By Cathy Miller

Soaring is one of the ultimate outdoor adventures!

This year, co-owners Brenda and Kevin Martin are celebrating the fifth anniversary of Jersey Ridge Soaring, based out of Blairstown Airport. They took over the former Yards Creek Soaring in 2015 and continue to support and grow the community of soaring pilots.

Jersey Ridge Soaring offers glider rides, instruction for private, commercial and instructor certifications, towing, pilot supplies, and gift certificates. They run commercial power plane and glider operations for rides, instruction, and aero-tows for privately owned and Aero Club Albatross members. Weather permitting, tows are available seven days a week, with gliders flying from the grass runway.

FAA-certified pilots escort guests on breathtaking glider rides over the Delaware Water Gap, Appalachian Trail, Kittatinny Mountains and the scenic Blairstown area. Single passengers experience soaring in a training or high performance glider, while dual passengers ride in the larger Schweizer SGU 2-32, a 1946 design affectionately known as the “Green Hornet.”

How does a non-powered aircraft soar to altitudes of 2,000 feet? An aero-tow. A tow-rope (around 200 feet long) extending from the back of a small, powered plane is attached to the front of the glider. The tow plane pulls the glider along the runway, both gradually lifting off the ground. Once the tow plane reaches the assigned height and location, the glider pilot releases the tow-rope. The plane returns to the airport and the glider soars smoothly, silently in an enjoyably serene flight.

Jersey Ridge Soaring is prepared to teach you all the way to your license. They offer instruction for private glider, commercial glider, and glider instructor certificates. Transition training for power pilots with a current flight review is also available.

The Aero Club Albatross, a flying club for glider pilots, offers memberships to students after they complete their initial flight training. They promote and enjoy the art of soaring, motorless flight, flying year-round from Blairstown Airport. They say on clear visibility days and with enough altitude, flyers can see the Catskill Mountains, the Hudson River, and the New York City skyline. Aero Club Albatross is the oldest, continuously active gliding club in the United States.

Erik Mann, from Maplewood, owner of a Grob G103 Twin Glider, and Rick Healy, from Allentown, were onsite performing an ultra-detailed preflight inspection prior to the glider’s first flight since having its wings dismantled, repainted, and reassembled. Both men are instructors and members of Aero Club Albatross.

Soaking in all the beauty and sleek lines of the Grob G103, there rested an odd piece of yarn taped to the canopy (windshield). That yarn/tape combo has an official name – Yaw String – and it’s an integral instrument for airborne navigation. Yaw strings are often made from knitting yarn, about three to six inches long, taped to the bottom center of the windshield using clear tape. In flight, the top of the string is blown by airflow – if the yaw string is straight up and down, the glider is flying in balance, if the string is off center, the glider is flying sideways through the air. Checking the string is part of the preflight inspection, dew or ice will make it stick to the windshield, rendering it inoperative.

Joining Jersey Ridge Soaring at Blairstown Airport are three additional business entities: Donna’s Runway Cafe, a restaurant with a view of the outgoing and incoming flights; Orlandi Flight Center, offering flight and ground training, aircraft rental and air tours; and Northeast Wings, for aircraft maintenance.

Jersey Ridge Soaring operates year round, weather permitting. Call for reservations. Costs vary. Spectating is free!

Jersey Ridge Soaring, LLC
Blairstown Airport (1N7), 36 Lambert Road, Blairstown, NJ 07825
(908) 362-1239
www.jerseyridgesoaring.com

Jersey Ridge Soaring works with Freedom’s Wings International – Soaring For People With Disabilities. FWI provides the opportunity for those who are physically challenged to fly in specially adapted sailplanes, either as a passenger or as a member of the flight training program. For more information go to www.freedomswings.org/