All arriving pilots will be assigned one of the guest houses
on the gliderport. In the afternoon there will be a pilot
briefing in the hangar at which time our chief instructor
Sir Snidley will introduce you to the unique characteristics
of the SG-38 School Boy. We will then board the Woody
Station Wagon for a trip to the summit of Vogel Hill. Sir
Snidley will then brief us on the hilltop launch procedures.

The winds must be at least 12 mph from the South, 180
degrees, before we can have successful flight operations.
The SG-38 is a very low performance glider and the bungee
cord launch system also needs the help of the wind to get
you airborne. Flight operations will cease immediatly if the
wind shifts or drops in velocity. The upper limit of
operations is 20 mph.

For the practice sessions over the next few days we want the
pilots to concentrate on a successful launch and a
successful landing on the runway. For a successful launch
please follow the following instructions carefully. The
wind is sufficient for launch if you can level the wings
with the ailerons while resting on the runway. The launch
officer will determine this and will signal when ready. You
will fasten your seatbelt and level the wings. When you see
the green flag waved it means all is ready for takeoff.
Press the green button marked "Go" and the tiedown at the
tail will be release allowing the bungee cord system to
slingshot you down the runway. As you pass over the edge of
the hill it is CRITICAL that you get the nose down
immediatly and get the speed up to 40 mph or greater. This
is the most dangerous part of the flight and getting your
speed up quickly is vital to avoid stalling.

Once airborne take note of the smoke direction from the
brush clearing near the gliderport. Keep your speed up to
40 mph or you will not make the runway and will delay
operations while we retrieve you from the field you land in.

During the next few days just concentrate on landing on the
runway. If you find yourself short of the field concentrate on making a good landing. Normal procedure is to fly to the right hand end of the runway and then turn down the runway.

You will have a very strong right crosswind to deal with so
do not let yourself drift to the left of the runway. The
SG-38 is a low performance glider. Concentrate on holding
the proper crab angle to the right to maintain your path
down the runway.

You have no spoilers or flaps so your descent is controlled
by your speed. This does NOT mean diving at the runway to go down. You must SLOW DOWN to descend. Practice this technique as much as possible as it will be important during the spot landing contest. If you dive and speed up you will overshoot your target.

Now that you have received a basic briefing please go to the School Boy Glider page and download the glider from the links at the bottom. It is suggested that you create a folder within the aircraft folder called "Vintage" for the glider.

More instructions will be posted after you get a few flights from the top of the hill and some successful landings on the runway.