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(Type in ICAO ID)
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: How do sailplanes stay aloft and gain altitude?
Answer:
Soaring pilots use "lift" to stay airborne and gain altitude. Three basic types of lift generally used by soaring pilots are Thermal, Ridge, and Mountian Wave lift.
Thermal lift is created as a result of solar heating of the earth's surface which causes warmer, less dense air to rise, and cooler, more dense air to sink. A "column" or "bubble" of rising air is known as a thermal. Soaring pilots seek out thermals to stay aloft and climb. "Thermalling" is probably the most common technique used to sustain soaring flight, and is what we rely on here for lift at NFSS(sorry, no mountains or ridges).
Ridge lift is created as strong, low-level airflow moves perpendicular to, and up the side of a mountain ridge. The moving air deflects up the face of the ridge, creating lift along its windward side.
Mountain wave lift occurs as high-velocity, upper altitude air flows perpendicularly across and over a mountain peak. Air flowing up the windward side, then down the leeward side results in an oscillating "ripple" effect of air movement generally downwind of the mountain. The "ripples", or "waves", produce high altitude upward air displacement and powerful lift.
Question: How high and how far can sailplanes actually fly?
Answer:
Altitudes of over 50,000 feet have been achieved in a sailplane in mountain wave lift. In addition, the "out-and-return" distance record for a sailplane was set in 1983. The total distance achieved was 1023 miles along the Appalachian Ridge.
Question: What does it cost to fly with North Florida Soaring Society?
Answer: The price of soaring with NFSS is considered very reasonable. A typical flight for a member would be a standard tow to 3000'. Costs typically include a fee for the tow, the sailplane, and an instructor if necessary.
| Dual Instruction (as an example only): | ||
| Tow | 25.75 | |
| Glider fee | 5.00 | |
| Instructor | 25.00 | |
| Total | 55.75 | |
| Solo Flight (as an example only): | ||
| Tow | 25.75 | |
| Glider fee | 5.00 | |
| Total | 30.75 | |