Sailing vs. Flying

Like Angus I got a licence on the R22 great fun but expensive. Unfortunatly its now lapsed but who knows one day. Only thing id say if you can only afford the basic hours a year if it does suddenly go quiet theres a lot more chance of becoming worm food.

Whereas on a boat you have normally a bit of time to think about it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
if it does suddenly go quiet theres a lot more chance of becoming worm food.


[/ QUOTE ]

That's one of the reasons I upgraded to the R44. They are much more forgiving in autos. I never once in my initial training in the R22 did an auto to the ground, but have done it regularly in the R44. Still wouldn't like to have to do it for real, but I think I could do well enough to survive.
 
Problem with flying is that it can be rather anti-social. i.e. a lot of the time you are on your own.

Started flying fixed wing in the 70's and converted onto helis in the 90's when fixed wing became monotonous. Although SWMBO and kids come with me on the odd occaision it's usually me alone. Probably something to do with my abilities as a pilot!! Whereas on the boat it's usually family based, lasts longer, more relaxing, mildy alcoholic yet just as intense at times if that's what you want.

Fixed wing licence now lapsed, heli only just hanging on.

Definately the boat.
 
[ QUOTE ]


Now a glider.................and I once flew in (I think) a Slingsby T21? open cockpit, side by side, constructed like one of my model planes, would be very different.



[/ QUOTE ]

I have often wondered if Gliding is 3D sailing?
 
Flying is going somewhere, unless gliding of course, sailing is just..................well, saling. Unless passage making to get somewhere, More like gliding. Of course in a small plane or a glider, you cant just drop the hook and have a nap/brew/scoff/read/shag! Even the modern anchors tend to drag in air.
 
SWMBO flys. Both as a commercial pilot and as glider pilot. The things with engines is work, the gliding is for fun. She doesn't seem so keen on sailing though. The big advantage to sailing as I see it, is you can sail with a bunch of friends, eat and drink (ahem) while you do it. No so for gliding.
 
[ QUOTE ]
That's a way of life . . . for the elderly?

[/ QUOTE ]

I dunno. Getting a big boat around is always a challenge and its nice to have the quiet bits. I liked all of that since I was in my teens. Mid forties now, and determined to be a little bit "blood and guts" before I get too old to heave the gaff up the mast, without winches.
 
Depends on what sort of flying you choose. One of the "problems" with gliding is that you can pretty much give up any spare time you've got and, unless your partner is into gliding, as well you will tend to end up in the bar telling war stories to other pilots and the few women who do enjoy the lifestyle (sound familar?).

It's not all leap into your glider and disappear off into the distance for hours. Especially if you instruct at a winch-lauch site, you'll be getting 4-5 min circuits in this country and be constantly pushing gliders back to the launch point, retrieving cables from the winch, holding wing-tips, help rig and de-rig, driving the winch, making the tea, drinking the tea, eating bacon butties, admiring beautiful classic wooden craft and incredibly expensive sleek glassfibre craft all in the company of great (but often slightly weird) friends.

So lets see - people whinging about the crap weather in this country (that's it - next year we're spending the season in Australia, Spain, South Africa, in fact anywhere but the UK), people whinging about the latest regulations creeping in (bloody government - who the hell voted for them, country's going to the dogs), people whinging about how stupidly expensive this is considering they only used the thing 4 times this year (daren't work out the cost per hour - I'm seriously thinking of jacking it all in, etc..), no one at work has a clue what you're talking about, you are constantly trying to gain brownie points with the missus so you can get away at least one day next weekend, winches, classic wooden craft owners knocking swish grp owners (that are usually loaded with gadgets with a new one added every week), non-stop radio checks and copious amounts of tea and bacon butties.

And I haven't mentioned the col-regs discussions yet or the idiot in the power jobbie that came straight through the circuit, didn't look, nearly took my my wing off, doesn't he understand I can't just turn as quickly or open the throttle like he can, it's not like he hasn't got the whole sky to fly around in why the hell do they have to head straight for you?


Nope, nothing like sailing.....
 
[ QUOTE ]
And I haven't mentioned the col-regs discussions yet or the idiot in the power jobbie that came straight through the circuit,

[/ QUOTE ]

Did his wing-tip vortex throw you about and cause you to spill your tea? /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I like both equally. They both have very good strongpoints and they teach you very different things that can carry over into both sports. Flying is more about mental awareness: Being aware of your situation, predicting the future, having a plan, maintaining positive control of your vehicle at all times, responding to emergencies efficiently and effectively, managing every aspect of a flight such as fuel/time/weather/obstacles/ATC instructions. However, flying teaches you about how wind affects a vehicle, it teaches you how to handle tough situations with grace. Boating however, teaches you how to enjoy the crappy parts so that you can get to the fun parts, it teaches you what to do when there's no one who can help you, it teaches you about nutrition and the importance of sleep planning (on long voyages). Sailing can teach life skills, such as sewing, fishing, finding fun in isolation, how to do research, and solidifies your trip planning abilities.

IMO both are equally enjoyable and fun. I love flying IFR because of the technical aspect of it, but I love sailing because of the freedom it allows.
 
Found power boring so changed to gliding for 20 years. Syndicate shares in single and 2 seaters at a hill site often with good wave flying. Biggest mistake was taking an instructor rating, always someone needing a check flight when just rigged and conditions good for cross country. Unsociable sport as far as family concerned, SWMBO hated long distance retrieves if I landed out. Sailing much more relaxed and sociable but far more expensive.
 
GrahamM376 said:
Found power boring so changed to gliding for 20 years. Syndicate shares in single and 2 seaters at a hill site often with good wave flying. Biggest mistake was taking an instructor rating, always someone needing a check flight when just rigged and conditions good for cross country.
Click to expand...

I was asked/invited to become an instructor at three different clubs but always declined. A bit anti-social, maybe, but the instructors I knew all found it hard to get enough solo flying to keep their tickets. And yes, had I signed up I would have lightened the load and reduced that problem. Tragedy of the commons, they call it.

I did become a winch instructor, though.
 
Haven't read all the five year old original posts on this thread, who keeps resurrecting these?
Anyway, prior to sailing I was into paragliding, getting as far as Club Pilot and then moving to the Isle of Lewis where there is too much wind and too little hill. Pursued it for another year or so by which time I had flown so infrequently that I was starting to get the jitters every time I stood at the takeoff. Not helped by having no recognised sites so having to find my own, and of course no club or anything so nobody around to share it with making it quite antisocial.

I got into dinghy sailing after I found myself stood on top of the only flyable hill I ever did find on Lewis, yet again the conditions were not quite right to fly, and I knew a mate was out somewhere having a blast in his Wayfarer. A few weeks later I bought my own, and the paraglider has been in the loft ever since.
 
michael_w said:
Flying and especially gliding must be even more weather dependent than sailing.

Lots of hanging around at a draughty aerodrome, waiting for the conditions to improve.
Click to expand...

I used to be keen on taking up gliding, till I realised that good gliding days were also very good sailing days. Now we need a not too physical sport/pastime that is actually at it's BEST on very wet days with no wind and either fog or heavy rain......
 
Crossing Lyme bay, and taking quite a few hours about it, the thought went through my mind that this is about 10 minutes in a twin. I always resisted sailing because everything takes so long, you need time on and in your hands. However as ever there are so many advantages and disadvantages with each. Anywhere by aircraft usually involves an airport miles from anywhere, or, miles from anywhere you want to be - so a taxi drive and an hotel. The boat usually offers places you are very happy to be, and a bed as part of the package. Light aircraft are for all practical purposes severly limited to the UK and Europe, so not much good for that round the world or even round the Pond trip of a lifetime.

Of course so many people fall out of love with flying for some of these reasons and more especially because (a bit like sailing) you need the confidence to go places. I guess people are a bit more confident in boats which are more forgiving. All weather capability in a light aircraft (both aircraft and pilot) is a very serious comittment in terms of instrument rating and currency for the pilot, and navionics, and realistically, ice protection for the aircraft.

but it never ceases to surprise me how many have tried both or still do both. I have a twin instrument rating and especially enjoy getting to places that would take me days or weeks in the boat, but I enjoy the boat far more when I get there. I think when I am even older and more grey there may be a few years where I can take the boat to far flung places I couldnt take the aircraft and have time in my hands to not bother how long it takes. I cant wait - I think.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Share this page

Top