rigging
Rigging, in soaring parlance, is the act of assembling the glider. Most gliders are built to be easily taken apart and put on a trailer as many are landed off airport when soaring conditions turn sour. Gliders such as these high performance fiberglass ships are almost always stored ‘in the box’, or disassembled in their enclosed trailers, as the effects of the sun can damage their finish and actually weaken them structurally. Although most flights are done by a solo pilot, it is very much a group sport with everyone pitching in and helping to rig the fleet. Wing runners are needed to help get them up to the flight line, and then help with the launch, and a tow pilot is needed (along with a tug) to get them up in the air. At the end of the day the process is reversed, and the gliders go back in the box.
[...] May 3, 2011 by bikeal Leave a Comment Rigging, in soaring parlance, is the act of assembling the glider. Most gliders are built to be easily taken apart and put on a trailer as many are landed off airport when soaring conditions turn sour. Gliders such as these high performance fiberglass ships are almost always stored 'in the box', or disassembled in their enclosed trailers, as the effects of the sun can damage their finish and actually weaken them structurally. Although most flight … Read More [...]