A 13-Year-Old Glider Pilot’s Journey to 14,000 Feet

One of Owen’s favorite parts of being on “Full” Line Crew status is being able to drive the golf carts. Owen is an eighth-grader at Harwood Union Middle School.

I have always found fascination in the analog, the manual, the elegantly simple. Then, on a warm evening last July, that there was no possible course of action than to bid when a pair of mid-1980’s analog barographs were brought up to a FEFY action. The dedicated retrophile, aspiring engineer, and sailplane pilot in me decided without a sliver of doubt that these barographs would fly again.

Last summer, I took a five day trip to Charlotte, North Carolina and Atlanta, Georgia. This trip was the highlight of my year before I had even boarded the flight to Charlotte. The next day after arriving in Charlotte, we drove to a nearby museum called Carolinas Aviation Museum.

Riding a wave is always challenging and fun. I reached 10,000ft in an epic day of flying to what turned out to be an amazing season with even greater people. I set my goals and all of the Sugarbush Soaring staff helped me to achieve that goal. First to solo, then to fly the 1-26 and finally to fly to Camels Hump. It was a great season, and hopefully the coming season can be better!

My first flight at Sugarbush Soaring was certainly a memorable one. I had saved my funds for several years, and had finally amassed enough to take an introductory lesson. It was a beautiful day, and I was lucky enough to fly in the PW-6. It was a perfect flight, but …

Ethan shares his experience from a wonderful Youth Soaring Camp week at Sugarbush