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Sailplane Flight Schools in Washington

For years, television episodes and movies have been built around the fear of engine failure during an airplane flight. However, some pilots prefer to fly planes without engines, which are called sailplanes or gliders. Sailplanes are towed into the air by another motorized plane and then released. Several sailplane flight schools located in the Washington state area offer training that leads to certification as a glider plane pilot.

Evergreen Soaring
- Evergreen Soaring operates out of Arlington Municipal Airport in Arlington, Washington near Everett. The club offers free instruction to members every weekend and can sometimes arrange for lessons during the week. With 13 gliders available, Evergreen Soaring is the largest sailplane club in the state.
  
  Evergreen Soaring
  17914 59th Drive NE, Hangar C, Unit 1
  Arlington, WA 98223
  (425) 238-6617
  evergreensoaring.com
Spokane Soaring Society
- The Spokane Soaring Society flies out of Deer Park Airport in Deer Park, Washington, roughly 20 miles north of Spokane. Lessons are held on weekends from April through October. There are three planes on-site for member use.
  
  Spokane Soaring Society
  316 E. Crawford
  Deer Park, WA 99006
  (509) 939-6273
  spokanesoaring.org
Puget Sound Soaring Association
- The Puget Sound Soaring Association is based out of the Bergseth Field Airport in Emunclaw, Washington. The club operates on weekends from March to October and has two sailplanes.
  
  Puget Sound Soaring Association
  5067 38th Street NE
  Tacoma, WA 98422
  (253) 927-9183
  pugetsoundsoaring.org
Wave Soaring Adventures
- Wave Soaring Adventures offers winch tow instruction at Carson Memorial Airport in Toledo, Washington, about 50 miles from Olympia. The company is open every day between March and October and operates four sailplanes.
  
  Wave Soaring Adventures
  20909 Snag Island Drive
  Lake Tapps, WA 98391
  (253) 380-8226
  wavesoaringadventures.com
Cascade Soaring Society
- The Cascade Soaring Society is based at Pangborn Airport in Wenatchee, Washington, about two hours from Seattle. The Society offers instruction from March until November, and a trial membership includes six one-hour instructional flights within a 60-day period. There are four gliders that members can use.
  
  Cascade Soaring Society
  One Pangborn Drive
  East Wenatchee, WA 98802
  (509) 884-2494.
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Aviation