Glider Ride

(Click on the title to open a Web Photo album of the flight)

Friday I finally took the glider ride that my wife gave me almost 10 years ago. Initially, I was unable to take the ride as the owner of the business died, but not in an aircraft accident. About six months latter we received a letter from the new owner with a new certificate and a note that it would never expire. That certificate sat in a drawer for a while.

Then I started learning to fly and remembered the glider certificate. I spent four years working on my private pilot license. I didn't want to mix the two modes of flying so held off on the glider ride. Now nine months after my check ride I finally took the glider ride. Very enjoyable, and less expensive than powered flight. After talking with some of the instructors I bought a book on getting your glider rating and I'm now currently reading it to see if I want to pursue the rating.

According to the FAR, as a private pilot, I need 10 solo tows and 3 hours of flight time. But the kicker is that you need to get to the point where your instructor feels comfortable with you soloing. The school offers an add on course which includes 30 tows, 10 hours of ground instruction, 10 hours of flight instruction and glider rental. This "usually" is enough to add the rating.

Now I have to determine if I can afford to take the plunge at this time. Everything I've seen states that I live in a prime region for glider flying. Boulder Colorado is right up against the front range of the Rocky Mountains. Fly over the plains for thermal flying, along the front range for ridge flying, and then in the winter catch a mountain wave for real high flying activity, 17,000 to 20,000 MSL.