Mark,

The paperwork to get an FAA licence based on your Australian one isn't
that tough, but post 9/11 it is slow. The FAA say you need to give them
90 days (their web site has the details if you are interested:
http://registry.faa.gov/airmen.asp#verify) and then you'll have to visit
a local FAA office to pick it up (which takes up to an hour + travel
time). Sounds like you may have left it too late for that.
If not, I would encourage you to do this. Email me and I can share my
experience of getting a friend from the UK through this last year.
If you have left it too late you might be able to go the student pilot
route but I believe the sign-off requirements for a student pilot to fly
solo are written down in the US regs and it may be that an instructor
would actually have to give you a more rigorous check-out to demonstrate
compliance with those regulations. Perhaps others who are instructors
here in the US can comment.
You also have the issue that most likely the insurance or club by-laws
will stipulate that the better performing gliders can only be flown by
private or higher rated pilots. You will have to call the site to
confirm this.
All of this might make the recommendation for dual flying the best
advice if you are under time pressure.

I live on the East coast so others will (and already have) given you
better advice than I on location. However, I can confirm that Soar
Minden has the potential to deliver spectacular wave and runs an
efficient operation with a good selection of well maintained, good
performance sailplanes.

Good luck....
Mike.

Mark Newton wrote:
Hi.

I'm an Australian glider pilot visiting the US on business
for a few weeks later this month.

I'm going to be in the LA and San Jose area, and I'd like to
see about doing some flying while I'm there. I've been checking
into the licensing requirements (seems it's easiest to do the
paperwork for a student pilots license then go for some checkrides),
so now I'm trying to find gliderports who might be visitor-friendly,
scenic, and with goodish soaring conditions at this time of year.

I've had recommendations to visit Cal City and Tehachapi near
LA, and possibly Hollister near San Jose.

I have about 350 hours in gliders, I've been doing about 100
hours per year for the last two years, and I hold an Australian
instructor rating. What kind of hoops would I need to jump
through to get my butt into something with wings, and what's
likely to be the best place to do it?

Thanks,

- mark