Soaring Society of America

Soaring Society of AmericaSoaring Society of America2025-05-05T15:15:14-06:00

Soaring Society of America

Seeing the World from a New Perspective

JOIN SSA TODAY

RENEW MEMBERSHIP

Loading...

SSA Rules Survey & Election

Announcement
League & Online Competition

New Partnership with WeGlide
October 1st, 2025
Migrate OLC Flights to WeGlide

How to Migrate Your Online Contest (OLC) Flights to WeGlide
SOFTE Webinars

2025-2026 Simulation-based Online Flight Training Experience - Registration Coming Soon.
SSA & WeGlide Agreement

FREE WeGlide Services
for SSA Members!
SSA & WeGlide Agreement

FREE WeGlide Services
for SSA Clubs & Affiliates

RECENT NEWS

View All >

Retention Ideas for Clubs

Meira Leonard2025-10-08T16:55:41-06:00October 8th, 2025|

SSA Rules Survey and Election Announcement

Soaring Society of America2025-10-02T19:01:51-06:00October 2nd, 2025|

New WeGlide League & Online Competition

Soaring Society of America2025-09-30T12:07:33-06:00September 25th, 2025|

Simulation-based Online Flight Training Experience (SOFTE)

Soaring Society of America2025-09-23T19:56:58-06:00September 23rd, 2025|

2025 Junior Program Update

Soaring Society of America2025-09-23T19:57:51-06:00September 18th, 2025|

LEARN TO SOAR

WHERE TO FLY

ONLINE LEARNING

WEBINARS

GIVING

RACING

LIVE TRACKING

REGISTRATION

RESULTS

US TEAMS

CALENDAR

CONTEST ADMIN

DID YOU KNOW?

You can solo a glider at 14 & get your glider license at 16!

JUNIOR SOARING

UPCOMING EVENTS

TRAINING VIDEOS

FORUMS

EVENTS

View All Events

CLASSIFIEDS

View All Classifieds

FORUMS

TOPICS

FORUMS

REPLIES

ONLINE

View All Forums

2023 SSA Calendar

View Cart

$5.00

90 Year Long Sleeve Polo

View Cart

$20.00

Out of stock

90 Year Soaring Mug

View Cart

SSA Puffer Jacket

View Cart

$65.00

Soaring Society Of America Member Pin ssa member lapel pin

SSA Member Lapel Pin

View Cart

$5.00

15″ Laptop Backpack

View Cart

$40.00

Cloudstreet Blu-Ray DVD

View Cart

$32.00

SSA Camo Hat

View Cart

$25.00

Shop All Merchandise

FACEBOOK

INSTAGRAM

View Instagram post by

Feb 27

Open post by with ID 18001025309239075

Got some Soaring Society of America swag from my brilliant instructor Lou this weekend. My A, B, and C badges/pins. Very cool. A is for solo flight. B is solo flight of at least 30 minutes after release from 2,000 ft tow. C is pre cross country phase. I still have a lot to learn.

#garnerairport #ask21glider #gliderpilot #solopilot #soaring #tidewatersoaringsociety #soaringsocietyofamerica

View Instagram post by

Mar 24

Open post by with ID 17867632475883721

Let’s go to some gliders this weekend…. #soaring #soaringsocietyofamerica #soaringeagle #pilotsofinstagram #pilotslife #pilotlifestyle #piperpawnee #piperpawnee235 #flywithaopa #towpilot #gliderzone #glider #gliderpilot #glidertowing #glidertow #glidertowplane #texassoaringassociation #texassoaring

View Instagram post by

Jun 2

Open post by with ID 17900487610899410

Can you spot the Nixus? Perlan Project Chief Pilot Jim Payne is flying the Nixus sailplane in the 2021 Open Class U.S. National Contest in Minden, Nev.

Jim is currently in second place, with the contest continuing through June 9. Just like the Perlan 2 space glider, Nixus is a one-of-a-kind #sailplane. It is the first ever fly-by-wire sailplane with a 28 meter (92 feet) wingspan. The next largest #gliders in this contest have 21 meter wingspans.

Check out the daily results from thesoaringsociety via link in bio.

The wings on Nixus are so thin that mechanical linkage would not fit. Designer and Builder Paulo Iscold is in Minden to support the team efforts. Owner Sergio Andrade is supporting efforts from his home in Brazil. Jim has been the test pilot of the Nixus since first flight. He set five national open class records last year.

#soaring #AirbusPerlanMission II #contest #instapilot #avgeek #Minden #soaringsocietyofamerica

View Instagram post by

Jun 8

Open post by with ID 17854846350450662

FAA checkride complete! I’m properly qualified! “This certifies that David J Piatak has been found to be properly qualified and is hereby authorized in accordance with the conditions of issuance to exercise the privileges PRIVATE PILOT”. Thanks to glaab.lou a.k.a. “The Instructor” and all my friends at Tidewater Soaring Society.

#ask21glider #gliderpilot #solopilot #soaring #3VA8 #tidewatersoaringsociety #soaringsocietyofamerica

View Instagram post by

Sep 5

Open post by with ID 17920077971566104

Grace wants to be a Certified Flight Instructor (CFI) for gliders. Earlier this year she applied for the Laze Memorial Soaring Foundation Scholarship and was awarded $4,000 to continue her training! Saturday Grace met Kelly Lazerson from the foundation to receive her scholarship at Skylark North Glider school. As if that wasn’t exciting enough, Al Bowers, former Chief Scientist of NASA’s Neil A. Armstrong Flight Research Center, was at the airport for an event and made time to congratulate and encourage her! What a blessed day! #GraceKalei💜 #mymiracle #2pounds12ounces #28weeks #PPROMat21weeks #69daysintheNICU #NICUbaby #NICUgraduate #PreemiePower💜 #OurGodCanMoveMountains #NowShesFlyingGlidersandSendingExperimentstotheInternationalSpaceStation #SoaringSocietyofAmerica #StudentGliderPilot #Soaring #GliderPlanes

View Instagram post by

Nov 20

Open post by with ID 18008658155662067

🌟 CFI-G recap! 🌟
I'm so glad I decided to add on Glider Instructor to my ratings!
It was so much fun and I enjoyed getting to teach flying again, since I haven't had the chance after FTP sold.
I went into this very short training experience very proficient in flying & way overprepared on my ground material/lesson plans (which is the only way I'd feel ok about the whole process tbh)
I did 1 required spin endorsement flight and then 2 flights practicing flying & teaching from the rear seat (working on correcting simulated student errors).
That went well, so then I did the 3 required flights with the recommending instructor and got a checkride sign-off.
The checkride was the following morning- it was easy and fun and I felt very comfortable & very prepared.
The following day, I got to fly a single seat glider for the first time! It felt really amazing to be up there by myself in something I'd never flown before. The weather was gorgeous too.
I hope somehow I can get the opportunity to do some glider instruction in the near future, I really enjoyed the experience!
.
.
.
#soaringsocietyofamerica #aviationlife #pilot #cfilife #cfi #aviatrix #girlsflytoo #avgeek #girlpilots #WomenInAviation #wai #womenrockwings

View Instagram post by

Apr 7

Open post by with ID 17927395046673458

View Instagram post by

Sep 14

Open post by with ID 18144119659277917

ASK-21 taking off at Harris Hill Elmira, New York

View Instagram post by

Jun 8

Open post by with ID 17986394992507923

ASK-21 landing at Garner Airport, Virginia

View Instagram post by

May 9

Open post by with ID 17989393405481049

ASK-21 landing at Garner Airport, Virginia

View Instagram post by

Dec 9

Open post by with ID 18257504302187889

Slingsby Gull landing at Harris Hill Elmira, New York

View Instagram post by

Jan 4

Open post by with ID 17948607575289589

ASK-21 landing at Garner Airport, Virginia