How long can the sailplane stay up?
The limiting factor is your bladder! By using the weather, sailplanes have flown over 1,500 miles and climbed to almost 50,000 feet. This glider ride is approximately 35-40 minutes long and will take you up a mile high. How do the gliders get into the air? The sailplane is towed into the air by a powered aircraft behind a 200-foot rope. When the pilot of the glider reaches the altitude he/she wants, they release the tow rope. The tow rope returns behind the tow plane. Usually the glider releases in lift and works up higher. If there is no lift, the glider glides back to the airport. What are the ages to fly? For the rides, there is no minimum age. However if a child is too young, he or she probably won’t appreciate it. We find that a 4 or 5 year old can appreciate it, but not much younger. To fly solo, one must be at least 14 years old. The oldest person to fly solo was 82! That gives you a good range to work with. Should I tip the pilot and/or crew? Money is not the reason our pilots
