Glider Simulator Training at the USAFA

In my experience with the USAFA glider program, both as a cadet instructor and later as the officer-in-charge of the advanced soaring program, the vast majority of students achieved the end goal of the Airmanship 451 program, which was to solo. That act completed the course.

Has the AM 451 curriculum changed whereby most students now do *not* solo (which would have to be the case to "more than double the solo rate")?

This was for AM 251.

On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 5:19:16 AM UTC-8, wrote:
In my experience with the USAFA glider program, both as a cadet instructor and later as the officer-in-charge of the advanced soaring program, the vast majority of students achieved the end goal of the Airmanship 451 program, which was to solo. That act completed the course.

Has the AM 451 curriculum changed whereby most students now do *not* solo (which would have to be the case to "more than double the solo rate")?

The sims were used in the AM 251 course, the "Into to Soaring" course given during the summer for 340 students, not the AM 451 which is used to train the instructors. The AM 451 course only has about 60 students, and yes, most of those have already soloed, or come close, in AM 251.

On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 12:26:25 PM UTC-8, wrote:
On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 5:19:16 AM UTC-8, wrote:
In my experience with the USAFA glider program, both as a cadet instructor and later as the officer-in-charge of the advanced soaring program, the vast majority of students achieved the end goal of the Airmanship 451 program, which was to solo. That act completed the course.

Has the AM 451 curriculum changed whereby most students now do *not* solo (which would have to be the case to "more than double the solo rate")?

The sims were used in the AM 251 course, the "Into to Soaring" course given during the summer for 340 students, not the AM 451 which is used to train the instructors. The AM 451 course only has about 60 students, and yes, most of those have already soloed, or come close, in AM 251.

One obvious difference is that a simulator based on a wrecked glider fuselage is a one-off project -- it's not scalable. A commercially available simulator rig that seemlessly integrates with the most popular glider simulator is something worth considering by glider clubs. I suggest requesting the article mentioned in the original post.

Back when the rains came & the earth cooled:

400-series academic courses were associated with a cadet's freshman ("4-degree") year.
AM-451 was typically taken the summer break before a cadet's began his sophomore year.

The USAF ACADEMY SOARING PROGRAM SYLLABUS OF INSTRUCTION FOR AIRMANSHIP 451, BASIC COURSE GLIDER, Dated APRIL 1980, states, "This syllabus outlines...the training required...to solo a glider."

As for the 1980s through the 1990s--The vast majority of BASIC COURSE GLIDER students achieved solo. It was rare not to solo.
When did not soloing become the norm (hence the modern-day possibility to double the BASIC COURSE GLIDER solo rate)?

On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 5:00:12 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Back when the rains came & the earth cooled:

400-series academic courses were associated with a cadet's freshman ("4-degree") year.
AM-451 was typically taken the summer break before a cadet's began his sophomore year.

The USAF ACADEMY SOARING PROGRAM SYLLABUS OF INSTRUCTION FOR AIRMANSHIP 451, BASIC COURSE GLIDER, Dated APRIL 1980, states, "This syllabus outlines...the training required...to solo a glider."

As for the 1980s through the 1990s--The vast majority of BASIC COURSE GLIDER students achieved solo. It was rare not to solo.
When did not soloing become the norm (hence the modern-day possibility to double the BASIC COURSE GLIDER solo rate)?

This is true. Back when the USAFA was training in 2-32s, the solo rate was much higher. They are now using a "club" version of the DG-1000, and the solo rate was around 40%. But by adding simulator training there were able to get that up to 89%.
-Russell Holtz

On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 5:00:12 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Back when the rains came & the earth cooled:

400-series academic courses were associated with a cadet's freshman ("4-degree") year.
AM-451 was typically taken the summer break before a cadet's began his sophomore year.

The USAF ACADEMY SOARING PROGRAM SYLLABUS OF INSTRUCTION FOR AIRMANSHIP 451, BASIC COURSE GLIDER, Dated APRIL 1980, states, "This syllabus outlines...the training required...to solo a glider."

As for the 1980s through the 1990s--The vast majority of BASIC COURSE GLIDER students achieved solo. It was rare not to solo.
When did not soloing become the norm (hence the modern-day possibility to double the BASIC COURSE GLIDER solo rate)?

This is true. Back when the USAFA was training in 2-33s, the solo rate was much higher. They are now using a "club" version of the DG-1000, and the solo rate has been around 40%. By adding simulator training there were able to get that up to 89%.
-Russell Holtz

Not sure about their logic of using an aircraft apparently less conducive to the intended task.
Congratulations on finding a way to help overcome that incongruity.

On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 6:17:13 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Not sure about their logic of using an aircraft apparently less conducive to the intended task.
Congratulations on finding a way to help overcome that incongruity.

If your KPI is to get students to one solo tow and sled ride to a safe landing on a dead calm day and then never set foot in a glider again then, yeah, the 2-33 is probably superior.

Otherwise I'd take the DG1000 every time.

On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 8:26:04 PM UTC-7, Bruce Hoult wrote:
On Thursday, November 15, 2018 at 6:17:13 PM UTC-8, wrote:
Not sure about their logic of using an aircraft apparently less conducive to the intended task.
Congratulations on finding a way to help overcome that incongruity.

If your KPI is to get students to one solo tow and sled ride to a safe landing on a dead calm day and then never set foot in a glider again then, yeah, the 2-33 is probably superior.

Otherwise I'd take the DG1000 every time.

The only shortcoming with the USAFA glider program is that the Cadets,until commissioned, are not active military members, thus not eligible for any ratings issued under 8900.1 http://fsims.faa.gov/PICDetail.aspx?...ol.5,Ch2,Sec15

Frank Whiteley