EP178 - Flying Silent: No Engine. No Seat Cushion.

Ted soloed a glider this weekend. He went up at 3,500 feet and came back down at 9,500. Then eventually came back down from that too, but only because his butt hurt. One tow rope, zero engines, four and a half hours, and a metal ballast brick he was apparently sitting on the entire time. Silver badge? Almost. Cushion? Negative.

We get into what gliding actually feels like when you come from powered aircraft — the tow, the release, the moment the tow plane rocks its wings and suddenly everything is very real, and the variometer beeping in your ear like an Atari game while you chase thermals over rural Oregon. Ben joins the conversation too as we dig into the physics, the philosophy, and the surprisingly affordable math of staying airborne for half a workday on a single tow.

Also: Brian had a weekend. We'll just say that.

Plus listener feedback, community wins including a freshly minted instrument pilot or two, and a closing thought that pretty much nails why we all do this in the first place. No engine required.

Mentioned on the show:

* M91 - Springfield Kentucky: http://www.airnav.com/airport/M91

* 9A0 - Lumpkin County/Wimpy's Field, Dahlonega Georgia, Ben's nemesis: https://www.airnav.com/airport/9A0

* Ted's glider club: https://www.wvsc.org/

* LET L-23 Super Blanik: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LET_L-23_Super_Blan%C3%ADk

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