h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Hello, Guten Abend mein neue flugeling freund

Apologies for my mangled attempts at a German greeting (what is the German for "glider pilot"?)

I thought I'd come to visit since we've both written articles about gliding! Good to find another mad person here who also likes to be flung into the sky in a little powerless aeroplane.
I fly from a hilltop airfield in Derbyshire, UK. All the surrounding countryside looks wonderful from the air. I'm still learning and haven't flown solo yet, but I don't care. I thoroughly enjoy being up there with the birds - even with an instructor shouting at me when I make mistakes.

Happy flying
MC

Hi Metal Chicken!
Sorry that I didn't write earlier, but I'm not too often online at the moment. I'm also sorry that I have to correct you (I hope you'll do the same when I write something wrong) but you (probably )
meant: Hallo, guten Abend, mein neuer fliegender Freund.
A glider pilot is a Segelflieger in German. Do you only practice winch launching at your airfield or also starts pulled with motorplanes? The best wishes for your first solo flight (It's not that hard as they say). By the way, how old are you? I'm fifteen, I started flying last year, at the German minimum age.

Happy flying
Highflyer

PS: If you write back, please don't care when the reply doesn't come the next two weeks, we camp at our airfield.

Hi Metal Chicken!
Sorry that I didn't write earlier, but I'm not too often online at the moment. I'm also sorry that I have to correct you (I hope you'll do the same when I write something wrong) but you (probably )
meant: Hallo, guten Abend, mein neuer fliegender Freund.
A glider pilot is a Segelflieger in German. Do you only practice winch launching at your airfield or also starts pulled with motorplanes? The best wishes for your first solo flight (It's not that hard as they say). By the way, how old are you? I'm fifteen, I started flying last year, at the German minimum age.

Happy flying
Highflyer

PS: If you write back, please don't care when the reply doesn't come the next two weeks, we camp at our airfield.

Hallo!
Thanks for correcting my greeting, I learned German many years ago but have long forgotten most of what I knew I'm afraid.
Yes, we only have winch launching at my airfield. We aren't allowed to fly powered aircraft so aerotow launches are out of the question. Winch launching is much more fun anyway!
Here too 14 is the minimum age for learning to fly - I was twice that when I started and that was several years ago. I wish I had more free time to go flying, but little things like work, friends and family keep getting in the way.
I was told that the article you added a note to should become an approved guide entry very soon now and that both our names will be given as authors. Fame at last.
Hope you get some good flying over the next 2 weeks.
MC

Hi MC,
Aerotow launching is the word I looked for, but you don't find that in a normal dictionary, of course. I really agree to your opinion on the winch: great fun! And I also know the free-time-problem: I'm at the airfield at least once a week and I'm still dreaming of more and always more time in the air, especially during school lessons. Did you ever really watch swallows for a longer time? That's really interesting!
What gliders do you have at your airfield? My favourite ones here are a Ls-4b, a DG 300 (I'm allowed to fly them alone) and a Duo Discus.
Originally I only wanted to say Thank You for my name appearing as co-author in the entry. For those three or four lines - and, to be honest, I didn't even consult a book for a closer look at the records (but this can stay in this small circle ).
I'm glad that I found the time to reply before the camp starts (on Thursday; It'll last ten days in the air and ten nights around the camp fire). If you'll find the time one day, you should go to such a camp, too; after that you're certainly ready for solo flights!
Highflyer

Hi,
Hope you've enjoyed your flying over the last couple of weeks. Must be great to have 10 days away and go flying every day. My club does run holiday courses for the members so I really must get myself on one of those.
There are all kinds of aircraft based at my airfield. For training we have 3 Puchacz and an older wooden K7/13. There's also a DG500 I'd love to have a ride in. We have a vintage gliding group who organise rallies each year when all kinds of strange aircraft come to visit. Some of the oldest ones don't look like they should fly at all!
Happy gliding
MC

Hi MC,
I know that it takes more and more time until I reply to your messages, but I don't visit h2g2 very often at the moment.
Yes, yes, the K7. I also learnt flying in this wood-and-fabric so-called plane. Now I avoid it as far as I can, but sometimes I have to use it, for example in the Ziellandewettbewerb (landing-on-a-target-competition??) last sunday. It's strange, but for these competitions you have to use the worst gliders you can find.
By the way, what's happening with your future approved guide entry?
Happy gliding and more time to glide!
Highflyer

I think "spot-landing" is the phrase you're looking for with the landing on a target competition. Actually I quite like the old wooden gliders. Did you ever fly in a T21? They have an open cockpit so you really feel the wind in your ears! Our vintage club rally starts this weekend, so there will be all kinds of strange things flying around as long as the weather's OK.
I wish I knew what was happening with the gliding entry. It hasn't been approved yet and even worse it has disappeared from the list on my page. I've been chasing the editor for information but she's as confused as I am.

Hey, my gliding article's been approved and appeared on the front page yesterday (Tuesday June 27)
I'm afraid they didn't include your name for your contribution after all
Your message is still there though, explaining that you provided the list of information but I think your name should have been included.

Congratulations!
This article deserves becoming an approved guide entry.
And this is your contribution, not mine. I can understand that they didn't mention me only because of this small list.
I don't take h2g2 too serious, anyway.
I'm really looking forward to gliding this afternoon (although the weather is not too good).
What about your progress?
Keep on gliding
Highflyer