The Winnipeg Gliding Club http://www.wgc.mb.ca/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1 has a base near Starbuck, Manitoba. Spring flooding of the Red River in southern Manitoba meant wet soaked runways at the Starbuck Gliderport base and forced a temporary redeployment to the former RCAF - CAF airbase at Southport (just south of Portage la Prairie Manitoba).
As the weekend approaches, WGC club member "Art Grant " fires off a series of emails that get eveyone pumped about flying Saturday, the "weather" is looking great, when should we start, who is coming. I have not yet meet Art Grant but just the happy tone of his emails gets me eager about heading out to Southport.I've been to the Portage base many times to watch airshows but never as a sprog (student pilot of any kind). I was excited about this opportunity to see Southport from the other side and most of all to take my first glider flights.
By the time I get my self organized, its' already 8:15 am and I also have to stop for gas, it's the long weekend and the gas companies have jacked up the price a few more cents to show their love for the consumer, I hope I'm not late and miss the group as they head out the the flight line.
When I get to Southport, there are five guys in the parking lot, I already know two of them from this winter's ground school, Gib and Kel, and meet Art, Jeff and Lloyd.
Art takes me under his wing and I follow him around like a puppy. It's a beautiful CAVU morning, cool with some wind but I'm dressed well with lots of layers that I can peel off should it get warm, I got the clothing part right.
Art takes me under his wing and I follow him around like a puppy. It's a beautiful CAVU morning, cool with some wind but I'm dressed well with lots of layers that I can peel off should it get warm, I got the clothing part right.I watch Art and Gib untie the WGC Krosno training glider C-FVTI, Art shows me the proper way to open the canopy, the daily inspection checklist that must be done. Jeff heads out in the Citabria towplane, he flies over to Jonair to get fuel. VTI is towed with the ground support van over to the flight area, Jeff returns with the Citabria.
Art shows me how to strap in VTI, he takes the rear seat , closes the canopy and goes to through the pre take off checklist. I ask Gib to show me where the air sick bag is - just in case.
The tow planes fires up, Gib hooks up the tow rope, we check the tow release, do the remainer of the checks and the signal is given to launch. We bump along the runway and soon we are off the ground, Art keeps us in position behind the tow plane, the air is lumpy and bumpy. The tow plane twist and turns towing us higher, passing through 2200' agl (above ground level), the air smooths out, the view of Southport runways is amazing. We have another 800' to climb, that gives me time to take in the view and snap a few more photos, the Assinboine River Diversion at Portage is full of water, 
then at 3000' I pull the yellow tow rope release handle, call "rope clear and away" and instantly glider VTI becomes a magic carpet. We glide along, quiet, just the wind noise hissing along the canopy. Art get me to practice turns, I am totally uncoordinated with the rudder and ailerons but I am having to much fun to worry how poor I am doing. Art points out the seagulls circling below us, I am thrilled by their presence and would watch them four hours but Art puts me back to work doing turns. Gravity wins, we are getting lower and soon land. We repeat the process twice more, each flight is more thrilling, more exciting, this Saturday has to be a major, major CAVU day!
then at 3000' I pull the yellow tow rope release handle, call "rope clear and away" and instantly glider VTI becomes a magic carpet. We glide along, quiet, just the wind noise hissing along the canopy. Art get me to practice turns, I am totally uncoordinated with the rudder and ailerons but I am having to much fun to worry how poor I am doing. Art points out the seagulls circling below us, I am thrilled by their presence and would watch them four hours but Art puts me back to work doing turns. Gravity wins, we are getting lower and soon land. We repeat the process twice more, each flight is more thrilling, more exciting, this Saturday has to be a major, major CAVU day!
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