7 Schweizer 2-33 or 2-33A
2 Schweizer 1-26E
1 Schweizer Sprite 1-36
3 Schweizer 2-32
2 Grob G103A
1 Grob G102 Club
1 Glasfluegel Std. Libelle H201B
1 Centrair Pegase 101A
A total of 9 sailplane models, basic trainer to Standard Class racer. 18 ships. 22 flights, 4.3 hours solo on his first day of being 14.
Then, from Sept. 11 to Sept. 14, Garret soared cross-country from Warner Springs towards a multi-step goal of Hobbs, NM, home of the Soaring Society of America. Garret flew solo in the Grob G102, escorted by his Dad Bret, in the Pegase. His Mom Karen took along a Cessna-180 towplane, and other family members brought the trailers.
9/11/95. Warner Springs to Blythe, CA.
115mi. 8,500' altitude gain. 5.3hr. A complete Silver C!
9/12/95. Gila Bend to Tucson, AZ (4.4hr, 92mi). 1st off-field landing.
9/13/95. Tucson to Safford, AZ (4.7hr, 85mi). 2nd off-field landing.
9/14/95. Safford, AZ to Hatch, NM.
139mi. 15,100' absolute altitude. 5.4hr. AZ Junior record.
Hurricane Ismael precluded the final leg to Hobbs. Nonetheless,
within 5 days of turning 14, Garret achieved soaring feats beyond many
SSAers:
SSA A,B,C,Bronze Badges SSA Junior State distance record (AZ)
SSA Youth Century I & II awards FAI Silver C Badge (youngest ever?)
Documentation of these flights is still pending. Note that Garret grew
up on the airport grounds and had 100 dual flights and cross-country
instruction before the day he soloed. Accordingly, his feats are hardly
within the reach of the average teenager. They do remind us, though,
that soaring is as good for turning kids into pilots as pilots into
kids: 14-year-olds can do it. Don't wait until you're old and rich!
| Dr. Günther Eichhorn | Springer 233 Spring Street New York, NY 10013 USA, email me |