This subject arose on the "What did it take to get a
ticket in 1946?" thread but I though it deserved a new one.

I (and I hasten to add a load of others) soloed in
gliders after about an hour and a half in the seventies. We were 16.

Now when I think on it I can't really take it in. Seems ludicrous
really.

The min was 20 winch launches and I seem to recall that I
went solo on 21 as I suppose did others on the
same course. The flight time was 4 - 5 mins a launch.
There was a goup of about 15 students maybe and
the whole thing was done (or not, see later) over a long weekend.

Interestingly, and irritatingly, after a few solo launches someone,
crashed on their first, totalled the T21 and walked away with a small
cut on the leg. Just pulled up until the cable snapped and then
pulled
up until it stalled at about 100ft, I thought, then the wing dropped,
neatly striking the ground tip first. The wing conventiently shattered
into
the proverbial matchwood before the nose hit the ground springing
the fuselage a bit. All the energy seemed to go into the matchwood
so as mentioned no significant injury.

This crash broght the whole thing to a halt and we had to go home
without doing the 3 solo launches (and landings:) necessary to
complete the course.

I guess some of the saving in time comes from the lack
of a requirement to train for go-arounds.

Most worryingly of all, I just went back and signed up for
another go as soon as posible.

http://www.nationalglidingweek.co.uk/about-gliding/gallery-big/glider-flying-2.php
T21.

Also:-
We had one of these at school,
http://home.tiscali.nl/grasshopper/introduction.htm
Slingsby T.38. (not related to T-38 Talon, nor T.38 Fax Relay:)

The idea apparently was that you went solo after zero hours. I never
heard of it being used.
Apparently Hitler thought of it first. Yes, we got it from the
Germans.

http://home.tiscali.nl/grasshopper/specifications.htm
"The Grasshopper T Mk.1 sailplane is a *single seat*, high wing
monoplane
of wooden construction. It is designed for *initial training* and is
launched manually by elastic rope. For advanced stages of
training, it may be launched by towing with a car or winch. A stand
is provided to permit training while the aircraft is static"

I was terrified that anyone should suggest strapping it to me.
--- SBBSecho 2.12-Win32