From whuffos

Question #1: What's it like?

Answer #1.1: Fun

Answer #1.2: Lots of fun

Answer #1.3: It's like mountain climbing--the same kind of views and exposure--only the view is better 'cos the mountain is missing.

Answer #1.4: Remember those dreams about flying you used to have when you were a kid. It's like that.

Answer #1.5: I dunno. It's hard to explain to a non-pilot. It's like trying to describe sex.

Answer #2.1: (to average whuffos): It depends on the student and the quality of the instructor. You see, ever since the early 1980's, the USHGA has maintained this network of instructors that blah blah blah et cetera et cetera et tedious cetera...

Answer #2.2: (to attractive members of the opposite sex): Gee that question will take some time to answer. Why don't we talk about it over dinner...
...(later) It depends on the student and the quality of the instructor. You see, ever since the early 1980's, the USHGA has maintained this network of instructors that blah blah blah et cetera et cetera et tedious cetera...

Answer #3.1: No. It's really quite boring. That's why I'm here on the ground talking to you.

Answer #3.2: Yes. It is. And I am quite brave. Unlike you, you worm.

Answer #4.1: We carpool.

Answer #4.2: We don't. We go out and buy new trucks.

Answer #4.3: Uh...gee...it depends. Say, how'd you like to come and watch us fly next weekend?

Answer #5.1: Oh, various places, It depends on the forecast and the weather conditions. We fly everywhere from [popular local site] to [obscure site in the middle of nowwhere], Yosemite, and the Owens Valley.

Answer #5.2: In the air, Stupid.

Answer #5.3: Oh, various places. It depends on the forecast and the weather conditions and say, how'd you like to come and watch us fly this weekend?

Answer #6.1 (if the whuffo is male): No.

Answer #6.2 (if the whuffo is female): Yes.

Answer #7.1: Yes, I slammed my finger in a car door.

Answer #8.1: Yes, but you can get hurt a lot worse in ordinary day to day life.

Answer #9.1: I slammed my finger in a car door.

Answer #10.1: Yes. I flew at [popular coastal site], I toplanded, and I ran into this peculiarly morbid bystander who kept asking me if I'd ever been hurt flying. I felt that this was in rather poor taste, so I picked the fellow up and heaved him off the cliff. Needless to say, I threw out my back, so now I bring along Kong, my psychopathic Rottweiler, in case a similar circumstance should arise. That's him ripping the sides off that dumpster. Here, Kong!

Question #1: What type and size of glider should I buy?

Answer #1.1: It depends. You should demo as many different gliders as you can and pick the one you feel happiest with. You don't want something that's too hard to fly, but you don't want something you'll outgrow. And keep in mind that with your experience level, there isn't any really "right" choice. You'll have to grow into whatever wing you buy.

Answer #1.2 (if older pilot has a ragged out old 185 Duck for sale): Well, I don't know, but I might just happen to know where you can get a 185 Duck. Those are good gliders. A famous design. And it's in great condition!

Answer #2.1 (if new pilot is obviously a weenie): Longer than you, you worm.

Answer #2.2 (if new pilot is cool, or an unattached member of the opposite sex): Oh, about 2-300 hours, and say, I've been watching your flying and I'm quite impressed. You want to come to the Owens Valley with us this weekend?

Answer #3.1 (if new pilot is obviously a weenie): No, you worm.

Answer #3.2 (if new pilot is cool): Yeah sure!

Answer #3.3 (if new pilot is an unattached member of the opposite sex): Uh, I guess so, but gee, we don't have enough room in the back, so you'll have to sit up front in the cab.

Question #1: Honey, what do you want to do this weekend?

Answer #1.1: Fly

Answer #2.1: Fly

Answer #3.1: Fly

Answer #4.1: Fly

Answer #5.1: Could you stick around through the weekend? We need a driver for the Owens.