Hawaii Gliding Honolulu Soaring - The Original Glider Rides

When given the opportunity, I try to get out and fly a glider. I happened to make it to Oahu in October 2010 and looked for a chance to fly one more time. This time it was Dillingham Field on the North Shore. Honolulu Soaring operates something called The Original Glider Rides and while the name seems a bit odd, the location was truely unique. I had the extreme pleasure of doing both ridge and thermal flying.
Dillingham Field, Oahu	They had this really classic poster hanging in the shop.	Dillingham Field, Oahu	The cumulus proved to be invaluable as the ridge lift was not particularly strong when I was there.
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Plenty of beach and ocean to enjoy from aloft.	Dillingham Field, Oahu	One of the house thermals was suppose to be over the very neat rows of vegetation ahead.
Dillingham Field, Oahu	The views were spectacular and distracting.	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Looking northeast towards Sharks Cove, my wife's most favorite snorkeling spot. And beyond that, the Bonzai Pipeline.
Dillingham Field, Oahu	I had to wonder if you could have spotted any whales. The whales had yet to arrive to winter in the Hawaiian waters.	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!
Dillingham Field, Oahu	The beach directly across from the airfield's parking lot. Empty and wide open	Dillingham Field, Oahu	The beach directly across from the airfield's parking lot.
Dillingham Field, Oahu	The ridgeline, which paralled the runway. This was my first experience with ridge lift.	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Under tow. The tow plane was a Cessna L-19 "Bird Dog." Flying at sea level, it clearly had way more tow power than it would back here in Utah.
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Still under tow. I always thought that aero tows seemed a bit slow since almost all of my launches have been with a winch. But the L-19 made it a very quick trip up to a release point.	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!	Dillingham Field, Oahu	In our visits to Hawaii, one can only be impressed with the yothful enthusiasm that seems to abound there. This was my pilot-in-command for my flights, the 27-year old Valerie. Words cannot describe the confidence she demonstrated. In a refreshing change, Valerie flew because she loved to. She was definitely NOT headed for the world of commercial flight, where they suck the life out of you.
Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!	Dillingham Field, Oahu	Soaring in Oahu at Dillingham Field and Honolulu Soaring. What a great flight, or two!