Soaring Society of America

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Soaring Society of America

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RECENT NEWS

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US Contest Pilots- Fall Pilot Survey Results

Soaring Society of America2026-01-09T12:38:53-07:00January 9th, 2026|

Proposed NPRM – The SSA Responds

Soaring Society of America2025-12-23T13:32:18-07:00December 22nd, 2025|

UPDATE: FAA Issues NPRM Proposing AD for PA-25 Aircraft

Soaring Society of America2025-12-12T13:41:58-07:00December 12th, 2025|

FAA Issues NPRM Proposing AD for PA-25 Aircraft

Soaring Society of America2025-12-12T13:42:35-07:00November 19th, 2025|

No Free Rides: Keeping Mice out of your Sailplane

Soaring Society of America2025-11-06T14:11:35-07:00November 6th, 2025|

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2023 SSA Calendar

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90 Year Long Sleeve Polo

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90 Year Soaring Mug

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Soaring Society Of America Member Pin ssa member lapel pin

SSA Member Lapel Pin

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Feb 27

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Got some Soaring Society of America swag from my brilliant instructor Lou this weekend. My A, B, and C badges/pins. Very cool. A is for solo flight. B is solo flight of at least 30 minutes after release from 2,000 ft tow. C is pre cross country phase. I still have a lot to learn.

#garnerairport #ask21glider #gliderpilot #solopilot #soaring #tidewatersoaringsociety #soaringsocietyofamerica

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Jun 2

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Can you spot the Nixus? Perlan Project Chief Pilot Jim Payne is flying the Nixus sailplane in the 2021 Open Class U.S. National Contest in Minden, Nev.

Jim is currently in second place, with the contest continuing through June 9. Just like the Perlan 2 space glider, Nixus is a one-of-a-kind #sailplane. It is the first ever fly-by-wire sailplane with a 28 meter (92 feet) wingspan. The next largest #gliders in this contest have 21 meter wingspans.

Check out the daily results from thesoaringsociety via link in bio.

The wings on Nixus are so thin that mechanical linkage would not fit. Designer and Builder Paulo Iscold is in Minden to support the team efforts. Owner Sergio Andrade is supporting efforts from his home in Brazil. Jim has been the test pilot of the Nixus since first flight. He set five national open class records last year.

#soaring #AirbusPerlanMission II #contest #instapilot #avgeek #Minden #soaringsocietyofamerica

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Jun 8

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FAA checkride complete! I’m properly qualified! “This certifies that David J Piatak has been found to be properly qualified and is hereby authorized in accordance with the conditions of issuance to exercise the privileges PRIVATE PILOT”. Thanks to glaab.lou a.k.a. “The Instructor” and all my friends at Tidewater Soaring Society.

#ask21glider #gliderpilot #solopilot #soaring #3VA8 #tidewatersoaringsociety #soaringsocietyofamerica

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Sep 5

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Grace wants to be a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) for gliders. Earlier this year she applied for the Laze Memorial Soaring Foundation Scholarship and was awarded $4,000 to continue her training! Saturday Grace met Kelly Lazerson from the foundation to receive her scholarship at Skylark North Glider school. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Al Bowers, former Chief Scientist of NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center, was at the airport for an event and made time to congratulate and encourage her! What a blessed day! #GraceKalei💜 #mymiracle #2pounds12ounces #28weeks #PPROMat21weeks #69daysintheNICU #NICUbaby #NICUgraduate #PreemiePower💜 #OurGodCanMoveMountains #NowShesFlyingGlidersandSendingExperimentstotheInternationalSpaceStation #SoaringSocietyofAmerica #StudentGliderPilot #Soaring #GliderPlanes

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Aug 30

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Diamant taking off at Garner Airport, Virginia

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May 3

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Schweizer 2-33 landing at Garner Airport, Virginia

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Mar 26

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Ventus 3 taking off at Garner airport, Virginia

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May 9

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ASK-21 landing at Garner Airport, Virginia

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Nov 23

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DG-202-17 Landing at Garner airport, Virginia

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May 19

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Discus taking off at Garner Airport, Virginia

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Dec 15

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Laister-Kauffman LK-10 landing at Harris Hill Elmira, New York

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May 12

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Schweizer 1-26 landing at Garner Airport, Virginia