GLIDERS IN THE SKY • The Utah Soaring Association is hosting the gliding Nationals this year at the Nephi airport this week. Launches start around 12:30 p.m. Above, this photo from our archive shows one of the sleek craft
By Myrna Trauntvein
Times-News Correspondent
The Utah Soaring Association is hosting the gliding Nationals this year at the Nephi airport June 19-30.
Some of the nation's top 65 pilots flying in three classes of sailplanes (gliders) will be competing with wing spans ranging from 50 feet to 98 feet. The 2016 national champions (one for each class) will be chosen at the end of this event.
"Sailplanes/gliders get towed up into the air by airplanes with a 200 foot rope attached between them," said Bruno Vassel, Draper, event organizer. "It is easy to get compelling video/photos of the sleek white gliders launching one after another every minute."
Launches start around 12:30 in the afternoon. The gliders fly daily assigned speed tasks all over Utah. These tasks can range from 250 miles to over 500 miles in a single day.
"We have done glider events now at the Nephi airport for the last four years and have brought in around a million dollars to the local economy so these events are making a big difference," said Vassel. " Utah is quickly becoming known as the premiere location for flying and racing gliders."
There is a daily pilots meeting with all of the participants at 9 a.m. at the airport.
"We then get the gliders ready and launch starting between noon and 12:30. We then come back and land (very fun to watch) between 5:30 and 7 p.m.
