Planes-- In the Air-- Part 1--Gliding

First, full disclosure: I am an aviation enthusiast, not a licensed pilot. With that out of the way, I'll tell you about my background in aviation. I learned, or perhaps inherited my interest in aviation from my dad and grandfather. Both built models and tried to pass that craft on to me without much success. Dad let me crash a few u-control trainers, and I planted my first and only R/C plane in an Illinois cornfield. Fortunately, my stick time in real airplanes hasn't been so tragic.

At an airshow in suburban Chicago in the early 1980's, a young man in a fatigue jacket insinuated himself next to me, and as if he was offering drugs or guns for sale, asked me if I'd like a glider ride. He didn't ask for money, and I didn't offer any. He walked me to an ancient Schweitzer trainer and helped me into the harness in the front seat, and then he strapped himself into the rear, closing the canopy and signaling the towplane to hoist us aloft.

As we climbed, the voice behind me said something about towing above 3,000 feet costing extra, and I said that 3,000 would be just fine. We found little lift and so the ride lasted all of about 15 minutes, but I was treated to a demonstration of a stall after I'd tried a few shallow turns. After we landed the pilot said something vague about money, intentionally so, I later guessed, because he lacked a commercial or instructor's license and couldn't legally ask for compensation. I had only a few dollars in my pocket and handed them over, with an offer to get more from my wife. He shook his head and walked away, possibly to troll for a more generous fare.

Part 2: Look out the window, dummy!