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This falls between two subjects but I'll put it on this one. An 88 year old terminally ill ex-pilot had always wanted to fly in a jet and some friends arranged a trip in a Vampire. Sadly the clip doesn't show it in flight but it was a lovely gesture:

https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/life ... ampire-jet




In his glider back 1968 he went up in a wave (formed when a westerly or north westerly comes over the mountains here) and reached over 37,000 ft. He nearly froze to death but held on until he had passed the previous record.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/other-spo ... ears-later

He held the world altitude record for a short time but still holds the New Zealand one.

Great thing to do for an old pilot. Kudos to all concerned.

Up the road from me, at North Weald, one can for a price, fly in (or even fly) the Vampire or the Jet Provost (one the ex-RAF, heavy tin merchants here, has flown the latter if I remember correctly).

two

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boing wrote: ↑

Tue Feb 09, 2021 8:47 pm

two

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I assume you re-acquainted yourself with the JP?

I think I'll have another go at gliding in the not too distant future but maybe not as long a flight as these two! A friend had a flight from Omarama recently and really enjoyed getting back in the air after many years' retirement.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127340 ... cape-ringa

FD2 wrote: ↑

Mon Dec 20, 2021 9:44 pm

I think I'll have another go at gliding in the not too distant future but maybe not as long a flight as these two! A friend had a flight from Omarama recently and really enjoyed getting back in the air after many years' retirement.

https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/127340 ... cape-ringa

I am planning to get glider- current.
I will need a field check and also incorporate it with a BFR.
At least I won't need a medical (I let it lapse after I was fired for having a birthday ). Don't need one for gliders here.
The FAA now has a Basic Med program that can be signed off by your regular doc (no need for an AME. I will incorporate that on my next check-up. I only found out about Basic Med from D#1 who is in flight school working on her private.
At least I know that she has learned something.

PP

My highest in a glider was 32000 ft somewhere over the Austrian Alps.

It was in wave .

I decided to drop out because I still had the sense to realise I didn't have enough O2 to carry on and get back safely.

Modern gliders can have problems because of gel coat cracking due to the temperature change during the descent.

What was the OAT up there larsss?

Having only flown in a T31 and one flight in a T21 back in 1968 during a gliding course, I think the most interesting thing about gliders now is the amazing aspect ratio.

No idea of the OAT, I'm afraid. Bloody cold. If I wave fly to altitude like that I wear a full ski suit and gloves along with heated socks.

Somewhere in the back of my mind is the thought that a T32 held the UK altitude record with a flight to 17000 feet. Done in CB with a cadet on board and likely no O2.

larsssnowpharter wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 22, 2021 3:00 pm

Somewhere in the back of my mind is the thought that a T32 held the UK altitude record with a flight to 17000 feet. Done in CB with a cadet on board and likely no O2.

I wonder if he ever plucked up the courage to fly again?

I have no idea about the cadet but the instructor In question became quite well known in the gliding world. The last time I saw him was in Oz maybe 30 years ago when he was CFI at a gliding club.

All the way back to almost a year ago - did the old boy get his Vampire flight and did he survive it? Only because I'm curious you understand.

The Ancient Mariner

Rossian - I'll try and find out.

That's great, and he definitely seems to have enjoyed it. Thanks for digging it out.

The Ancient Mariner