RIDES

If this is a new adventure for you, please feel welcome to come down and watch! We’ll probably bug you, showing you this and that but we can’t guarantee a ride unless a reservation has been made. You might get lucky, but once June hits we are usually booked up a week or so in advance. We take all forms of payment. I also sell Glider Rides Certificates for Christmas, birthdays, etc. They make great gifts. Who needs more STUFF, right? Of course I’m right. :-) 

NOTE: There is a 242 lbs. maximum weight limit. There is no minimum weight limit, but a passenger weighing less than 110Lbs gets the back seat. It’s a “weight and balance” thing. The back seat is great, too, though. If you weigh less that 110, you’ll see. Six years old is about as young as I would recommend, but it comes down to the individual kid and the odds that they will try to open the canopy in flight. You probably know if you have one of those kinds of kids. A good clue is you have a boy.

We can assist older folks, or physically impaired folks, into and out of the glider by using steps and helping hands and cushions and taking our time. We know the goal is for everyone to the leave the airport with a huge grin. So every trick is in play.

  • All glider rides are delivered by an FAA Certificated Glider Flight Instructor - me! And just a quick note about that in case you’re curious about that stranger in the back seat. I know I was curious when I took my first flight.

    The way all “pilot certification” works is this:: #1. A student is issued a “student pilot certificate” and begins lessons. #2. The student eventually “meets standards” and begins flying SOLO. #3. The student makes a certain number of flights, studies hard, passes a written exam and a practical exam (flight/oral) with an FAA Designated Examiner. If successful, the pilot is issued a PPG (Private Pilot Glider) certificate. #4. Once the pilot accrues more flights/hours in gliders and achieves a higher level of skill, they may pursue a Commercial Pilot license. They take another written exam as well as a practical (flight/oral) exam#5. The Commercial glider pilot can pursue an Instructor Rating by passing another written and practical (flight/oral) exam. Instructor is the highest rating.

    Additionally, pilots are required to take “flight reviews” with an instructor every two years, and instructors are required to take an additional 16 hours of recurrent training every two years. 

    So whether a jet or a glider, these FAA certification requirements apply. I say all this because, if it’s hot, I might be in shorts, a Tshirt and possibly barefoot. Don’t look for a starched white shirt, black tie and sharply creased khakis! As for experience, 2024 marks my 21st year as a full-time glider pilot instructor and my 32 second year as a glider pilot. Woohoo! 100% safety record. Zero injuries. I’m not bragging, I just know it’s easier to relax and have fun when you know it’s not the pilot’s first day on the job. :-)

  • Once you arrive and park next to our hangar we’ll show you around a bit. Then we will hop in a golf cart and drive to where the glider is parked. I will spend about 10 minutes showing you this and that and answering your questions. Then we hook the glider to the cart and drive it out to the runway while my tow pilot starts the tow plane. Once on the runway, I will help you get strapped into the glider. About this time the tow plane will be pulling in front of us and I connect the 200ft rope to his tail. I hop in the glider with you while he takes the remaining slack out of the line. We close the canopies, I give him the OK on the radio and off we go. Depending on the ride height we will be on tow for 6-12 minutes. Then we release the rope and soar.

  • Yes. Just figure one hour per ride when you schedule. The 3K ride is 20 minutes and the Mile High ride is 40 minutes, but booking a full hour slot per ride means we can take our time. Ya can’t have quality fun under pressure, right? Maybe I can even have a coffee and put my feet up before the next customer.

  • Spoiler alert for the PRICES page!

    3000ft, 20-minute rides are $195

    4000ft, 30-minute rides are $245

    5,280ft 40-minute rides are $295

    Still - go to the PRICES page.

FAQ

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