Glider Rating

[Joshrk22]

If a CFI has a glider rating, can he instruct in gliders? Also, if you hit 40 hours as a student pilot, does the 3 hour rule apply, or do you need your PPL? I'm only 16 and looking to get my glider license, but I don't really want to spend too much money. I figured once I hit 40 hours, go up for a few glider flights to get it, more ratings the better I guess, and since I'm 16, I can't fly heaver-than-air for another year, so I want to fly something.

 

[A Squared]

If a CFI has a glider rating, can he instruct in gliders?

No. Not unless he has a glider rating on hie instructor certificate. An instructor's certificate is typically issued with an "airplane" rating. A glider is not an airplane, it's a glider.

 

[FL420]

The commercial glider add-on was some of the most fun and useful training I have received. The lessons I learned in micrometeorolgy and energy management have proved invaluable in all types of flying.

I would recommend you get your glider rating first and do it through a soaring club. Clubs are cheaper and more fun than flight schools. Almost everything you learn is transferable to powered flight but not vice versa.

In a glider club you can substitute sweat equity for money by volunteering to perform various functions. My wife and I spent many happy hours launching gliders using the trailer ball on the bumper of my pickup and operating a winch powered by a Chevy 454 engine. I even got some time towing gliders in a Super Cub.

You meet some interesting and friendly people in a club. My glider instructor later was the principal builder and crew chief of the Voyager, first aircraft to fly around the world nonstop. It was a kick to see the Voyager hanging in the Air & Space Museum with the signature of Bruce Evans under the canopy.

 

[hoop]

~Warning: Potential thread hijack~

I have been interested in gliders, but was told there is a fairly low weight limit on them. Can some of you experienced glider guys shed a little light on the subject for a fatboy??

 

[A Squared]

~Warning: Potential thread hijack~

I have been interested in gliders, but was told there is a fairly low weight limit on them. Can some of you experienced glider guys shed a little light on the subject for a fatboy??

Here's one that ought to work for the heftier pilot:

http://www.geocities.com/rcaf86/me321.html

 

[tonycondon]

ive had students up to around 240 or so. probably wont be able to get in any single seaters though. max on most single seaters tops out around 210-220 i believe, some much less.
I roger the comments on the commercial add on from FL420, it was great fun
Ive enjoyed my 40 hrs in gliders as much as my 1000 in power. cant wait for the spring cross country season...

 

[Joshrk22]

ive had students up to around 240 or so. probably wont be able to get in any single seaters though. max on most single seaters tops out around 210-220 i believe, some much less.
I roger the comments on the commercial add on from FL420, it was great fun
Ive enjoyed my 40 hrs in gliders as much as my 1000 in power. cant wait for the spring cross country season...

Yah I'm guessing it depends on the airplane for the weight limit. I'm not sure if I want to join a glider club for the reason of lack of "funds". I'm already part of a powered club and I'm just curious to getting my glider rating so I will have something to do in the summer without getting with a CFI to fly, it would give me something to do. Are you able to rent a glider and tow plane or do most require clubs? My CFI has a glider rating, but not for instructing, so I'm going to need to find a Instructor. I will make some phone calls to see if anyone at the airport has a glider, tow plane, instructors, etc.

 

[tonycondon]

there are commercial glider operations out there, but most likely you will be involved in a club. they are much cheaper. Check into the cost, probably a lot cheaper than your powered club. go to www.ssa.org to find some good info, including "where to fly" that will show you glider clubs and commercial operators near you

 

[Joshrk22]

there are commercial glider operations out there, but most likely you will be involved in a club. they are much cheaper. Check into the cost, probably a lot cheaper than your powered club. go to www.ssa.org to find some good info, including "where to fly" that will show you glider clubs and commercial operators near you

Thanks. Does the 18 year old rule still apply to become a glider instructor or get paid to fly? I'm still debating if I would want to fork out the money to fly gliders or wait till I log 40 hours in powered then do the glider thing, seems like it would be cheaper in the end to do it that way.

 

[FL420]

Thanks. Does the 18 year old rule still apply to become a glider instructor or get paid to fly? I'm still debating if I would want to fork out the money to fly gliders or wait till I log 40 hours in powered then do the glider thing, seems like it would be cheaper in the end to do it that way.

Tony beat me to it with the link. The SSA website will answer all your questions plus many you haven't thought of yet.

http://www.ssa.org/sport/wheretofly.asp

If you learn to fly gliders first, it will be cheaper and you will be a much more capable pilot, than if you learned to fly powered aircraft first(IMHO.) Clubs are more interested in your time than your money plus you will have a number of people interested in helping you rather than just a CFIG and his boss who are often more interested in just your money.

You can't have much more fun in flying than going to a soaring camp during the summer or spring break where you can often camp under the stars at night and fly, launch and recover gliders all day.