US midwest soaring

"nimbusgb" wrote in message
oups.com...
What is the soaring like in the US Midwest? From the SSA state records
I see that the distances covered and the speeds over standard courses
seem less than impressive.

Are there significant weather, airspace or other factors that limit
the soaring in Minnessota, Illinois, Indiana and the central midwest?

I also notice that the club fleets in these areas seem to revolve
around a couple of 2-32's and a 40 or more year old two seater with
very few glass ships in evidence, not promising for someone facing an
international assignment in the area

Ian M


You seem to have a good handle on it.

There are no special airspace limitations. Good soaring weather happens on
occasion but the midwest weather does not generally lend itself to
spectacular flilghts. High humidity, low cloud bases and frequent
thunderstorms are the summer norm. Horace Greeley must have had glider
pilots in mind when he said. "go west, young man".

As for the prevalence of old 2-33's, I don't understand that either.

I know some of our forign guests who buy a 1st or 2nd generation glass
glider and leave it at a western soaring site. They grab inexpensive
airline flights whenever they can to get in some spectacular western US
soarning.

Bill Daniels