It's not easy.

You could go to a "rating mill" that boasts about how you can "get your license in 9 days," or whatever. We aren't like that, and for good reason. Soaring is fairly basic in the perfect scenario, but can be exceptionally complex under difficult conditions. Instead of rushing you through training and only addressing "blue sky" flying, we give you a robust understanding and a complete skill set, so that you can be a safe and competent pilot in any situation.

That said, Sugarbush Soaring also pioneered the concept of multi-day soaring camps. We know we can make you a better pilot faster if you agree to set aside a block of time in which to learn. There is so much to learn about this great sport and every time you take a break from it, you take a step back in your learning.

In order to reinforce your practical learning and increase your knowledge retention, ground school is included in each course. Here you will learn the safety rules of soaring and the principles and ideas behind how soaring works. You'll be taught how a wing provides lift and how spoilers and flaps provide drag to increase your rate of descent. You will learn about weather and how it affects soaring conditions, the wind and how to use it to your best advantage. You will be shown the basics of navigation.

During each flight, the instructor will work with you on the concepts you've covered in ground school. After every flight, your instructor will debrief you to give you honest and constructive feedback on your performance.

If you have always wanted to learn to fly, this is the opportunity for you to sit down with an instructor and learn the basics, then take your first soaring lesson. You will be at the controls of a two-place sailplane together with an FAA certified instructor. You should expect to spend about an hour including fround and in-flight instruction.

Before you take off you will be shown how the controls function. You will then be towed to three thousand feet and permitted to take the controls and soar. You will receive your first set of notes and a signed page for your log book.

This is a beginner's three flight program designed to teach the basics of soaring aerodynamics, types of soaring, soaring weather, control functions, tows, take-off, turns, landing pattern and landing. All demonstrated with you at the controls and an FAA certified flight instructor in tandem. A note package and log sheet is included.

Have a Little More Time?

This plan includes sixteen lessons, ground school, tows, sailplane rental and instructor. This program gets you a student license, your pre-solo written test and all you need to prepare for solo flight. This is the ideal way for a beginner with little or no experience to get started. This program provides enough flight time and experience so that most beginning pilots will be flying the whole flight with only slight assistance from the instructor. The sixteen lesson package is available to both beginning and more advanced pilots.

At Sugarbush, you will learn how sailplanes are constructed, how the controls work, and how to do a safety (pre-flight) inspection before you fly. We will teach you to do a coordinated turn, how to fly straight and level, and how to control your speed. You will also learn how to soar in thermal, ridge and wave lift. As you perfect the basic maneuvers you will move on to take-offs, tows, landing patterns and finally a smooth, safe landing.

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