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Soaring in Huntsville
By Jean Brandau, About.com Guide
Sailplanes are Towed to 2,000 Feet
A line of sailplanes waiting for the race to start.
Sailplanes are towed aloft behind a powered aircraft to around 2,000 feet above the ground before the glider pilot releases the tow rope. Without a motor gliders must quickly find a thermal to climb in or they will be back on the ground in 20 to 30 minutes. Fortunately thermals are common around Huntsville so staying aloft is not normally a problem. Skilled pilots can fly hundreds of miles gliding from thermal to thermal in cross country flight.
Prev
- It's a Manificent Flying Machine
- My First Experience in a Glider...
- It's Quiet Up There!
- Soaring 101
- Flights of Over 300 Hours are Common...
- Sailplanes are Towed to 2,000 Feet
- A Glider Weights About 550 Pounds...
- Global Positioning Systems Help Pilots
- Men With the "Right Stuff"...
- Huntsville Soaring Club Info...
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