Glider flying is a great way to get into aviation at a young age, hone your powered flight skills or simply a way to enjoy the thrill of soaring through the skies. Answer these ten questions and test your sailplane knowledge.
1. While a glider is in soaring flight, the lift vector has double duty to act as lift and:
Correct!Wrong!
2. In order to operate as pilot in command of a glider, you must hold what category of medical certificate?
Correct!Wrong!
3. Instead of flying a traditional rectangular pattern suggested in the AIM, glider pilots are encouraged to use the:
Correct!Wrong!
4. Over banking tendencies in gliders are primarily the responsibility of:
Correct!Wrong!
5. How old must you be in order to be eligible to obtain a Private glider certificate?
Correct!Wrong!
6. The most prominent indicator of vertical speed found in gliders is the:
Correct!Wrong!
7. When the tow plane rocks its wings, it indicates to the glider pilot to:
Correct!Wrong!
8. Lift created by wind that is forced up the side of a hill or mountain is called:
Correct!Wrong!
9. Multiple gliders working inside the same thermal should always turn:
Correct!Wrong!
10. The speed to use while maximizing a thermal's lift potential is:
Parachutes are usually used to go down, but as Paul Guschlbauer shows in this incredible video, they can also be used to go up. After flying his Super Cub to Sun Valley, Idaho, he goes flying in his paraglider for an epic trip over the mountains – and has the GPS logs to prove it!
Take a deep dive into Sporty’s 2019 courses and see a demonstration of all of the helpful new features including a major update to the written test prep module and introduction of Sporty’s new Pilot Training Android app. You’ll also hear helpful tips on getting started in flight training and strategies to get the most from your aviation learning experience.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/05163512/2019-Course-Formats-1.png10801920studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-01-29 10:00:222021-06-08 19:23:10Sporty’s webinar: Behind the Scenes with Sporty’s 2019 Learn to Fly Course
Welcome to the third episode in our new video series, Ask A Sporty’s CFI, where we talk to the 25 flight instructors we have on staff at Sporty’s Academy to get their tips for safer and smoother flying. In this installment, hear from Chief Instructor Eric Radtke, who shares his thoughts on distracted flying and the importance of a thoughtful plan for taxi, takeoff and departure.
https://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/05180054/Introduction-to-Instrument-Flying-2.png9681721studentpltnewshttps://media.flighttrainingcentral.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/17092615/FTC_Redesign_2025_WhiteRed_WEB.pngstudentpltnews2019-01-28 10:00:272021-06-08 19:23:10Ask a CFI: dangers of distracted flying (video)
The moment: Father/son flight and pilot anniversaries
The pilot: Jorge Vielledent (left) and Jorge E. Vielledent
The place: vicinity of El Paso International (KELP), El Paso, TX
The aircraft: Columbia 350
The memory: When I was little, my dad (left seat) would take me to the War Eagles Air Museum at the Santa Teresa Airport (KDNA) where I would marvel at the aircraft and we both would dream of one day being able to fly. We would look out the museum window to see the Cessnas from the local flight school doing Touch ‘n Gos and wonder when that would be us.
After many years of looking up at airplanes, when I left for college, he started flight training without me! And I started a few years later. We both have our PPL, and he has his Instrument rating (I’m working on my IFR) and we’re both airplane owners. This photo marks my dad’s 6-year solo anniversary, 5-year Private anniversary, and 2-year IFR anniversary.
Here’s to many more years of flying together; may we have blue skies and tailwinds.
Want to share your “Friday Photo” of your solo or checkride moment? Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]
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In this series, we ask the pilots at Sporty’s what gear they carry when they go flying. While every pilot’s flight bag is unique, some common principles apply to everyone: carry enough to be prepared but not too much so that you’re weighed down with unnecessary junk. This episode features Doug Ranly, a private pilot and Sporty’s Catalog Manager.
Quiz: Glider Flying Techniques
/in Quiz/by Chris ClarkeGlider flying is a great way to get into aviation at a young age, hone your powered flight skills or simply a way to enjoy the thrill of soaring through the skies. Answer these ten questions and test your sailplane knowledge.
Share the quiz to show your results !
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Want to learn more about flying gliders? Check out Sporty’s “So You Want To Fly Gliders” course.
Video: Paragliding at 18,000 feet
/in Fun Flying Videos/by studentpltnewsParachutes are usually used to go down, but as Paul Guschlbauer shows in this incredible video, they can also be used to go up. After flying his Super Cub to Sun Valley, Idaho, he goes flying in his paraglider for an epic trip over the mountains – and has the GPS logs to prove it!
Video from Paul Guschlbauer.
Sporty’s webinar: Behind the Scenes with Sporty’s 2019 Learn to Fly Course
/in Webinars/by studentpltnewsTake a deep dive into Sporty’s 2019 courses and see a demonstration of all of the helpful new features including a major update to the written test prep module and introduction of Sporty’s new Pilot Training Android app. You’ll also hear helpful tips on getting started in flight training and strategies to get the most from your aviation learning experience.
FMI: Sportys.com/courses
Pilot Training app for iPhone/iPad
Pilot Training app for Android
Pilot Training app for Roku
Learn more about Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course here
Ask a CFI: dangers of distracted flying (video)
/in Tips and technique/by studentpltnewsWelcome to the third episode in our new video series, Ask A Sporty’s CFI, where we talk to the 25 flight instructors we have on staff at Sporty’s Academy to get their tips for safer and smoother flying. In this installment, hear from Chief Instructor Eric Radtke, who shares his thoughts on distracted flying and the importance of a thoughtful plan for taxi, takeoff and departure.
Start learning with Sporty’s Learn to Fly Course.
Train with us at our flight school.
Friday photo: father/son flight and pilot anniveraries
/in Friday Photo/by studentpltnewsThe moment: Father/son flight and pilot anniversaries
The pilot: Jorge Vielledent (left) and Jorge E. Vielledent
The place: vicinity of El Paso International (KELP), El Paso, TX
The aircraft: Columbia 350
The memory: When I was little, my dad (left seat) would take me to the War Eagles Air Museum at the Santa Teresa Airport (KDNA) where I would marvel at the aircraft and we both would dream of one day being able to fly. We would look out the museum window to see the Cessnas from the local flight school doing Touch ‘n Gos and wonder when that would be us.
After many years of looking up at airplanes, when I left for college, he started flight training without me! And I started a few years later. We both have our PPL, and he has his Instrument rating (I’m working on my IFR) and we’re both airplane owners. This photo marks my dad’s 6-year solo anniversary, 5-year Private anniversary, and 2-year IFR anniversary.
Here’s to many more years of flying together; may we have blue skies and tailwinds.
Want to share your “Friday Photo” of your solo or checkride moment? Send your photo and description (using the format above) to: [email protected]
What’s in your flight bag, episode 3
/in Pilot Gear/by Doug RanlyIn this series, we ask the pilots at Sporty’s what gear they carry when they go flying. While every pilot’s flight bag is unique, some common principles apply to everyone: carry enough to be prepared but not too much so that you’re weighed down with unnecessary junk. This episode features Doug Ranly, a private pilot and Sporty’s Catalog Manager.
Shop the gear in this video