Seminole Flying and Soaring Inc. are proud to announce the 23rd edition of the Senior Soaring Championship.  The competition is being held at the Seminole-Lake Gliderport in Clermont, Florida from March 9th to March 16th. 

Bringing together the top 60 glider pilots throughout the United States and Canada, this competition is the largest and most competitive of its kind in North America.  To be considered for this contest you must be over 55 years old and have achieved a high ranking in competitive sailplane racing over the last three years.  These pilots are the most experienced and successful in the sport.  Last year we had 29 former National Champions and one World Champion.  Our course traverses the state of Florida and distances flown from 150 – 200 miles, without the benefit of any form of mechanical propulsion.  These sailplanes are not only beautiful in flight, but they represent the latest in aeronautical engineering and technology.  During the race, an onboard flight data recorder tracks the position of the sailplane and allows for each racer to receive a score based on speed and distance flown. 

The competition is free to the public to observe the launch and recovery of the 60 sailplanes.  You are encouraged to bring the family and talk with the pilots after landing and see these magnificent flying machines.  Take-off is usually at 12:00 PM with the recovery starting approximately 4:00 PM.  In the clubhouse we will have a satellite uplink to show where the various aircraft are during the flight.

Seminole-Lake Gliderport has been in business for over 20 years, offering high quality glider training for both initial students and experienced pilots.  Training in sailplanes is considered one of the best ways to learn how to fly.  The United States Air Force Academy is using sailplanes today as a method to choose their best pilots.  Please stop by and meet some of these pilots and take the time to enjoy a scenic glider ride over Central Florida.

For more information regarding this topic or to schedule an interview, please contact Richard Owen, Senior Soaring Championship Contest Manager at 407-325-6500 or email at stillflyn@aol.com.