Sailplanes are very motivating aircraft: attractively
streamlined, ultimately efficient, structurally advanced, silent
and ecological, they can be flown a thousand miles on atmospheric
energy. Sailplanes are also ideal for introducing youth to
aviation: An FAA Student Pilot License may be earned at age 14,
in a week's time, for under $600. Aerodynamics, meteorology, and
accurate airwork are the essence of the training, a foundation
for flying recommended by even the most high-tech airline pilots.
Gliding is also a very social activity, the perfect flight
context for intensive summer camps that build adolescents into
responsible, cooperative adults. Glider flying leads into
soaring, an exciting nature sport that teenagers are quick to
appreciate and master but that can be enjoyed for a lifetime.
>From 1920s Germany to today's US Air Force Academy, gliding has
shown tremendous value in getting younger generations airborne
for career or recreation.
YOUNG?
WANT TO LEARN TO FLY? DO IT IN A SAILPLANE!
...and keep it up to discover
soaring, the world's most popular air sport
TRAINING to Solo is
- Permitted for 14 year olds in the USA (why wait? teenage
years are best)
- Low cost ($600, main cost being 20-30 aerotows. Hours do
not matter)
- Immediate (You want to fly? Let's DO it! Ground School
can come later)
- Fast (1-2 weeks, 25 aerotows or 40 winchtows for most
adept students)
- Accessible (no FAA medical exam, no government paperwork
to start)
- Focused (pure and basic stick-and-rudder FLYING, not
transportation)
- Simple (3 primary flight controls. 2 Basics: Glides and
Turns)
- Pure (no COM, NAV, IFR, ATC, Night lessons. Heck, no
engine, no radio!)
- FAA regulated (All Certificates, GLIDER rating, 3 launch
endorsements)
- Applicable to ASEL rating hours (a sailplane is an FAA
"aircraft")
- Valuable to future flying (useful habits for
"airplane", "rotorcraft",...)
THE FLYING STYLE stresses
- Fun (move in 3 dimensions, work the air, cooperate and
compete)
- Attitude flying (be ahead of the game by looking OUTSIDE
the aircraft)
- Coordination (smooth harmonized control movements are key
for safety)
- Efficiency (your time aloft, altitude, distance depend on
it)
- Energy management (the motorless Space Shuttle spot-lands
from orbit)
- Aerodynamics (no engine to blame: shape, curve, surface,
speed are it)
- Meteorology (the powerplant of the saiplane lies in the
air itself)
- Air awareness (a sailplane flies WITH the air, not
through it)
- Flexibility (wind, sink, lift will invariably shake up
intricate plans)
- Creativity (not pre-planned trips but options, decisions,
opportunities)
- Sport (time, height, distance, speed are goals to meet
and beat)
- Judgement (every flight tests your attitudes, habits,
skills, margins)
FLIGHT OPERATIONS are
- Clean (no gas, oil, hydraulic fluid but in the distant
towplane/winch )
- Quiet (especially winch: only one well-muffled car engine
on the ground)
- Simple (little country airports, miles from Towers &
Air Traffic Control)
- Green (literally: grass runways are best, ecology is the
whole theme)
- Radio-free (no ATIS, TWR, ATC, Flight Plan communication
needed)
- Flexible (land when low, take-off when next to tow,
schedules begone!)
GROUND OPERATIONS stress
- Duty (launching & retrieving requires commitment of a
crew)
- Discipline (procedures, checklists, and not just for the
pilots flying)
- Physical activity (from hangar to runway and back is by
muscle power)
- Altruism (at least two people help launch every pilot
that flies)
- Cooperation (flying occurs not on a whim but as part of a
team)
- Leadership (USAFA loves gliding over power flying as a
laboratory)
- Esprit de Corps (Lone Eagles & Sky-Kings all still
share group pride)
- Socializing (when the lift quits and all land, the
barbeque can start)
- Friendship (a real friend drives your trailer 100mi to a
muddy field)
AIRCRAFT are
- FAA Type-Certificated & Inspected (most are
ATC--Approved Type)
- Rugged (all gliders lie at least in the FAA UTILITY
category , +5g,-3g)
- Durable (the only thing that does wear out in an airplane
is the engine)
- Secure (an $8,000 1970 libelle trades for $16,000 today,
2,000hr later)
- Attractive (slender, streamlined, smoothly polished,
bird-like)
- Transportable (by trailer, derigged--takes 15 min., towed
by any car)
- High-quality (formed out of carbon & kevlar in
.003" precison molds)
- High-tech (Ph.D. thesis airfoils, glide computers
downloadable to web...)
- Lightweight (400lb for a 13m one-seater to 1,000lb for a
22m two-seater)
- Inexpensive ($30,000 will get a brand-new two-seater FOB
Eastern Europe)
- Tandem (the student gets a good view in front under a
huge canopy)
- Uncluttered (4-dial panels, no transponder, ELT, fire
extinguisher,...)
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
