Camila's Soaring Smiles

An introductory flight with Camila in an L-23 Blanik sailplane at Miami Gliders in Homestead on a beautiful spring day. Lots of lift! Watch how Camila figures out how to control the glider and gets better and better at flying straight and level each time she takes the controls.
00:00 Pre-flight briefing...
02:26 Settling into the cockpit, adjusting seat belts and rudder pedals...
02:50 Wave goodbye and blow a kiss...
03:06 Ready for takeoff...
03:57 Liftoff on tow...
04:21 Climbing on tow...
06:46 Preparing for tow release...
07:23 Tow release (letting go of the line)...
08:04 Free flight...
08:33 Help watch for airplanes and birds...
09:07 Climbing in first thermal...
09:53 This is what we do, know where the airport is...
11:05 So would you like to try flying?
13:55 It's true we really do fly with birds, like the Zopilote (Black Vultures)...
14:35 Spotting lots of skydivers parachuting down...
16:28 A little climb for altitude before Camila's second try at the controls...
16:56 Camila spots a single-place glider below and to the right...
17:24 Second try at the controls...
18:30 So let's fly with another glider...
20:25 What is that circle on the ground?
21:24 Climbing before Camila's third try, flat land, no mountains only oceans and bays...
22:32 Camila spots an airplane and a glider being towed up below us...
23:24 Third try at the controls...
24:27 Do you want to stay up or go down?
25:25 Tight circles in strong lift...
26:02 Make your own (little) video...
27:00 Fourth try at the controls (By George she's got it!)...
30:27 Heading back upwind to the airport for landing...
30:55 Traffic call beginning decent and stating landing intentions...
32:01 Trading altitude for speed, second landing call...
33:01 Entering the pattern, air brakes to slow and turn base...
33:51 On final to land...
34:02 Landing...
34:28 Getting out with a sticky canopy latch...
35:02 Ground crew comes to help...
35:41 Hugs on the runway...

[@michalrving6641]

Great video, always nice to see happy faces, hugs smiles and kisses.

[@user-vg1jb5mt1u]

Loved it, especially the combination of different cameras, with audi, music and special effects.

[@camilavalles5998]

It was one of the best experiences of my life! Thank you for the amazing flight

[@sopilote56]

@camilavalles5998 Very happy that you enjoyed your soaring experience. We were lucky that the thermals that day allowed us to climb easily. I hope people will watch enough of the video to see how you got better and better at flying each time you tried. On the fifth try you were able to fly straight and level for several minutes - the first step in becoming a pilot!

[@aviramkrell1703]

Amazing video, we just saw this. That glider coming from underneath was incredible!

[@sopilote56]

Thanks a lot!

[@nemo227]

There's a special feeling when you're soaring; the sound of the air rushing over the canopy, the little bumps and pushes. It's much different than powering through the air, pulled by a spinning propeller. It is truly special.

[@sopilote56]

@nemo227 Thanks for watching! As Camila discovered, soaring is amazing!

[@lynwoodjones]

🙌🤘

[@oldvideos506]

Nice made video, interesting and inspiring to try glider’s flying.

[@sopilote56]

@oldvideos506 Thanks for watching! Hope it will inspire people to try a glider flight!