On Saturday, January 4, 2020 at 9:36:57 AM UTC-7, James Stauffer wrote:
Is it harder to get a first pilot certificate for glider - self launch vs.. normal powered aircraft near St. Paul, MN? It seems like a self launch glider certificate would be a great way to start because of better stick and rudder skills, lower age requirements (for my son), cheaper operating costs, glider hours apply toward power aircraft requirements, etc but I'm concerned that it might be a bad path because it appears to be rare and hard to find instruction near St. Paul, MN.

There was a proposal from a group in Washington State at one time to start a club and train using a G-103 III SL. At the time, insurance would not allow first solo in a self-launcher. Not sure if that was because it was a pylon or otherwise. Not saying all underwriters would decline. However, given such a proposal, the next thing to check is insurance. Things may have changed.

Frank Whiteley