2023 Newsletter > Sebastian Arce Q & A
This year you officially joined the Line Crew. It took awhile but by mid-season you had found your groove. What helped you learn to play ‘chess’ on the line?
“I learnt a lot about playing this ‘chess’ by watching other line crew, as well as asking for help from other line crew of how to sequence gliders on the flight line. There was a bit of a ‘ah ha’ when I was running the line solo I was able to click things together and make a pretty organized line.”
Last year (when you were 13 yrs old) you flew the PW6. This year you turned 14 and had to transition to the SGS 233 in order to solo. What was the hardest part of that transition?
“The hardest part was the weight of the stick for me, and the less air penetration it had compared to the PW6.”
Sebastian poses next to his cut-off shirt after soloing.
Your goal was to solo the 233 this year. Despite many weather-related challenges, you accomplished your goal. What did it feel like to solo and not have an instructor in the back of the plane?
“It was awesome to finally accomplish my goal! It was a bit stressful at first without an instructor but I got used to it pretty quickly.”
Did it make it more special that your solo came on the same day that Braden and Tim passed their private pilot check-rides and that Danny signed you off?
“Definitely, a very successful day and a solo to top it off, and I’m proud to be Danny’s first solo sign off.”
You were also able to achieve your second goal (soloing the 126) at the end of the season. Braden and Tim helped you prepare for your first 126 flight. How did it feel to have them supporting you at that level?
“I love and appreciate the support from them and everyone at the airport and am glad to be a part of the tribe.”
How did you like flying the 126?
“The 126 is a blast to fly and aside from the lackluster ability to penetrate the air it flies great!”
You won the ‘anti-flying brick’ award this year, going from a pattern tow into the wave on the west ridge. Can you describe that flight? How high did you get?
“The flight left me absolute amaze, it was a one of a kind experience flying that high in the wave, as well as the strength of the thermal truly shocked me, and it felt nice to be above the glass ships in a 233. :)”
Any other reflections about this past summer that you’d like to share?
“This summer I improved massively as a person mentally, emotionally and physically, as well as spending great time flying RC at the airport after hours or on rainy days.”
What is your dream aviation job?
“My goal is to fly fixed wing for the coast guard but my dream is to be a 777 captain for American Airlines.”
Sebastian and Tom went up for a pattern tow to practice landing in a strong wind. But instead of entering the traffic pattern, they ended up climbing into the wave on the west ridge, reaching an altitude of over 10,000 feet. It was an epic flight. The screenshot above is from the Open Glider Network (OGN) flight tracking file that was saved during the flight, which is a great learning tool.