What is Soaring?
Since the dawn of time, man has dreamed of effortlessly soaring like a bird. Today it's possible. Using nothing but the forces of nature and an understanding of weather principals, the modern sailplane pilot can now stay aloft for hours and reach altitudes only dreamed of just a few years ago.
The sport of soaring is popular around the world and appeals to old and young alike. Some take up soaring as an inexpensive way to learn to fly. Other, sometimes experienced pilots, soar to experience flight in it's purest form. All experience nature and flight in it's purest form.
Soaring is an intellectual sport as much as a physical or kinetic one. It's a pilot's skill level at finding lift, understanding weather and making good decisions that determine whether a pilot stays aloft for hours or is back on the ground in minutes. Many sailplane pilots enjoy cross country flight traveling hundreds of miles in a single flight.
For many soaring is a way to unwind and leave our worries on the ground. Soaring effortlessly with the birds as the ground drops away has a meditative effect few sports offer. For others the mental challenges occupy the brain and provide a break from the day-to-day.
Since the dawn of time, man has dreamed of effortlessly soaring like a bird. Today it's possible. Using nothing but the forces of nature and an understanding of weather principals, the modern sailplane pilot can now stay aloft for hours and reach altitudes only dreamed of just a few years ago.
The sport of soaring is popular around the world and appeals to old and young alike. Some take up soaring as an inexpensive way to learn to fly. Other, sometimes experienced pilots, soar to experience flight in it's purest form. All experience nature and flight in it's purest form.
Soaring is an intellectual sport as much as a physical or kinetic one. It's a pilot's skill level at finding lift, understanding weather and making good decisions that determine whether a pilot stays aloft for hours or is back on the ground in minutes. Many sailplane pilots enjoy cross country flight traveling hundreds of miles in a single flight.
For many soaring is a way to unwind and leave our worries on the ground. Soaring effortlessly with the birds as the ground drops away has a meditative effect few sports offer. For others the mental challenges occupy the brain and provide a break from the day-to-day.
Learn to fly a glider.
New Pilots - Gliding can be a fun and economical way to learn to fly. Soaring Sooners instructors can teach you in club gliders and when you've graduated and have your own pilot's license you can rent club aircraft to soar on your own.
Powered Pilots - If you're already a powered pilot, come out and add your glider rating. Most powered pilots solo a glider within a few flights. You'll learn more about aerodynamics and weather than you ever thought possible and the mental challenges and pure joy of noiseless flight can be very rewarding.
FAA Requirements - Glider pilots licenses are issued by the FAA. Here are details on the minimum requirements defined by the FAA.
New Pilots - Gliding can be a fun and economical way to learn to fly. Soaring Sooners instructors can teach you in club gliders and when you've graduated and have your own pilot's license you can rent club aircraft to soar on your own.
Powered Pilots - If you're already a powered pilot, come out and add your glider rating. Most powered pilots solo a glider within a few flights. You'll learn more about aerodynamics and weather than you ever thought possible and the mental challenges and pure joy of noiseless flight can be very rewarding.
FAA Requirements - Glider pilots licenses are issued by the FAA. Here are details on the minimum requirements defined by the FAA.
FAA Minimum Requirements
Students Pilots
Must be at least 14 with a student certificate endorsed for solo flight at the discretion of a FAA-Certified Flight Instructor for Gliders (CFIG).
Private Pilot-Glider
After solo, student pilots may qualify as a Private Pilot-Glider provided they:
Holders of a valid FAA Power plane license with 40 hours as pilot-in-command need a minimum of 10 solo flights to qualify to take the glider flight test. No written exam is required to add a glider rating to a power license.
In all cases, refer to the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 61 for details on pilot licensing. Times listed above are stated minimums. Times needed to achieve flight proficiency levels required vary by student and could likely require more than listed as minimum.
Students Pilots
Must be at least 14 with a student certificate endorsed for solo flight at the discretion of a FAA-Certified Flight Instructor for Gliders (CFIG).
Private Pilot-Glider
After solo, student pilots may qualify as a Private Pilot-Glider provided they:
- Are at least 16 years of age; and
- Have logged at least 10 hours of flight time in a glider and that flight time must include at least 20 total glider flights, and
- Have 2 hours of solo flight time in a glider, and
- Have passed the FAA written examination; and
- Have passed the flight exam with a FAA Examiner.
- Must be at least 18-years of age, and
- Pass a written FAA examination
- Hold a Private Pilot license with 25 hours of flight time in gliders and 100 glider flights as pilot-in-command, or a total of 200 hours of flight time in heavier-than-air aircraft including 20 glider flights as pilot-in-command, 3 hours or ten flights training in a glider, and five solo flights in a glider and
- Pass a flight test
- Must hold a commercial glider rating,
- Pass a written and flight test, and
- Have an endorsement from a qualified instructor of aeronautical knowledge and flight of proficiency.
Holders of a valid FAA Power plane license with 40 hours as pilot-in-command need a minimum of 10 solo flights to qualify to take the glider flight test. No written exam is required to add a glider rating to a power license.
In all cases, refer to the Federal Aviation Regulations Part 61 for details on pilot licensing. Times listed above are stated minimums. Times needed to achieve flight proficiency levels required vary by student and could likely require more than listed as minimum.
Basics of flying gliders.
Four forces affect most aircraft during flight, lift, gravity, drag and thrust. Gliders are not exempt from these forces but lack the force of thrust provided by an engine.
Four forces affect most aircraft during flight, lift, gravity, drag and thrust. Gliders are not exempt from these forces but lack the force of thrust provided by an engine.
Aero-tow, a widely used method of launching gliders. While performing an aero-tow, a tow plane and glider are joined together by a tow-line until reaching a predetermined release altitude.
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