European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - August 2, 1990, Darmstadt, Hesse                                T amp a  a j in 7, v f i of a  a Quot 7 v �1.  ,. ,. Vamp. H fat of Quot i a a a a  a a Ita a a j j  a 0& 1 a ,.t. A a v. 1 a a a. A a a a v a a  v. A a a a re a a v  a a v. A a Civ sitar. A . Be. ,.m a Quot to is  Ltd \. 41in j r i a a a �?~av4 a 1% a .v1 v a. A / \ v of cd w f a. A a  a. I a Vamp 1 u Evju or    a  a str 5 jsrdsi0l let of. ,.t to one glider rests in the Grassy Airfield near Bentheim West Germany White ground Rreves help Man Euver others into position 4h from Frankfurt Felheim Airfield v Schwann Eime str. C Bentheim exit _ 4 i 2  a 47 a i Toom Markt Bentheim from Heidelberg ass. I Ter Jaeger Story and photographs by Jim derhe1m staff photographer in the Back seat of a glider the most used sense is. Sight. Once you re airborne and Over the scare of the ascent open your eyes and imagine that you re a Hawk Riding the thermals above the Meadow watching for the movement of dry grass that Means a Rabbit is running for its life lean Back in your seat and listen the Rushing of the wind is what keeps a glider and its occupants airborne a from a few exhilarating minutes on a bad Day w Hen the winds Are Quirky to a Long cruise on an afternoon when the up drafts Are just right. All  takes to dip. The wings is a Pilot s nudge of a Joystick and a push of the pedals. You re soaring using no Energy but that which is supplied by Mother nature s free Power Plant in the sky below children look up and wave the Flap of a Pennant sailing from the lower of a nearby Castle is almost audible Over the hush of the w ind a glider ride on a weekend afternoon May sound like a dream or an expensive fantasy for Quot daredevils. But you can take to the skies As a passenger with an experienced Pilot from the Bentheim glider club in West Germany for less Money than you might think according to Hans Kreuzer one of 50 or so pilots who take paying customers aloft on saturday and sunday afternoons  a Small grass Airstrip in the Odenwald Region of Central Germany the club charges 14 Marks about $8.75 fora Tow skyward by a powerful Winch followed by 50 pfennings for each minute you re airborne. Or you can elect to be hauled aloft by air plane  a Cost of 3.50 Marks per minute. Both Pilot and passenger Wear parachutes the Tow by Winch is the fastest and most exhilarating w a to get aloft. If the weather conditions Are favourable a Pilot will be Able to keep you gliding for 20 to 30 minutes the average Cost for this Type of ride is about 50 Marks. Kreuzer said that there is no reservation system  the flying club  s a matter of weather and How Many people the club has to Pilot the gliders. But in my last couple of visits i had no problem getting airborne within about 30 minutes of arrival if you want to make sure the club is flying on the Day you visit the number  the Airfield is 06251-72411. The Best w a to get to the Airfield is to take. Autobahn 5 until you see the Bentheim exit if you re travelling from the North make sure you take the second Bentheim exit for Highway 47. If travelling from the South  will be the first exit for Bentheim. Once off the autobahn look for the yellow Road Marker to Gross Rorheim. Follow the a Road for about two Kilometres until you see a sign pointing toward Felheim. This will put you on Schwan Heimer Strasse 1 he Airfield is Down this Road on the right about four Kilometres. Just keep an Eye Cocker skyward the  gliders will show you the want. "1 v Pilot Hans Kreuzer whose instrument pane is a study in simplicity prepares to take a passenger aloft. 12 stripes Magazine August 2, /990 August 2, stripes Iti Jwj me 13