SSA Member
Resource Book
Table of Contents
Silently slipping through skies of blue...for some it is a peaceful pastime offering the tranquillity and solitude so sadly missing in a hustle-bustle world...for others it is the perfect venue for personal challenge...flying higher...farther...faster...all on simple atmospheric power.
Even before the day the Wright Brothers made their famous flight on that sandy beach in Kitty Hawk, North Carolina, man was stretching his wings to gain, regain and revel in the freedom of the skies. Over the years, aviation has developed into one of the most phenomenal forms of travel, from the General Aviation pilot out for a jaunt over the countryside, to the space shuttle, silently gliding around the Earth for days at a time.
The achievements of the Wright Brothers certainly changed the world. But their original dream of flight is still with us today: motorless flight - the kind of flight relying only on the kindness of Nature and one's judgment and skill.
-
- "These slow glides in rising currents probably hold out greater hope
of extensive practice than any other method within man's reach... ...when
gliding operators have attained greater skill, they can, with comparative
safety, maintain themselves in the air for hours at a time in this way, and thus
by constant practice so increase their knowledge and skill that they can rise
into the higher air and search out the currents which enable the soaring birds
to transport themselves to any desired point by first rising in a circle and
then sailing off at a descending angle."
Wilbur Wright, Sept 18, 1901
- "These slow glides in rising currents probably hold out greater hope
of extensive practice than any other method within man's reach... ...when
gliding operators have attained greater skill, they can, with comparative
safety, maintain themselves in the air for hours at a time in this way, and thus
by constant practice so increase their knowledge and skill that they can rise
into the higher air and search out the currents which enable the soaring birds
to transport themselves to any desired point by first rising in a circle and
then sailing off at a descending angle."
From that first meeting until now, our numbers have grown in excess of 16,000. For over 65 years, our members have written and rewritten the record book of achievement. But behind all the dreams and all the records, are countless hours of devotion to flight training and safety, technological research and development, services to members, sponsorship and monitoring of competition, and representation to our Federal agencies to preserve glider access to airspace...much of it done on a volunteer basis!
Sailplane flying is nearing a new golden age. With our soaring friends in hang-gliders and paragliders, we enjoy an ecological air sport that offers simple and accessible flying to people of all ages - especially our youth. By joining the SSA, you have joined the ranks of men and women, young and old, who want to stretch their wings across the sky, challenge themselves before nature, and embrace the rising columns of air in hopes of going higher and farther. You have also joined a group totally dedicated to keeping you in the air -- your Directors, SSA Governors and staff members.
We look to our past with great pride, and to our future with much optimism!
