Airline Pilot - First Glider Solo | PlaneOldBen 

I feel like the tow-plane is the scariest part, but once you're up to altitude, then, it's a delight! I enjoy this glider series you're doing. Thanks!

Good stuff, that is the only video I have seen where the views include from the tug back towards the glider. Excellent.

Another great video in this series mate! Looked a great day for your first solo

I enjoyed watching that solo experience, well done 👏

Congrats, really enjoyed this series

New to the channel and thoroughly enjoyed this series of videos. Many thanks

Pilots always look so happy when they're doing what they do best... I was with you all the way.

Lovely to watch. On my first solo I did not miss my instructor at all because he was a man who never spoke unless really necessary so towards the end I was used to flying circuits without hearing him at all. What I *did* notice was that where I was usually happy to get 1200ft off a winch launch, I got 1600ft because he was a big man. I had to do a lot of noodling around before turning downwind. I am so old that the last time I flew from Lasham was about 1975 :-) I was about 14 having my first glider experience.

Lovely stuff! I started my flying gliding at Edgehill. Nothing like it. Thanks.

Congrats! Nice hold-off, skilfully done; it is very obvious that the pilot is not a novice.

Congratulations Ben! Well done indeed! Nothing quite like a first solo is there :D

Very nicely done Ben!

Well done Ben. It has been a good series. Long time since I did any gliding and then it was in an old open cockpit Kirby glider .

Great video Ben! Would love to do some glider flying soon after looking at your experiences

Great video Ben. I have enjoyed the series. Must try to get in a glider at some point.

Well done ben!

Lovely job Ben. I can see the appeal of the quiet peaceful nature of it but the ‘I can’t go around’ focusses the attention I bet!

Lovely video, I used to do gliding myself in the 80s and 90s in Sweden. I see that the tow pilot has a passenger with him and that he lands with the tow rope still attached. Two things that were not allowed in the past.

Congratulations Ben! Will there be more videos like this please?👍😊

Congrats

Nice one Ben!

Congrats Ben on your solo, I too just passed my ppl skills test

Congrats Ben, welcome to the club!. Are you planning to document a conversion to Winch launching and soaring?. I think it would be a fantastic opportunity to link the gliding community with powered pilots as a way of highlighting the risks of overflying a winch site (it happens too often!) and the need for lookout and conspicuity, especially near cloud base. Also, winching is much more of a thrill than an aerotow so would definately recommend it!

Still remember my solo in 1997!, well done Ben

I just had my first gliding experience last weekend, 2 winch launches! 😯😯😎. I love the old tech HUD - with red wool you needn't worry about battery failure 😅

Nice Landing!

Great job... Base leg looked a bit far out with very little airbrake needed, but plenty of time to improve that. The many hours in the air in other types of planes certainly made for some really smooth flying.... well done

Hi Ben , I’m thinking of getting into gliding after taking a trial flight ,can I ask which approach you took before going solo , did you go for a 5 day course or did you join the club first and then take lessons , I’m getting different answers from my local club which is in Leicestershire, any advice on your journey is appreciated, Cheers scott.

Was literally just thinking about when the next episode of this would come earlier

Already being an aviator, what's the one thing that surprised you flying a glider?

Sickkk

My first solo was in an aluminium Blanik, not the best l/d ratio. Kicked myself as I got bored and ended up landing after 56 minutes, just missing my one hour solo flight. I had no radio and the ground crew couldn't give me the heads up.

Well done Ben,Helo,s next?

When you are looking for somewhere to land in a glider, always think “where’s my car parked?” Then put your flight bag into your boot and say to yourself, “well… I got away with it!”

You're turning onto final a looong way from the landing strip .

You'll be able to do dead stick landing any time soon 😂😅😮

Hello Ben Iam neil Gusthart I have 50hrs In A 2 Seat Glider

Ah, the established power pilot’s approach- too low. OK in the early morning conditions but not once thermals and sink are active.

Some people know how to live right.

Licenses for both Fixed Wing & Rotary, not a chance would I hop into a Glider, well done.