Gliders don't have engines. Are they safe?
Yes! Gliders are actually safer than airplanes. Think about it like this: what could possibly go wrong in a glider? You have no engine that could fail and you can't run out of fuel. The pilots who will be flying you during your ride are very experienced and have their commercial rating. So don’t worry! Taking a glider ride at Wurtsboro Airport is as safe (and probably a good deal safer) as driving to the airport.
How does a glider get into the air?
We use historic L-19 "Bird Dog" aircraft to tow our gliders up to an average height of 2500′ (about half a mile) above the ground. The airplanes are connected to the gliders with a tow rope that is made of nylon and rated for twice the weight of the glider. These ropes are inspected every morning before they are used and before every tow.
What time of day is best for taking a glider ride?
I really liked it. What does it take to learn to fly a glider?
Time. Money. Dedication. Flying Gliders is not extremely difficult, and can be learned by anyone from age 14-99 (special exceptions for older patrons are available upon request). The most important thing to remember if you are interested in learning to fly gliders is that if you fly infrequently, you will not progress quickly. Flying once a month may sound adequate, but if you only drove a car once a month, how fast would you improve? We recommend flying once a week, and no less then twice a month if you hope to get your glider rating in less than two years. Most people take about 30 sessions at two flights per session to get their rating. This number does vary depending on the person and how fast they learn – it takes less time for some and more for others, but it is a good average.