Crisp, clear beautiful day for rides 12/23/11

29°F. on a clear morning promised great visibility!

At the ramp tie-down we loaded our passengers in the rear seat of N9864E, one or our two Schweizer 2-32s, the only glider-type in the world that can take 3 people.  AND there are only ~50 of the 87 manufactured in Elmira, NY that are still in the US!  Our tow-plane pilot Paul looks on as our line-man Mark snaps a pic of Erica & Louis prior to "taxi" to the runway:

On tow behind the Pawnee at 7000' over Prunedale with the Watsonville airport just off the right nose and Santa Cruz at the top of the Monterey Bay:

Monterey peninsula in the distance with the estuary Elkhorn Slough in the foreground:

I put my little camera on zoom and got this pic of San Jose 50 miles, as the glider flies, to the north:

Sure looks as if they were enjoying their ride!

After our hour in the air we landed and more ride passengers were waiting.

Anna & Steve chose the Silver Hawk ride to 4750':

Dave and Joani took a Hollister Hop to 3250':

Sisters Rachel and Marika took their cameras and friends, Jason and Francesco, for Hollister Hop rides:

Last flight of the day was with Spencer and his father Zsolt for a Silver Hawk ride:

For the "taxi" back to tie-down on the ramp Spencer jumped in the front seat and Mark recorded the moment!

Group-on rides 12/20/11

Time was running out for people to use their Group-on ride certificates so we operated on usually closed days Mon & Tue.  I came in Tuesday to give 7 rides.

Teresa and Jimmy upgraded to a Silver Hawk for some more time and altitude:

Cambria brought her father Role in for a ride in the front seat while I "piloted" from the rear, after installing a control stick of course.  We were enjoying the ride so much I neglected to get his picture!

Kyle, a former USMC F-18 and now airline pilot, accompanied his mother-in-law Gail on a Silver Hawk ride to 4750' on this smooth day:

 Koalani and her mother Amelia also enjoyed a Silver Hawk ride:

Jacob was originally going to go alone but when he saw Koalani get out of the glider he graciously invited his sister Sarah to accompany him.  This young man gave up the better view from the front, as well as the opportunity to operate the controls and fly, in order to share with his little sister!  Wow, that speaks highly of family values.

Jorge's family all participated in a Hollister Hop with Andrew and Jorge flying and the rest of the family supervising as ground crew!

Vanessa and Eduardo enjoyed the Silver Hawk ride in the beautiful light:

During one of the flights while entering the downwind leg for landing we were able to make a turn with two red-tailed hawks.  And on the flight with Jorge and Andrew we thermaled with a Pegasus glider enjoying some lift over the airport before landing.  Otherwise it was a very calm day, good for gliding but not for soaring.

Nice pics from passenger's flight!

Torsten sent me some nice pics he took on his ride with son Michael.  Also included were those taken by his wife as she watched her husband and son go aloft!

ready to taxi to runway:

towplane taxis into position:

Caleb hooks up the towrope:

on tow looking at Salinas Valley and Monterey peninsula:

release at 4750' over San Juan Bautista with the Monterey Bay in the distance:

over the Santa Clara Valley:

Hollister airport in glide!

on final approach:

touchdownon runway 24:

 after rollout to our parking spot, Michael had a problem with ear pressure!

Saturday 12/17/11 rides

Caleb, one of our "line-boys" got a lesson from instructor Charlie Hayes before the commercial day started.  Here he is in the glider before taxi to the runway:

My first ride was a Hollister Hop to 3250' with Madison and her teacher Sue:

After landing we got a nice pic with the supporting cast:

Torsten took his son Michael for a Silver Hawk ride to 4750':

Cameron and Steven had a Hollister Hop to 3250':

And now they know the "best way to get high"!

Vladimir and Nadya enjoyed their first taste of "real" aviation during a Silver Hawk ride to 4750':

After landing I got a nice pic of them, our Schweizer 2-32 and a private glider in the background being hooked up for launching:

Friday 12/16/11 rides

Beautiful weather made for a very scenic ride for two friends who upgraded their basic Hollister Hop Groupon ride to the Monterey Bay Adventure Ride!  Instead of releasing from the towplane at 3000' above ground we stayed on tow until we were 8000' over Moss Landing!
Here's a pic before launching:

 Tune & Christina at 8000' being "exposed to aviation":

The view of Monterey peninsula and Elkhorn Slough:

Looking up towards Santa Cruz on the north end of the Monterey Bay:

after landing and parking:

The ride with David was much different as he had flown in gliders out of Sky Sailing in  Fremont, a very busy glider operation from ~1960 to 1995.  After all those years his stick and rudder skills were still good enough for him to fly the whole flight right up to final at 300'.  We'll probably see more of him as he might have gotten the bug back!

David, flying on tow behind the Cherokee:

 
Enjoying the sights while flying:

12/10 rides

  Cary and Stacie were ready to go at 9am:

Brandon is a power-pilot flight-instructor who wanted to experience glider flight.  He enjoyed the peace and quiet of engine-less flight.  Here he is flying easily at 55mph about 5 miles south of the airport at 3150' MSL with a sink rate of 225' fpm.

Kari and Hans wanted to go higher and stay up longer so they chose the Mile High Mountain Ride to 6250' over Fremont Peak with a view of the Monterey Bay and Salinas Valley:

Kelly and Gary were my last passengers for the day:

There appeared a unique airplane in Bikle's museum hangar under the hanging Schweizer glider that set an altitude record in '61 of 46,000'.  I was told it would go over 400 mph in level flight!  http://www.eaa.org/news/2010/2010-09-15_reno.asp

Always an interesting time at the Hollister airport!