Anyone here fly gliders?

n57flyguy

n57flyguy

Well-Known Member
Just curious to know, I might start flying them soon. There is a nice club at my airport that has a pretty good rate, $200 to enter, $10 per thousand feet of tow, usually to 3,000MSL, so $30 every lesson. I could figure over a year or two it would take about $1,400-2,000. I think I might join up next summer (when I have money). They seem very interesting. and a plus is that my dad used to fly them, so I could get him involved also. But, for now I'll focus on my primary powered fligth instruction. Just want to have some tips for transitioning and big differences from airplanes. Thanks.
 
Check out www.ssa.org

It's the website for the Soaring Society of America. Tons of good info...locations, requirements, etc.

From the website:
"Additional Pilot Rating
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 for details on pilot licensing."

Some places are clubs with annual dues (sounds like the place you're looking at), and some are commercial operations, so it's just pay as you go. All I need is the 10 solo flights and some dual to get me back up to speed. I'd really like to finish up and get my license.

If you can fly a plane with an engine you can fly a glider. Only big difference is there is no big fan out front! But it also makes it very peaceful as all you hear is the wind rushing by. And it is probably more art than anything. Finding lift, knowing how to make the most of it, etc. It will definitely teach you to think ahead of the plane. There are no go-arounds or adding power if you are short, so it can keep you on your toes especially in the pattern. But it is pretty cool to see that altimeter increasing and you don't have an engine. Seems like the place I'm looking at in CA near Los Angeles gets great lift to 10k+, so I'm really looking forward to that. (By the way, world record absolute altitude gain is 49,000 something. Glider is on display at the Air and Space Museum at IAD.)

Anyway, hope this helps. Enjoy it!


"Soaring is flying, pure and simple."
 
Why not go for it. It could only be fun and a good time. I dont know a single thing about it so keep us posted. :)
 
I was also thinking about getting into gliders for a while now, but unfortunately my wallet is pretty close to empty after all that flight training...
 
thanks badco99, that really helps. The Glider community at my field is excelent. It looks fun and will teach me alot about good old stick and rudder. A nice man at my airports airshow gave me a free video and let me sit in the Grob 103 (I think I have a picture, and they are comfy) I hope I could start this Summer or Fall. And actually they are trying to break the record (as of 02). and its 49,007ft.;) :)

I think Im getting Slush hooked on gliders.
 
The Grob is a pretty nice trainer. In VA they had one, but primarily used an ASK-21. Now that is a NICE glider. Plus it was basically new (lease back to the club), so it was very responsive and had an excellent glide ratio. Think we flew 6-7 miles one day and only lost 1000 ft or so. Money is always an issue, but I hope I can work it out to finish up. Place I'm looking at is looking for a tow pilot, so I may be getting my tailwheel/HP endorsement and build a few hours. Again, boils down to money.

Anyway, if you want to fly for the pure sake of it, go get in a glider. Nothing like it.
 
Thanks all for the info...looking into it myself. We apparently have a glider club here in JAX also, so I might just be into the soaring thing soon.
 
badco99 said:
The Grob is a pretty nice trainer. In VA they had one, but primarily used an ASK-21. Now that is a NICE glider. Plus it was basically new (lease back to the club), so it was very responsive and had an excellent glide ratio. Think we flew 6-7 miles one day and only lost 1000 ft or so. Money is always an issue, but I hope I can work it out to finish up. Place I'm looking at is looking for a tow pilot, so I may be getting my tailwheel/HP endorsement and build a few hours. Again, boils down to money.

Anyway, if you want to fly for the pure sake of it, go get in a glider. Nothing like it.
Click to expand...

Yeah, our aircraft are the Grob 103 and a Blanik B-23. There is also another single pilot, but I can't recall the name right now. Ive seen the ASK-21, that is nice, what is the glide ratio on it? Our tow plane is a Citabra, I wish I could fly that also, I guess you would need a commercial and tail wheeel endorsment. Yes, but money is the main factor right now for me also.

good luck txpilot, now we need a glider forum Doug!!!
 
I think of all the things I want to add: helicopter rating, glider, seaplane, and I think it would be awesome to have a powered lift rating. I'd love to try hang gliders. About the only thing that doesn't interest me is a balloon rating. Now an airship rating is another story. I actually thought about applying to Goodyear a few years back. That's about the only way I can think of getting the airship rating.
 
n57flyguy said:
Just curious to know, I might start flying them soon. There is a nice club at my airport that has a pretty good rate, $200 to enter, $10 per thousand feet of tow, usually to 3,000MSL, so $30 every lesson. I could figure over a year or two it would take about $1,400-2,000. I think I might join up next summer (when I have money). They seem very interesting. and a plus is that my dad used to fly them, so I could get him involved also. But, for now I'll focus on my primary powered fligth instruction. Just want to have some tips for transitioning and big differences from airplanes. Thanks.
Click to expand...

I always wondered if someone really knew they wanted to fly airplanes for a living, what the career progression could look like if they went this route:

  • Start flying gliders at an early age - say 13 1/2.
  • At 14, you can solo.
  • Build say about 200 hours/year soloing gliders until your 16th bday, then get your private.
  • Fly like crazy until you turn 17 1/2. Then switch over to powered flight. The transition should be pretty simple and inexpensive, because of your true stick and rudder skills. Get your private SEL, then instrument rating. Go right into the commercial SEL/MEL add on training, take you checkride on the 18th bday. Then associated CFI's. Teach for 4-6 months to build up your powered flight time and possibly some IFR experience.
  • The goal would be to have 135 mins by 18 1/2. That's about 5 1/2 years of glider flying and 1 year of powered flight. After that, try and get on with a freight company such as flight express/ram air, build that powered flight time and MEL time.
Bam, you're 19 1/2 and have 2000+TT, ~800 or so MEL. Then one could go to college and fly full time.

Any idea how employers look at glider time???
 
wheelsup said:
I always wondered if someone really knew they wanted to fly airplanes for a living, what the career progression could look like if they went this route:
  • Start flying gliders at an early age - say 13 1/2.
  • At 14, you can solo.
  • Build say about 200 hours/year soloing gliders until your 16th bday, then get your private.
  • Fly like crazy until you turn 17 1/2. Then switch over to powered flight. The transition should be pretty simple and inexpensive, because of your true stick and rudder skills. Get your private SEL, then instrument rating. Go right into the commercial SEL/MEL add on training, take you checkride on the 18th bday. Then associated CFI's. Teach for 4-6 months to build up your powered flight time and possibly some IFR experience.
  • The goal would be to have 135 mins by 18 1/2. That's about 5 1/2 years of glider flying and 1 year of powered flight. After that, try and get on with a freight company such as flight express/ram air, build that powered flight time and MEL time.
Bam, you're 19 1/2 and have 2000+TT, ~800 or so MEL. Then one could go to college and fly full time.

Any idea how employers look at glider time???
Click to expand...

Some rich parents you got there......:)

That would be a nice route though, if you could afford it. I really don't have an idea on how employers would look at it but, I would think If they even saw it on your resume, they would think that you could handle a wide varity of aircraft and would be a versitile employee, so when your a freight dog, they know your good with no engine:)

My plan is kinda like this:

Get job at FBO .....................................Check
Start glider flying at 15-16
solo powered flight at 16
get PPL at 17, glider license also at 17
start on my instrument right after PPL
earn instrument, go on to CFI, hopfully before college or during.
Instruct during college and work on ratings (commercial, CFII, ME, MEI)
Instruct for a few years after college while networking for a corporate company.
Build turbine time by taking Ryon B's CJ3 spot :)
Get on with a fortune 100 company, hopefully flying a GV or a G550.

Wouldnt that be nice!!! Probably get a bunch of unexpected turns and changes, but I have my dreams and goals, I just try not to confuse them.
 
RynoB said:
I think of all the things I want to add: helicopter rating, glider, seaplane, and I think it would be awesome to have a powered lift rating. I'd love to try hang gliders. About the only thing that doesn't interest me is a balloon rating. Now an airship rating is another story. I actually thought about applying to Goodyear a few years back. That's about the only way I can think of getting the airship rating.
Click to expand...

How do you get a powered lift rating? Most be expensive.
 
took a ride in a blantik(sp) in parowan, ut 1L9. to early to catch any lift but it was free and cool. nothing like flying with no prop out front kinda weird also the landing freaked me out since they ride so low to the ground.
 
Interesting that so many people are talking about soaring this week!
I went and checked out a local glider club Saturday. I didn't get a ride, but got pretty stoked up about it. It definitely seems like an art, plus I love the formula car cockpit. As a bonus, my son wants in because you don't need a headset to talk; he made a scene about getting into a 172 with me the next day because it had an engine and no spoilers-the six year old mind is a strange place. Not quite sure where he comes up with this stuff....
I've been abit down about flying lately due to the bizarre nature of the FBO I've been at, and have been waiting to get my commercial tickets done to get out. Now that I only have a few flights left before my CMEL add-on, I've figured out what to do before CFI training.
While I was at the field, they were having a cookout for one of the CFI-Gs who just celebrated 50 years of aviation, and there was a guest of honor who was signed off to fly by one of the Wright brothers. (He's no longer flying, but still excited to talk about it and share some stories).
I think for me the selling point was the idea of flying thermals with a hawk or buzzard formed up on your wing- who better to learn from than lifelong pilots?
 
badco99 said:
Single engine sea??? We live in the freakin desert!!! :D

Go check out the glider port at Jean.
Click to expand...

A desert with a big frickin lake not too far away.
Haven't you seen the Lakes and Caravans and 207's fitted to land on water out at HND?
You know, since you took the job I left, you should see them all the time ;)
 
In fact when I was working at Boulder City, I got to ride in one of the Grumman Albatrosses that weathered down here. We landed on the lake and that convinced me I wanted to do that. I got to sit jumpseat on the way back too!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top