Glider Club Temporarily Housed at Watonga

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  • One of the OSA club-owned gliders as it is being moved to its temporary home at the Watonga Airport. While the tarmac at the Hinton Airport is undergoing a facelift, the club is operating out of Watonga, where residents can go out, watch the gliders take off and land, and perhaps sign up for an introductory flight. Lane Edsall Watonga Republican
    One of the OSA club-owned gliders as it is being moved to its temporary home at the Watonga Airport. While the tarmac at the Hinton Airport is undergoing a facelift, the club is operating out of Watonga, where residents can go out, watch the gliders take off and land, and perhaps sign up for an introductory flight. Lane Edsall Watonga Republican
  • Glider Club Temporarily Housed at Watonga
    Glider Club Temporarily Housed at Watonga
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The Oklahoma Soaring Association was formed in the 1960s, but in early 2000 moved its operation to Hinton. There, the Hinton Gliders Club, owned by members, has three club gliders and a tow plane. There are many privately owned gliders as well.

Hinton has been a good fit for the club because, according to its website, there are excellent thermal and ridge soaring opportunities and the gliders often head up to 12,000 feet or more and may travel 300 miles in a single flight.

But plans to reseal the runways at Hinton put a monkey wrench in the fun. The work will take at least a month of prime soaring weather. So the club relocated temporarily to the Watonga Airport.

Airport manager Jenna Ohman was able to make some space to house the three gliders and tow plane.

The club plans to soar mostly on Saturdays but may also take to the air on days with optimal soaring conditions. Usually, it offers introductory rides to the public but the number of flights has been reduced because of the pandemic. There are three certified glide instructors and multiple tow pilots.

“I am not that familiar with gliders,” Ohman said. “But if people are interested, they should stop by on Saturdays and check this out.”

An introductory ride tows the glider to 3,000 feet and drops the line from the tow plane, then soars for about 30 minutes silently while using no fuel. A trained glider pilot can solo at 14.

The Federal Aviation Administration licenses glider pilots and requirements are covered by FAA regulations. Anyone with a regular pilot’s license can add a glider rating. New pilots can learn to glide economically using OSA club gliders and once they obtain their license can rent the club gliders inexpensively.

Watonga resident Lane Edsall is involved with the club as is his 15-year-old daughter Callie.

“The tow and glide operation is a very organized and efficient process,” he said. “It really is a club environment where many of the members come out to help the student pilots, only flying themselves on the occasions when the conditions are excellent.”

Callie Edsall has been flying in gliders slightly more than a year. She has taken the written test and hopes to take her first solo while the club is at Watonga. Down the road, Callie’s ambitions include becoming a professional pilot.

Connie Burcham can be reached at Editor@WatongaRepublican.com