Posted Wednesday, May 16, 2012 @ 10:09 PM
Posted Tuesday, April 17, 2012 @ 09:54 PM
Hi guys
I should introduce myself as the soon to be new owner of Sam's RF4. Only moving a few hundred feet from his hangar to my rented hangar, staying at SZP.
In my excitement to finally be getting an RF4D I overlooked the need for a glider rating to legally pilot it, so that's next on the agenda now that a hangar is secured. Looks like my best options for a speedy add on rating are Estrella (Phoenix), Sheble (near Laughlin), or Skylark North (Tehachapi). They all say 4-5 consecutive days including the check ride, so I'm going to decide this week and get it done by mid-May. I think I can handle the self-launch endorsement locally, but if not, there's a Stemme at Warner Springs.
Anyway, hope we can meet in the future. Minden this year is possible but might be better if I at least fly the RF4 before committing! Oh, and I won't be posting any Youtube videos like Sam's for awhile.
Don
UPDATE: (May 16, 2012)
Got back from Payson, Arizona yesterday with my add on glider rating and self-launch endorsement. After a lot of indecision I concluded that doing the training in a motorglider would be the most efficient way of getting the glider rating and SL endorsement at the same time. I went with SkyKingSoaring.com and got it done in five days of training and the check ride on the sixth day. Very impressed with Russ at Sky King and his Diamond Xtreme turbocharged motor glider. Being able to do touch and go's for training instead of towing really made it easy to get a lot of flying done.
So I plan to fly the Fournier in the next week, and feel a lot more confident about it now after my experience in the Diamond. I'll keep you posted.
Don
[Edit by D. Porter on Wednesday, May 16, 2012 @ 10:17 PM]