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United States Air Force Academy Soaring Program. Lt Col Lawrence E. Pravecek Commander, 94 th Flying Training Squadron. Our cadets have all their options open—their paths through life are yet to be determined. Our job is to create air power advocates and leaders for the next 40 years.
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United States Air Force AcademySoaring Program Lt Col Lawrence E. Pravecek Commander, 94th Flying Training Squadron
Our cadets have all their options open—their paths through life are yet to be determined
Our job is to create air power advocates and leaders for the next 40 years
The USAFA soaring program builds those advocates, using soaring to teach leadership
Staff Aircraft Runways Airspace Flying hours • 24 USAF pilots from almost every major weapons system • F-15C/E, A-10, F-16, C-17, C-5, B-1, KC-135, C-130, E-3 • 160+ cadet instructor pilots SSA Results Programs Equipment
Staff Aircraft Runways Airspace Flying hours • 12x Blanik L-23 (TG-10B ) 5x Blanik L-13AC (TG-10C ) SSA Results Programs Equipment • 2x Duo Discus (TG-15A ) • 3x Discus 2b (TG-15B )
Staff Aircraft Runways Airspace Flying hours • 16R/34L: 4500’x40’ • 16C/34C: 4500’x75’ • SPLA: 4500’x500’ • Airspace: SFC (6500’)-17,500’ SSA Results Programs Equipment
Staff Aircraft Runways Airspace Flying hours • 16,500 sorties per year • 14,955 TG-10B (L-23) • 992 TG-10C (L-13AC) • 355 TG-15A (Duo Discus) • 205 TG-15B (Discus 2b) • 40% weather attrition • 200+ sorties per summer day • 0.006% incident rate (~10/yr) SSA Results Programs Equipment
Equipment, staff & facilities Programs
Intro to Airmanship Basic Soaring IP Upgrade IP Acro XC • Entire incoming class at USAFA • One glider orientation ride • 1100+ rides each of last 2 years • Gets cadets talking about flying SSA Results Programs Equipment
Intro to Airmanship Basic Soaring IP Upgrade IP Acro XC • 562 Basic Soaring students • Participate summer after freshman and during sophomore year • 14 sorties, 20 minutes each • 20% solo rate (wx dependent) • ROTC cadets: 48 this summer • 2,500’-3,000’ tow, grass landing SSA Results Programs Equipment
Intro to Airmanship Basic Soaring IP Upgrade IP Acro XC • 80 selected—40 each semester • Upgrade as sophomores • 80 sorties—72 dual, 8 solo • Front seat, back seat, IP SSA Results Programs Equipment
Intro to Airmanship Basic Soaring IP Upgrade IP Acro XC • 150+ cadet instructors • The fly 94% of the sorties • Officer supervision • Cadet staff—squadron commander, operations officer, flight commanders • Serve as instructors junior and senior year SSA Results Programs Equipment
Intro to Airmanship Basic Soaring IP Upgrade IP Acro XC • 6 selected after IP upgrade • Sportsman as juniors • Intermediate as seniors • 3 competitions • Acro Nationals in Denison • Chapter 5 in Lamar • Tequila Cup in Marana • Demonstrations at airshows and USAFA SSA Results Programs Equipment
Intro to Airmanship Basic Soaring IP Upgrade IP Acro XC • 5 selected after IP upgrade • Upgrade and compete dual as sophomores • Compete solo as seniors • 3 competitions per year • Static displays nationwide • C1C Baldwin earned Gold badge SSA Results Programs Equipment
Equipment, staff & facilities Programs Results
Leaders Flying Public Affairs Wall of Fame • Personal, interpersonal, team, organization (PITO) • Life-and-death responsibility • Always professional • Leadership applies regardless of career field • Brief, fly, debrief SSA Results Programs Equipment
Leaders Flying Public Affairs Wall of Fame • 95% go on to pilot training • Great boost in SA SSA Results Programs Equipment
Leaders Flying Public Affairs Wall of Fame • Public face of the Academy • Nationwide events • Distinguished visitors SSA Results Programs Equipment
Leaders Flying Public Affairs Wall of Fame • Thunderbird Pilots • Astronauts • US Air Pilots SSA Results Programs Equipment
Equipment, staff & facilities Programs Results SSA
Members Badges Competition Civilian Flying • 80 new SSA members annually • Officers • Advanced team members SSA Results Programs Equipment
Members Badges Competition Civilian Flying • Lead nation in A,B,C badges • New emphasis on Silver and Gold Badges for officers • Restarted wave flying • 45 1-Lennie pins since 1968 • 3 2-Lennie pins • IAC badges for aerobatics SSA Results Programs Equipment
Members Badges Competition Civilian Flying • Tough to fit cadet schedule • Attempt 3x competitions for each Acro and XC teams • Welcome intercollegiate face-to-face competition SSA Results Programs Equipment
Members Badges Competition Civilian Flying • PGL and CFIG through local soaring clubs • Working with CAP • Canadian AF visiting Spring 09 • German AFOS Summer 08 • German Military Glider Championships Summer 09 SSA Results Programs Equipment