Soaring at Siskiyou Vernon Fueston CFI 530 842-6511 fueston@hughes.net

I offer flight training from the Sport Pilot level through Flight Instructor. I also conduct scenic flights. The 2-33 with it’s high wing offers unparalled visibility. The spacious cockpit is easy to get in and out of. It can accommodate weights ranging from 50 to 250 pounds. I operate year round (weather permitting). The winter months with cold stable air create a good environment for both training and scenic adventures. From spring through fall the thermals come alive giving us soaring opportunities. During the soaring season we try to schedule primary training and scenic rides in the morning hours when the air is more stable. More advanced students and experienced riders can enjoy longer more turbulent flights later in the day.

Siskiyou County Airport (SIY), located just north of Mount Shasta on the California/Oregon border, is ideal for glider operations.

Over 7,000’ long and 150’ wide it is surrounded by flat fields. Only 4 nautical miles to the northwest lies Paradise Craggy, topping out at over 5,000’ and home to the “house thermal” during the soaring season. Siskiyou County airport is located seven miles east of Yreka, California.

Our glider is a well maintained Schweizer 2-33A. The 2-33 was built in Elmira, New York, by the Schweizer Corporation for the express purpose of flight training. A large percentage of today’s glider pilots learned their craft in a 2-33. It is an honest, rugged, easy to fly glider with a spacious cockpit.

Most licensed power pilots can add on a glider rating for around $2,000. A student pilot starting fresh can plan on spending $3,000 to $4,000. No medical examination is required for flying gliders (even motor gliders). You must be 14 years old to solo and 16 to get a license.

It is impossible to quote a price for achieving a license as it depends on how hard you study, how fast you learn, and how often you fly, Glider rides start at $100 for a tow to 3,500’. Under stable conditions this gives 18 to 30 minutes of silent flight over the beautiful Shasta Valley.