Instruction Syllabus

The Finger Lakes Soaring Club instructors provide instruction in topics ranging from the first flight to advanced cross-country soaring. In addition the Club has one instructor who is a FAA designated flight examiner so the instruction staff can provide the complete range of instruction activities and the instruction is provided to FLSC members at no charge. The instruction program is broken into the following three main categories:

Initial training
This program takes ab-initio gliding student from first flight though the FAA Private license. It involves two major mileposts for the new glider pilot, namely: first solo flight in a glider, and completion of the FAA private glider rating.

Soaring 101
Many newly-licensed pilots limit their gliding activity to local flight and eventually lose interest without ever experiencing the true excitement and passion of cross-country soaring which is the pinnacle of soaring flight. The Soaring 101 program is designed to introduce the fledgling pilot [i.e. Finger Lakes Edgling] to the true sport of soaring by adding two additional mileposts, namely: solo on winch launch and completion of the FAI SilverBadge. The goals are to enhance flying skill, teach and promote cross country flying to engender more enthusiasm, enjoyment, and camaraderie in the Finger Lakes Soaring Club. Each edgling will learn to fly the 1-26 cross country under the tutelage of an experienced cross-country mentor.

The 1-26 is the ideal sailplane for learning cross-country flight because it is rugged, safe, and it can be landed on a dime by a skilled pilot. The skill and experience of landing the 1-26 in fields is essential before venturing cross country and experiencing the challenging task of off-field landings in the higher-emergy, higher-performance gliders. Completion of the Fledgling Soaring 101 program is required before a pilot will be allowed to venture cross country in the more advanced FLSC sailplanes. Each year the FLSC will recognise the edglings achieving the longest goal flight and the longest distance flight in the 1-26.

Cross-country soaring
On successful graduation of the Soaring 101 program, which culminates in completion of the FAI Silver Badge, the FLedgling pilot has the experience to join the select group of Finger Lakes amingo (FLamingo) cross-country pilots. The cross-country program is designed to stimulate cross country soaring mentored by experienced cross country pilots. The FLamingo pilots can fly their personal sailplane or, if approved, the FLSC sailplanes. The cross-country program uses the On-LineContest (OLC-classic) handicap scoring system to score automatically the flights in this class. Each year the FLSC will recognise the amingo having, for the current year, the most OLC points derived from the sum of that pilots three best soaring flights for that season that originate and terminate at KDSV.

The above three programs are described more fully in the corresponding links. This web site provides on-line access to some of the best papers on cross country soaring most of which are unpublished, in order to serve as a library of reference material for the benefit of the members of the Finger Lakes Soaring Club. Please contact the Doug Cline if you know of additional papers that should be included.