by
posted 01/06/2010 Have you ever dreamed of flying?
Rolf Schulze
Maybe you’ve had a nighttime dream where you flew, flapping your arms like a bird in the sky? Well, there is a way you can translate your sleeping and daytime dreams into reality.
Looking down on the world from a sailplane that you are piloting is incomparably better than any computer simulation and unlike riding in any airliner. Flying and piloting a sailplane is like driving a sports car versus a bus. Piloting a sailplane is very close to flying like a bird in that you do not have to follow predictable schedules. Sailplanes (or gliders, as the FAA designates our aircrafts) are capable of flying long distances and staying in the air for long periods of time. All of these possibilities are within reach as long as there is daylight, and any of the various sources of lift are available. There is nothing like flying from hundreds to thousands of feet above our glorious mountains, often along with a hawk or a vulture.
Quite a few airline pilots got their start in (and may still fly) sailplanes. There are several documented commercial incidents that worked out very well, simply because of the pilot’s glider experience. Sailplanes are very safe and capable aircrafts, often climbing more than one thousand feet per minute. Indeed, sailplane pilots routinely fly distances of several hundred miles cross-country, without even using an ounce of gas. How is that for “flying green”?
Come to the world famous and historic Torrey Pines Glider Port almost any weekend in the spring of the year where, in addition to hang gliders and paragliders, you will see our magnificent white sailplanes cruising above the cliffs from Mount Soledad to Del Mar.
How would YOU like to take part in that experience? You too could go for a spectacular flight with one of our instructors or commercial pilots to enjoy this unique event. Everyone should do this at least once in their lifetime. So plan to come and see us or put us on your adventure list of things to do.
