tienshanman wrote:
I would appreciates some suggestions…..I am looking for the ideal place
to live in the US – for soaring (I have not told my wife how massively
weighted this particular criterion is!). I am overseas now and more
than likely we will return to the US this summer. I have spent hours on
the net researching places to live which have the best combination of
access to good flying, good schools (3 elem school age kids), a
critical mass of interesting people and culture and good weather. One
thing I do not want to do is drive anything more that about 15 – 20 min
to a glider field and I intend to buy a self launching glider if some
sort so I could presumably fly from a small, welcoming GA airport. I am
open to virtually any region. I’ve been gone for 14 yrs so I’m dealing
with a blank slate. What places should I consider? Why?


The US gliderport with the best year around soaring conditions is at
Warner Springs in the mountains northeast of San Diego. However, it is
more than a 20 minute drive from the amenities you are looking for.

You indicate you are willing to fly a motorglider out of a GA field,
which gives you a lot of options. There are several GA airports between
the coast and the mountains in California. You could live in a location
with a temperate coastal climate and all the features you desire, yet
not have to motor very far to get to excellent mountain soaring
conditions. For example, live in Ventura, base your plane at the
Camarillo or Oxnard airports, and it is only a 25 mile flight to
excellent soaring conditions in the mountains north of Ojai.