On Jan 31, 9:39*am, wrote:
On Jan 28, 11:45*pm, Berry wrote:





In article ,
*Walt Connelly wrote:

Okay, I'm looking for a place to do some ridge soaring. *Never done it,
it doesn't exist where I fly. (Seminole Lake GP, Florida) *Any
suggestions as to the best ridge soaring and availability of
instruction? *

Walt

Hands down, you need to go to Chilhowee Gliderport, Benton, TN.
Chilhowee is a great place to get an intro to ridge flying. It is the
closest ridge site to you, the gliderport is close up against the ridge,
the ridge works well, and the surrounding terrain is landout friendly.
Instruction, rides, and tows are available. Lodging is close by and
reasonably priced. I recommend (believe it or not) the local Red Roof
Inn. They have a special rate for glider pilots ($55/night) and the
hotel is actually extremely clean, comfortable, and well run.

I'm sure you'll hear from others also suggesting Chilhowee.

If you are coming from Florida, I would second Wally's recomendation.
It is really important to go to a site that is prepared to train and
mentor you. Chilwowee and Ridge Soaring are well prepared for this.
Chilhowee available all year round.
Don't be to swayed by record and OLC flying as much as training and
mentoring availability.
Good Luck
UH- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Well I gotta laugh......of course this question comes up on this group
every so often, and of course everybody answers with "where I
fly".....you know, "my airport is better than your airport".

I'm not so sure that any particular ridge site has any better
instruction than any other. I am sure that you will find at any
ridge site some highly experienced instructor(s), willing to give you
great personalized instruction, and fly as much as your pocket book
would allow.

But here is the real problem with the "plan"......You can't learn to
ridge fly in a day, you can't learn in a week and you can't learn in a
month...........

So if you go somewhere, where there is a good ridge, and good
instruction, say for a two week vacation....you may get one day of
ridge flying, maybe two......if you are really lucky a couple of
days......

So what you are going to get, at best, is an INTRODUCTION to ridge
soaring.......lots of fun...you'll learn a lot....but you'll have a
long way to go...

For example, the local club guidelines require a min of 4 hours of
dual ridge instruction, before solo flight on the local ridge is
allowed....and additional minimum 10 flights and 6 hours of solo
flight is required before cross country ridge is allowed.....(many
pilots need more than these recommended minimuns).

So, hard to do in a week..............sure on the ridge you can easily
fly 4 hours in one flight, but doubtful the instructor would allow
solo after only one flight..........

Bottom line...If you want to *really* learn to fly ridge....you have
to MOVE to where a ridge is......and be ready to fly every day the
wind blows the right way!

If you want some intro to ridge flying, take a vacation where
something else intrests you as well, so you have something to do on
all those days when the ridge doesn't work!

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