If you’re fond of heights, a touch OC… this might be your cup of tea. Soaring. Can fly around for hours---no engine, no noise, no vibration. And unlike renting or maintaining powered craft, glider is peanuts. Training to solo certification is around $5k. Cost per tow to altitude is based on altitude chosen to release at. Is decided and advised to tow pilot prior to take off. Want to change location or release altitude… radio com with tow pilot during tow up. Nearest place in my case is Homestead, X51. Gliders use runways U9 / U27. Pivotal moment = getting yapping instructor out of cockpit... Solo. Peace finally arrives. And freedom. In Florida, I’d say most thermals are ground-convection based. Sometimes there are t-streets but not often from my experience. Is cloud hopping mostly. Also some convergence from ocean breezes.
Over Homestead. US 1 and Card Sound Rd to Key Largo is in the distance. Those are the only two roads to-from the Keys. Card Sound is the way less traveled. Joins up with US 1 in Key Largo. Alabama Jacks is dive bar on Card Sound Rd just before bridge crossing over to northern Key Largo. Alabama's is a black leather & Harley sort of bar. (Japbikers park down the road behind the scrub. Helmet stays with bike.) Across the bridge from Jack’s is Croc Lake. 905 runs from that point down to Garden Cove. Is WOT for miles.
Everglades. View to W NW.
Homestead General Aviation Airport. Everglades butts to airport. Predominant westerly winds = left handed patterns mostly---downwind towards Everglades, turn south base, east final to U9. Only rarely is right handed pattern done to U27. 1,000’ entry to downwind @ midfield. Check field & sock. Plenty of side space off U runway so no problem if another glider has not pulled off main. Base is turned @ 700.’ Final @ 500.’ Powered aircraft come and go from paved runways. Sky divers jump/land just south of paved airport. Can be busy airspace here. Air Force Base is directly east of here a few miles on the bay. Guy who owns glider operation is Steve. Commerical pilot. Great guy! Still kids me about when I first called him… I asked for “resume for all the instructors.” Joke on me being there was... one---take it or leave it. Turned out to be an excellent teacher. Will’s no longer there now. Got his commercial cert and moved on.
Am interested in soaring the Rockies. If you're in that geo-area and know of ports that rent, please say.
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