The glider request form

Route and schedule

• Launch site — an FAA airport or gliderport, or Launch Site on Map to name a field and pick it. It is treated as home base; no destination needed.
• Proposed soaring areas / turnpoints — up to three, each tapped on the map: a ridge, a thermal trigger, a town or an airport. The report checks lift, cloud base and overdevelopment in each and lists landout airports within glide.
• Desired landing area (optional) — where you hope to land. The report estimates your odds of getting there.
• Estimated time of departure and review stage — as on every form.

Glider Operation

• Flight type — Local soaring (returns to the launch site) or Cross-country / task.
• Launch method — Aerotow, Winch / auto-tow or Self-launch.
• Best glide ratio (L/D) — used to find landout airports within glide; 30 is assumed if blank.
• Water ballast and Oxygen aboard — switches.
• Min thermal top (ft AGL) — your personal minimum for usable lift.
• Max surface wind / crosswind (kt) — your limits. A launch-site wind or gust above them makes the planned launch NO-GO.
• Soaring notes — task, turnpoints, known landout fields, tow plane availability.

Soaring altitude and occupants