I decided to start
posting my experiences with the Florida comps before I even get there. I leave
tomorrow morning, April 11, at 6:15 for Florida from rainy Northern California.
For the last couple of months I have been preparing for this trip, physically
(running 20 to 30 miles a week), mentally and financially (working weekends when
I can, which cuts into flying). All I can think about for the last several days
is “have I forgotten anything?” I installed a new Wills Wing control frame on my
Atos and purchased a new Rotor harness. Transferring my radio installation,
parachute, water bag, hook knife etc has been a pain. I made a couple of mods to
the glider in addition to the control frame. I received my replacement tow
bridle, but it looks a little short. I will have to compare it with others once
I get there. I have not been able to try my vario mount on a tow cart, another
item to check once I am there.
I made room reservations, car reservation and shipped my glider ($317 insured
for $9,000). The glider arrived at Wallaby last week with a small hole in the
crate. Now I have to wonder about damage. I arranged a driver for both meets. I
still have to build some kind of rack on the rental car. I only have Friday to
do that. I should have left a day earlier. I was able to fit all my stuff in two
bags. One bag has my harness, vario, gps, second gps (for the retrieve car),
radio, flying clothes, and other miscellaneous items. It weighs 50 pounds. The
second bag has my clothes, tool kit, third radio, car antenna, batteries, cables
and a bunch of junk I thought would be useful. Now I wonder what the airport
screeners are going to think when they see all these batteries, wires, radios
etc. I just heard today that the bomb squad at San Francisco blew up a guy's
shoes because he had electric heaters in them. They blew them up AFTER they knew
it was just electric heaters. I guess they figured since they were there
anyway……..
I really hate flying commercial. I only like to fly if I am in the left front
seat. I prefer to be the master of my own destiny. I am reminded of an old joke
that goes like this: A priest if sitting next to an elderly lady who is praying
as the airplane is taxing for takeoff. The priest says to her “there is no need
to worry, if your time is up, your time is up”, to which the lady responds, “I
am praying that the pilot's time is not up”. The airline seats are too small for
me as well. And I won’t go into all the bad things that have happened to me on
commercial flights, too many to list. But, I hate driving more than I hate
flying commercial. I will be glad when I can fly myself to the comp.
I don’t know how much time I will have to read email and to post to the list. I
will probably be posting in the blind. Don’t take offence if I fail to respond.
Vince