saddletramp
Line Up and Wait
Some of my fellow pilots wonder why I chose to open a soaring school. I did it for selfish reasons. I really love teaching basic piloting skills in a glider (aka sailplane).
I've had two students this year with zero flight experience come to our operation to solo the sailplane. The rest of the students were power add-ons. One was a fellow who wanted to get his private pilot airplane but couldn't find a flight school close to his residence. We kinda live out in the sticks. He came to me to start in the sailplane. After he soloed, he bought a Cherokee 140 & found a CFI willing to teach him. His new CFI was amazed how well he flew. His coordination, slow flights skills, & cross wind landings were "like a seasoned pilot". His instructors words.
The 15 year old in the picture soloed a couple of weekends age & also flew very well. He's seeking future airline or military flying job, so what a start!
Even though we're not making much profit with only being in business two seasons, the rewards have been unsurpassed. When I decided to reinstate my CFI after a long period of inactivity a few years back, a soaring school was what I zeroed in on. I just had to break it too my wife that I wanted to buy an airplane & a sailplane! She actually loves the business now too.
Even though I have logbooks filled with dual given in airplanes over the past 40+ years as a CFI, soaring is still the best!
That said, I still enjoy taking my 182 straight tail towplane out exploring backwood strips in the mountains.
I've had two students this year with zero flight experience come to our operation to solo the sailplane. The rest of the students were power add-ons. One was a fellow who wanted to get his private pilot airplane but couldn't find a flight school close to his residence. We kinda live out in the sticks. He came to me to start in the sailplane. After he soloed, he bought a Cherokee 140 & found a CFI willing to teach him. His new CFI was amazed how well he flew. His coordination, slow flights skills, & cross wind landings were "like a seasoned pilot". His instructors words.
The 15 year old in the picture soloed a couple of weekends age & also flew very well. He's seeking future airline or military flying job, so what a start!
Even though we're not making much profit with only being in business two seasons, the rewards have been unsurpassed. When I decided to reinstate my CFI after a long period of inactivity a few years back, a soaring school was what I zeroed in on. I just had to break it too my wife that I wanted to buy an airplane & a sailplane! She actually loves the business now too.
Even though I have logbooks filled with dual given in airplanes over the past 40+ years as a CFI, soaring is still the best!
That said, I still enjoy taking my 182 straight tail towplane out exploring backwood strips in the mountains.
