Flight Instruction

Soar Truckee provides certified flight instruction, tow-planes, and a complete soaring educational curriculum. We use flight training manuals from GliderBooks.com. An introductory lesson will allow you a real, "hands-on" flying experience, and will give you the opportunity to ask your instructor any questions you may have about the sport.

Flight Instructors

Mike Johnson

Steve Ascher

Doug Lent

You can fly by yourself, "solo", as young as 14 years of age, but you can begin training as young as 12. No physical exam is required, but you must have no medical problems that would prevent safe glider operation. Typically, 30 to 50 glider flights, and some ground instruction are required to solo. We find if lessons are less frequent than once a week, the number of lessons required tends to increase, but many people solo in one to two months.

To fly a glider by yourself, without instructor supervision, and to carry passengers, requires a license from the FAA. You must be at least 16 years old, pass a comprehensive written examination, and take an oral and flight test with an FAA examiner.

Ride and Tow Pilots

Don Brown

Steve Ford

If you have a power aircraft license, you can be recommended for your glider certificate after as few as 10 flights, without a second written test. It's worth noting that obtaining a glider license is an acceptable substitute for your biennial flight review, and most pilots feel glider experience improves their power flying.