Q. JUST WHO IS SHENANDOAH VALLEY SOARING, INC.?
We call ourselves SVS for short and we are a club, not a commercial endeavor. Our purpose is the promotion of flying in its purest form; the art of Soaring, first to our members and then to the interested public who are considering membership. Since we do this on a strictly volunteer basis, we can't guarantee an ride happening exactly at predetermined times. We fly on weekends, year round... weather cooperating.
Q. ARE THERE PHYSICAL LIMITATIONS?
You need to be generally less than 230 lbs. and shorter than 6 ft. 5 inches. You will typically need to step up and over the side of the glider to enter the cockpit, but if you have mobility limitations please check with us. We now have capabilities to assist people with physical handicaps and may be able to accommodate you. Normally you will be seated in front of your pilot, to give you the best view.
You need to be generally less than 230 lbs. and shorter than 6 ft. 5 inches. You will typically need to step up and over the side of the glider to enter the cockpit, but if you have mobility limitations please check with us. We now have capabilities to assist people with physical handicaps and may be able to accommodate you. Normally you will be seated in front of your pilot, to give you the best view.
Q. HOW DOES THE GLIDER GET INTO THE AIR?
There are many methods of becoming airborne in a glider. At Shenandoah Valley Soaring we use a power plane for our tows. A 200 ft. Dacron rope is attached by special hitches between the power plane (tug) and the glider. The plane we use is a Piper Pawnee. It's strong and reliable. When your pilot reaches a predetermined location (that he and the tow plane pilot have agreed upon), he will pull a yellow handle which releases the glider from the tow rope.
Q. HOW LONG WILL MY FLIGHT LAST?
A typical introductory flight involves towing to 4,000 ft. above ground level. How long you stay up is dependent upon weather conditions at the time. Most typically it is 30-35 minutes in duration but if conditions are weak it could be 20-25. What you see is also weather dependent. On a clear day you can see 50 miles or more. No matter what the weather, the picturesque Rockfish Valley, Shenandoah Valley, Wintergreen mountain, the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, when viewed from 4,000 feet, present a never-ending scenic vista to be enjoyed in the quiet serenity of quiet, motor-less flight.
Q. HOW SHOULD I DRESS?
Dress in seasonally appropriate layers. It can be hot or cold depending upon the day. For example On the ground it can be cold and windy winter day, but if the sun is brightly shining it can then be snuggly warm inside the plane. Close the big Plexiglas canopy and a miniature greenhouse effect is created. Year-round, we suggest wearing a hat (and sunglasses) to guard against sun exposure and glare, preferably not too big and floppy as you most likely will be seated in the front seat and your pilot must be able to see around you. On summer days it can be very warm inside the plane until it is airborne and you have air circulation, so lightweight and light colored clothing is recommended.
Dress in seasonally appropriate layers. It can be hot or cold depending upon the day. For example On the ground it can be cold and windy winter day, but if the sun is brightly shining it can then be snuggly warm inside the plane. Close the big Plexiglas canopy and a miniature greenhouse effect is created. Year-round, we suggest wearing a hat (and sunglasses) to guard against sun exposure and glare, preferably not too big and floppy as you most likely will be seated in the front seat and your pilot must be able to see around you. On summer days it can be very warm inside the plane until it is airborne and you have air circulation, so lightweight and light colored clothing is recommended.
Q. WHAT ARE GOOD SOARING CONDITIONS? DO YOU NEED A LOT OF WIND?
_Wind is not the key ingredient in what you will be doing (Thermal Soaring) -- less is best -- what a glider pilot needs is rising air. If he or she finds rising air, then they do what they can to stay in it. On most days, air rises as a result of the sun heating the ground, and therefore the air at ground level. The heated air rises, until it is in air with the same density. So we need sunny days, with unstable air. Usually the heated air rises high enough for the moisture to condense and form a cloud, the puffy white "cotton ball" cloud (cumulus cloud) of good-weather summer days. Cumulus clouds like the ones shown here promise lots of "lift" and may result in longer glider flights.