Anyone have experience with SoarNV?

If anyone has used them to finish an add on rating I'd like to hear about your experience. How many flights before check ride sign off? Any issues with the FBO or the DPE?

A few people have recommended Williams Soaring, however when I spoke to the instructor at Williams (not Rex) I got the feeling they would not be very easy on a visiting pilot.

Thanks,

Nick

Williams Soaring is not going to be "easy" in that they're not going to give you a pass just because you show up and pay. But they're a fine family that runs a good operation (there's a reason they recently won an award for their service to the sport).

My $0.02,

--Noel
P.S. This is not to say SoarNV is a bad choice; I just have no personal experience with them.

I had an excellent experience with obtaining an add on rating with Soaring NV: instruction, equipment, access. They use a structured approach following the flight training manual published by their chief instructor Russell Holtz. http://www.gliderbooks.com/author.html

I have concerns about potential soaring pilots who ask "how many flights". Sure I understand as a student you are concerned about costs. As instructors we are concerned about knowledge and proficiency. I will not answer "how many", until we have chatted in person and we have flown, so as to know what it will take to "get you ready to meet the PTS". We have no idea as to your capabilities before we fly. As for SoarNV, I've not been there but have not heard any adverse comments. Williams Soaring and SoarNV are both great schools.

BillT

On Saturday, July 5, 2014 12:19:21 AM UTC-7, noel.wade wrote:
Williams Soaring is not going to be "easy" in that they're not going to give you a pass just because you show up and pay. But they're a fine family that runs a good operation (there's a reason they recently won an award for their service to the sport).



My $0.02,



--Noel

P.S. This is not to say SoarNV is a bad choice; I just have no personal experience with them.

I just want to comment on Williams Soaring Center - My experience is it is well-run, excellent equipment and they are not interested in "giving away an add-on rating" You will receive a very thorough check ride from Rex, and for some, too thorough, but in the end will come away with a confident attitude about soaring

Williams is one of the best.

Boggs

Visiting or not, you need to fly to PTS standards. The number of flights it takes you to become competent enough for your instructor to sign you off should not even be a question. Don't be cheap when it comes to safety!

6X, which DPE did you fly with? Can you elaborate more about the instruction and checkride?

Perhaps the number of flights isn't a reasonable question.

Bill, I'm sure you are aware that there are quite an abundance of egotistical CFIG's in soaring who want to teach you "their way" before a sign off. This is not doing soaring any favors and is the reason myself and many others choose to go to an operation who will help them earn their rating.






On Saturday, July 5, 2014 5:12:21 AM UTC-7, 6X wrote:
I had an excellent experience with obtaining an add on rating with Soaring NV: instruction, equipment, access. They use a structured approach following the flight training manual published by their chief instructor Russell Holtz. http://www.gliderbooks.com/author.html

Mike Johnson was DPE. Happy to discus 775-997-9449

Jeff.

Nick, there are a lot of egotiscal pilots out there too that do not have the aviation talents in their hands that in their mind they think they do.
They cannot fly a stable tow, box the wake or keep the yaw string where it belongs. Flying in the back while the nose hunts back and forth due to adverse yaw every time they twitch the stick gets nauseating.

If you can show up at a flight school, complete two or three polish flights and pass to PTS requirements good on ya.
We've had rated pilots show up that could not fly to PTS level and wonder why we would not let them fly our equipment as solo PIC.

It's not the ego of the instructor to "do it my way". It's what are the skills required in the Practical Test Standard.
Can you plan and complete a no spoiler approach or land on tow? Yes those maneuvers are in the PTS and could be requested by the DPE.

BillT