Sunday, April 5, 1998 — North Shore News — 37

Retired commercial pilot loves to soar’

; fF rom page 30

takes the suck out of the tow

rope. Called bird dogs, the planes

vwere used for observation tn
Koreas and Vietnam and had a

reputation tor durapiliry, That is,

vid take a baller without

Vanstone doesn’t talk about
-the skin strength oof | the
Czechoslovakian-made — Blamik
glider but ae docs point out the
large crack in the perspex canopy
above me thar YP hadn't noticed
“unl now.

“He wasn’t made by some-
body's head. Ie was a big: hail
storm fast year.”

; ‘am not fe whether Fan
T cheek the sky for
jist in case.
eH come off the ground
tay down so as we don’t
tall up — his stalling
higher than ours,” says
Vanstone as we are waved off by

Ars not nearly as quict z as I had
xpected and we {that is, my
eet, ,) seem to be very close to the

‘NORDICFLEX’
ULTRALIFT

“Regular Price *1399"

“Staying ht in behind the
tow plane becomes second nature
atier a while. When vou're fears
ing it van be challenging.” said
Vanstene night on cue.

Sure, Maro. Ease tor um ca
Boeing 747 pilot to sav.

Vanstone gor bis nise pilots
ficenee through the Air Cadets
which he joined in’ Winnipes
when he was $3. Phe Vest
Vancouver resident wert on to
work for Trans Canwa ¢Air
Canada as a mechanic beter
beginniy a 3S-vear carver as

His carefully measured: voice
inspires confidence. Tr is uasy ter
imagine heanng him over a PA
system welcoming his passeagers
aboard and pointing out the
sights of Canada.

What he actually sass next is oe
something along the fines of

“One of the things always to keep
in mind when you're ghdnig 1s to
remember where your atiporr is
and how far it is to get back.”

Just as I’m trving to pick out
our airfield back on the sour side
of the Fraser we part company
from our tow at about3,000 teer.

Immediately the noise of the
slipstream drops to a muted bur-

© fltes aut of Hope for the balance of

Gie as our speed slows ta 45
knots.

Above an open gravel pit,
warmed by the sun, we catch ris-
ing ur and spiral lazily ro 3,800
teer Where Vanstotic astonishes
me bv detting me bank the alider
in steeper and steeper turns,

Its a magical experience. 1
wish Po could stay up here and
kare io teed the plane respand to
ity environment through the seat
of my pants rather than with the
gentle guidance of Vanstone.

Ofcourse, by the time I've tin-
ished we've dost the updrafi and as
our aimtude decreases we edge
back rowards the field.

“Gliding as coming down
Soaring is going up.” Vanstone
had said co me earker when trving
to describe nas attraction te
ngineless flight

We rumble to a stop in only
eight seconds and the wing falls
over to one side.

“Thar always bathers me,”
says Vanstone.

Not me.

The VSA affers an introductory
instructional package of three
‘flights for S180. Nove that the club

the season, Call thentat 527-5501. a love for soaring.

Phone rr tn Available. Call | Today!

Reconditioned
ELLIPSE” e’
New '999""

gy

NORDICFLEX’
ISOLIFT”

Regular Price *799**

NORDICTRACK
PROPLUS”
Regular Price ‘999

LEGSHAPER™
Regular Price *249*

Ss

i

age

Prices do not include shippingfhandling and taxes.
*30 day limited warranty. All sales final.

1908 Noe Advantage ot Ontario, Inc. NordicTrack and related
maths ate licensed US lagemarks of NordicTrack, Inc. All nights reserved,

: T : ; Photo submitted
' MARTY Vanstone used to fly Boeing 7475 before he retired and discovered

‘The Great Bunny Give-Away |

i, Saturday April v
ve) 10am-noon-. . +
Dundarave Village -

KIDS!
Bring your baskets, pick-up your egg.

passport at one of the participating ©
merchanis, collect your goodies and enter
to win one of 25 :

v 2 foot plush bunnies,

Join us for an eggceptional family
brunch at Dundarave Café -

10arn-noon $6 per person
(Reservations recommended) .
Supported by these Dundarave Merchants

Ga Sb HERDOUARTERS ?

Ku+A38iburt Group

IGA Plus

Island Accustic Hearing
Services

Jabot Design

image Esthetics
iViactean Management
New Tech Electrolysis
Otto & Assoc. Insurance
Agency

Peake & Richmond Ltd.
Red Horses Gallery Inc.
Royal Bank

Royal Lepage

Russells - Notaries
Strictly West Van Pizza
Sunmark Stetionary
Super Save Gas

Terry Stewart Lawyers
The Cheny Tree

The Uppercut Barber Shop
Travel Time Intemational
West Van Vacuum Centre

Ist Impressions Hair Design
Advantage Aquarius Trcvel
Advantage Esthetic Centre
Bank of Montreal

BC Partners ln Planning
BJ's Fashions

Bo's Design Studio

Bosley's Pet Food

Brambles and Biooms
Catvin's Café

Capers

clec

Dr. Jon O Strom Dental Office
Dundarave Bakeries
Dundarave Big 0 jire
Dundarave Café

Dundarave Chocolates
Dundarave Stationary
Dundarave Terrace Pharmacy
Dundarave Veterinary Clinic
Dundarave Wine Cellars
Dundarave Winemaking
Encore Fashion Boutique

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