Experience Soaring with Merlin Soaring Association
Merlin Soaring Association is a group of local soaring enthusiasts. As a group, we are interested in sharing the sport of soaring with you. We
offer two flight options to educate people about gliders and soaring flight, to enhance public knowledge of the sport of soaring, and to encourage folks to take up the sport. Our Experience Flight is available for purchase here on the site, or at the field for $99. This flight introduces you to one of Merlin's instructor or commercial rated pilots who will take you three thousand feet above the aerodrome at which point the pilot will release the glider from the tow plane; the tow plane will turn left as the glider turns right. Once clear of the tow plane, you will spend about twenty minutes circling lazily around Merlin, Scott's Fork, and the surrounding area. From your vantage point above the land, you will see farms, cows, and the occasional equestrian training lesson. Birds are a frequent marker of the thermals that gliders rely on to stay aloft - on your flight you may find yourself circling gracefully with hawks and eagles - and the occasional buzzard. Your pilot will bring the glider back to Merlin with plenty of altitude to safely return you to land on Merlin's beautiful 3,200' grass runway. Passengers on Experience Flights are unable to take flight controls at any time during the flight.
The FAST program gives you the opportunity to get a taste of what soaring is all about. It is a program that offers you an introductory lesson in flying a glider, during which you will handle the controls of the aircraft under the guidance of an FAA certificated glider flight instructor. The FAST package includes:
Merlin Soaring Association welcomes visitors as well. Visiting with us is a good way to see our operations, meet the pilots and members, and ensure that a flight is something you want to do.
Soaring at Merlin is more than an educational experience - you join a dedicated community of enthusiasts of all ages, and all levels of experience, eager to share their love of soaring.
offer two flight options to educate people about gliders and soaring flight, to enhance public knowledge of the sport of soaring, and to encourage folks to take up the sport. Our Experience Flight is available for purchase here on the site, or at the field for $99. This flight introduces you to one of Merlin's instructor or commercial rated pilots who will take you three thousand feet above the aerodrome at which point the pilot will release the glider from the tow plane; the tow plane will turn left as the glider turns right. Once clear of the tow plane, you will spend about twenty minutes circling lazily around Merlin, Scott's Fork, and the surrounding area. From your vantage point above the land, you will see farms, cows, and the occasional equestrian training lesson. Birds are a frequent marker of the thermals that gliders rely on to stay aloft - on your flight you may find yourself circling gracefully with hawks and eagles - and the occasional buzzard. Your pilot will bring the glider back to Merlin with plenty of altitude to safely return you to land on Merlin's beautiful 3,200' grass runway. Passengers on Experience Flights are unable to take flight controls at any time during the flight.
The FAST program gives you the opportunity to get a taste of what soaring is all about. It is a program that offers you an introductory lesson in flying a glider, during which you will handle the controls of the aircraft under the guidance of an FAA certificated glider flight instructor. The FAST package includes:
- An introductory lesson consisting of a minimum of 30 minutes of ground instruction and approximately 30 minutes of flight time.
- A copy of "Everybody’s 1st Gliding Book".
- A glider pilot logbook.
- An introductory 3 month membership in the Soaring Society of America, including one copy of the monthly magazine Soaring.
Merlin Soaring Association welcomes visitors as well. Visiting with us is a good way to see our operations, meet the pilots and members, and ensure that a flight is something you want to do.
Soaring at Merlin is more than an educational experience - you join a dedicated community of enthusiasts of all ages, and all levels of experience, eager to share their love of soaring.
Flight Certificate Options
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Fly A Sailplane Today (FAST)! The FAST program, is sponsored by the Soaring Society of America. This flight experience includes approximately 30 minutes of ground instruction and a 20 minute flight from 3,000' where the passenger will have control of the glider for portions of the flight.
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Certificate Restrictions
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