Soaring Into Autumn: Five Glider Events Worth Visiting

For pilots who have thought about getting a glider rating but are on the fence, visiting a soaring event—such as a competition or gathering of vintage sailplanes—can help move the decision process along. Below are a few of the numerous glider get-togethers happening during the next several weeks. You might also consider simply booking an introductory ride at the nearest airport with a glider club.

There are 24 entries signed up for this racing event, and southwestern sailplane pilots say Moriarty is a prime spot for competitive soaring. According to the Albuquerque Soaring Club, which operates from the airport, “Moriarty boasts some of the finest year round soaring conditions in the United States, including 15 knot thermals to 22,000 feet, mountain wave to 34,000 feet, and orographic lift off the Manzano, Sandia, Ortiz, and Sangre de Cristo mountain ranges.” It seems safe to say conditions are promising for long-distance and high-speed flights.

Mountain Valley is essentially all about soaring. Powered aircraft can fly in as well, and the towplanes all have engines, but if you want fuel, you will have to stop at Tehachapi Municipal Airport (KTSP) about 2 nm away. The airport’s location was chosen for its proximity to the Sierra Nevada and Tehachapi mountains, and the Mojave desert—terrain features that combine to produce great lift for gliding. Skylark North, a flight school based at the airport, provides tows, camping, and other support. For more information, contact Jeff Byard (661) 609-4848 or jgbyard@gmail.com.

The Wichita Gliderport is home to the Wichita Skylarks soaring group, which offers instruction and glider rides ranging from scenic to aerobatic. The airport has parallel turf runways that provide lots of space for participating pilots. Saturday of the event weekend features a colloquium covering classic-glider topics. The Vintage Sailplane Association (VSA), which sanctions this and other gatherings of older gliders, defines vintage sailplanes as those built before 1958, which is when fiberglass sailplanes began to appear. Models built more recently with vintage-style appearance, performance, and construction also qualify. They include designs from Bowlus, Slingsby, Schweizer, Blanik, and many others.

The Mid-Atlantic Soaring Center is a hub for sailplane enthusiasts in the Baltimore/Washington, D.C., and Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, areas, and it hosts this contest annually. The airport has a paved runway where gliders launch during contests, and two parallel turf runways where gliders and towplanes land. Organizers say the turf strips are wide enough for gliders to land safely three-abreast. One can imagine the exciting scene when dozens of gliders are queued for launch while others land and quickly clear the runway. Airport amenities include a club room, kitchen, restrooms, and newly renovated showers in the main hangar.

West Texas is known for its strong thermals, and autumn is an especially good time to fly gliders there. This two-week event is a rally, not a contest, so the atmosphere is expected to be laid-back and fun. Dual instruction will be available and pilots who wish to take check rides to obtain a glider rating can arrange in advance to do so. Organizers say pilots should bring their own ground crews to the gathering and are required to RSVP before arriving at the rally.

Pilots should also avoid arriving before October 16, because the soaring operation will be closed for a few weeks before the rally. For more information, call (800) 667-9464 or www.flygliders.com.