Flying Buddy

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 12:17 am

Sometimes there is just no substitute for an onboard source of power. That's why I am building an RV.

However, in a sailplane, with no motor to scare away the other inhabitants of our favorite environment, you sometimes get to soar with some really cool fellow flyers:

(All photos by Dave Mockler "2XX")

It really was not that great a day for soaring last Sunday here in north Texas, but still well worth the effort. Hawks and eagles don't "pal around" with sailplanes, but they really don't mind soaring with you either.

Pat

nightflyer · Post by **nightflyer** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 6:05 am

Great shots of a magnificent bird Pat. Around my area,we get a good many turkey vultures (usually known as buzzards), and while they're not physically pretty, they have an easy mastery of the air that we humans can only envy. I guess not everyone finds them beautiful, but I do.
I wish I were as good at what I do as they are!

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:56 am

Extremely cool!

The American bird!

Ben, where are you? We, here on Cape Cod have many turkey vultures too. MAN, are they uuuuugleeee!

That is why our Buzzards Bay area is named such.

There are stories of them coming into the cockpit via the windscreen and landing in your lap!

Is that procedure on your emergency checklist?

CJ

captain_john · Post by **captain_john** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 8:58 am

What a coincedence!

You answered my question and talked about bird strikes AS I TYPED THIS, in another thread!

Hahahaha

Like minds!

(Twilight Zone music playing... do do do doooo)

CJ

4kilo · Post by **4kilo** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:11 am

We have a lot of buzzards here in Texas too. But buzzards sometimes seem kind of stupid to us soaring pilots. Sometimes when they are circling, they are not even in lift. Often, when a sailplane finds some lift, then the buzzards leave the spot they are in and go to where the glider is.

Hawks and eagles, on the other hand, never seem to circle except in the very best lift. It may be that buzzards just have a different agenda, but the hawks and eagles seem to us to be a whole lot better at soaring than the buzzards.

Pat

nightflyer · Post by **nightflyer** » Fri Jan 28, 2005 9:28 am

Hmmm... so buzzards watch the sailplanes for clues as to where the best lift is? Maybe not so stupid after all, eh?

Eagles definitely win in the looks department though!