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Minnesota Soaring SUPER SITE

DECEMBER 17, 1903 BY ORIGINAL SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH THE WRIGHT BROTHERS DISCOVERED THE PRINCIPLES OF HUMAN FLIGHT AS INVENTORS, BUILDERS, AND FLYERS THEY FURTHER DEVELOPED THE AEROPLANE, TAUGHT MAN TO FLY, AND OPENED THE ERA OF AVIATION Hey … you have to start somewhere .. Clues

_{I assume you are interested in
Soaring, but have little knowledge of the sport and thus don't know where
to start.}

_{Soaring is not unlike GENERAL
AVIATION but rather than rely on a motor for propulsion we use the forces
in nature. Sailplanes are towed to 2000-3000 feet above the airport and
then are released to soar on their own. The challenge is to find rising
air called THERMALS that are essentially warm air that rises at up to 1000
feet per minute from the ground. The pilot seeks out these thermals by
using clues on the ground (darker areas, industrial areas, slopes …) and
in the air (puffy clouds and other sailplanes). With practice, flights
of hours are possible, and for those who get bored flying exclusively in
the local area, cross-country(XC) flights are the lure. Locally flights
that last up to 10 hours have been accomplished as well as XC flights from
here to past Chicago …. All by using thermals and skill.}

_{Soaring is generally done within
clubs because it is difficult to do alone. You need a Tow Pilot, and one
or more helpers to prepare the sailplane and assist in it's take-off and
landing. Clubs also allow the sharing of the unique experience of soaring,
and of your endless stories of long XC journeys, thermaling-out form 300
feet, and doing aerobatics.}

_{To keep people progressing in
the sport a set of badges were established to give sailplane pilots lofty
goals to shoot for. As you obtain certified flights per the achievement
program, you climb the ladder in a hope to be one of the few in history
to complete the badge program.}

_{Here is a table of the pin/badge
program specifics:}

_GOAL _Dur _Distance _{Gain Ht.}

_{A pin} _{Prof Student/First
Solo}

_{B pin} _{Solo for 30 min from
2000'AGL}

_{C pin} _{2 hrs of solo time
+ a 60 min flight}

_Bronze _{Soar two flights
of two hours and pass written and flight tests oriented toward cross-country
soaring.}

_SILVER _{5 hr} _{50 km/31.1m} _{1 km/3281 ft}

_GOLD _(*) _{5 hr} _{300 km/186 m} _{3 km/9842 ft}

_Diamonds _{500 km/311 m +} _{5 km/16,404 ft}

_{300 km/186 m goal}

_{1000 km} _{Special FAI Diploma} _{1000 km 621.4 m}

_(*) _{Silver Dur counts
for Gold Duration}

TAKE A RIDE RIGHT NOW ...IT's FUN ! HOME

_GOAL		_Dur	_Distance	_{Gain Ht.}
*_{A pin}*	_{Prof Student/First Solo}
*_{B pin}*	_{Solo for 30 min from 2000'AGL}
*_{C pin}*	_{2 hrs of solo time + a 60 min flight}
*_Bronze*	_{Soar two flights of two hours and pass written and flight tests oriented toward cross-country soaring.}
*_SILVER*		_{5 hr}	_{50 km/31.1m}	_{1 km/3281 ft}
*_GOLD*	_(*)	_{5 hr}	_{300 km/186 m}	_{3 km/9842 ft}
*_Diamonds*			_{500 km/311 m +}	_{5 km/16,404 ft}
			_{300 km/186 m goal}

*_{1000 km}*	_{Special FAI Diploma}		_{1000 km 621.4 m}

_(*)	_{Silver Dur counts for Gold Duration}