What's it take to learn to fly sailplanes?
We have the following documents available that provide an overview of the typical trainee's experience:
When's the best soaring at Lake Elsinore?
Lake Elsinore is known for having year-round soaring. Both sailpanes and hang gliders converge here to enjoy the world renowned Lake Elsinore Convergence (the 1954 US National Soaring Contest was held here for that very reason). We also have great ridge soaring along the Santa Ana Mountains (locally know as the Ortegas) durring Santa Ana conditions, thermals are plentiful and we even get wave conditions with on-shore winds.
However, the question was when is the best soaring at Lake Elsinore. Because of the previously mentioned conditions, it's hard to narrow it down, but we have some of our best flights (both highest and longest durration) in the autumn and spring months when the temperatures are cooler at night and warmer durring the day. The lift generally begins working about 1100 (PST) with the last gliders landing at sundown.
Check out the 1971 Soaring the Elsinore Valley article by R.A Brown for more detail.
Do I need a medical certificate to fly Gliders?
This is a question that comes up often in the Glider world.
A stated in 61.23 (b)(ii) of the Federal Aviation Regulations, a medical certificate is not required to act as Pilot In Command of a Glider.
However, before every flight, a Glider pilot must be able must certify that they "do not know, or have reason to know, of any medical condition that would make them unable to operate a glider in a safe manner."
There are many pilots who have obtained a Glider rating who were denied a medical certificate for reasons that may no longer be of concern because the condition is under control (Hypertension, Depression or even a Heart Attack are examples).
On the other hand, if the condition still persists, then they really couldn’t say that they "do not know, or have reason to know, of any medical condition that would make them unable to operate a glider in a safe manner" (Epilepsy for example).
So the question really is, why were you denied your last medical certificate and can you self-certify to the statement above?
LESC Soaring