Sailplane seminars offered at NWAC 2025
NWAC and Puget Sound Soaring will offer sailplane workshops both SAT and SUN at the 2025 Conference. These events are free to attend with $10 event admission.; The workshops require no preregistration.
1:00 PM, SAT, North Foyer
11:30 PM, SUN, North Foyer
Exploring the Fascinating World of Gliding,
Brad Pattison, CFI-G/ATP & Marlene Nelson, ATP & Glider Pilot. (50 minutes)
This presentation will provide an in-depth overview on entry to gliding and why you can become a better pilot by learning to fly gliders. We will highlight key topics including FAA requirements, various glider operations, local clubs and why soaring is such a blast! The sport of gliding combines the art of flying with an understanding of meteorology, making it both a scientific and adventurous pursuit.
2:30 PM, SAT, North Foyer
1:00 PM, SUN, North Foyer
How YOU can fly hundreds of miles - with no engine!
Noel Wade, Seattle Glider Council (50 minutes)
Photo credit: Tim Heneghan
Glider pilots regularly stay aloft for several hours and cover hundreds of miles – all without an engine! Come see how regular everyday pilots achieve these exhilarating feats. This presentation will show you how we use the atmosphere to soar, why we do it, and how fun & rewarding it is to fly gliders cross-country! Noel Wade is a highly experienced glider pilot and teacher who’s set over a dozen aviation records, competed at the National & International level, and enjoys mentoring other pilots.
3:30 PM, SAT, North Foyer
2:30 PM, SUN, North Foyer
Soaring: an optimal and economical gateway to recreational and professional aviation
Brian Hart, Hood River Soaring (50 minutes)
Brian Hart, CFI-G and youth director at Hood River Soaring, along with a number of his young students, will share their experience and passion for soaring as a fun and economical gateway to powered recreational aviation as well as the most effective training for a future career in aviation. You will see how young pilots can solo in gliders as early as age 14, and how including a soaring education is a head start in aviation through developing superior knowledge, maturity, and stick-and-rudder skills. It also will save you thousands of dollars on the way to a commercial power license!