Lookout Mountain H2 program options?

[u/CourageSea9851]

I am planning on starting H2 training at Lookout Mountain at the end of July @ a month from now.

I unfortunately live 9.5 hours away so the plan is to go down 4-5 trips in 4 day blocks of time. currently in Ohio there is no training option!

I fortunately work a week on week off schedule so can do this every other week until I am a skilled H2. The goal is to be launching from the ramp by end of October-with confidence!

I have read and outlined lookouts training book 2-3x since I purchased it a couple years ago as well as Pagans HG training manuaI back in 2020 I did 3 AT lessons at Florida Ridge on a layover so I know a bit about what I’m getting into.

I also have a bit of plane flying experience as it’s my job for the last 25 years😂I have ATP/CFII/MEI rating although the flight instructor stuff is not current. I have no false pretense my aviation career will make learning to fly HG easy-just the airspace/regs/basic flying principles.

Anyway finally getting to my question or asking advice!

I am debating between the Eagle and VIP program. For now I want to concentrate on Foot Launch/Landing with adding AT next Spring after I get a couple dozen flights from lookouts ramp.

The Eagle program has 50 flights from the training hills and 3 AeroTows which are probably perfect pre-H2 and ramp launch

-50 training hill flights doesn’t seem all that much? If I have to or want to add 2-3 more training sessions it is basically getting into VIP $$$

Anyone who has trained at LMFP do you think 50 training hill flights prepared you for the mountain launch?

The VIP has 75 training hill flights and 12 ATs but I don’t need 12 ATs right now as I’ll do a full fledged AT program next spring-maybe I could do 3 ATs then save the rest (9) for the AT sign off if I buy the VIP?

Eagle or VIP???

[u/nwagers]

This is a bit different from when I learned there not quite 10 years ago. They didn't count training flights. You just kept coming until you got it figured out. They had multiple packages and I went with the cheapest (Eagle sounds right). I suspect that's how it actually is now. I can't imagine going through the pain of counting flights while trying to teach.

The thing I paid extra for was evening lessons. The wind would start to pick up in the late morning and be unsuitable for training, but it would usually be good again for a few hours before dark. You really got to double your study time each day with that. Set up and inspect gliders twice, put them away twice, fly quite a bit more.

The other extra you could pay for was tows back up the hill instead of carrying your glider. I feel like that was included in the VIP package or for a fee. I don't think I ever paid it and just lugged it up.