Here's the operations/waiting area adjacent to the beautiful grass runway with Mt. Hood off in the distance on the other side of Portland.
Grob Twin Astir where the passenger sits in the front seat and the commercial pilot operates the controls from the rear. In the air, at altitude, the passenger may fly using the dual controls.
This is what it looks like from overhead. There are acutally two parallel runways with takeoffs going east on the closest one and landings to the west. One glider is on final for 27L while another clears the runway to be prepared for launching while the towplane is ready to tow a glider on 9L. Private and club glider trailers are on the southern border of the property.
Club members brief and prepare passengers making sure belts are tight and controls are clear.
The Blanik L-23 is used for instruction as well as rides. This instructor is treating this passenger as if she were a student, that's an extra! Maybe she'll chose to be a student-pilot after experiencing her flight.
Here's the Pawnee 260 being used for this tow.
There is also a Cessna AgWagon being used for towing:
After all the kids got their rides, I took the covers off this G-102 and pre-flighted it for a solo ride myself. The last time I flew one of these was about six years ago just west of Orlando, FL from a nice grass strip.
Now I'm ready for the towplane:
After towing to 3000' I released and found some lift allowing me to turn in tight circle and climb like a bird for a 1000' all the while looking outside for other aircraft while also enjoying the view of snow-capped "dormant" Cascade-range volcanos in the distance!
Got back to the airport with plenty of altitude allowing for 15 minutes of area familiarization. I didn't find any more useable lift before landing on grass, as it should be!
I saw a maze below which reminded me of the Swank Farms corn maze in Hollister. I'll have to check it out.
Sure is nice to be involved in a glide-ride operation again. I'll be giving rides soon but I know I'll be missing the Schweizer 2-32!
