What is Soaring/Gliding?What is Soaring/Gliding?

The First Controlled flight (Wright Brothers, The First Controlled flight (Wright Brothers, 1902)1902)

Gliders (Sailplanes) are airplanes without Gliders (Sailplanes) are airplanes without enginesengines

They stay aloft by exploiting weather They stay aloft by exploiting weather systemssystems

Wilbur Wright at the Controls of the 1902 Glider

Moving Right Along – A 1940’s Glider (Hungarian)

Typical Modern Glider (SH-Cirrus)

Virginia PilotsVirginia Pilots

Non Members5893%

SSA Members3882%

Glider Pilots9775%

Other Pilots1859495%

Clearly a Minority Group in Aviation – But the Most Fun!

Examples of Extreme Soaring FlightExamples of Extreme Soaring Flight

World Record Altitude over 50,000’World Record Altitude over 50,000’ World Record distances over 1,000 milesWorld Record distances over 1,000 miles Duration Records no longer kept! (Stopped Duration Records no longer kept! (Stopped

at nearly 50 hours . . . )at nearly 50 hours . . . ) World, National, and Regional Contests World, National, and Regional Contests

involve speed around a closed courseinvolve speed around a closed course

A Modern Two-Place Training Sailplane (ASK-21)

Examples of Ordinary FlightExamples of Ordinary Flight

Training flights last about 20 minutes eachTraining flights last about 20 minutes each Typical ‘fun-flight’ lasts 2-5 hours, distances Typical ‘fun-flight’ lasts 2-5 hours, distances

of up to ca. 100 milesof up to ca. 100 miles

Waves Over Omarama

Forcing the Glider to Come Down!!

The Pilot’s View While Being Towed Aloft to Start Flight

Civil Air Patrol Cadets Get Flight Instruction

The Start Grid of a Regional Contest

Thank You!

Jim Kellett

Director, Region IV

Soaring Society of America

CAP Glider Flight Instructor and Check Pilot

Skyline Soaring Club Flight Instructor

A 22 Metre Wingspan Two Place Glider in New Zealand