Glider schools - opinions (US)

[Chris K]

I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?

Thanks in advance.

c

[Bill Daniels]

"Chris K" > wrote in message
...
> I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
> Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
> I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
> Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
> concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
> any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
> others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
> power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
> Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> c

I can't think of a better way to use a bunch of time off.

Both Estrella and Minden are excellent choices. To them I would add Warner
Springs in Southern California, Marfa Gliders in Marfa, Texas, Mile High in
Boulder, CO and Sundance in Moriarty, NM.

Sundance offers wide open skies, great soaring, wonderful people to fly with
and laid back New Mexico ambiance. Warner is a big, private airfield far
from heavy air traffic with great soaring weather. Marfa is a legendary
West Texas soaring site run by SSA Master Cross Country Instructor Burt
Compton. You can't learn from a better master. Mile High in Boulder offers
great soaring and probably the most beautiful scenery anywhere.

Enjoy!

Bill Daniels

[ADP]

Add Soar Truckee in Truckee, CA near Lake Tahoe and you have some great
choices.

Allan

"Bill Daniels" > wrote in message
news:lBnzc.31065$2i5.28898@attbi_s52...
>
> "Chris K" > wrote in message
> ...
> > I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
> > Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
> > I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
> > Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
> > concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
> > any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
> > others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
> > power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
> > Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?
> >
> > Thanks in advance.

[JJ Sinclair]

I can highly recommend Soar Minden. They have 12 sailplanes for rent and offer
several package deals. He will even pick you up at Reno International. You
can't beat the soaring, we just finished a week that offered wave, thermal and
some kickass *push the nose over, we're going through 17, soaring*.
Night life ain't bad eather,
JJ Sinclair

[S.J. Scialfa]

Chris K > wrote in message >...
> I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
> Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
> I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
> Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
> concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
> any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
> others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
> power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
> Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> c


Soar Minden would be a great place. There are may other activities
there with it's close proximity to Lake Tahoe. Not to mention the
soaring is pretty darn good!!

[Roy Epperson]

I can second or is it third or.... Soar Minden. Here's my story and I'm
sticking to it
http://roye.home.netcom.com/soaring/index.html

"Chris K" > wrote in message
...
> I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
> Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
> I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
> Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
> concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
> any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
> others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
> power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
> Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> c
>
>

[Robert de León]

> Sundance offers wide open skies, great soaring, wonderful people to fly with
> and laid back New Mexico ambiance. Warner is a big, private airfield far
> from heavy air traffic with great soaring weather. Marfa is a legendary
> West Texas soaring site run by SSA Master Cross Country Instructor Burt
> Compton. You can't learn from a better master.

I agree: Burt's and excellent instructor.

He has a cabin that you can rent for your stay. Marfa's elevation is almost
5,000ft. and the summer temps aren't terrible. Big Bend National Park is
nearby as is Fort Davis State Park and the McDonald Observatory. Great
scenery. Boomin' thermals.

Depending on where you're coming from, it can be a bit of a drive. Minden
has the advantage of being close to a major airport. Marfa is 3.5-4 hours
drive from Midland/Odessa International (served by Southwest and
Continental).

Yes: you should be able to knock out your rating in a week if the WX
cooperates.

[Bill Zaleski]

I had a fantastic time getting my CFIG at Driggs, Idaho. Don't know
if they are now operating, but soaring the Tetons was a trip. The
people were great with an examiner on staff.


On 14 Jun 2004 17:58:19 GMT, Chris K > wrote:

>I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
> Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
> I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
>Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
>concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
>any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
>others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
>power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
> Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?
>
>Thanks in advance.
>
>c
>

[Ted Wagner]

I did my instruction at Estrella last September - November and I can't say
enough positive things about my experience there. (I'm a former power pilot
student and a long-time skydiver and skydiving instructor, so I've had my
brushes with bad instruction, and I know the good when I see it.)

But with those two choices, you can't lose.

-ted

"Chris K" > wrote in message
...
> I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
> Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
> I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
> Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
> concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
> any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
> others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
> power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
> Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> c
>
>

[OscarCVox]

If you are not worried about a bit of paper for a type conversion to gliders
why not try europe? Because they are mainly clubs rather than commercial
flying schools the flying costs tend to be cheaper.
For example a 5 day course at Lasham in the UK is 550 uk pounds (peak season)
and accomodation is 10 pounds a night.
With 12 training gliders, 5 tugs and 2 winches you will always have something
to fly

[Scott]

I flew at Estrella over this past new year's. Great guys! If weather
is good, I would think a weekend would be enough to get at least your
private glider rating. This time of year may be a bit hot ;)

Scott


Chris K wrote:
> I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
> Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
> I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
> Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
> concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
> any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
> others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
> power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
> Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?
>
> Thanks in advance.
>
> c
>
>

[Martin Hellman]

Chris K > wrote in message >...
> I am fortunate to have a lot of time-off piled up.
> Lately I have been thinking about a soaring vacation.
> I have narrowed down my choices to 'Soar Minden' in
> Nevada and 'Estrella Soaring' in Arizona (a little
> concerned about July heat in phx). Has anybody had
> any experience with the above schools? Can you recommend
> others (preferably South West)? I am a commercial
> power pilot looking for a transition type of training.
> Would one week be enough (including the checkride)?

To add to what's already been said, I add my vote for Soar Minden. I
did my training there in 1994 and loved it. Great flying, great
scenery, great people. High Country Soaring, also at Minden, is
another good possibility.

Soar Truckee was also mentioned by other posters and it is a great
location. But the last time I was there (2 years ago), they didn't
have any glass rental ships. I needed a BFR and we did it in a 2-33.
So I'd check on what they have available. An advantage of Truckee
(assuming they have ships!) is the bunk house. Bring a sleeping bag
and your "hotel" costs $10 a night -- at least that was the freight in
1995. I had a sleeping pad as well and slept under the stars on the
lawn most nights. Fantastic! Truckee is a much more challenging
airport than Minden and might not be as good to learn at. There's
lots of farmland around Minden if a landout becomes necessary, whereas
Truckee is basically surrounded by mountains. Also the usual glider
runway (19) has a cliff at the approach end. OK, it doesn't look like
a cliff, but the several glider -- and one fatal tow plane --
accidents in the last decade speak to the danger. When I got my club
checkout (BASA) at Truckee, Emil Kissel was kind enough to drive me
down to the base of the hill and had me look up. On approach it looks
like a gentle slope, but when you look up, it looks like a cliff.

Hope this helps.

Martin