Soaring Society of America

Soaring Society of AmericaSoaring Society of America2025-05-05T15:15:14-06:00

Soaring Society of America

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3rd FAI Virtual Sailplane Grand Prix

Starts Oct 28th
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October 1st, 2025
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RECENT NEWS

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No Free Rides: Keeping Mice out of your Sailplane

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

Retention Ideas for Clubs

Soaring Society of America2025-11-06T14:12:09-07:00October 8th, 2025|

SSA Rules Survey and Election Announcement

Soaring Society of America2025-10-23T19:25:07-06:00October 2nd, 2025|

New WeGlide League & Online Competition

Soaring Society of America2025-09-30T12:07:33-06:00September 25th, 2025|

Simulation-based Online Flight Training Experience (SOFTE)

Soaring Society of America2025-09-23T19:56:58-06:00September 23rd, 2025|

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2023 SSA Calendar

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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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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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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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Nov 20

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🌟 CFI-G recap! 🌟
I'm so glad I decided to add on Glider Instructor to my ratings!
It was so much fun and I enjoyed getting to teach flying again, since I haven't had the chance after FTP sold.
I went into this very short training experience very proficient in flying & way overprepared on my ground material/lesson plans (which is the only way I'd feel ok about the whole process tbh)
I did 1 required spin endorsement flight and then 2 flights practicing flying & teaching from the rear seat (working on correcting simulated student errors).
That went well, so then I did the 3 required flights with the recommending instructor and got a checkride sign-off.
The checkride was the following morning- it was easy and fun and I felt very comfortable & very prepared.
The following day, I got to fly a single seat glider for the first time! It felt really amazing to be up there by myself in something I'd never flown before. The weather was gorgeous too.
I hope somehow I can get the opportunity to do some glider instruction in the near future, I really enjoyed the experience!
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#soaringsocietyofamerica #aviationlife #pilot #cfilife #cfi #aviatrix #girlsflytoo #avgeek #girlpilots #WomenInAviation #wai #womenrockwings

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Apr 7

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May 9

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ASK-21 landing at Garner Airport, Virginia

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Dec 9

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Slingsby Gull landing at Harris Hill Elmira, New York

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Jun 8

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Schweizer 2-33 landing at Garner Airport, Virginia

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Jun 3

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Minimoa landing at Harris Hill Elmira, New York

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Aug 12

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ASK-21 taking off at Harris Hill Elmira, New York

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Feb 2

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ASK-13 landing at Harris Hill Elmira, New York