Soaring Schools

I’ll put a plug in for Bermuda High Soaring. Plenty of instructors, Tow Pilots, training gliders as well as single seaters to rent.

Frank and Jane Reid run a good operation.

I went down to Maricopa Arizona, http://www.azsoaring.com, the third week of October.

I had the required number of flights for the commercial add on so it was a matter of getting the required ground instruction and flights in preparation for the test.

As an instructor, Bruce was great; and for all of the administrative details Doyle was indispensable. I was able to get all of the flying I wanted to get comfortable in the 2-33 as I was used to an L-13 and PW-6. We started Monday morning and I took the check Thursday. Friday was open, as my airline ticket home was for Saturday, so I used the time to knock out the Bronze Badge test and in the afternoon had Jason show me how to loop and wing over the Grob. It was great.

I stayed right on the gliderpatch in the bunk house, very convenient and reasonable; with a well appointed kitchen, easy to diy; but Maricopa is only a few minutes away so I just jammed into town for breakfast at the Sunrise Cafe and dinner at Plaza Bonita.

A great experience, I highly recommend it.

I flew with Bruce and Jason last February for a glider add on to my instructor certificate. I give them two thumbs up all around! No matter what the weather is doing anywhere else in the world it's always sunny in Arizona. What ever your experience level they have an aircraft and instructor to suit you. The bunk house is a few steps above camping, but it's all you need. I recommend calling them and get a list of things to study before showing up.. If you do that the experience is more vacation like and less stressful. Give yourself an extra day before check ride and departure in case your check ride doesn't go as planed. You can always use the extra day to do some acro with Jason in the Fox or getting an aircraft check out in some thing more interesting.