Sports

Recommend your favorite sport and sport locations in Hanover!

Gliding in Hanover / Lower Saxony
Baby Swimming

Introduction of my hobby: Gliding by Claudius L. Have you ever dreamt of being as free as a bird? Do you want to look down on the earth and lose yourself in the bright blue sky? If this should be the case, read this article carefully. It could be the chance to make your dream come true! I want to inform you about my hobby, gliding. First I want to give you some information about myself. My name is Claudius. I am 24 years old. I became a WSI student just five weeks ago. If you have any questions about gliding, ask for me and leave a message with your number or your email address at the WSI reception. I will call you back! So that’s enough about me.Let’s talk about gliding. 1.What is gliding? Gliding is an exhilarating sport for all ages.From 14 years on you are allowed to fly solo. You will find men, women, young and old. You will no longer be earthbound. Using the invisble force of the sun, a modern glider is able to fly high and to stay aloft for a very long time. The best combination of using the available forces brings the longest flight, the highest altitude, r the fastest speed. I will tell you about the lift sources later on.

2.The Club

The gliding club, in which I am a member meets in Hanover. In our club building we have enough space for the repairs and servicing that we have to do in our workshop.The flying season begins in March or if the weather isn’t that good, it begins in April. It normally ends in October. In the winter season the gliders have to get overhauled. This is very important for the reliability in operation. In the winter season there are also theory lessons, taking place in the club building. The subjects you have to learn are: Aerodynamics, Meteorologics, Navigation, Aviation laws and so on. I think the intellectual challenge of this sport is also an important attraction for many glider pilots, who are starting up their business.There are also club activities like information evenings or member visits to a restaurant. The airfield is in Oppershausen, near Celle. At the airfield we also have a club building and a hanger for all the gliders and also one Motorglyder. You have the possibility to stay at the airfield overnight. There are also caravans. You can rent one of them, if you desire. You can also sleep in a tent. Don’t worry! We have hot showers and proper toilets at the airfield.

3.Learning to Fly The first step will be to take an introductory flight. You can immediatelly start your business as a responsible pilot. You’ll sit in the front seat (the pilot’s seat) and your instructor will sit behind you, able to intervene at any dangerous point. But he will only intervene when it is absolutely necessary. If you are having fun at this new sport, you should think about some important documents. Before you can start the training, you need a medical permission. You have to undergo a special medical test by a certified doctor with experience in aviation medical problems. The training is split into four sections. Every section ends with a test. The tests are called A, B, C and PPL (Privat Pilot License). The last test, the PPL-Test ist an official one, wich makes you a licensed gliderpilot. Until the A-Test you will fly with your instructor. You will learn, how to start, to land and to handle the glider. You will practise the elementary operations until your instructor has enough trust in you, to handle the glider on your own. The first three flights on your own will be the A-Test. The instructor is not with you anymore, but he will give you advice by radio. After the A-Test you will practise and improve your abilities as a responsible pilot, who have to rely on himself. Now it is important to learn to fly curves, circles and things like that. To reach the B-Test, you have to manage three flights on your own, to show the moves you have learned and you have to land in an limited area of about 100 meters. The instructor watch every move you make. Between the B and the C-Test you will learn how to use lift sources properly. To reach the C-Test you have to complete a thirty minute flight, by using lift sources in the right way. Now the training at the airfield is accomplished. It is time to fly cross country. That means to leave the near area around the airfield and to navigate into unknown areas. It also means that you' will not be able to glide home without using lift sources. If there are no lift sources, you have to land on another airfield or perhaps, if there is no airfield in sight, you will have to land on a field. Then you will have to manage a 50 kilometer flight (minimum) on your own. In addition to that, you have to take an extensive theory test. It is a little bit like a theoretic test to get the drivers license, but it is certainly much more difficult than that! After passing all these tasks you will be a licensed sailplane pilot.
4. How to get airborne? Lift Sources?
Winch launches are the most commonly used and cheapest method of getting a glider airborne. The glider is pulled aloft up to an altitude of 300 to 600 meters. A rope connects the glider to a winch vehicle. When the signal is given, the winch vehicle increases its speed and pulls the glider up into the air. The airspeed at the wing has to be high enough to produce enough lift. The altitude depends on the length of the winch line and the wind strength.The glider pilot can release the tow rope at any altitude. In general there is an automatic mechanism, which releases the tow automatically, once a specific angle is reached. Gravity slowly draws the glider toward the earth’s surface. If no rising air currents are found, you have to land after a short flight. The most common sources of lift are thermal lifts, ridges or slope lifts (wind blowing against a mountain) and wave lifts. Today I only want to explain the thermal lifts. Thermal lifts are dependent upon solar energy. The earth, when heated by the sun, warms the air around it, causing it to expand and rise. Bubbles of warm, rising air form into columns called thermals. In these thermals it is possible to be lifted to high altitudes so you have the chance of flying long distances.
5. Cost
Trust me! Getting a driver’s license is much more expensive than this hobby! I hope you enjoyed this short introduction. And remember, if you are interested, leave a message! Contact: Claudius L. mail: tribun3110@webmail.e-wsi.com


Baby Swim by Maike S. What is Baby Swim? Baby swim is nothing new even if it is often discussed as if it were. People have been swimming with their children since the beginning of time. Baby swim, in its current form, has existed since the middle of the sixties, starting at about the same time in Germany, Australia and the USA.Parents want to do baby swim with their children for many reasons. It is one of the few things you can do together with a very little child. Some families want to teach their children to be “water wise,” other parents are afraid of the water themselves and don’t want their child to develop the same fear

Water wise with Respect

Whatever your reasons are for starting baby swim, it is sure to be an activity that gives you pleasure. Baby swim refers to water play and to acclimating the child to the water. By the way of regular swimming lessons, the child learns to become familiar with the water. Water is a wonderful element to be in. Water is also extremely dangerous is certain situations. That is why it’s important that you teach the child respect for the water at the same time as teaching them to enjoy it. Babies heads are very large in proportion to their bodies so they will not be able to hold it over the surface. Children who baby swim and who continue to maintain their water affinity often learn to swim earlier than other children. They have no fear to immerse or rather not be “freaked out” when they sink below the surface and are not afraid of splashing water. However, swimming with coordinated strokes will not happen until the child is about three or four years old.

Self Lifesaving Many baby swim groups include ”lifesaving” exercises as a part of their courses. The goal is to prepare the child for a situation where it falls into the water accidentally. This is every parent’s nightmare! The baby learns not to panic. Diving exercises are a way to get the child used to being under water. Teaching the child to hold tight to the parents back is also a lifesaving exercise. If a little child falls into the water, an adult jumping in after it would need to transport it back on the land. This would be easier to do if the child is able to hold onto the adult who could then concentrate on swimming. Children can never be totally “water safe” but you can teach them to be better prepared for a possible accident!

Social Aspects At baby swim, you meet other parents in same situations as you. Classes continuing long-term with the same groups are especially good. Being part of a group also contributes to the child’s social development. The child gets used to meeting other people. The baby feels at home in the group and recognises the other children and the instructor. Baby swim offers opportunities to make contacts, which often last for many years. Another benefit is for the fathers. They have a chance to be together with their children in a natural way during the child’s waking hours. We want to do Baby Swim. What do we do? Baby swim can be organized in many ways. It can have different goals and be more or less qualified. Baby swim as an organized course has an instructor, regular participants, a schedule and a planned curriculum. Contact several different institutions to decide which one is the best for your family. You will find baby swim in your local telephone book under “Swimming pools” or “Swimming schools.” Ask for information and go to the pool for a personal contact. Many times there is a waiting list so don’t hesitate too long!