From: dinsdale@berlioz.nsc.com (Steve McRobert)
Subject: Re: Where in the Bay Area is there an Aerodome?
Organization: National Semiconductor Corporation
Date: Mon, 12 Oct 1992 20:52:33 GMT

In article <ld1a8cINNhdv@jethro.Corp.Sun.COM> dhoward@doffice.Corp.Sun.COM writes:
>In article p00031@psilink.com, p00031@psilink.com (Steven Klos) writes:
>	> Anyone out there do any soaring the in the general Bay Area (left 
>	> coast)?  Last time I lived here (about 2 years ago), there used to be a 
>	> glider port near Vacaville (now a horse ranch or some such thing) and 
>	> one in Fremont (haven't seen any gliders during the last part of the 
>	> summer)...
>	> 
>	> Any suggestions as to where a guy might go for a fix?  It's been awhile 
>	> since I've been up in any plane that wasn't powered by some noisy jets 
>	> and piloted by someone with a whole bunch more hours then I have at the 
>	> moment.  I need to get some stick time!
>	> 
>	> Thanks,
>	> 
>	> SK
>	
>
>Lagoon Valley Soaring (in Vacaville) has moved to a new location in 
>Vacaville.  Their phone # is the same...707/447-4500.  Sky Soaring
>(Fremont) is out of business and moving to Hollister.
>
>
>-Dave

LEARNING TO FLY GLIDERS IN THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA

There have been one or two people who have enquired over the net about 
learning to fly gliders near the SF bay.

This is as up-to date as I can make it, and is, unsurprisingly, slanted towards 
the club I belong to.

Ames Soaring club based at Byron is now the closest to most bay area cities.

Byron is in the central valley about 15nm NE of livermore, and is just fine for 
flying into for most airplanes (look in the A/FD)

In the summer two or three of the gliders are taken up to Truckee/tahoe airport 
where the soaring conditions are outstanding.

The Ames club owns 5 sailplanes and welcomes everyone from gliding experts 
with all 3 diamonds to complete beginners.

The sailplanes are:-

2 Blaniks (28:1 aluminium two seat trainer)
1 Grob 103 (36:1 fibreglass two seat sailplane)
1 Schwiezer 1-26 (22:1 aluminium single seat sailplane)
1 Pilatus B-4 (35:1 aluminium single seat fully aerobatic sailplane)

Rates for the gliders are very low, $ 5 per hour for the grob (the most 
expensive), or if no-one else is waiting to fly you can stay up as long as you 
like for your $5!

Tows are provided by a scout towplane owned by the Northern California 
soaring association (NCSA) and are very cheap compared to commercial 
operations, typically less than $15 for a 3000 foot tow.

Ames is a club, so to fly with us joining and membership fees are payable.
We are however offering a 1 month trial membership for $100 which will 
allow people to make dual flights with one of our four instructors and decide 
how they like it before deciding whether to formally join.

If you want to find out more, either stop by at Byron any weekend, call (510) 
516 1745 and leave a message with your phone number so we can get back to 
you, or reply to this via email.

OTHER GLIDER SITES

Fremont is now permanently shut down.  Sky soaring are trying to open up at 
Hollister, but have not succeeded yet.

Bay area soaring associates (BASA), another club who used to operate out of 
fremont have at least two of their gliders at truckee at the moment.  As far as I 
know, they only accept members who are already rated pilots.

Silverado soaring club also have at least one ship based at truckee at the 
moment.

I believe that lagoon valley soaring are back in business at the old vaca-
dixon airport, this is a commercial operation, no membership but higher rates.

Other commercial operations are based at Minden NV and at Truckee (soar 
truckee).
-- 
Steve Mc Robert (a.k.a. Dinsdale Piranha) PP ASEL, Glider, Tow Pilot
Organisation: National Semiconductor. Aircraft: DG300 GJ
Want to soar?  Call the Ames soaring club 510 516 1745 at Byron airport
Newsgroups: rec.aviation.soaring