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
- NTSB and SSA Soaring Safety Foundation report only 5
fatal USA accidents/year, zero in 1993
- 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 (glass, 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 (join Neil
Armstrong, Paul MacCready, Christopher Reeve...)
- 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
John H. Campbell
SSA Youth Chairman
Last revised 10-Jan-00
