I recently found some pics I took some time ago. These are kind of dear to me since they are part of my aviation life. So I was taking some training here in AZ at the Pleasant Valley Gliderport to get my checkout in gliders some time ago.  I was living in AZ at the time. 

A feeling of peace and solitude is what gliders invokes. It's about flying with the wind by the "seat of your pants" as they say in pilot jargon.

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Some of the nicest, bluest skies can be experienced in this area. The rudder and fin of the glider provide the yaw control, while the elevator allows control of the pitch while in flight.

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The instrumentation is basic in a glider. You fly and you feel and then you fly to feel again.. while strapped in and moving the control stick (roll and pitch) and pushing on the pedals (yaw).

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The old training gliders wait their turn to go up towed into the sky.

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This are the Piper Pawnee 300 HP airplanes. They are workhorses that tow these gliders in an out.. all day.. 

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And the pitot tube is ready to swallow the raw air to tell the airspeed. How beautiful is that bright yellow on the canvas.

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The more advanced aerobatic gliders look sleek and bright white. Ready for the more daring pilots and those passengers that want to experience a few more G forces than normal when taking an "Acro Ride" for a few dollars. 

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At a distance the airport facility looks like a island in the desert.

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The only shade in the place is provide by this large, very old tree. 

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On the way out I experienced a flat tire on my car. That was not much fun since I had to change that tire under a 100 degree day.

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Hope you enjoyed this old adventure of mine, in AZ.  :-)