| Nevada Wing Glider Program |
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Nevada Wing operates three
gliders for the Nevada Wing glider program - two L-23
Super Blanik training sailplanes and a Schleicher ASK-21. A Blanik and
Schleicher glider are based at the Douglas County Composite
Squadron at Minden, Nevada. A
Blanik L-23 is based at Jean, Nevada. As additional NVWG CAP Glider Pilots receive their CAPF 5-G certifications in the L-23, and as they meet the requirements to be designated as Glider Orientation Pilots per CAPR 60-1, we will evaluate assigning the gliders to different locations on a rotating basis. This will maximize glider utilization and provide opportunities to Cadets throughout NVWG territory. |
Since its early years, the Civil Air Patrol has included a handful of individual units that specialized in flying gliders. These individual gliding programs were created on a case-by-case basis, and did not receive much attention from national headquarters. This all changed in the mid 1990s, as the Civil Air Patrol and the Soaring Society of America (SSA) "discovered" each other. The CAP realized that the SSA includes a wealth of glider clubs and instructors, and the SSA realized that the CAP includes a population of aviation-minded youth that could benefit from instruction in gliders. Largely due to the efforts of Major John Sharp (CAP STAN/EVAL Chief) about half of our Wings now have glider programs in various stages of development.
Click images for more information about the Blanik
glider (courtesy Blanik America, Inc.) |
The Wright brothers' successful powered flight of 17 December, 1903 is remembered by almost everyone. But many people forget that Orville and Wilbur (and other aviation pioneers) experimented with gliders for many years before this most famous flight in history.
Since that time, great strides have been made in the design of gliders, which are now called "sailplanes" due to their ability to soar for extended periods of time. The highest-performance modern sailplanes now have glide ratios approaching 60:1! Even the medium-performance trainers used by CAP programs have glide ratios around 30:1. This is about three times greater than that of an engine-out Cessna 182.
| Cadet Orientation Flights |
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The Nevada Wing was able to manage
numerous Glider Orientation (GO) Flights for our Cadets
again this year.
The largest group of GO-Flights are held as part of the Nevada Training Encampment (NTE) during the Summer.
For more information please contact Maj
Robert Semans
for the Minden, Nevada location and
Maj Carl Kerns
for the Jean, Nevada location.
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