Above It All...An Inner Peace

[HardCub]

The world can be a busy place. It can get so crazy sometimes, and you just feel a need to reset... to catch your breath uninterrupted.

I decided on Thursday, May 3rd, 2012 that I really just needed to get away from it all. -Just completely get away.
I just wanted to lose the rat-race of everyday life, with all of it's hectic schedules, loud noise and negative energy...
I just wanted a quiet place of inner peace, surrounded by sheer bliss and beauty... a place where I could just relax
and unwind. To feel completely connected with the universe, and reflect on the grandeur of God's amazing creations...

With those thoughts in mind, I placed my VW Passat on US-26 (NW Sunset Hwy) and headed west towards Tillamook.
My final destination was Applebee Aviation, which is located just off of US-26 at the Apple Valley Airport (OR61).
The pretty Apple Valley area is located in the beautiful Oregon countryside between the towns of Buxton and Manning.





I discovered the little airport when Doug and I attended his little brother's wedding in 2008. We all planned a family day-trip
to the beach while we were there, because (I) had never seen the Pacific ocean. The best way to reach the coast from the
Portland area is US-26. While driving along admiring the absolute beauty of the rolling Oregon countryside, I suddenly bolted
upright in my seat exclaiming loudly, "Oh Look! There are lot's and lot's of gliders over there!!!" I was very excited. They all
laughed at me because they found it funny, but I didn't care. I'd seen some airplanes and I was happy!

~~//~~

PCAviator has a weekly 10%-Off Tuesday Sale event, and this past week I purchased the Aerosoft Discus K Glider X.


Over Apple Valley (OR61) in Oregon in FSX






~ This is the R/C model I always wanted in the picture above...
a HUGE 1/4 scale model of the Discus K ~


I've always enjoyed flying sailplanes, (I loved to fly R/C gliders years ago) but FS2004 doesn't seem to have the ability to
correctly model the "feel" of soaring to me. When I first experienced soaring (using the default DG-808S included with
FSX Gold-Edition) in the FSX simulator, I was stunned by the accuracy of the simulation... it had the correct "feel" to the aircraft.
Suddenly, I was excited to try soaring again. But life gets in the way frequently, and I had somehow forgotten about soaring... until today.




After enjoying the incredible flight qualities of the Discus K Glider, I decided to try my hand at the controls of
the more docile Glaser-Dirks DG-808-S sailplane. The "S" model is the non-powered version, and is a true sailplane.




The FSX model is extremely nimble, yet docile enough for beginners to fly without feeling nervous,
or unsure of themselves. It's a very nicely done sailplane, and I really enjoyed my time in the cockpit.

Microsoft FSX Gold-Edition Deluxe
Aerosoft Discus K Glider X
DG-808-S (default FSX model)
HiFi-Tech ASE (Active-Sky-Evolution)
REX 2.0 Cloud Textures
Orbx FTX North America: Pacific-NorthWest Scenery Add-on
ENBseries
FSScreen + EZ-Thumbnails v3.0
1920x1200x32m pixels original .bmp converted to .jpg (resized / Not Edited)

[HardCub]

Look closely at the small airstrip visible under the left wingtip of the glider below.


On first view, I thought "Oops.. they messed up that part of the scenery!"
But, upon closer inspection you can see it is actually modeled 100% correctly...
I was very impressed yet again with the quality of the FTX NA PNW package.
The little airstrip is running "thru" a plowed vegetable field area and also the green turf
of a grass field... hence the visual color difference of the two ground textures. Amazing!














The Microsoft FSX DG-808-S glider reminds me of the R/C Sailplane model I flew back 1993.



It was called the "Sophisticated Lady II" and it was made by Carl Goldberg Models.
Today is available from many hobby retailers as an ARF kit. Here's a short video of the sleek looking model>





Thanks for viewing this collection of pictures.

Microsoft FSX Gold-Edition Deluxe
Aerosoft Discus K Glider X
DG-808-S (default FSX model)
HiFi-Tech ASE (Active-Sky-Evolution)
REX 2.0 Cloud Textures
Orbx FTX North America: Pacific-NorthWest Scenery Add-on
ENBseries
FSScreen + EZ-Thumbnails v3.0
1920x1200x32m pixels original .bmp converted to .jpg (resized / Not Edited)

[lifejogger]

Outstanding post Glenn. I have flown in a glider a couple of times and it is a great feeling to be soaring with the thermals and the only sound you hear is the wind rushing by.

[HardCub]

Thank you so much John. It's definitely a nice, soothing change of pace.

[tr45]

Very nice Glenn. Best video I've ever seen of soaring in FSX...

[adamb]

amazing shots Glenn, nice work. That is one of two things i haven't done to any extent in FSX, the other being flying Helo's, maybe some day.

Adam

[alexczarn]

Great shots and I love the scenery!

[peer01]

This post is top notch Glenn!!

[aircav1970]

Absolutely wonderful post Glenn,I had a cousin that bought me a whole afternoon of sailplane flight for my 25th birthday many years ago and I was in love them from that point on,I fly the discus and the DG often and I agree,FSX has modelled it quite nicely! Thanks for the memories,I don't think about those days enough anymore.

[rsoro01]

Excellent, excellent, excellent.



Rich