Fred's Writings

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=90 BGCOLOR="#006699" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="02c285a1erlcgo.png"> <div> <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFCC66" FACE="Arial" ><B>   </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#FFFFCC" FACE="Arial" ><B>     |    </B></FONT><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><U><B>home</B></U></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="WHY WERE THE BEST"><U>WHY  WE'RE  THE  BEST</U></A>   |   <A HREF="id33.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Convenient Links"><U>Convenient Links</U></A>   |   <B>Fred's Writings</B>   |   <A HREF="id17.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Special Interest and Customers"><U>Special Interest and Customers</U></A></div> <div> <B> </B></div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=210 BGCOLOR="#FFCC66" TEXT="#080000" background="02ad2c00dkelyh.png"> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=390 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I>Fred's Writings</I></div> <div> Fred says:</div> <bR> <div> The audience of earth bound people cannot appreciate the joy, sights and feelings of a sailplane pilot; high above the traffic jams and millions of TV sets polluting minds and wasting useful lives.</div> <bR> <div> No earth bound person can understand the many motions and boundless energy of the atmosphere.  Few airplane pilots know the secrets that sailplane pilots use to travel hundreds of miles with no engine, using no fuel and landing safely without an engine to make a second attempt.</div> <bR> <div> The majestic lenticular clouds signal mesmerizing energy and an unreal smoothness…an eerie quietness that suddenly envelops the sailplane and its pilot.  The lifting motion of the atmosphere is able to carry the sailplane to altitudes high above the cruising altitude of a 747. The world record of 49,000 ft was set near Mojave California.</div> <bR> <div> While pilots of powered airplanes suffer in bouncy turbulence through valleys, sailplane pilots may be traveling the same direction, moving along in utter bliss.  It's knowing and using the many variations of atmospheric motion.</div> <bR> <div> Sailplane pilots are drawn to the high mountains, soaring above Mount Whitney and the Rockies while many airplane pilots avoid them like a disease. Sailplane pilots often use oxygen while some airplanes cannot even reach the same altitude with their propellers churning in furious rotations.  </div> <bR> <div> Unless you soar with the hawks and eagles, you cannot appreciate the fun that the birds seek daily. I have had birds fly inside my wingspan perfectly confident that I too was a bird and look at me eye-to-eye.  What a joy!  </div> <bR> <div> My life as a sailplane pilot and instructor is so full of unexpected pleasures that in my 56 years of being a pilot, the pleasures only increase and now I am living the best years of my life still teaching others and flying just for fun.</div> <bR> <div> Fred Robinson     March 28, 2003</div> <bR> <div> <B>LANDING A GROB SAILPLANE</B></div> <div> <B>Grob sailplanes are often involved in landings that end with Pilot Induced Oscillations.  (PIO) The potential for damage is great.</B></div> <bR> <div> Part of the problem is with the design of the air brakes. The spring-loaded door on top of the brake blade has a large lip at the leading edge causing the airflow to lift the airbrake rather suddenly and unpredictably.</div> <bR> <div> Changes in airspeed and the extent of the open position will change the handle forces. The only thing the pilot is able to do is to keep a good grip on the handle and make slow changes as needed. Quick changes yield unpredictable results.</div> <bR> <div> It helps to think of the air brakes as a drag device rather than a lift-changing device. Drag is the force that limits forward travel. When the airbrakes are open, there is a loss of lift in the area of the airbrakes, but the rest of the wing then assumes the job of producing lift equal to the weight of the aircraft.</div> <bR> <div> The brakes on your car produce drag. As you coast up to a stop sign, you must apply drag (with your brakes) or you will coast right on through the stop sign. Air brakes perform the same function. </div> <bR> <div> To best way to the landing approach is to concentrate on pitch attitude control adjusting it as required… as a function of the amount of airbrakes being applied. As the aircraft approaches the surface, the airbrakes should be well open and held steady. Everything else in the landing is done with stick and rudder.</div> <bR> <div> It helps to think that the pilot does not <I><B>MAKE</B></I> the aircraft land…the pilot only controls the aircraft while gravity causes the aircraft to return to earth.</div> <bR> <div> To land smoothly, allow the aircraft to get close to the surface<B> </B><I><B><U>then place it in a landing attitude…</U></B></I>using very smooth stick pressures. If the aircraft tends to balloon, just pause in the stick movement. The aircraft will then begin to settle back to the surface. If you want to soften the touch down, add a little more back stick pressure gently. NEVER PUSH THE STICK FORWARD WHEN NEAR THE SURFACE!</div> <bR> <div>  Using this procedure with the air brake position held steady, pilot induced oscillations will not happen.</div> <bR> <div> Pilot induced oscillations happen in all aircraft, not just Grobs. It is the pilot that does the things required to induce the motions.</div> <bR> <div> Fred Robinson, CFI…Diamond badge #80</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  May 11, 2002</div> <bR> <div> <B>For your interest: The history of glider operations at Crystalaire is roughly as follows...</B></div> <div> <B>Great Western Soaring School: Fred Robinson 1965...1975</B></div> <div> <B>Great western Soaring School: Calage Corp.      1975...1979</B></div> <div> <B>Captain Gene Jordon...1979...?</B></div> <div> <B>Romas Rakauskas...Period unknown</B></div> <div> <B>Crystal Soaring...John Stevenson...1985...1993</B></div> <div> <B>Crystal Soaring...Captain George Watkins...1993...1998</B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Great Western Soaring School: Fred Robinson 1998 to...present </B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>My Star Lit Sky</U></B></div> <div> <B>Recently, I was standing outside my abode at the foot of the mountains that shield me from  the artificial light of the Los Angeles Basin.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I was looking at the heavens with my uncorrected vision, spending moments of my life in awe of the sight.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>I see a part of the universe...and I see beauty and an unaltered future. The universe will continue...beyond any human attempt to alter it. In human life terms, there will always be the Milky Way, the constellations, the sun and the moon.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The night sky refreshes my soul, for it is a fixed element than cannot be altered. No weapon of destruction, no evil plot, no religion, no government, no cult or conspiracy will ever change the night sky.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So, in these times of evil gangs and terrorists and the  resulting warfare, I look to the night sky to enjoy the stars and the moon and feel the peace they bring...for they are real.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>As I stand looking at the star lit sky, I pass many moments of my life knowing that eternal things exist...no matter the fools that attempt to control all of life.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>So, my friends, you are almost countless...and you demonstrate and reveal your friendship in so many ways...Your friendship endures even as I fail at times.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When you look at the star lit sky, know that I will always share the communion of your friendship.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>With love for you all,  Fred Robinson</B></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>I received a very nice letter from my student Eden. She has given permission to print it here.</U></B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Mr. Frederick J. Robinson</B></div> <div> <B>Owner/Instructor</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>RE:SAFETY</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Dear Fred,</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>We talk so often about this issue. It is such a fundamental</B></div> <div> <B>component of your teaching.</B></div> <div> <B>I have been your student since July 2001, and beginning</B></div> <div> <B>with the first flight you have literally preached the concept and need for safety. Your message insists on personal safety and safety for those around you (at the airport and in the sky. Yes, you may also encourage fun, personal responsibility and trust in those that fly at Crystalaire, but without a doubt, you teach safety.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Safety, from preflight inspections, to emergency procedures, to ensuring that pilots ask themselves, "Should I fly today?" Additionally, you are willing to listen, to consider and to adjust...to learn, just like your students...new techniques that relate to flying, especially when it comes to safety. I have witnessed this...</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You have taught me how to fly, but more importantly, how to fly safely, confidently, and competently...by your teaching and your example.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Finally, I am proud to say that before I knew how to fly, in essence, I put my life in your hands. I am not the only one!</B></div> <div> <B>I continue to fly at Crystalaire for many reasons, but most importantly, Because I feel safe and know I can trust the staff.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Thank you for a gift I will carry with me the rest of my life.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Sincerely,</B></div> <div> <B>Eden M. Hajic</B></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>A contemplation of life.</B></div> <div> <B>by Fred Robinson      Jan 2002</B></div> <div> <B>It seems to me that my life has been somewhat like a long cross country in a sailplane.</B></div> <div> <B>I suppose that my birth was like arriving at the airport to take my first lesson. As time passed and many lessons later, I was able to fly alone.</B></div> <div> <B>My long flight began early. I encountered weak thermals that were a struggle to use. The climb was slow, but altitude was gained. The lessons were beginning to pay.</B></div> <div> <B>After awhile I had enough altitude to see far ahead, but I wanted to see beyond the horizon.</B></div> <div> <B>Without a goal and without knowledge of the future, I flew toword the horizon. Lift became stronger and more altitude was gained. Along the way I found  friends who had the same direction in mind. We flew together, fast and high.</B></div> <div> <B>As time passed and the heat of life increased, storms developed. Flashes of lightening, thunder, rain, hail and turbulence were encountered. At times the visibility of things ahead were clouded.</B></div> <div> <B>Once launched upon the cross country of life, there was no turning back. The storms and turbulence were survived and followed by sunshine and smooth lift to speed me toword the ever moving horizon.</B></div> <div> <B>There is no comparison to the sights and wonders that I have encountered. There is only one comparison to a long flight in a sailplane...You fly with the eagles and life is good.</B></div> <div> <B>A few of my friends have landed, but others are on my wing, still chasing the horizon and loving every boost that comes along.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The angel on my shoulder has had a real task to see me through the storms. I'm sure that I have caused her some disappointment...At last I know her name. </B></div> <div> <B><U>It  came to me out of the blue. She is still out there and will fly along until I have reached a safe landing. Her name is </U></B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><I><B><U>Ethereal and she is from heaven.</U></B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>THE RIGHT THING TO DO, by Fred Robinson</B></div> <div> <B>This is not intended for anyone in particular...It is only my own thoughts on the general reasons that accidents occur.</B></div> <div> <B>After a pilot has been endorsed for solo flight and to act as a "pilot in Command",</B></div> <div> <B>the PIC is then the only one to make decisions. Self disipline is a big factor in safety. Being properly trained is only the beginning.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>In flying as a "Pilot in command" there are many "Right things to do". There are also the "Wrong things to do".After you have learned those things, it is your own decisions that will keep you safe.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Your own self discipline will make the choice. By the time you are permitted to fly alone, you will have been trained to at least a minimal level of skill and knowledge.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>You will know the minimum "Things to do" and the minimum "Things to not do". The choice will be yours.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>If for any reason you feel the need to learn more, choose an instructor you like and respect and advance faster with better skills and judgment than if you as a student, were to teach yourself.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>When I read about an accident, I ask myself if the pilot had made the right decisions. I also ask myself if the pilots instructor had properly prepared the pilot.</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Then I have the answer...The pilot made all the decisions, all alone and took off...and did not make a safe landing.</B></div> <div> <B>But what about the unavoidable accident? If you do the right things, it may never happen to you.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>In spite of world conditions, we as Americans have much to be grateful for. If </B></FONT><B>we choose, we can drive from border to border and cross state lines without </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" ><B>much interference. We can worship or believe as we choose. Not all people, </B></FONT><B>or all countries, enjoy that freedom.  </B><I><B>Fred.</B></I></div> <bR> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>