U.S. Air Force Academy Gliders

The Air Force Academy Gliders are flown by cadets from the Air Force Academy. Glider aerobatics training at the Academy follows a progression. Cadets first learn basic flying. Then, after a process that includes about 65 flights, they become an gliding instructor. Another 30 flights or so qualifies them for aerobatics. The next step is competition and demo flying like what air show fans will witness at the Kansas City Air Show.

The squadron flies more than 30,000 sorties a year, making it the largest and most active soaring operation in the United States. The Academy sailplane fleet consists of 12 TG-10B trainers, five TG-10Cs, four TG-10Ds, two Shempp-Hirth TG-15As, three Shempp-Hirth
TG-15Bs and 14 Ximango TG-14A motorgliders.