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<H2>Kurt Thams</H2>
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<h2>Flying and Sailplanes</h2>
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	<IMG SRC="http://www.thams.com/pics/FlyingJeanNV.jpg" ALT="photo--Soaring over Jean, NV" ALIGN=BOTTOM  BORDER=0>
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Soaring over Jean, NV <a href="http://www.airnav.com/airport/0L7">(0L7)</a> and having a great time.
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In 2006 I got my pilot license, fulfilling the first part of a life-long dream. I fly gliders and power planes, but given 
the choice, I'll always go glider. 
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<a href="http://www.thams.com/pics/Carat-15-aloft.jpg"><IMG SRC="http://www.thams.com/pics/Carat-15-aloft-thumb.jpg" ALT="photo--Carat flight"></a>
<a href="http://www.thams.com/pics/Carat-10-aloft.jpg"><IMG SRC="http://www.thams.com/pics/Carat-10-aloft-thumb.jpg" ALT="photo--Carat flight"></a>
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Photos of my Carat, a powered sailplane, on my second flight (click photo for larger version). 
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<a href="http://flickr.com/photos/jzawodn/356488776/"><IMG SRC="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/128/356488776_8cec76fd15_m.jpg" ALT="photo--Carat taking off"></a>
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Carat, taking off at Hollister (click photo for larger version). 

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<a href="skewTmap.html">Google Map to Skew-T</a>. Want a skew-t weather analysis or forecast for a specific location? 
Use this handy selection tool.
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My writeup on the <a href="PanocheFly-in.html">Panoche Fly In, 2006</a>, wherein a bunch of sailplane pilots gather for a weekend of soaring.
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Kurt's Pre-Flight Checklist for SGS 2-32
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<li><a href="SGS 2-32 Preflight Checklist.pdf">PDF format</a>
<li><a href="SGS 2-32 Preflight Checklist.odt">Open Office format</a>
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<h3>Videos</h3>
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<li>What it looks like to <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=pm9OCRFqkNE">shut down the Carat engine</a> in the air
<li>Me, <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=5hSbEMBb6XQ">practicing landing a sailplane</a> without using spoilers
<li><a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=PjTdlx3p_jY">Landing sailplanes while under tow.</a> You don't see this every day!
<li>Music video of the <a href="http://youtube.com/watch?v=5X768iLyCjs">Panoche Glider Fly-In</a> from Sept, 2006.
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<li><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/kurtlimejello">All my Youtube Videos</a>

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<h3>Scam Alert</h3>
Consumer Alert - Gift Certificate Scam on Glider Rides, Skydiving<br>
Beware of 1-800-SKY-RIDE (<a href="http://www.1800skyride.com">http://www.1800skyride.com</a>). 
Before you decide to purchase a gift certificate online through a national agency offering 'discounted' 
or 'low priced deals', check these warnings: <a href="http://www.1800skyride.org/">http://www.1800skyride.org</a>, and 
<a href="http://www.skydivekutztown.com/scams.html">http://www.skydivekutztown.com/scams.html</a> and 
<a href="http://www.funjumper.com/skyride/">http://www.funjumper.com/skyride/</a>. 
They started out scamming folks in skydiving and now are moving into balloon rides, biplane rides, glider rides, and 
apparently even spas, bullriding, and health clubs.


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