This Glider was a Secret SPY PLANE - Mountain Flight

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A close look at a rare, classic, vintage, warbird, 3 person sailplane known as the Schweizer 2-32. We stop by Mile High Gliding in Boulder, Colorado to take a look at the sailplane operations. We also admire their towplane, the Piper Pawnee 235. This beast has a 250 hp Lycoming io-540 which can handle the high density altitude of the Boulder Municipal Airport.

The Schweizer 2-32 actually spent time in Vietnam as a powered reconnaissance airplane. It now gives amazing rides with mountain views as a flying warbird museum piece.

The Pawnee attaches the tow rope to the glider and only has less than 2000 feet of runway to take off. This airplane is a powerhouse with its Hoffman 4-bladed propeller. It would make a perfect STOL aircraft.

After being towed in the air, we fly around the mountains to search for mountain and thermal lift. After that, we head back to the airport to land on the skinniest runway I've ever seen.

At the end of the video, enjoy some plane spotting footage of a Piper Cub, trike ultralight, Piper Pawnee, and Schweizer 2-33 glider.

FloridaFlying SHIRTS!

Mile High Gliding

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On more tidbit about N2472W, the 2-32 you flew in. After 2 tours and 300 hours of combat flying in Viet Nam as the QT-2PC Quiet Observation Aircraft, it and the other QT-2PC (N2471W) were both retired to the Navy Test Pilot School at NAS Patuxent River as the X-26B. So you not only flew a bona fide Viet Nam era warbird, but an actual X-Plane as well. 72W was subsequently used as parts to keep 71W flying, and eventually was sold as surplus in the late 1980's to Bruce Miller of Cloud Base, the original glider operation at Boulder, who then re-converted it back to 2-32 configuration. It has been flying here ever since.

amckenna

Your videos have reignited my passion for flying. When I joined the service I wanted to fly choppers but couldn't because I wore glasses. Now at 57 I would love to learn to fly. Thank you.

darrinwright

In 1988, my ex wife and I went to Dillingham airfield on the North shore of Oahu. We went up in a Schweitzer 233, ridge line soared for 45 minutes. The views were amazing, it was smooth because of no thermals and one of the coolest things I have ever experienced. At that time, I had 12, 000 hours as a professional airline pilot.

davidmangold

I took a few rides in a 2-32 in Fremont CA back in the early 70s while learning to fly gliders. A great glider and a super dating event..

bartricky

I am a former glider and tow pilot. And used to run a glider operation in Taos NM. And yes Virginia, towing gliders can be as dangerous or more dangerous than crop dusting. Ask me how I know. Actually don't ask just take my word for it.

steveasher

I towed one on a trailer to a place near Elmira NY for reconditioning. I then towed it back to Sterling Ma for a customer. Got a ride in it to Sugarbush Vt where it was kept. It was a great ride.

brianwheeler

I used to fly 2-32's back in the 60's at the old El Mirage field run by the Breigleb's. It was one of my favorite 2-place gliders . I never tried cramming 2 people in the back seat, however. I liked it because it was relatively heavy and high performance at the time. It used to hold some speed/distance records. This brought back some interesting memories.

rknute

Beautiful footage! Thank you for sharing!

sandybanjo

I live in Denver and didn't even know about this. I'm booking a flight immediately. Thanks. and nice video too.

Mikidy

Sailplanes are cool, you need to make a journey to Tehachapi California to see some incredible classics!

KeithFeickert

Hey man, I was that guy at the Orlando City game that said hi to you and your brother earlier tonight.

paperclipmaniac

As I see it, the only real disadvantage of a sailplane is that you can't call a missed approach and go around.

dougscott

Enjoyed the video and beautiful scenery. I flew a glider one time when getting ready for my flight test many years ago my instructor pulled the engine on the C152 while we were in the pattern. Made the landing and was a cool experience.

realediciocco

The father of an acquaintance of mine in high school used to fly gliders out of Minden Nevada. He sailed over 35k ASL on several occasions. On his last flight at over 40k, he ran out of oxygen and had to be talked down by ground control.

jeffcooper