Here's How Young Pilots Can Get Involved

By Tom Woodward

Before Orville and Wilber soloed a power aircraft they were already experienced glider pilots. Building on the research and experience of people like Otto Lillienthal they developed their skills gliding down the sand dune of Kitty Hawk, North Carolina in the early 1900s. Though Lillienthal came to grief in a gliding accident his legacy and accomplishments are memorialized with the Lillienthal Medal, the highest award in gliding.

As a newly interested youth, to help and encourage you to discover more about gliding and soaring, you are invited to join the SSA through the SSA Cadet Introductory Membership program. This is a form of SSA’s Introductory Membership designed to open those doors to help youth realize their aviation dreams.
 Sailplanes are very motivating aircraft: attractively streamlined, ultimately efficient, structurally advanced, silent, economical and ecological. They can be flown thousands of miles on atmospheric energy alone. A student pilot certificate good for solo flight can be obtained at the age of 14, two years before you can solo a power aircraft. For about $1000 and in 1-2 weeks of time one can be flying a glider solo. You can decrease your flying cost even more by joining the Cadets. Here’s what you get for doing so;

Free SSA Cadet Introductory Membership through age 17 includes;

• Full access to SSA digital media;
• Website access, including a personal blog
• E-mail newsletters
• SSA RSS feeds
• Online archive of Soaring magazine since 1937
• SSA Online Sailplane Directory
• SSA's Facebook page
• Participation in the SSA Badge program.
• Digital issues of Soaring magazine.

United States soaring operations are supported by about 200 clubs, chapters, and commercial operations that are dotted around the country. The Civil Air Patrol also has Cadet glider programs in several regions, which include support from SSA members. SSA membership may be a requirement for participation in some of these programs for insurance purposes. This Cadet Introductory membership qualifies.  To discover if there is a gliding organization near you, check the SSA’s Where To Fly information.

Women Soaring Pilots Association, WSPA, is an organization dedicated to promoting women pilots in all aspects of soaring, from basic flight training, to badge and record flights, to competition. Membership is open to anyone interested in seeing more women experience the joys of soaring flight.
Membership allows you to apply for Scholarships and since it’s formation, WSPA has awarded more than $64,000 in scholarships, grants and funds raised for competition.

FMI: www.ssa.org