Who wouldn't like to fly sometime? It is the typical question we ask ourselves when we see someone piloting any aircraft. Would you like to learn how to pilot a sailboat?
The sailing flight is a aerial sport that allows you to enjoy a totally relaxing and exciting experience. What possibilities does it offer you? There are various types of gliding so you can choose the one you like the most, but yes, you will have to take a course at a specialized center if you want to learn in complete safety.
If a few days ago we saw the safety rules for flight without a motor now we will see the different modalities that you can find in this sport.
Types of gliding flight
- Navigation flight. To be able to carry out this activity it is necessary that you already have enough capacity to control the flight in strange fields. To carry out the training, it is best to practice landing by previously delimiting the imaginary limits of an emergency field. It is very important that you learn to fly controlling the altitude to the point of not needing to take into account the altimeter indications; For example, it is recommended that you learn to visualize the height of buildings, poles or animals, among others. When you take the course and to serve as practice, you can try to cover the altimeter and this way you will train yourself and acquire the ability to make a real estimate of the location of the flight. Tip: Keep in mind that the altimeter is helpful if both the altitude and the setting are known and if we are within limits that are not too extensive.
- Sailing flight. To be able to acquire this level, you will need to have taken previous lessons and have enough capacity to know how to locate the ascenders and rise in free flight. To carry out this type of flight it is necessary to know the type of clouds that will allow us to climb and distinguish between a cumulus that is dissipating and another that is developing. You also have to know the characteristic shapes of thermals since they lean towards the wind. Develop your sense of orientation, because if you fly in circles you will have to know what position you are in with respect to the ground. Over time you will be able to discern the upward and downward accelerations. downward as well as the different changes in air currents. To look for thermals, the best thing you can do is fly straight and level, taking into account that if the wind is upwind with respect to the ground, you can continue at a lower altitude before joining traffic again. Important: You can never search for ascenders if you are flying low downwind.
- Hill flight. Before starting this type of flight on your own, it is necessary that you do it with the help of a professional pilot, since the flight is somewhat more complicated. It is very important to do a prior study of the conditions that exist in the places where it is possible that we could make an emergency landing. If it is an area where other pilots usually fly, you must know the air traffic rules in that location. Some traffic rules are: make turns away from the hill, if you are going to pass another driver you must do so between him and the slope to avoid possible collisions, if there are thermals do not turn near the hill so as not to interfere with the course of others pilots who are taking advantage of dynamic lift, among others.
- Flight by instruments or in clouds. This option is not necessary to obtain the glider pilot license, but it is recommended that if you are going to perform navigation flights you have the ability to maintain a level glide and straight or be able to make normal short turns. If you do not have the artificial horizon, to acquire the aforementioned knowledge, you will have to use the turn and bank indicator, the speedometer and the variometer.
Remember that to carry out any type of gliding it is important that you are trained for it, that you have taken the relevant courses and that you have practiced with a professional instructor. The best thing you can do, above all, is to practice and not believe that with a few minimal sessions you will be able to fly an aircraft in any weather condition, since being overconfident can lead to serious problems, not only for us but also for other pilots.< /p>
