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Soaring

If you are new to soaring you are in for a treat as there is no more challenging or rewarding aviation oriented activity. Soaring pilots routinely climb silently to high altitudes, fly for hundreds of miles and stay up for hours using only their knowledge of natures hidden forces. Some have the idea that soaring is all speed and adrenalin and the sport certainly has these aspects but there is much more. Soaring is the nexus of nature, art and technology. Modern gliders use super rugged high tech materials in their construction. Sophisticated instrumentation allows pilots to use natures forces efficiently. No other type of aircraft features such refined aerodynamics. The art of soaring happens when technology, knowledge and skill are blended together in soaring flight. 

Launching

A sailplane is normally launched by a power plane (aerotow) or by winch (a wire attached to a powerful engine) Aerotow launches are a widely used method of getting the glider airborne. The glider is pulled aloft by a rope secured by a special hook to the towplane. The glider pilot  can release the towrope at any height desired. Winch launching is achieved by attaching a long wire to a powerful engine and then pulling the glider rapidly down the runway and into the air. The glider can achieve up to 2000 feet in altitude using this method. While very popular in Europe winch launching is not often done in the US. Regardless of the method of launch, once completed the actual soaring flight is about to begin.

Sources of Lift

Once aloft soaring pilots begin looking for one of three forms of raising air. 1. Thermals, which are columns of warm, rising air. Once in a thermal the sailplane circles tightly to stay in the lift until high enough to strike out cross-country in search of the next thermal. 2. Ridge lift, which  is created by wind flowing up the side of a hill. 3. Wave lift which is an especially exciting form of lift. Like the wave behind a boulder in a stream the air bounces upwards behind mountain ranges. Wave flights can reach altitudes well in excess of 30 000ft.

Gliding flights can be simple, local affairs or achieve great altitudes and distances. For instance, the world altitude record in a glider is more than 49000ft. Distance flights of more than 1000 kilometers (660 miles) have been done. The world distance record currently stands at slightly more than 2000 kilometers. 

Learning to Fly

Your first step is to take an introductory flight in a glider. Commercial gliding operations and many clubs offer introductory flights with licensed instructors or commercial pilots.

When it comes to lessons the closer together they are, the easier it is to build on the  knowledge gained from previous lessons and the faster you will learn. In the glider used for your training the instructor will usually sit behind you and have a full set of duplicate controls. How long it will take you to solo depends on a number of factors. These might include any previous pilot experience, how open you are to your instructor’s guidance and how relaxed you are. Once you are able to fly the glider solo yet another new world will open for you.

The great thing about gliding is that it has so many levels. The competitive pilot has various goals from badge flights to records and keenly held contests peaking in the world championships. The best fiberglass sailplanes will be expensive and the more serious the pilot the more he will want to spend on instruments. Others prefer to form syndicate and share gliders, sometimes opting for an older, and much cheaper, machine. Another method is to hire a glider direct from a club or commercial operation. Whichever route you choose, gliding is still far cheaper than power flying and offers many more opportunities to have fun.

Soaring Society of America

The Soaring Society of America (SSA) is the United States national soaring club. Under the SSA are a number of affiliates and divisions. Here are some useful web sites for you to browse. 

Soaring History (see "Wings like Eagles", P.A. Schweizer, Smithsonian Press)

• Motorless flying by Cayley (UK, 1853), Montgomery (USA, 1883), Lilienthal (Germany, 1893)
• Wright Brothers learn control by soaring amidst Wind and Sand: Flight of 1:00 min on 10/21/03
• First glider contest: Intercollegiate meet hosted by Harvard College, 5/28-30/11. Won by Tufts, MIT
• First well-known soaring record: 9:45 min duration by Orville Wright, Kitty Hawk NC, 10/24/11.
• Soaring becomes organized sport at Wasserkuppe, Germany, 1920 (Versailles treaty outlaws power)
• USA Glider clubs proliferate with air-minded youth, 1928. National Glider Association founded
• First USA National Glider Contest, Elmira NY, 1930. All pre-WWII Nationals held at Elmira
• Soaring Society of America founded May, 1932, to hold the 3rd National Glider Contest
• Development phase: 1920-1940 (towing, 20:1 sailplanes, 3 forms of lift, distances to 500 km)
• Expansion phase: 1960-1980 (SSA goes from 1,000 to 16,000 members, from 1 to 5 Nationals)

Statistics (1995. Lots of people and aircraft dedicated to social, fun, solar-powered flight)

• FAI-IGC estimates over 150,000 active soaring pilots worldwide, with 80% in Europe
• FAA records suggest approximately 38,000 glider-rated pilots in USA. SSA has 14,000 members
• USA has 180 soaring Clubs (125 SSA Chapters), 150 Commercial Operators and soaring businesses
• Every State in the Union has soaring activity, including AK and HI, 1-2 hours from any big city
• Most active USA operation: USAF Academy. 800 solos/year, up to 100 flights/day
• Typical USA soaring club will have 50 members, 3 gliders, 1 towplane, and make 2,000 flights/year
• Adult Costs at typical club: $300 initiation, $30/mo. dues, $15/aerotow, $5/groundtow, $5/flight
• FAA registry shows about 5,000 sailplanes in USA (1,000 trainers, 2,000 contest ships)
• New two-seat training sailplanes cost about $30,000 (Metal, E Europe) to $80,000 (Fiberglass, Germany)
• New single-seat contest sailplanes range from $20,000 (World Class) to $120,000 (Open Class)
• USA has 4 domestic manufacturers, all offering composite kits, none offering two-seaters
• Used sailplanes retain value ($8,000 1967 Libelle is $16,000 today), can be had for under $10,000

Training (see FAA Regulations, SSA "Soaring Flight Manual". No 'power' experience needed)

• Any FAA License may carry a Glider Rating. Endorsements are Aero-tow, Ground-tow, Motor-launch
• To go solo: [Student Pilot Certificate, starting from scratch. 1 week-2 months. $400-$1,000]
  • Age 14, speak English, state no medical defects on application, obtain blank Student Certificate
  • Plan on a roughly 25 flight (aero-tow) or 40-flight (ground-tow) training sequence in a two-seater
  • Pass a pre-solo written test on FAA regs, flight characteristics, operational limitations
  • Receive instruction from a CFI-G in all areas listed in FAR 61.87 and be endorsed ready for solo
• To fly passengers: [Private Pilot Certificate, starting from solo. 1 week-2 months. $400-$1,000]
  • Age 16, speak English, state no medical defects on application
  • Log 20 flights (10 solo) and 10 hours (2 solo) in gliders, instruction per FAR 61.107 and 61.39
  • Pass the standard FAA Private Pilot--Glider Knowledge Test on topics in FAR 61.105
  • Pass a Practical Test (oral and flight) with an FAA Designated Examiner
• Licensed Airplane pilots often solo after 10 flights, add the Rating after 10 solos, 3 hr, and a Practical Test
• To become a soaring pilot, follow SSA's ABC program: (Charles & Anne Lindbergh were C #9,10)
  • A Badge: go solo. B Badge: soar 1/2 hour. C Badge: soar 1 hour, spot-land, soaring instruction
  • Bronze Badge: soar 2 hours, simulate off-field landings, pass exam on Cross-Country techniques

Some Achievements 

• FAI-IGC awards international soaring Badges on through a 1,000 km diploma:
  • Silver C: soar 5 hours, 50 km, and gain 1,000 m altitude (5,800 in USA)
  • Gold C : soar 5 hours, 300 km, and gain 3,000 m altitude (2,100 in USA)
  • Diamonds on Badge: 500 km, 300 km goal, 5,000 m altitude ( 800 in USA)

Some World Records (many of these pilots also race in the biennial World Championships)

• Duration (discontinued for safety): Charles Atger, FRA. Air 100. 56.3 hr. 4/2-4/52
• Altitude, absolute: Robert Harris, USA. Grob G102. 49,009 feet. 2/17/86
• Distance straight out: Hans-Werner Grosse, GER. ASW-12. 907.7 mi. 4/25/72
• Distance to goal & return: Tom Knauff, USA. Nimbus 3. 1,023.3 mi. 4/25/83
• Distance with 3 turnpoints: Terry Delore, NZ. ASW-20. 1,273.5 mi. 11/15/94
• Speed, 100 km triangle: Jim Payne, USA. Discus A. 135.1 mph. 3/3/97

Some USA National Records (not also World. State records have a Junior category)

• Distance straight out: Michael Koerner, CA. Kestrel 19. 903.0 mi. 4/19/84
• Distance, Multiplace: Lazlo Horvath, AZ. Janus B. 560.4 mi. 5/10/80
• Distance, Feminine: Joann Shaw, NM. Nimbus 2. 591.2 mi. 7/02/90

For more info: Join the Soaring Society of America. $55/yr ($27/yr under age 23)
Benefits include the monthly magazine Soaring, ability to earn badges, set records, enter contests
PO Box 2100, Hobbs NM 88241-2100. (505)392-1177. (505)392-8154 (FAX). info@ssa.org

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