but on a good day you only need one. One member added up his $500 + monthly dues + every single tow up until the day he got his ticket; it came to ~$2500. Powered license go for about $8500. I'd be happy to answer any questions you have, I'm not easily offended. Dan

That post excites me. Interesting...
I can't imagine what it'd be like to float up there. The quiet, the scenery, the serenity. Amazing.

The 1 wheeled landing gear in the front baffled me until I saw the small wheels on the wing tips. Thanks for sharing again

Does the FAA get involved when someone makes a landing in a field like that guy did? I know it can be a fairly serious thing for an engine powered airplane, but with a glider you just go pick it up and haul it home in the trailer.

Beautiful country.

"Land of the Endless Mountains"

stuart in mn wrote: Does the FAA get involved when someone makes a landing in a field like that guy did? I know it can be a fairly serious thing for an engine powered airplane, but with a glider you just go pick it up and haul it home in the trailer.

Never heard of FAA involvement. The locals are very helpful and usually fascinated by such silliness. The farmer actually towed the thing out, we would still be there trying to push it through wet clay and cow crap.

Dan

failboat wrote: The 1 wheeled landing gear in the front baffled me until I saw the small wheels on the wing tips. Thanks for sharing again

The big wheel under the pilot retracts. The big wheel at the rear (see the strap) is removed before flight. Higher performanc ships don't have wingtip wheels but have a teflon button. At that level of skill you quit banging the wing on the ground.