HOW TO HAVE FUN WITH YOUR GLIDER RATING

• Local Options

• Better Thermal Options - Go west young man.

• Ridge Soaring - Remember that last Thomas Crown Affair movie?

• Wave Soaring - Again, west is where you need to go, in the winter.

• Winch Launching - As close to a catapult launch as most of us will ever get

•.Get that ‘Self Launch’ endorsement.

• Join the CAP

• Vintage Soaring

• Vacation Opportunities

•Owning is easier than you think

THAT FIVE MILE LIMITTHAT FIVE MILE LIMIT

It’s common place to limit novices to a five mile It’s common place to limit novices to a five mile radius.radius.

Given a 3000’ release and a 1000’ IP, even ‘sled’ Given a 3000’ release and a 1000’ IP, even ‘sled’ rides are comfortable. rides are comfortable.

Setup a few ten mile straight line courses.Setup a few ten mile straight line courses.

Next, pick out a triangle course.Next, pick out a triangle course.

Listen, Watch and LearnListen, Watch and Learn

Every site has at least one ‘House Thermal’.Every site has at least one ‘House Thermal’. Every site has unique geography.Every site has unique geography. Read, watch, then read and watch some Read, watch, then read and watch some

more.more. Every site has at least one cross country Every site has at least one cross country

‘expert’.‘expert’. Practice, practice, practice.Practice, practice, practice.

LOCAL OPTIONSLOCAL OPTIONSSSA and FAI BadgesSSA and FAI Badges

SSA A - B - C SSA A - B - C

FAI Bronze - Silver - Gold - DiamondFAI Bronze - Silver - Gold - Diamond

FAI 1000km Diploma FAI 1000km Diploma

“A" badge requirementsPreflight phase: The applicant has knowledge of 1. Sailplane nomenclature 2. Sailplane handling procedure  Presolo phase Applicant has completed the following minimum flighttraining program: 1. Familiarization flight 2. Cockpit check procedure 3. Effects of controls, on the ground and in flight 4. Take off procedure, cross wind takeoffs 5. Flight during tow 6. Straight and level flight 7. Simple turns 8. Circuit procedure and landing patterns 9. Landing procedure, downwind and crosswind landings 10. Moderate and steep turns up to 720 degrees in bothdirections 11. Stalls and stall recovery 12. Conditions of spin entry and spin recovery 13. Effective use of spoilers/flaps and slips 14. Emergency procedures 15. Oral exam on FAR's 16. Solo Flight

B" Badge Requirements

Practice phase: 1. Demonstration of soaring ability by solo flight of at least thirty minutes duration after release from 2000' tow (add 1.5 minutes/100' tow above 2000')

"C" Badge Requirements

Precross-country phase: 1. Dual soaring practice, including instruction in techniques for soaring thermals, ridges, and waves    (simulated flight and/or ground instruction may be used when suitable conditions do not exist) 

2. Have Knowledge of:  cross-country procedure recommended in the American Soaring Handbook Glider assembly, disassembly and retrieving Dangers of cross-country flying 

3. Solo practice 

4. Demonstration of soaring ability by solo flight of at least sixty minutes duration after release from 2000' tow (add 1.5 minutes/100' tow above 2000') 

5. While accompanied by a SSA instructor, demonstrate the ability to: make a simulated off-airfield landing without reference to the altimeter, perform an accuracy landing from the approach, touching down and coming to a complete stop   within an area 500' in length. 

Bronze Badge Requirements

1. Complete the ABC program with the C badge awarded 

2. log at least 15 solo hours in gliders, including 30 solo flights which at least 10 are flown in a single place glider 

3. Log at least two flights each which have two hours duration or more 

4. Perform three solo spot landings in a glider witnessed by a SSA instructor. The accuracy and distance parameters are based upon the gliders performance, current winds, runway surface condition, and density altitude. As a guideline, a minimum distance of 400' would be acceptible for a Schweizer 2-33. (this is a land and stop in a specified zone requirement) 

5. Log dual time in gliders with an instructor during which at least two accuracy landings (same as above) were made without reference to an altimeter to simulate off field and strange field landings. 

6. Pass a closed book written examination covering cross-country techniques and knowledge. Minimum passing grade is 80%.

1.) Silver Altitude is a 1,000-meter (3,281-foot) altitude gain above an in-flight low point;

2.) Silver Duration is a 5-hour flight time after tow release and

3.) Silver Distance is a 50-km (31.07-mile) cross country flight. 

The FAI Silver BadgeThe FAI Silver Badge

1.) Gold Altitude is a 3,000-meter (9,843-foot) altitude gain above an in-flight low point;

2.) Gold Distance is a 300-km (186.42-mile) cross country flight.

The FAI Gold BadgeThe FAI Gold Badge

1.) Diamond Altitude is a 5,000-meter (16,404-foot) altitude gain above an in-flight low point;

2.) Diamond Goal is a 300-km (186.42-mile) cross country flight using a pre-declared Out and Return or Triangle course;

3.) Diamond Distance is a 500-km (310.7-mile) cross country flight.

The FAI Diamond Badge The FAI Diamond Badge

FAI 1000km DiplomaFAI 1000km Diploma

A special certificate is issued with the A special certificate is issued with the completion of a 1000km (621 mile) flightcompletion of a 1000km (621 mile) flight

GO WEST YOUNG MANGO WEST YOUNG MAN

Actually southwest. Arizona, New Mexico & Texas.Actually southwest. Arizona, New Mexico & Texas.

Arizona: Sheble, Turf & EstrellaArizona: Sheble, Turf & Estrella

New Mexico: Moriarity (365 days a year), Hobbs (Summer New Mexico: Moriarity (365 days a year), Hobbs (Summer Weekends), White Sands(Weekends year round)Weekends), White Sands(Weekends year round)

Texas: Soaring Over Texas(North of DFW, Everyday, APR Texas: Soaring Over Texas(North of DFW, Everyday, APR – Nov), Marfa(Burt Compton’s place, Year round, by – Nov), Marfa(Burt Compton’s place, Year round, by appointment), El Paso Soaring(Weekends year round), appointment), El Paso Soaring(Weekends year round), San Antonio Soaring(365 days a year) San Antonio Soaring(365 days a year)

Ridge SoaringRidge Soaring

Any good size hill with a strong Any good size hill with a strong perpendicular wind will work.perpendicular wind will work.

Appalachians – Ridge Soaring Gliderport (Appalachians – Ridge Soaring Gliderport (www.eglider.orgwww.eglider.org) Julian PA ) Julian PA

The Cascades – Cascade Soaring Society (The Cascades – Cascade Soaring Society (www.cascadesoaringsociety.comwww.cascadesoaringsociety.com) East ) East Wananachee WA, Northwest Sky Sports, Wananachee WA, Northwest Sky Sports, Hood River OR. Hood River OR.

Wave SoaringWave Soaring

Do your homework first! You need more than Do your homework first! You need more than warm clothes and a good understanding of the use warm clothes and a good understanding of the use of oxygen.of oxygen.

Several of the ridge soaring sights have wave Several of the ridge soaring sights have wave conditions.conditions.

Wave windows are opened to allow you to fly in Wave windows are opened to allow you to fly in Class A, VFR.Class A, VFR.

Wave Heaven -- Minden NV (Soar NV, ) & Trukee Wave Heaven -- Minden NV (Soar NV, ) & Trukee CA (Soar Trukee). Both offer packages. CA (Soar Trukee). Both offer packages.

Winch LaunchingWinch Launching

In most of the world, winch launching is the In most of the world, winch launching is the norm.norm.

The necessary winch launch endorsement The necessary winch launch endorsement is easy to get, if you can find a winch.is easy to get, if you can find a winch.

Prescott Soaring Society Prescott Soaring Society (http://thrift.tripod.com/soaring/psa2.html)(http://thrift.tripod.com/soaring/psa2.html)

The Self Launch EndorsementThe Self Launch Endorsement

How long will it take?How long will it take?

What is involved?What is involved?

Where can I go to get the endorsement?Where can I go to get the endorsement? AZ: Sky King Soaring in Payson AZ: Sky King Soaring in Payson PA: Ridge Soaring Gliderport PA: Ridge Soaring Gliderport TX: Marfa Gliders TX: Marfa Gliders

Texas Soaring AssociationTexas Soaring Association San Antonio Soaring SocietySan Antonio Soaring Society Greater Houston Soaring Association Greater Houston Soaring Association

The Civil Air PatrolThe Civil Air Patrol

The CAP has several local squadrons in the The CAP has several local squadrons in the area.area.

Senior (Adult) members, give orientation ‘O’ Senior (Adult) members, give orientation ‘O’ flights to cadets. (Both glider and powered).flights to cadets. (Both glider and powered).

There are two annual glider encampments There are two annual glider encampments in this area, looking for a few good in this area, looking for a few good instructors.instructors.

Vintage SailplaneVintage Sailplane

The Vintage Sailplane Association The Vintage Sailplane Association (vintagesailplane.org) -- Flying a piece of (vintagesailplane.org) -- Flying a piece of history is not only educational but history is not only educational but inexpensive too!inexpensive too!

Lawrenceville-Vincennes Airport (KLWV), Lawrenceville-Vincennes Airport (KLWV), Lawrenceville, IL, - Longer Soaring Season / Lawrenceville, IL, - Longer Soaring Season / Bunk House / Low FeesBunk House / Low Fees

VACATION OPPORTUNITIESVACATION OPPORTUNITIES

USA – Hawai = Dillingham, on the north USA – Hawai = Dillingham, on the north shore(www.honolulusoaring.com). shore(www.honolulusoaring.com).

Outside of the US – Start with that winch Outside of the US – Start with that winch launch endorsement!launch endorsement!

Europe – European Gliding Union (Europe – European Gliding Union (www.egu-info.orgwww.egu-info.org) Links tab.) Links tab.

OWNING IS EASIEROWNING IS EASIER

The cost of ownership is a fraction of that of a The cost of ownership is a fraction of that of a powered aircraft.powered aircraft.

The cost of maintenance is a fraction of that of a The cost of maintenance is a fraction of that of a powered aircraft.powered aircraft.

The cost of operation is almost free.The cost of operation is almost free.

Like all aircraft, partnerships are popular.Like all aircraft, partnerships are popular.

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?