On my first flying day,

I was determined to get my glider in the air on the high lift. The wind was 20Kph and a little gusty, which I thought would reduce my chance of a successful flight but i couldn't wait to fly any longer to get my plane in the air. The only person available to instruct used mode 1 and not mode 2 like myself. Anyway I hooked up my plane and stretched the cord and up she went. It all looked great until I was unhooked from the high lift and I was losing control pretty fast. Eventually I asked the mode 1 flyer to take control (no buddy system) but he couldn't bring the plane back to the oval and it was heading off downwind at a rate of knots. Eventually the plane crossed the road flying at approximately 50 metres, hit a tree, spun around and landed with minor damage.

In retrospect i should never have flown, I just wasn't able to handle the unexpected which I realised at the time as soon as the high lift disconnected. Over the next few months I had many successful flights but even at the end of years of flying I would still be extra cautious on windy days and watch the trees or whatever would blow in the wind to evaluate the conditions before I launched my glider or started my glo engines.

Well thats my windy day story as a first day beginner.

Langfire