![]() During the primary season, May through September, you can find strong and reliable thermal activity, and during the slower season, October through April, mountain wave shows up more often. Most days are flyable, with it rarely being necessary to suspend flying for weather. ◦ Keep in mind, earning your rating should take as long as you need it to so that you feel comfortable piloting a glider.Īs we mentioned previously, KMEV (the Minden-Tahoe airport) is a great place to learn to fly a glider. Time: 2 weeks – 4 weeks ◦ We say plan on at least two weeks, and that’s if you train regularly and don’t put off your solo flying or scheduling the check ride.Consistent training is a good way to keep cost down. ◦ The longer it takes, the more it will generally cost as you may lose momentum in your training and need to recover ground. There is no written test required for pilots seeking a glider add-on rating. Cost: $2,500 – $3,500 ◦ Costs involved with learning to fly a glider include instruction, glider rental, tows, ground study material, and the check ride.Glider Pilot Add-On Rating Cost and Timeline ◦ Keep in mind, earning your certificate should take as long as you need it to so that you feel comfortable piloting a glider. Time: 6 weeks – 12 weeks ◦ We say plan on at least six weeks, and that’s if you train regularly, take the written test as soon as you’re ready, and don’t put off your solo flying or scheduling the check ride.Cost: $7,000 – $10,000 ◦ Costs involved with learning to fly a glider include instruction, glider rental, tows, ground study material, the written test fee, and the check ride.Glider Pilot Certificate Cost and Timeline However, there are some broad figures you can keep in mind when it comes to learning to fly a glider. It depends on how much time you can devote to the training, how quickly you learn, your style of learning, weather, and more. Minimum of 3 hours of flight time in a glider, including: ◦ A minimum of 10 solo flights ◦ A minimum of 3 training flights in preparation for the practical test.Īfter “…what are the requirements,” the two next most common questions are “how long will it take,” and “how much will it cost?” The true, and mildly frustrating, answer to those questions is that it depends.Must have logged at least 40 hours of flight time as a powered pilot.Have passed the flight exam with a FAA Examiner.Have passed the FAA written examination.Have 2 hours of solo flight time in a glider.Have logged at least 10 hours of flight time in a glider, which must include at least 20 total glider flights.At least 16 years of age (you can solo in a glider at 15 years old).So let’s answer a few common questions about learning to fly a glider, starting with a quick overview of the basic requirements. If you’re going to learn to fly a glider with us, you’re going to be learning from the best, in safe conditions. Finally, we also have a glider sim in-house, where you can practice certain maneuvers, or get a little stick time if the weather isn’t good for flying. ![]() ![]() And we have a good working relationship with the glider DPE in the area, and can help you schedule the check ride when the time arrives. And our tow pilots are all seasoned veterans, with years of experience towing gliders. In addition, our ground crew are well versed in the safe and efficient handling of gliders, including towing them to and from the staging area for launch, and properly hooking them up to the tow plane. (And, if you want to take some aerobatic gliding instruction, we can help you with that as well.) This gives them both a well-balanced and nuanced understanding of flying. As a unique and added benefit, all our CFI-Gs also have private pilot certificates or higher on the powered side, and all have experience flying tow planes as well. In addition to their overall experience, our CFI-Gs have been with the business for many years now, and are intimately familiar with our gliders, the surrounding terrain, and the weather patterns in the area. The Minden-Tahoe Airport is a fantastic place to learn to fly a glider, but it can be challenging. At Soaring NV, we can help you earn a glider pilot certificate, or add-on rating to a private pilot certificate.įirst, and most importantly, our CFI-Gs (certified flight instructor, glider) have thousands of hours of experience, both in gliding and instructing, and place a premium on safety. You’re ready to learn to fly a glider, but you’re not sure exactly where to start.
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